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ROBERT CARTWRIGHT'S ) 
Last Will and Testament       ) Recorded 29th of July, 1829. 

In the name of God Amen - I, ROBERT CARTWRIGHT, of the County of Weakley and State of Tennessee being sick andcalling to mind the certainty of Death do make and ordain this my last will and testament.  First of all I desire my body to beburied in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors hereafter named.  As in respects what estate it haspleased God to bless me with I give and bequeath in the following manner, to wit: 

First I give and bequeath to my present dearly beloved wife, ELIZABETH CARTWRIGHT, during her natural life part of the tractof land whereon I now live bounded as follows: Beginning at the lower or south west corner of the peach orchard running thence east to the east boundary of my tract thence north to the corner thence with the line of my tract to the bank of a dry branch thence up the meanders of said dry branch so far that a line due north will strike the beginning containing eighty acres be the same more or less including all the buildings of every description. 

Item 2nd, I do also give and bequeath unto my said wife ELIZABETH two head of choice horses, two head of choice cows and calves, two choice steers and ox cart, seven head of choice hogs and three head of sheep. 

Item 3rd, I do also give and bequeath unto my said wife ELIZABETH two negroes, PETER and SARAH and their future
increase forever. 

Item 4th, I give and bequeath to my daughter EVALINA NAKES all the residue of the tract of land whereon I now live, viz. Beginning at the lower or south west corner of peach orchard running east to the east boundary of my tract thence south; thence with the lines of my tract to the bank of a dry branch thence up said dry branch so far that a due north line will strike the (Page 45) beginning containing eighty acres be the same more or less. 

Item 5th, I give and bequeath to my said daughter EVALINA one negro boy PHILLIP to her and her heirs forever. 

Item 6th, I give and bequeath to my daughter PENNEY NETTLES two negro women, SYLVIA and CHANEY with their future increase forever.  I do further give to my daughter EVALINA one cow and calf.  All the balance of my stock of every description I wish divided equally between my wife and my two daughters after selling so much of it as will pay my just debts, and also I wish the present crop divided equally between my wife and two daughters aforesaid.  I do further bequeath to my wife ELIZABETH all the household furniture and farming tools, everything that remains not particularly mentioned I wish sold and the proceeds equally divided. 

I do hereby appoint my trusty friend WILLIAM FLEMMIING and JOHN A. NETTLES my executors to this my last will and testament.  In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this 30th day of March, 1829.  Interlined before signed. 

ROBERT CARTWRIGHT, (Seal) 

Typed & Submitted by Sandy Thompson Mattox 

Taken from: 
Historical Records Project - Official Project #465-44-3-115 
copied under Works Project Administration 
November 25,1938