wills.htm

The source of information comes from "WEAKLEY COUNTY, TENNESSEE RECORD AND WILL BOOK "B", 1840-1861, p. 151p.317

    I, Martin Lawler considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being (being) sound in body and mind, blesses be Almighty God for the same: - Do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and _____ as follows that is to say ---- Ist I do hereby give and bequeath to my beloved wife Nancy A. Lawler all my property that is to say, my negroes and perishable property which I may be possessed of at my death, after my just debts are paid, and the plantation whereon I now reside to have the use and benefit of during her natural life-time or widowhood and if there should be any surplus property on hand more than my wife stands in need of, I wish it to be advertised and sold to the highest and best bidder on a credit of twenty months, the purchaser giving bond with good security and the balance of the money when collected, after all my just debts are paid. I wish my wife to use in educating my youngest children to make them equal with my oldest children (viz) Martha Jane Guy, Mary Ann Carter, Lucy Catherine Lawler, Virginia Rebecca and Sarah Deana Lawler, one negro a piece at valuation, which shall be drawn for if cannot agree in the division otherwise, which I will to them to have the use of doing their lifetime, then (p.318) to their bodily heirs if they or either of them die without bodily heirs, then I wish them to belong to my three sons Nicholas D., Thomas Benton and William Trigg.
    3rd I give and bequeath to my three sons N.D. Lawler, Thomas Benton and William Trigg my tract whereon I now live containing three hundred and fifty-three acres more or less to be valued and divided by disinterested men. William owning the plantation whereon I now reside and Thomas Benton owning the North-West corner and N.D. owning the South-West corner whereon he is now setting, all to be divided by disinterested men of their own choosing, to be divided to suit themselves and valued as wooling land.
    4th, I give to all my children a common horse, saddle and bridle, one cow and calf and sow and pigs, one bed and furniture & bedstead so as to make them all equal.
    5th, I wish my son William Trigg to live with his mother and manage for her as long as she lives.
    6th, I again say that the property (viz) the negroes and their increase falls to my daughters as above named, shall go to them and their bodily heirs and should they die having no bodily heirs then to go to the rest of (p319) their brothers and sisters and their bodily heirs as above stated, and if my said daughters leave heirs and their heirs die and leave no heirs then the property and increase of the same to go to their brothers and sisters.
    7th, my will and desire is that all my children shall equal in my estate,
    8th, I also do hereby appoint my beloved wife Nancy A. Lawler my Executrix to this my last will and testament.
    I also appoint my son Nicholas D. Lawler with my wife my Executor to my last will and testament and wish them to do it without giving bond and secruity for their performance.
    In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal.

Septr. 26th 1851

Wit                                                                    Martin Lawler (Seal)
W.N. Woolsey}
Isaac Willough}

        State of Tennessee }
        Weakley county}                                        November Term County Court 1851

        This day the foregoing paper writing was established in open court as the last will and testament of Martin Lawler deceased, and ordered by the court to be recorded.

        Witness ____________Clerk of said court at office this the __________ of 185

Copying will $1.00                                    (Editor's Note:
                                                                Not Complete)

Submitted by Linda Overby-Hedge