Will of William Lytle, Sr.
In the name of God Amen.
I, William Lytle, Sr. of the County of Rutherford and State of Tennessee, being of sound mind and memory, but considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of life do and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner following: Viz. Item: - I give and bequeath to my son William Franklin Pitt, to him and his assigns and heirs, forever, the tract of land whereon I now live described as follows to wit: beginning at he northeast corner of Col. Archibald Ltle’s large survey of 7200 acres, running west with the commissioners line 326 poles to Stone’s river, thence up the river to the mouth of Lytle’s Creek, thence up said creek until it intersects the eastern boundary line of Col. Jno. Thompson’s tract, thence with his east boundary line, south to the east corner of said Jno. Thompson’s tract and the north east corner of a tract owned by David Williams, thence south with said David Williams line to his south east corner, thence east to the eastern boundary of the original tract, thence north to the southern boundary of Murfreesboro, thence, west with the southern boundary of the ........to the south west corner thereof. Thence north with the western boundary of said tract, to the north western corner of the range of lots laid off and sold by me, lying along the northern boundary of said town, thence east with the northern boundary of the said range of lots to the north east corner thereof. Thence, south to Bennet Smith’s lot on the eastern boundary of Murfreesboro, thence east to Doctor James Maney’s line, thence north with his line to William Maney’s and David Dickonson’s corner, thence west with the commissioners line to the beginning, except two lots of one half acres each where the Methodist Church stands which I have conveyed to John Lytle and his William, all and singular, hereditaments and appertiaments to him his heirs and assigns forever. I also give to my said son William Franklin Lot No. 53 in the town of Murfreesboro, being the lot on which the brick house stands in which Lock & Spence now have stores, with the buildings and improvements thereon to him his heirs and assigns forever. I also give and bequeath to my son William Franklin, all my right and title which I have to Lot No. 65 in the town of Murfreesboro. I also give and bequeath to him Lot No. 83 where Gaudlin now teaches school, and Lot No. 76 where Col. Robush has a stable, also Lot No. 82 wheich three last lots was in the range of lots which I sold north of Murfreesboro, with the building improvements thereon to him, his heirs and assigns forever. I also give and bequeath to my son William Franklin Pitt one tract of land lying and being in Wilson County State of Tennessee granted to me by the State of North Carolina for my service right by Grant bearing date of the 10th day of September 1787 which was originally for 3840 acres, to him and his assigns forever. I also give and bequeath to my son William Franklin Pitt my tract of land lying in Wilson Co. on south side of Cumberland River opposite the town of Cairo containing 176 acres being the plan originally owned by Richard B______and which I purchased at the Sherrif’s sale with the hereditaments and appertinances to him his heirs and assigns forever. I also give and bequeath to my son William all the land I now own lying in which is called the western district in Tennessee west of Tennessee River, except one tract containing the same upwards of 900 acres which I give design and have bequeathed in this will to my grandson William Lytle Foster. The land I own in the western district is in three tracts. I am not able to describe them nor refer to the number of the grants but there is only one of the tracts near about 900 acres and all, except that tract where ever they may lie, whatsoever may be the number of the grants - I give and bequeath to son William Franklin Pitt and his heirs and assigns forever. I also give and bequeath to my son William Franklin Pitt to him and his heirs and assigns forever the following slaves, to wit: Jesse, Perry, Frank, Hannah, Milley, Grace and her 2 children - to wit Gaston and Delia, George, Caesar, Walston, Maria and her child Fanny, Adelaide and Phillis and increase they may hereafter have. I also bequeath to said son William Franklin Pitt all my money on hand and all debts which are due and owing to me or which may hereafter become due together with all my house and kitchen furniture, my library of books and case which holds them, also my carriage and carriage horses, all my horses, all of my stock of cattle, hog’s and sheep and my wagon and farming utensils. I also give and bequeath to him all my bank stock consisting of 100 shares of the Branch of the Nashville Bank at Murfreesboro on which I have paid $3000.00, the whole of to him and his heirs and assigns forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Julia Margaret Nichol the following described tract of land lying and being in Rutherford County State of Tennessee, supposed to contain near 600 acres beginning at the north east corner of a tract formerly owned by Jno. M. Tilford, thence south with the eastern boundry of said tract to the north west corner of the tract now owned by John Lytle, thence 256 poles to the east boundary line, Archibald Lytle’s service rights survey, thence north with the east boundary line of said Archibald Lytle survey, so that by running a due west line at stake, the beginning thence a direct line to the beginning, with the heraditaments and appurtements thereunto belonging or appertaining to her and her heirs and assigns forever. I also give and bequeath to my said daughter Julia Margaret Nichol a house and lot in the town of Murfreesboro, known in the plan of the said town by Lot #9 being the brick house and lot on which John Watkins now lives with the buildings and improvements thereon to her and her heirs and assigns forever. I also give and bequeath to my said daughter Julia Margaret Nichol the following negro slaves to wit: = Jim, Henrietta, Silver, Flora, Tom, Mathilda and Minerva and what increase they may hereafter have to her, and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son John Lytle a negro boy named Stephen now in the possession of John M. Tilford to him and his heirs and assigns to hold for the use and benefit of my daughter Nancy Tilford, wife of Jno. M. Tilford, for and during her natural life, and after her death to be equally divided between the issue of the body of said Nancy Tilford and her heirs and assigns forever.
Then, I give and bequeath to my granson Wm. Lytle Foster a tract of land lying and being in the district of Tennessee, west of the Tennessee River, containing a little upwards of 900 acres. I am not able to describe said tract, but own tract granted in that section of county near that quantity and the tract hereby designed to be given can be qualified by the quantity called for in the grant being 900 acres or a little upward wherever the same may lie. The said Wm Lytle Foster is to take said tract, subject however to the _______________or surveyor therof who are entitled to 1/6th of the amount with the heraditaments and appurtienances to his heirs and assigns forever.
I give and bequeath to my sister-in-law Margaret Taylor for during the time of her natural life my negro girl Lavina daughter of Maria and after the death of said Margaret Taylor, I give and bequeath to said girl Lavinia and her increase to my son William Franklin Pitt him and his heirs and assigns forever.
I give and bequeath to the Elders of the Presbyterian Church in Murfreesboro and their successors in office, a piece or lot of ground lying immediately north of the lot I give to said Church, upon which the Church is erected and extending north to Bennet Smith’s lot of ground being the piece of ground lying east of the town of Murfeesboro beween the eastern boundary of said town and M. Murfree field and Bennet Smith’s lot, and the Church lot, to have and to hold to them and their successors in office for the use and benefit of said Presbyterian Church to be appointed to such pieces and as may be deemed advisable by the Elders and members of said Church.
It is my will and desire that my executors pay all my just debts and funeral expenses and they are directed for that purpose to take a sufficiency of the money, goods and effects which I have to bequeath to my son William Franklin Pitt, it being my desire that all my other legacies which I have given should be unencumbered, with the payment of any debt against me.
I do hereby nominate and appoint my nephew Wm. Lytle of Nashville and my friend Samuel P. Block executor and Samuel Anderson executor of this my last will and testament and do hereby direct it to be my will and desire and do hereby order and direct that my said executors herein named shall not be required to give bond and security but that it is my will and desire that they shall qualify as executors of this my last will and testament and take upon themselves the execution thereof without giving any bond and security, and lastly hereby revoking all former wills by me made. I do hereby desire this to be my last will and testament. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name and affixed my seal this 24 day of November 1825.