Francis H Woods Will

Marshall County Tennessee

Will Book A, pages 195, 196, 197

 

Transcribed and contributed by

Dick Wood

 

 

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.