William Woodward's Will

Marshall County, Tennessee

Will Book A, pages 110 - 113

I William Woodward do make and publish this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking & making void all other wills by me at any time made.

First. I direct that my funeral expenses and all my debts be paid as soon after my death as possible out of any monies that I may die of (sic) or may first come into the hands of my Executors.

Secondly. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Nancy Woodward all the tract of land whereon I now live on, all my plantation and farming tools - all my horses, hogs, sheep and cattle of every description except the Horses worth Seventy five Dollars each, which I will hereafter in this will dispose of - -

Also I give and bequeath to my said wife Nancy all my household and kitchen furniture except three beds and furniture for two beds, which I will hereafter dispose of in this will.

I also give and bequeath to my said wife Nancy all my Negroes whose names are as follows - Talley, Charity, Jefferson, Ben, Martha, Alexander and Sarah with all their increase - -

Also I give and bequeath to her all the stock of provisions that I may have on hand at my decease

And all of my said property which I have her alone given and bequeathed unto my said wife Nancy. I direct and ordain to be under her entire Control and Management but not subject to be sold or disposed of in any way by her or any other person During her life or widowhood except such perishable property as she may think necessary for Comfort & Support - all the money, notes or obligations of any description that I may possess or may be due me at my decease - I direct my Executors to take into their possession and Collect, and after the payment of my just debts mentioned above, to furnish my beloved wife with such amounts of money if there be any as she may be in need of except five dollars which I intend hereafter to dispose of in this will - I also here make an exception in the household furniture given & bequeathed to my wife of two bureaus which I intend for my two single Daughters that I will also mention hereafter in this will.

Thirdly. I give and bequeath to my beloved Daughter Elizabeth Woodward One horse worth seventy five dollars and one bed & furniture including the stead and one bureau of which I direct to be delivered to her as soon after my decease as she may apply for them.

Fourthly. I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Nancy M. Woodward one horse worth seventy five dollars, one bed & furniture including the stead and one bureau all of which must be delivered to her as soon after my decease as she may request.

To my two grandsons John and William Gilliam one bed between them and the same to be delivered to them when William Gilliam, the youngest of the two becomes twenty-one years of age - This bed I give to them as all the part of my estate I intended my deceased daughter Martha C. Gilliam, their mother, to have and them now in her place - -

I give and bequeath to my beloved daugher Lucy Sandifer five dollars which is all the part of my estate that I intend her or her representatives to have - - -

Sixthly. I direct that all that portion of my estate (which I have heretofore given & bequeathed in this will to my beloved wife Nancy Woodward) consisting of land and Negroes, etc. be as soon as possible after her death equally divided between those of my children whose names I here record in order as follows: Rebecca Davis, Gorman Woodward, George Woodward, John Woodward, Elizabeth Woodward and Nancy Woodward.

And if my wife Should marry I direct that at that period all my property which I have given and bequeathed to her in this will during her life and widowhood, be taken by my Executors and equally divided between my six children whose names occur in location above - I do also here particularly direct that the aforesaid equal division (at whatever time it should occur) I between my aforenamed six children, that (is?) my beloved daughter, Elizabeth Woodward shall have my Negro girl named Martha at a fair valuation at that time if she thinks proper and also that my beloved daughter, Nancy M. Woodward, shall have in the aforesaid equal division my Negro boy named Alexander at a fair valuation at that time if she then thinks proper.

Lastly. I nominate and appoint Zechariah Davis, Gorman Woodward, George Woodward and John Woodward my Executors.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I do to this my last will set my hand and seal this twenty Second day of November in the year of our Lord 1839.

SIGNED, SEALED & PUBLISHED WILLIAM WOODWARD

in our presence and we have subscribed

our names hereto in the presence of the

testator this 22 Nov. 1839 DAVID YANCEY

DAVID GLENN

JOSEPH J. S. (Gill?? not legible)

STATE OF TENNESSEE)

MARSHALL COUNTY ) County Court Nov. Term 1843

Personally appeared in open Court David Yancey & Joseph J. S. (Gill??) subscribing witnesses to the forgoing will who being first sworn here in open court proved the due execution of said will as the law directs. It is therefore ordered by the Court that said will be entered of Record.

Witness my hand and seal at office this 6^th day of Nov 1843

M W OAKLEY Clerk

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