Source: Sumner County Tennessee, Will Book Vol. 5, pages 59 - 60
page 59
September 23rd 1889
In the name of God, Amen.
Know all men by these presents that I, Seth L. Wilkinson, being of sound mind and
of sound memory, and considering the uncertainty of life do now make this my last and only will.
Now while I am yet embarrassed financially, I have effected a compromise with my creditor at
about sixty six percent of my liabilities to be paid out of fifty acres of wood land, being thirty one
acres in 15th Dist. Robertson Co. and being the South West part of the home place, and twenty
acres of wood land, being the South end of the home place, I am also indebted to my wife
Medora Wilkinson in the sum of four hundred and fifty dollars borrowed of her own personal
effects and having been due several years.
Now as some consideration for the amount I owe her I deem it but justice to her Medora: and do give unto her all of my real estate unincumbered [sic] and containing about one hundred and thirty acres, and it being the home place which I now live on, and situated in 15th Dist. of Sumner Co. Tenn. partly in Robertson Co. To have and to hold after my decease, during her natural life, and I also give unto her, said Medora, all of my personal effects to have & to hold after my decease during her natural life.
Now if my minor children William and Roxana should one or both yet be in their minority at the death of their mother, then both the real and personal effects shall be given to them during their minority to be used for their maintenance and support. But if after both William and Roxana have [pg. 60] become of age or at their legal majority, then and in that event if my daughter Roxana has not married, then I further give unto her, Roxana to have and to hold during her celibacy or single life the above named realty or homestead.
And at the demise of my wife Medora first and at the legal majority of my minor children William and Roxana, second, and when Roxana shall have been married then I do will that an equal division of both my real & personal effects be given unto my three children, Bryan, William and Roxana.
Seth L. Wilkinson
County Court Sumner County June Term, June 16th 1893.
A paper writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Seth L. Wilkinson was this
day produced in open Court for probate, when it being made to appear satisfactory to the Court
that S. L. Wilkinson is dead, and died in Sumner County, and that said paper writing was found
among the valuable papers of the said S. L. Wilkinson after his death; and it was proven by W.
A. Underwood, J. J. Turner and W. A. Wilkinson, three credible witnesses who testified that they
were well acquainted with the said S. L. Wilkinson and were also acquainted with his hand
writing, that the hand writing of said S. L. Wilkinson is generally known among his
acquaintances and that they and each of them verily believe the writing in said paper writing
propounded as the last will and testament of said S. L. Wilkinson and ever part thereof and the
signature thereto to be in the handwriting of the said S. L. Wilkinson, and said paper writing
having been proven to the satisfaction of the Court in manner and form required by law in such
cases, to be the last Will and Testament of the said S. L. Wilkinson deceased. It is therefore
ordered recorded.
A true copy, test
Harris Brown Clk.