Will of William Reeves, Sr.
Smith County, Tennessee
Will Book 6, Pg 214
25 Feb 1837
I William Reeves Sr. being of Sound and perfect mind and memory & heath (?) do make and publish This my last Will and Testament in manner and form following to Wit
1st My will is that my Executors as soon after my death as practicable Shall pay and discharged (sic) all my Just debts.
2nd My Will is that after all my Just debts are paid my Executor shall distribute and divide all the rest and residue of my property and Estate both real and personal which I may own or be possessed of at my death amongst my Children as follows to wit: Whereas my son William Reeves Jr. has already recd the tract of land which I purchased of Lot Hagard lying in Hazard bend of Cumberland River, & has a deed for the same made to him by the said Lot Hagard, which I consider a sufficient advancement and provision for him the said William Jr. out of my Estate, Now my Will is that he the Said William Jr. shall not have any more or other portion of my estate unless he the said William Jr. shall during my life time sell said tract of land & give the price or value thereof back into my hands again to become a part of my Estate again. Then and in that Case my will is that he Shall share equally with the rest of my Children in the following manner that is to say.
My executors shall after paying my debts as aforesaid ascertain the value of my whole Estate either by valuation sale or otherwise as he or They shall in their discretion shall think best, and shall divide the same into as many equal share as will be equal to The Number of my Children who may be entitled to any part of my Estate. My said Executors shall then set apart and lay off one fourth of one of the shares so divided as aforesaid and shall give said one fourth of one share to the Children of my Daughter Polly now decd. to be divided amongst all of said Children equally to have and to hold said one forth of a Share to them and their Heirs forever.
My Executors shall then add the remaining three fourths of the share after giving off one fourth to the Children of Daughter Polly as aforesaid to all the other shares, including all my property both real & personal except one dollar to be hereafter disposed of ~ and shall proceed to distribute and divide The whole of the balance of said shares including Said three fourths of a Share equally and in equal portions amongst my sons John Reeves, Moses Reeves & my Daughter Elizabeth Oliver and son son William Reeves Jr. provided he sells the land aforesaid and gives the price or value thereof back to me in my life time, to become apart of my Estate in manner aforesaid otherwise if he does not sell said land give back to me The price as aforesaid then in that Case he the said William Jr. is to have no other or further share or part of my Estate but the land aforesaid ~ And my son Simeon Reeves is to share equally with all the last mentioned children provided he lives and arrives to the age of Twenty One Years, but if he dies before he arrives to that age Then in that Case then his share shall be equally divided between the said John, Moses & Elizabeth & the said William Jr is to get an equal Share with the rest out of the share of the said Simeon in case of his death before he arrives to the age of Twenty One Years as aforesaid provided he the said William Sells the land aforesaid and gives back the price or Value thereof to me in my life time as aforesaid, otherwise not. I give and bequeath to my present wife Dicey Reeves One dollar & no more to her & her Heirs forever ~
Lastly I nominate my son in law Horace Oliver sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other or former Wills & Testaments by me heretofore made.
In Testimoney whereof I sign Seal and publish This my last Will and Testament in presence of the subscribing Witnesses this 25th day of February 1837.
his
William X Reeves (Seal)
mark
Signed in Our presence
Leml Toleston JP §
John Stevens Jrt §
V B Hubbard ∗∗ §
In the name of the State of Tennessee
To the worshipful County Court of
Smith County, The Contest touching The validity of the last Will and Testament of William Reeves &c deceased lately pending in the Circuit Court of Smith County has terminated so, you can proceed with the probate of said will as directed by the statutes &c Witness William Hart clerk of Smith Circuit Court, at office 2d Janry 1839
Will Hart Clerk
In the Name of the State of Tennessee
To the Worshipfull County Court of Smith County The last Contest touching the validity of the last Will and Testament of William Reaves Sr. deceased lately pending in the Circuit Court of Smith County has terminated like the first & Dismissed for want of prosecution. So you Can proceed with the probate of said Will as directed by the Statutes &C Witness
(W?) Hart clk Smith Cirt Court 3 May 1839 § Will Hart clk