William Lorance's Will

In the name of God, Amen. I William Lorance of the County of Carroll & State of Tennessee being in a low State of health but of a sound mind and memory but calling to mind the uncertainty of life & knowing it is appointed for all men once to die to make ordain & constitute the following to be my last will and Testament. First of all I give my soul to God & my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent and Christianlike manner & as to the earthly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me, I dispose of in the following manner to-wit. To my beloved wife Sarah I give all my personal estate during her widdowhood or untill my youngest child is twenty one years old or marries, then to be equally divided amongst all my children with this Exception that the boys have one hundred dollars more each than my Daughters after leaving my beloved Wife a sufficiency for her support during her lifetime. Lastly I do appoint my beloved wife my real Executrix of this my last Will & Testament.

Witness my hand this day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred & thirty five.

William Lawrance (Seal)

Attest: J.G. Williams
Wm. Gabbard

State of Tennessee)
Carroll County) March Term 1836

This day the last will and Testament of William Lawrance was produced in open Court & the execution thereof was proven by J. G. Williams & Wm Gabbard the subscribing witness thereto and ordered in to bond in the sum of six thousand dollars with T. F. Ellen & H. Lawrance her securities & took oath prescribed by law.

A Copy test
G. Hern, Clerk

Recorded 23rd March 1836 by Joel R. Smith, D.C.