Source: Sumner County Tennessee, Oct 1870 - April 1891
I Mary A. Weisiger of Sumner County Tennessee do make and publish, this paper as my last Will and testament.
My just debts and funeral expenses are to be first paid out of my estate and the residue thereof I dispose of as follows, to wit:
The farm now occupied by my son, Joseph Weisiger about one mile from Gallatin I give to my son Joseph's child or children that he may have, the same to be controlled by my son Jo and used as a home if he desires it as long as he lives. He may sell said place if he thinks proper and reinvest in real estate where ever he may think best, but still in the name of his child or children as the case may be. After his death should his child or children die without children, his child or children his wife can still use the property as a home as long as she lives unmarried, the property at her death or marriage to revert to the other heirs of my estate, Namely my children. In making this Will, I have (pg322) no reference to property my children may get from their wifes(sic) or husbands. I wish two thousand dollars to be invested for my son William's child or children and managed and disposed of in the same way that my son Joseph's legacy is to be. My daughter Belle and Lucy and my son Wirt as they marry or become of age are to have the same amount each namely two thousand dollars to be invested in real estate in the name of their children for their use and benefit of themselfs(sic) and children and to be disposed of used in the same way as that of my sons, Joseph and William. I wish my husband to manage my property and see that each of my children gets two thousand dollars as above directed and my husband is to have full use and controll of the balance of my property, and keep the unmarried children with him. I would advise him to sell the present home and get one more suitable and less expensive. Should he sell, the surplus of money after purchasing a suitable home to be invested in real estate for the support of my husband and family remaining with him. Should my Husband marry which I have no objection to if it would add to his happiness, he is then to give up all interest in my estate. I wish my Husband to use my household furniture including paintings &c, as long as he may live or remains unmarried, he having the privilege of distributing any of it to my children at any time he may think apropos. Should my Husband die or marry, my property to remain undivided, and used as a home for all the unmarried children until my daughter, Lucy marries or becomes of age. It is then to be divided in the following manner: Namely each (Wirt)? are to have one thousand dollars each in addition to the two thousand above mentioned, my daughter Belle is to have five hundred (pg323) dollars only as she has received some benefit in living with me. But if she should be left a widow before the final distribution, she is to receive the same that Lucy and Wirt do. After the special legacy's to Wirt, Lucy, and Belle, the residue is to equally divided between my five children, Joseph, Willie, Belle, Wirt, and Lucy.
May 2nd 1878 (signed) Mary A. Weisiger
State of Tennessee Sumner County Court May Term 1886
A Paper writing purporting to be the last Will and testament of Mary A. Weisiger deceased, was
this day
presented in open Court for probate the same being a Holographic Will and was duly proven to be
in the
hand writing of the testatrix with her genuine signature signed thereto by the oath of Joseph
Weisiger, Jr.
and W.A. Weisiger, the said witnesses stating under oath that the entire paper writing is in the
hand writing
of the testatrix, and the hand writing is generally known by the acquaintances of the deceased, and
that the
same was found among her valuable papers, where it had been deposited by the deceased for safe
keeping which was received by the Court and ordered to be recorded.
A Copt Test. (signed) O. H. Foster Clerk