First I direct that my body be decently interred in a manner suitable to my condition in life and that all my Debts be paid out of any money I may be possessed of or that may first come into the hands of my executor from any portion of my estate r__ or personal.
Secondly, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Dorcas if she should be the longest liver, all my houses and lands that I have and three negros namely Jo, Esther & Martin, my wagon and team, with the gearing and all other necessary farming tools that she may think she needs with the household and kitchen furniture.___ and as many of the stock Cattle hogs and sheep as she thinks she needs, also for better support all the ___ (money?) on hand at that time, all to remain hers during her natural life, after her death, to be sold and divided so as to make an equal division amongst my children.
Thirdly, I bequeth and give to my daughter Polly __ Looney, John Guest, Elizabeth Woods, William Guest, Moses Guest, Lilly Ann Hubbard, Dorcas Messick and Sarah Lusk. Moses I have given by deed of gift a negro man named Jo. The balance of my negroes and other property to be equally divided amongst the rest of my children that are named above until they are all made equal with Moses if there should be so much and if any over Moses to be equal sharer with the rest. And my grandson Moses Perryman, if he should be a living, I want him to have a fifty dollar horse beast.
I do here make , order and appoint my beloved son William Executor of this my Last Will and Testament. I want him to choose five disinterested persons that are judges ___ property to value the negroes. Three of which may act and the said persons I want to set each negroes name with the valuation there of on a separate piece of paper all to be put into a hat and then same ------ or disinterested person to draw them out and after five to name each legatees name and lot as they are drawn out, begining at the oldest as they are named above. Old Jo & Esther I don’t want parted. I want them used well for the good they have done and I don’t wish them to go out of the family.
In witness here of I Moses Guest the said Testator have to this my will written on one sheet of paper set my hand and Seal this 17th day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty Three.
Moses Guest Seal
Signed Sealed and Published in presence of us, who have subscribed in the presence of the Testator and of each other.
Alfred Braley
John Braley
Columbus Braley
This transcription was taken from a copy of the record of “Moses Guest’s Will” which was obtained in August 1997 by Larry W Johnson, descendant of Moses Guest. The copy came from the Grundy County Court House located at, Altamont, Grundy County, Tennessee, (Will Book 1, Pages 2 and 2B). The practice of the day was for the court clerk to transcribe the contents of the actual will into the County Court Record (Will Books). The actual will was not located.
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