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Will of Thomas Gillenwaters
_________________________________________Dated Mar 30 1841
____In the name of God, Amen,
_____________I Thomas Gillenwaters Sr. of the county of Hawkins
& State of Tennessee being afflicted in body but of sound mind
& memory calling to mind the certainty of death, do make and
ordain this my last will and Testament. In the first place I
recommend my soul to that God who gave it, trusting that He will
receive it into glory. Next I recommend my body to the grave in
a plain christian manner.
__ As touching my temporal matters, I desire that all my just
debts be paid in the first place. I give and bequeath unto my
beloved wife Mary my young bay mare, two cows & calves, six head
of sheep, one sow six pigs & Rusia bore, two beds, bed steads &
bed furniture, one Bureau, one Cupboard, one folding Cherry
table,
one chest, four chairs, one set of plates, set of cups & saucers,
set of knives & forks, such of the casting as she wants for her
own use, at her own disposal. I further give unto my beloved wife
all the proceeds of the remaining perishable property which I may
die in possession of, which property not otherwise disposed of in
this instrument, shall be sold on a twelve months credit & kept
to
her use during life. At her death if there be a remainder, it to
be dived among the children. My land whereon I now live I give to
my daughter Rachael Kyle & Robert Kyle, her husband, containing
two hundred and ten acres down to the Road called Cove road, be
the same more or less, on this condition so Robert Kyle to pay
five hundred & fifty dollars within five years next after being
possessed of said farm to be paid in the following manner.
To Betsy Klepper on order one hundred dollars, To Patsy McCause
one hundred dollars. To Nancy Klepper one hundred dollars. To
Polly Gillenwaters Two hundred dollars & the remaining fifty
dollars to be paid to my four sons William, Robert, Joel & Thomas
Gillenwaters, each an equal part. I also give to Rachael one Bed,
Bedstead & furniture, one pot, one kettle, three ewes & lambs. I
give and bequeath unto my youngest daughter Sally Simmons a tract
of land containing thirty acres more or less adjoining the tract
I
live on, on Molsbee's branch. Beginning on a white oak, William
Gillenwater's corner, near the mouth of Molsbees branch then with
Cove road to my old line & Molsbee's line then crossing the
Branch
various courses to the beginning. I also give Sally one Bed, Bed
stead & furniture one large kettle. And I give to my daughter
Polly a kettle. I give to Calvin M Gillenwaters, my grand-son,
three ewes & lambs & one bed, bed-stead, & furniture and further
the crop being now commenced for this year by Robert Kyle &
Calvin
Gillenwaters. Robert is to have two thirds of all that may be
raised and Calvin one third by their continuing to work together
until the crop is finished & to have what bacon & corn it will
require to do them this year of what we have on hand. My great
coat
I give to Calvin. All of my other clothing to be give to my
beloved
wife. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my
seal.
This 30" day of March, In the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and forty one.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of____________{Seal}
____ A codicil.________I further desire that James G Simmons be
appointed my Executor and Administrator and that he make no sale
of of any goods or chattle until in August next. Also that said
Simmons be not required to give security in this matter. Also I
give to my youngest son Thomas my family Bible. I desire that
this shall be considered a part of my last will, and to be good
and
valid in fee simple.
_________In witness where of I have hereunto set my hand the day
and
year above written.
Att__________________________________Thos Gillenwaters___{Seal}
William Gillenwaters
David Patterson
Geo Gillenwaters
[Ed. note: Thomas' will is filed in the Hawkins County
Courthouse in Will Book, Volume I, (1797-1886), page 223. The
relationship of the witnesses in the will is unknown and probably lost
forever. One could visualize that William and Geo Gillenwaters were
his nephews, the sons of his brother, William, who had died eight
years earlier, and that David Patterson was a son-in-law to Thomas'
old friend James Simmons.]