Wills Index

Will of James Blair - 1827
Submitted By: Jennifer Sparks

In the name of God Amen. I James Blair, of the County of Roane and State of Tennessee, being weak in body, but blessed be God, being sound in memory and also in judgment at this time, do make and acknowledge this to be my last Will and Testament.

First: If it should please God to take me out of this world, I recommend my soul to him who gave it to me, and my body to be decently buried.

Secondly: I give and bequeath to my loving wife, my black woman named Nelly, and her oldest daughter named Sally, together with their increase. And likewise the boy named Lewis, the second son of the black girl named Eady. And likewise my stock of horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. I give to her together with their increase to dispose of as she may think proper, so that she makes the three youngest boys equal to the two oldest by giving each one horse. I also allow her to have all the debts that is coming to me together with the money that I have on hand, with what the ferry may make and also the place that I now live on until the law suit is decided. And after the decision of said suit, she is to pay all costs and debts that will be against me. And if there be any balance of money left, she can dispose of it to the children as she may think best. If the land on the south side of the river should be lost, then I allow my wife and brother Hugh, to move to the old place and to have possession thereof during their natural life. And my sons, Allen, Hugh and Wiley are to have the profits of the ferry on the north side of the river equally and all the land on the north side after the death of my wife and brother Hugh to be equally divided between them. And Wiley to have the old place, and if the land on the south side should be gained or recovered by law or any means, then I allow my son Wiley to have all the land I hold on the south side of the river with all the proceeds that may arise thereof after the decision of the suit. And I allow William, Allen and Hugh, my sons to have all the my land and ferry on the north side of the river, equal between them, still reserving the possession and maintenance of my wife Jeney and my brother Hugh during their life.

Thirdly: I do bequeath to my brother Hugh a certain Negro boy named Jack to be his during his lifetime and after his decease to go to my son John as a compensation for coined money.

Fourthly: I give and bequeath to my son John two black boys named Lewis and Henry, children of Carley and Creasy, and in case the land on the south side of the river should be lost I allow him one and a half of the money coming from Charles McClung and one half of the money that will be due me from the state for said land and damages that may be recovered.




Fifthly: I bequeath to my son William two negroes, the man named Carter and his wife Cresee and the other half of the money as is stated in the bequeath to John Blair on the same condition.

Sixthly: I bequeath to Isabella Reaser my daughter, two black girls, one named Frank and the other Betsy to her and her heirs forever.

Seventhly: I bequeath to my daughter Betsy Sextis/Leslie(?) to her and her heirs forever, on negro girl named Lucy and the child she now has, a boy named Mark with the interest I hold on the lots that she now lives on in Philadelphia, Monroe County.

Eighthly: I bequeath to my son Allen Blair, one Negro boy named Isaac and Negro girl named Amanda.

Ninthly: I bequeath to my son Hugh one Negro boy named George and one girl named Hester.

Tenthly: I bequeath to my son Wiley three Negroes; one boy named Calvin, one girl named Harriet and one girl named Daupheny.

The balance of the negroes, namely Charlotte, Edey and Rufus, I leave to my wife to divide amongst my children as she thinks proper. And lastly I appoint my friend James Johnson and my son John Blair executors and my wife Jeny executrix of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this fifth day of November 1826.

Attest Thos Johnson Thomas Robinson James Blair Seal