Will of Henry Belote
Signed Feb-18-1827
Proved May 1827

Donated by Allan L. Bentley

Source: Records of Susie Bentley Swaney.

In the name of God, Amen. I, Henry BELOTE of the County of Sumner and State of Tennessee, being in the low state of health but of sound and disposing mind and memory and knowing that God has appointed to all me to die, do make this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking any other Will or Wills heretofore made by me in manner following, viz.:

Item 1 All my just debts shall be punctually paid as soon as my executors can do out of any moneys on land or debts due me.

Item 2 - I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Harriet BELOTE one third of the tract of land whereon I now live. Also seven Negroes, named Gabriel, Esther, Eliza Alfred, Ruben, William, and Mary and Ann, Two best beds and furniture, her own choice out of any stock, two cows and calves, five ewes and lambs to be selected by herself, six Winders chairs and one carpet also an equal half of all the balance of my household furniture all of which property I Will to her the said Harriet her heirs and assigns forever except the land above named which is only to belong to her during her natural life and afterwards to be joint property of my two grandsons James M. SWANEY and Henry H. BELOTE.

Item 3 I give and bequeath to my four Grandchildren to wit: Jeremiah BELOTE, John BELOTE, Sally SMITH, and Clarissa BELOTE, children of my deceased son Jeremiah BELOTE as follows:

To Sally SMITH five dollars and to each of the other s last above named grandchildren Jeremiah BELOTE, John BELOTE, and Clarissa BELOTE fifty dollars each to be paid by my executors for their board and schooling.

Item 4 I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Elizabeth B. SWANEY $5.00 to be paid her on application of my executors. It is my will that my Negro Cezar and his wife Penny shall at and after my decease before and that children of John BELOTE deceased and children of John L. SWANEY shall at all times be bound to keep them, the said Cezar and Penny from becoming county charges. The residue of all my Negroes I Will be divided by the disinterested respectable man into two equal halves one half for children of John BELOTE deceased and the other half for children of John L. SWANEY namely James M. SWANEY, Caroline SWANEY, Mariah E. SWANEY, Henry B. SWANEY, Mary M. SWANEY, and Patsy P. SWANEY. It is further my will that if any of the above named children should die without issue the property hereby willed such children shall return to the nest nearest blood relation. It is further my will that should Nancy BELOTE daughter of John BELOTE deceased marry instead of her equal dividend on the Negroes above bequeathed to the children of John BELOTE and John L. SWANEY.

Item 5 I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann SWANEY, wife of John L. SWANEY, the sum of $5.00 to be paid by my executors on application.

Item 6 I give and bequeath to my two grandsons John M. SWANEY and Henry H. BELOTE jointly all the balance of the tract of land whereon I now live after the one third above bequeathed to my wife Harriet including the ferry known by the name of Belote's Ferry and 18 acres of land on the south side of the Cumberland River together with all the implements belonging to my distillery.

Item 7 I give and bequeath to my grandson Henry B. SWANEY all the lands belonging to me in Sumner County not hereto fore sold or given away, all the balance of my perishable property not there in before named be sold by my executors at their discretion and the proceeds thereof together with all the moneys either now on hand or due me in anyway whatever to be equally divided between my wife Harriet, the children of John BELOTE deceased and the six last named children of John L. SWANEY. It is further my will that should any dissatisfaction should arise among the legatees that any one of all of them together with my executors shall exchanged my property or sell any property, which shall be as binding as it was before the Supreme Court of the U. S., and although the ferry above named is given and bequeathed, it is my will that the families of John L. SWANEY, Patsy BELOTE, John WARD and my wife Harriet shall cross the said ferry without charge at said ferry.

I wish to be entered in Masonic order at the will of the fraternity and at the expense of my estate.
Lastly I hereby appoint J. L. SWANEY, William CAGE and Lucillias WIINCHESTER my executors to this my last will and testament without requiring any security from them for the executorships. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 18th day of February in the year of our Lord 1827.


Signed Henry BELOTE (seal)

Witnesses: John BROWN, John DACKASON, William DODD, William BENTLEY,
Moses WILSON.


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