Source:
Smith County, Roll A-6100, Book 1, Pages 11-12
Contributed
By Mitzi P. Freeman - Questions Or Comments?
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Transcribed By
William R. Stout - Comments Qestions? Click Here.
In the
name of God Amen I William Pharris of county of Smith, State of Tennessee,
being very sick of body but perfect in mind and memory Thanks be given unto
God. Calling into mind the mortallity of my body and knowing that it is
appointed once for all men to die, Do make and ordain this my last will and
testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my
soul in the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the
Earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial and as touching such worldly
estate where with I has pleased God to bless me with in this life I give,
demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. First of all I
give unto the hand of my Executive one land on James Jones for 80 dollars in
cash, four hundred acres of land that my son William Pharris now lives on.
I
leave to be sold to discharge all just debts that may come against me or my
estate and the balance that remains over paying my just debts shall return unto
the estate to be qually divided.
Secondly
I leave to my wife and five small children that now lives with her. Their names
Nathan, Ruben, Elizabeth, Nancy and Hirem. I leave to them the plantation that
I now live in, including four hundred acres of land, all of the furniture, all
my sheep, all hogs, twelve milk cows and calves, three mares and two colts, one
negro woman Hannah, one negro boy, Dave, all my worken tools. This I leave to my
wife during her living a single life until the said children come of age and so
they come of age allow them a at such a price and of their part this property
and the increase is to be equally divided amongest them all when the youngest
child comes of age and if my wife marries before the youngest child comes of
age the property falls to my children.
Thirdly
I give to my five oldest children, William, John, Samuel, James and Absolum; I
give to them one negro man named Cuff, one negro boy named Ben, two horses, one
mare, all my cattle, over twelve cows and calves, this to be equally divided
amongest them.
Lastly
I appoint John Pharris and my wife Caty Pharris excutors to execute and
administrate this my last will and testament signed, sealed, published,
pronounced and declared by the said William Pharris in presence of each other
here to subscribe our names.
William
Pharris
SEAL
James Carter
Martin
Traps
Susannah
Carter
State
of Tennessee
Smith
County
Term
1805 This the written Last Will and Testament of William Pharris was duly
Proven in open court by James Carter and Susannah Carter subscribing witnesses
Thereto and order to be recorded
S.
Williams
Clerk