CROCKETT COUNTY, TN - WILLS - Branch Surname ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Natalie Huntley ==================================================================== CROCKETT COUNTY, TN - WILLS - Branch Surname Copyright (c) 2000 by Natalie Huntley . This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. NHuntley@aol.com ------------------------------------------------------------------- I have transcribed these wills as they were written, and to the best of my ability. The wills are listed in order of their date of probate, and are for the following people: Howell Branch - 1891 Mrs. Martha J. (Mattie) Branch - 1912 H. R. Branch - 1936 Mrs. Virginia A. Branch - 1946 ==================================================================== HOWELL BRANCH - Will - Probated April Term 1891 Minute Book E page 466 Know all men by these presents: That I HOWELL BRANCH of the County of Crockett and state of Tennessee, Considering the uncertainly of this life and being of Sound mind a Memory: do make and declare and publish this my last Will and testament revoking any and all others: First having heretofore provided for my nine children by deeds of gifts of land and other property which I deem in every way sufficient and yet entertaining toward each one of them a fathers love and kindly rememberance, I bequeath to each one the sum of one dollar. Second I give devise and bequeath to my beloved wife MARINA all the residue or remainder of my estate Real personal or mixed of which I shall die seized and possesed or to which I shall be entitled at the time of decease to have and to hold the same to her for her sole use and benefit forever revoking any and all rights my children may or should claim under the dower or homestead laws. I do nominate and appoint my son HUMPHREY R. BRANCH to be the sole Executor of this my last will and testament without giving any security. In testimoney whereof I hereby to set my hand and seal and publish and decree this to be my last will and testament in presence of the witnesses named below this the 30 day of Jan. in the year of our lord one Thousand eight Hundred and Ninty one 1891. HOWELL BRANCH Signed sealed declared and published by the said HOWELL BRANCH as and for his last will and testament, in presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto. W. S. MOODY residing in Crockett County J. D. MOODY residing in Crockett County Attest J. B. HUMPHREYS ==================================================================== MRS. MATTIE J. BRANCH - Will - Probated December Term 1912 M. B. "9" Page __ In the [name] of God Amen - I, MARTHA J. BRANCH of Crockett County Tennessee, being of Sound & disposing mind & memory, do hereby make & publish this my last Will & testament. I give & bequeath to my three children , ORA CARTER, JOHN DIXIE BRANCH & HOWELL BRANCH my entire estate both personal & realty, share & share alike. I hereby nominate & appoint CARY CARTER & my son JOHN DIXIE BRANCH my executors & waive both oath & bond. This April 23rd 1912 MATTIE J. BRANCH On this the 23rd day of April 1912, MARTHA J. BRANCH, the maker of the foregoing will & testament signed the same in our presence & acknowledged it as such & requested us to sign as witnesses, which we did in her presence & in the presence of each other. This April 23rd 1912 C. H. FOX L. R. McKNIGHT Attest a true copy R. L. CONYERS Clerk Co. Ct ==================================================================== Will of H. R. BRANCH - Probated Dec. 14, 1936 Maury City, Tenn. May 10, 1935 I, H. R. BRANCH of Crockett County, Tenn., being of sound mind, do hereby make this, my last will and testament. I give, bequeath and devise all of my property, both real and personal, to my wife, VIRGINIA A. BRANCH. The real estate consisting of one farm situated in the 14th Civil District of Crockett County, Tenn., containing 105 acres, and other land in said District being one share of the HOWELL BRANCH land and containing 34 acres. My home place situated in Dist. No. 10 of Crockett County, and containing about 140 acres. I do this believing that my wife VIRGINIA A. BRANCH, can make a more equitable division of all of our property among our children than would be possible for me to do at this time considering my own property alone. I do hereby appoint my wife, VIRGINIA A. BRANCH executrix without bond, for this, my last will and testament. Signed, this 10th day of May, 1935. H. R. BRANCH Witnesses: W. C. LANIER A. C. JENNINGS ==================================================================== The following is extracted from the will of MRS. VIRGINIA A. BRANCH, and includes all names mentioned in said will. Will of MRS. VIRGINIA A. BRANCH - Probated May 21, 1946 I, MRS. VIRGINIA A. BRANCH, of Crockett County, TN, being of sound mind and disposing memory... do make and publish this my last will and testament... Mentions: To my daughter, MRS. REBECCA BRANCH THOMPSON, three tracts of land. Tract No. 1 is in the 14th civil district of Crockett Co., and bounded on the north by MRS. J. S. (DIXIE) THOMPSON or Black Creek; on the east by CLAUDE PRIVETT and JOHN DIXIE BRANCH; on the South by the Johnson's Grove - Frog Jump Public Rd.; on the West by the Old Railroad bed or right of way, or the lands of HALIBURTON, VERNA CLARK, School Field, MRS. AMOS ROBERTSON, MRS. BROOKS SUTTON, and contains 105 acres, more or less. Tract No. 2, bounded on the North by MRS. AMOS ROBERTSON and MRS. BROOKS SUTTON, on the east by the old Railroad bed or tract No. 1; on the South by the Johnson's Grove - Frog Jump public road; on the west by DICK JOHNSON and contains 26 acres, more or less. Tract No. 3 is bounded on the North by Black Creek, or the lands of the AL BUFORD estate; on the west by MRS. AMOS ROBERTSON and MRS. BROOKS SUTTON; on the south by the HENRY HALIBURTON land; on the west by the KING lands, containing 8 acres, more or less. All tracts are in the 14th Civil District of Crockett Co., TN, and were devised to me by will of my deceased husband, H. R. BRANCH. To my daughter, MRS. RUTH BRANCH LEE, a tract of land in the 10th Civil District of Crockett Co., TN, bounded on the North by MRS. MARY E FERGUSON allotted to her out of the estate of J. B PARKER and the lands of ELI JORDAN; on the east by MRS. A. F. LUCAS allotted to her out of the J. B. PARKER estate; on the south by the South Fork of the Forked Deer River; on the west by the West Fork of the Forked Deer River, containing 140 acres, more or less. This is the same tract of land allotted to me out of the estate of my father, J. B. PARKER. It is here recited that the reason why I have not devised any real estate to my son JAMES H. BRANCH by this will is because I have heretofore executed and delivered to him a deed to certain lands... making an approximately equal division of my real estate among my children. To my son JAMES H. BRANCH, a pair of matched mules being worked on my farms; one of these mules is named John and the other _____; one of these mules is a black Horse Mule and the other is a Blue Horse Mule; they are 10 to 12 years old and are a matched pair of mules which work together. Also the harness and fittings for these said two mules... all the farming tools... including plows, ropes, cultivators, etc., and all other farming tools. All personal property to be divided between my three children. Executor: my son JAMES H. BRANCH Signed... this the 13th day of July 1940. MRS. VIRGINIA A. BRANCH Witnesses: HERBERT A. PERRY H. B. NANCE ====================================================================