Francis H Woods Will
Marshall County Tennessee
Will Book A, pages 195, 196, 197
In
the Name of God, Amen. I, Francis H.
Woods of the State of Tennessee and County of Marshall being in the decline of
life but sound in body, mind and memory, Blest be God, do this Nineteenth day
of January Eighteen Hundred and forty eight, make and publish this my last will
and testament in the following manner.
Viz:
Iten 1st. I Resign my Soul to God who gave it in the
hope of a final resurrection through the attoning Blood of Christ and desire
that my body be Interred in a decent manner at the direction of my Executors
and that my just debts and funeral charges be first paid by my Executors.
Item 2nd. I will that my beloved wife, Martha, have at
her disposal one bed stead, all the beds and clothing belonging to the house
and a chest for to keep her clothes in and Sugar Chest, also [start page 196] Three Hundred Dollars in
Money for her Support, also one Table.
Item 3rd. I will that my three surviving sons, Samuel,
James L., and Francis B. have all my lands, two hundred and ninety five acres
in all in four tracts and my two Negro Men, Patrick Henry and Cyrus [? not clear] to be divided as they see
fit. If the provision for their mother
should fail, they are to see to it.
Item 4th. I will that my daughter, Mary B., have my
Negro boy, Birdie, and One Hundred Dollars in money.
Item 5th. I will that J James H. and Sally Miller have
my Negro girls, Easter and Mehaley [?
spelling not clear] and One hundred dollars in money.
Item 6th. I will that John Miller have ten dollars for
himself and that the children of his wife Elizabeth, Emaline, Francis, James,
Martha, Allen, Mary Flavia, Sarah, living, Two Hundred and Ninety Dollars to be
Equally divided among them.
Item 7th. I will that
John H. Miller and Marthie have ten dollars for themselves and for the
children of my son, Allen N. Woods, Margaret B., Martha [? middle initial not clear], Francis W. A. B.,
two Hundred Ninety Dollars to be divided equally between them.
Item 8th. I will that my sons, James B. Woods and
Francis B. Woods be the Executors of this my last will and testament revoking
all other wills heretofore made.
Item 9th. All property not named to be sold except my
Books. I will them to be [begin page
197] divided between my wife and
children without selling; if anything, divide equally with all my heirs.
SIGNED, Sealed and acknowledged in the
presence of us this 20th day of January 1848.
Thomas H. Shockley Jurat Francis H. Woods [his SEAL]
John L Smiley Jurat
[ both attest 7 May 1849]
I
do hereby make and publish to this, my
last will and testament, the following
addition:
Viz.
My will and desire is that my Beloved wife, Martha, have in addition to
the foregoing, my yellow horse, Charley, and Carriage and that she also have
the services of Cyrus and Esther during her life then, after her death, that
the said Esther and Cyrus be disposed of as described in the foregoing will
that My Son, Francis B. Woods, attend to the maintenance of my said wife and
that he leave the services of the said Cyrus and Esther for that purpose during
her life and that my Executors pay the balance that may be coming on my Stock
in the Nashville and Chattanooga Rail Road Company and that said stock be
equally divided between my daughters Sarah Miller and Mary B. Dysart.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I hereunto set my name and affix my seal
this 22nd day of March 1849.
Attest Francis H.
Woods [his Seal]
J. B. Mitchell
Robert Williams
[both Jurat 7 May 1849]
Notes
from Dick Wood:
Francis
Harper Woods died 28 Mar 849. His
widow, Martha (Leeper) Woods, died
died
28 Oct 1851. Martha's father, James
Leeper, was the first person buried in Round Hill Cemetery which had been a
family burial plot on the corner of Francis Harper Woods' land. He deeded the land for Round Hill Cemetery
to the elders of the Piedmont Presbyterian Church. Francis Harper & Martha L. Woods are both buried at Round
Hill Cemetery, Marshall County, Tennessee.