Will (& Inventory) of Alexander Ewing 06 Jun 1822 Davidson Co., TN TEXT OF THE WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ALEXANDER EWING 6 June 1822--Davidson County, Tennessee  I  Alexander Ewing of Davidson County in the State of Tennessee do make and publish my last will and testament as follows: 1st.  I give to my beloved wife Sally during her natural life, one third part of all the lands I possess in Davidson County including the mansion house, out houses, and all other building on the tract of land whereon I  now reside to be laid off  by my executors hereinafter named. Also I give to her during her natural life the use of one-half of the stock upon my farm and farming utensils to be divided by my said executors, also the whole of the household and kitchen furniture with the exception of beds and bed furniture which are to be equally divided by my said executors between her and her three sons Alexander, Randal McGavock, and William Black, taking into such division the beds and bed furniture which have recently been given to Randal and Alexander or which may be given to them previous to my death. It being my desire that my wife should not be restricted in the disposition or sale of any of the above personal property bequeathed to her aforesaid, but that she should sell or dispose of such part thereof, as she may think necessary or proper. Also I give to her during her natural life one-half of all the slaves of which I may die possessed except those hereinafter specifically bequeathed to be divided by my said executors. 2nd.  I give to my son James Ewing and his heirs forever a tract of land on Smiths Fork of Caney Creek in Wilson County containing six hundred and forty acres, also a tract of land on Elk river in Franklin County containing six hundred and forty acres, also the slaves now in his possession, to wit, George and Sarah his wife, Lucy, Polly, Peggy, Washington, and Jack together with their increase. Also twenty-five shares of the capital stock of the Bank of the State of Tennessee. 3rd.  I give to my son Alexander Ewing and his heirs forever one-half of the tract of land in Williamson County near Franklin containing five hundred and thirty-eight acres; also two Lots or parts of lots in the town of Nashville on Water Street which were conveyed by Hall and W. Nairy to C. Stump, by him to Thomas Shute, and by him to me, also the following slaves:  Andrew and his wife Milly and her children, Cynthia excepted, also Tom, Phillis, Henry, and Rhoda--also twenty-five shares of the capital stock of the Bank of the State of Tennessee. 4th.  I give to my son Randal McGavock Ewing and his heirs forever the other half of said tract of land of five hundred and thirty-eight acres to be equally divided as to quality and quantity between him and Alexander by my said executors should I not make a division between them in my lifetime. Also a part of Lot no. 6 in the town of Nashville on Water Street including Stump's Warehouse which was conveyed by James Trimble also by Thomas Shute to me. Also the following slaves, to wit, Caesar and China his wife and her children, also Phoebe, Ezekial, Bob and Judy--also 50 shares of the bank stock of the Nashville Bank. 5th.  I give to my son William Black Ewing and his heirs forever the tract of land whereon I now live in Davidson County containing about five hundred acres subject to the life estate of my beloved wife therein before mentioned; also sixty acres of land on Stones River in Rutherford County, also the other half of the stock on my farm, and farming utensils, also upon the death of my beloved wife the stock, farming utensils, household and kitchen furniture which may then remain on my farm, the use and disposition of which is bequeathed to her as aforesaid, also the other half of my slaves of which I may die possessed as aforesaid with the exception of those specifically bequeathed and upon the death of my beloved wife the said slaves and their increase which are bequeathed to her during her lifetime, are to be equally divided by my said executors between my said sons Alexander, Randal McGavock, and William Black, also I give to my son William B. fifty shares of the capital stock of the Nashville Bank. 6th.  I give to my grandson, Alexander Ewing McGavock, and his heirs forever a tract of land containing 320 acres on Loosa Hatchee River in the eleventh district in Range 2 Sec. 4. 7th.  I give to my grandson Oscar Smith Ewing and his heirs forever a tract of land containing three hundred acres in the eleventh district in Range 3 Sec. 7. 8th.  I give to my grandaughter Nancy Kent McGavock and her heirs forever my negro girl slave named Cynthia and her increase provided my said grandaughter should live to attain the age of eighteen years or should marry, but should neither of these events happen the said slave and her increase are to be divided with the residue of my estate hereinafter mentioned. 9th.  I give to my son William B. my gold watch. 10th.  All the rest and residue of my lands not herein before specifically divided, I give to my sons James, Alexander, Randal McGavock, and William Black and their heirs forever. 11th.  All the rest and residue of my personal estate of every description not herein specifically bequeathed after the payment of my just debts I give and bequeath to my beloved wife and my sons Alexander, Randal McGavock, and William Black and their heirs forever. 12th.  All the aforesaid devises and bequests to my son Alexander Ewing are to depend on the contingency that he does not marry Sarah Jefferson, and in the event that he should not comply with my desire in that particular and should marry her, he is to take nothing under this will but all and every the devises and bequests to him are thereupon to vest in my sons Randal McGavock and William Black and their heirs, and lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my friends Alvin B. Hayes and William L. Brown and my son Alexander Ewing Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all others by me heretofore made. In the division of that part of my estate respecting which my son Alexander is a legatee or devisee he is not to act. And I do hereby direct that my said executors shall not be required to give bond and security previous to their taking Letters Testamentary. Vc Witness my hand and seal this 6th February 1822. Alexander Ewing [seal] Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of us, Mac McGavock Robert W. Green Jacob Perkins ------------------------------------------------------------------------ State of Tennessee Davidson County Court April Sessions 1822 A paper purporting to be the last will and testament of Alexander Ewing deceased was produced in open court and proved thus. Jacob MacGavock and Robert W. Green two of the subscribing witnesses being duly sworn say they became such in the presence of the testator and at his request and that they believe he was in his right mind at the time of the executing said paper writing. It is therefore ordered that the same be entered of record as such will of said Alexander Ewing deceased and thereupon Alvin B. Hayes, William Brown, and Alexander Ewing Ins. The executors named in said will came into court and qualified as such ordered that they have letters testamentary granted to them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Alexander Ewing Dec. Inventory Recorded June 6th 1822 An inventory of the personal estate of Alexander Ewing deceased: 29 slaves to wit Orange and his wife Lydia, Jerry and his wife Jinney and her nine children, to wit: Sookey, Syleria, Levin, Hulda, Matilda, Jinsey, Milton, Mitchell, and Tennessee--John, Humphrey, and George, children of Sookey--Turner, Andrew, and Caroline, children of Sylvia, Nancy or Nanny and her three children Frederick or Fed, Jim and Thornton, Susannah or Sous and her two children Harry and Marion, Daniel, John, Phil--14 head of horses including one colt, 49 head of cattle including calves, 100 head of sheep including lambs, 122 hogs and pigs, 3 deer, 1 wagon and gear, 1 ox cart, 7 ploughs, 7 axes, 12 weeding hoes, 2 stone hammers, 40tt iron, 3 cradles & 5 scythes, 1 crosscut saw, 1 hand saw, several augers, chisels, and carpenter tools, spades, 3 shovels, 3 harrows, 6 barrels salt, 200tt sugar, 40tt coffee, 100tt dried beef, 400tt hog lard, 50tt tallow, 5 cotton wheels, 2 flax wheels, 2 cribs corn containing 400 barrels by estimation, 6 stacks fodder, and some hay--and a quantity of unthrashed oats and rye. Household furniture, one clock, 1 rifle, one shot gun, 6 beds bedsteads and furniture, and kitchen furniture. A quantity of bacon, some picked cotton, near a barrel of whiskey, some l eather and other small articles convenient for housekeeping, $899 in bank paper, $90.25 in silver, $10 in gold, $989--the following bonds and notes 1 executed by Robert Gorman, Shadrack Jarman, and A. Harris for $1000 dated 21 April 1818 and due April 1821 with a credit of $43.32 cents endorsed on 13 Dec. 1821, and another credit of $550 endorsed on 20 March 1821. One other bond executed by the same persons of the same date due 21st April 1822 for $1000. Thos. Childress bound to A. Ewing for $317.12 dated 3d May 1820 due 60 days thereafter--One other bond executed by said Childress by his attorney R. W. Green for $474 57/100 dated 7th January 1822 due 60 days after date--also an order drawn by Tho. Childress in favor of Robert M. Green for $50 which was paid by said Ewing for said Childress on 18th March 1820, W. B. Ballentine of Kentucky bond to said Ewing for $30 dated 30th May 1821 due 1 Dec. Thereafter--C. Giles, Geo. Elliot, and James Jackson note to said Ewing for $1000 dated 10th September 1819 payable on or before first June ensuing in the hands of Wm. Hadley for collection--One bond on Stump and Cox and others to Alexander Ewing dated 30 March 1819 at 6 mo. For $9200 in suit, and respecting which it is believed some agreement was made by said Ewing in his lifetime--one note on T. H. Fletcher endorsed by G. E. Washington dated 30th July 1819 at 15 days for $250 in suit against endorser--one note on Stump and Cox endorsed by C. Stump for $1060 dated 13 April 1819 due first May thereafter in suit C. Stump, respecting this also it is believed some agreement was made by same Ewing in his lifetime. A. B. Hayes for self & W. L Brown Alex C. Ewing [Seal] State of Tennessee Davidson County Court 1822 The foregoing inventory of the estate of Alexander Ewing, deceased, was returned into court by Alvin B. Hayes, William L. Brown, and Alexander C. Ewing his executors Vc. and ordered to be be recorded. ==================================================================== 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. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: CarolSue Hair ====================================================================