CLAIBORNE COUNTY, TENNESSEE Will Book, Volume 1Will of SILAS WILLIAMS, SR., deceased State of Tennessee, Claiborne County I, Silas Williams, Sr., do make and publish this as my last will and testament as follows, to wit.
Item 1st, I will my soul to God who give it.
Item 2nd, I direct that my funeral expenses and all my debts be paid as soon after my death as possible, out of monies that I may die possessed of, or that first come into the hands of my Executors.
Item 3rd, it is my will that my Executor set free, as soon as possible after my death, the following named slaves, on condition they comply with the laws of the l and in such case made and provided, viz, two twin boys, Daniel and Calvin, aged 16 years the 7th of March last; and Dicey, aged 18 years the 9th August last; also Elizabeth, aged about 30 years; and that they assume the name of Weaver, having previously emancipated and freed their mother and all the children.
Item 4th, it is my will that my land and all my personal property be sold on a twelve month’s credit, and the proceeds equally divided amongst my lawful surviving children, namely, Sarah Capps, William Williams, and David Williams’ heirs to have one dollar; Silas Williams, Jr. Clarissy Brassfield, Nancy Ridenout, John Williams, Frederick Williams, Susanna Pitman, James Williams, all the above named heirs except David Williams’ heirs, is to share equal in the proceeds of my property, both real and personal.
Item 5th, it is my will that the two boys, David and Calvin, have the privilege of putting ten mares to a horse and to have the colts.
Item 6th, it is my will that my Executor have Daniel, Calvin and Dicy educated so as to read, and the expenses to be paid out of the proceeds of my property.
Item lastly, I do hereby nominate and appoint Silas Williams, Jr. and Robert J. Russell, my Executors. In witness whereof, I do to this my will set my hand and seal this 2nd day of November 1847. Test: William Williams Edward Russell Silas Williams, Sr.
Sale of the Estate of SILAS WILLILAMS, SR., deceased Buyers were: David Ridenour – rifle gun and bar of iron $2.90
Lorany Weaver – pot and knife box $1.35; oven $.25; hammer and augur $.25; shovel $.32; pot trammel $.36; smoothing iron $.31; foot adze $.32; law book $.41; three yearlings and grindstone $11.31; claim of hogs and sorrel mare $65.00
Gilbert Weaver – variety of small irons $.22; hand saw $.11; kettle $1.00; 116 dozen oats $9.86; hackle $1.53
Melinda Weaver – pot and quantity of flax $1.15
R. I. Russell – two old ploughs and two books $.45
N. D. Cain – smoothing iron $.33; book $.05
B. F. Williams – pair of steelyards $1.06; quantity of salted pork $2.23; 100 acres of land $153.00; canoe $1.25
Thomas Eads – table and three chairs $.35; cow $7.10; sheep $.30; loom $.25; bar of iron $.42; broad axe $.33 ¾
Nicholas Sharp – cow and bell $8.00
Joseph Hunter – kettle and book $4.50
John Cox – pair of sheep shears $.10
L. Billingsley – book $.16
John Hickle – three books $.10; bed and furniture $5.57
Lucinda Weaver – book $.20
Jesse Rogers – three books $.06
Calvin Weaver – chest $.25
E. J. Odell – pair of hames and single tree $.10; plough and mowing scythe $.20
Nancy Ann Smith – claim of sheep $8.05; two barrels $1.75
Total amount received from sale of the estate was $311.34, this 2nd day of February 1852.
Silas Williams, Jr., Executor
Settlement by SILAS WILLIAMS, JR., Executor of the Estate of SILAS WILLIAMS, SR., deceased Amount of inventory and account of sales $311.34 ¾ Paid Wiley Huffaker receipt $2.72 ½ Paid clerk’s fee $3.50 Paid Executor charges for his trouble winding up the estate $15.55
Leaves a balance of 4287.57 remaining in the hands of the Guardian, this 25th day of September 1853.
Thomas J. Johnson, Clerk
