The Will of Christopher HOUSTON
Marshall County Will Book A
Pg 16
In the name of God amen. Hallowed be his name let men and angels respect
the sound Hallowed be his name. I Christopher Houston of Marshall County
Tennessee being aged and Infirm of body but of sound mind and memory (blessed
be God) do this Twenty first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred thirty six make constitute and ordain this my last will and
testament in manner and form following. that is to say I will that all my
moveable property (my black people my library ans such other things as may be
particularly mentioned hereafter as givin to any particular person excepted) be
sold by publish vendue I give to my beloved wife Elizabeth the use of the farm
on which I now live containing two hundred acres during the term of her natural
life to cultivate as she may think fit & to have full power to cut timber
for firewood and repairing fences of buildings but not to sell or dispose of
otherwise with all the houses and outhouses priviledges & profits belonging
to the same. I also give her my beloved one house or more choice of my
stock, together with her saddle & bridle and if she chooses a mare with her
colt not weaned it must go with its dam & also two cows and
their calves if sucking all these are to be her choice of my stock. I
give her also the Spectacles which I now use. I give her also the service
of any two of Meleys children which she may choose the one a male the other a
female belonging to me, during her widowhood and also the service of any tow of
Meleys grandchildren belonging to me during the term of her natural life.
provided however that she relinguish her claim of two hundred dollars promised
in our marriage contract, and upon her sodiong I give her also one hundred
dollars. And as I have now in my hands Two hundred and thirty two dollars
with Interest from the beginning of the year 1834 I will that she be paid
principal & interest from the date afforesaid as the principal was her
money. And I do hereby quit claim to all the property she brought with
her to me and all or any property which she may acquire hereafter by gift
Legacy or bequest. I also give her my beloved wife one year
provision. I will that the tract of land on which I now live be sold after
the death of my widow and the money thence arising be equally divided between
my daughter Martha London and my daughter Sarah Young. I give bequeth
& devise to my daughter Lilias Bills a tract of land on Elk ridge
containing sixty three acres but with this reserve. Viz. that my Executors have
the use and contract of the same until all my debts and the legacies
herein mentioned and all expences of administration be paid or payment provided
for exceptinhowever the of Martha London and Sarah Young which can not perhaps
be called for. within many years with all the appurtenances and
emolumerts thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining to her heirs and
assigns forever- I give bequeath & devise to my son James Houston the tract
of land which I bought of him containing fifty seven & a half acres with
however the reservation as that above mentioned as that of Lilias Bills to him
his heirs and assigns forever, and where as I have some hand in the County of
Iredell North Carolina which perhaps may not all be sold before my decease I
give bequeath & divise the whole of it, if any remains unsold to my
daughter Sara Young her heirs and assigns forever with its appertenances
privileges and emoluments what ever I give to my daughter sara Young Scott family
bilbl and also five voums of his theologicil works. I give to my son
Placebo the whole price of the land which he sold (all that the reainder
unpaid) to John Wooten for the purpose of procuring books for the use of his
family and my daughter Sara Young equally. And if any more of my land in
Iredell is sold or can be here after whether before my decease or not I will
the price thereof to my daughter in law Patience Houston Venns complete duty of
man and all the rest of my Library I will to be equally divided into four
shares one of which sall belong to my widow and the other three to my three
children in this State, namely Martha Londaon, Lilias Bills and James
Houston. I give to my Executors Executrix hereafter named all the Right
that the laws of our State give to me to dispose of my black people as other
property (in trust for the benefit of the black people themselves) It is
however my will that my Executors and Executrix hold said slaves in their hands
until all my debts be paid & legacies and all necessary expences be paid or
payment provided and that they then, or as soon after as may be practicable
send them to Liberia in Africa there to be emoncipated excepting thoses that
may have to seve my widow which cannot be done untill their time of servitude expires.
And as I have given into the hands of my son Placeba the whole price of the
land he sold to John Wooten it is not to understood as giving him back what has
been paid to me but only what reamis unpaid and if I should hereafter see fit
to give a deed of Gift to any other person with an intention to make the afor
the liberation of my Black people more certain it is not to overthrow anything
herein contained but to accelerate & insure the freedom of my black people
And I mention it here to prevent collission and to satify my Executors &
Executrix. that if those to whom the deed is made shall succeed in
sending my black people to Liberia afreeably to the intention of the deed of
Gift then in that case my Executors & Executrix are exonerated from attending
to the disposition of them but lest difficulties should be thrown in the way of
Executors by making a deed of Gift I make it to my Executors In addition to
what I have givin to my widow I also give her the the cupboard together with
its contents And if any of my heirs shall by or any means interfere with design
to counter act my will, he she or they so doing shall thereby forfeit all right
title or interest in or to any property which I may leave on earth The names of
my black people are as follows. To wit. Meley, Austin, Juna, Limas,
Maria, Violet, Malinda, Nelson, Van, henderson, Rosanna, Louisa, Lucinda,
Charles, Jefferson, Jacob, M, Gusta, James, Chelsey, Ralph, Madison, Joel,
Bolicar - If any of my heirs herein mentioned shall died before the Execution
of this will leaving Issue. the part alloted to the deceased shall be
givin to such heir or heirs equally And all if any increase of the black people
by the birth of same shall be liable to be sent to Africa with their parrents
who choose to go there, as all the minors must. but not before all my debts or
legacies are paid excepting Martha Londaon and Sally Young which perhaps cannot
be done during several years as it depends on circumstances - I do hereby make
constitute & ordain Col. John Orr John Ramsey, William Cowden. Esqr. James
Houston, James S. Haynes Esqr, Executors and my beloved wife Elizabeth S
Executrix of this my last will and testament - I do hereby revoke and disannul
any and every will by me made heretofore and established this my last will and
testament. And now wishing peace on earth & good will to all upon it
I resign my body to the dust and my Spirit to God who gave it, hoping and
trusting that he will not with standing my great unworthiness. prepar me for
that Blessed abode where peace forever reigns.
In Testimony of all which I have hereunto set my hand and seal this day and
date above written. Christopher Houston (Seal)
Test
Elijah Alexander
James Osburn
J. C. Osburn