Will of Cary Harrison
Shelby County, Tennessee

 

Filed and Entered at Nov Tenn 1865

Recorded in Will Book A, Page 232

Proven by A. Rutland

In the name of God Amen I Cary Harrison in my right mind and memory.  But labouring under disease of body and limbs.  And knowing the uncertainty of life but the certainty of death.  And desiring to make provisions for the support and comefort of My Wife Elizabeth S Harrison and my children – Mary A S Harrison, William David Harrison, Martha E M Harrison, Rebecca James Harrison, James C Harrison all my Legal heirs

1P. I want all of my Lawful debts paid.

2P.  I want my property to remain as it is at present and under the controll of my wife Elizabeth S Harrison during her natural life or so long as she may remain my widow.

3P.  My property consists in Land, Negroes & Stock.  The Negroes Lewis 50 years old, Manser 50, Ben 40, Elie 35, Tom 28, Colman 34, Reuben 30, George 25, Joe 21, Linda 48 years old, Lydice 40, Serene 27, Fredone 22, Mary Easther 22, Marinda 17, Tennessee 21, Mack 12, Henry 12, Findly 12, Santer (?) 9, Isaac 4, Arthur 2, Jane 9, Anser 8, Laurs 4, Emoline 3, Samuel 1, Lucy 2, Virge 6 months, Tareilla 4 years old, in all Things in number .  My lands embrace the tract on which I live 4th I lone to my wife Elizabeth S during her natural life or widowhood all of my property of every discreption to use and manage to the best of her judgement in the Same manner as I have heretofore.

5th If any of the negroes should be guilty of imprudent conduct I want my wife to sell them and lay the proceeds out for the use of the family And should my wife wish to sell the land that she is at this time living on and move to some other place I hereby authorise her to do so and buy other land for the benefit of herself and children And in other word I empower her to act in every particular that may be to her best interest and interest of my children

6th  If my wife should marry before my youngest child becomes of age. I want the property taken out of her posesion and the business managed by a proper person appointed by Court.  And when my youngest child becomes of age I then want and equal division of all effects equally divided among them  And should my wife Elizabeth remain my widow at that time then I want her to have an equal distribution made with her and my children and She may dispose of her portion as she may desire  If either of My children should die after receiving their quota of property and leave no lawful heir of Their body the property shall avert back to Their Sisters and Brothers or the legal heirs of their bodies

Given under my hand and seal this 10th day of March A D 1852

        Test                                                                      His

                                                                        Cary    X    Harrison

U. A. Shorter                                                                Mark

A. Rutland

Lack of punctuation, use of capitals, misspelling is the way the words appeared in the actual text of the will.

 

Submitted by Lisa Arnwine