GIBSON COUNTY, TN - WILLS - Mark Crocker 1858 ======================================================================================= 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: Barry Crocker ==================================================================================== Mark Crocker b. 19 January 1788, Spartanburg District, South Carolina d. 5 April 1858, Gibson Co., Tennessee Married (1) Martha E. Bates and (2) Martha Mourning Adams Hammons Last Will & Testament 1857 (Filed at Gibson County Courthouse, Trenton, Gibson County, Tennessee & transcribed July 1998 by Max A. Crocker, Lexington, KY and Gary Crocker, Huntington Beach, CA ) I Mark Crocker of Gibson County and State of Tennessee, being in delicate health, but of a sound mind, and fully capable of disposing of my worldly effects according to my wish, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all wills by me at any time heretofore made, and first I direct that my body be decently Interred, in a manner suitable to my condition in life, and as to my worldly estate as it hath pleased God to entrust me with, I dispose of the same as follows - Firstly I direct that all my just debts and burial expenses be paid as soon after my decease as possible out of any moneys that I may be possessed of, or that may first come into the hands of my executor from any portion of my estate real or personal, Secondly I lend unto my beloved wife Moring Crocker during her natural life my Negro girl Mary. I give unto my wife the following property (viz) one good horse and one side saddle, I give her also the following notes of hand, (and direct my executor to collect the same and pay it over to my wife as soon as convenient after they fall due) our note on I. H. Day & R C Henley for Ten dollars due the 9th of Oct 1857 our note on W N Hammonds for Twelve dollars due 26th Dec. 1857 our note on C C Hammonds Seventy dollars & 30 cents due 26th December 1857 our note on J W Conner & David Conner fourteen dollars & 60 cents due 26th December 1857 our note on A. M. Will & C C Hammonds for four dollars & 17cents due 26th Dec 1857 our note on J M Witherspoon & A G Pearco Two dollars and 20 cents due 25th December 1857 our note on J B Driskill for one dollar and 20 cents due 25th December 1857 and our note on Thomas H Witherspoon for forty dollars due 22nd July 1857 all of Said note were taken for property sold, belonging to my wife before our marriage. I give and bequeath unto my said wife in addition to the above, three beds Steads, and furniture sufficient for the three beds Six choice chairs one folding table, one cupboard & one bureau (the ones that she brought to my house) all the table and kitchen furniture that she brought to my house after our marriage Thirdly it is my will and desire that my Son Benjamin H Crocker go to School ten months and be paid for out of my estate, Fourthly, I direct that my Son Benjamin H aforesaid have one good Horse Saddle and Bridle, and that my Three Sons Asalom P. Alfred G, and Benjamin H, have each one feather bed and furniture. Fifthly I direct that as soon after the crop can be finished & gathered that may be growing on my farm at my decease that my executor give good and Sufficient notice by advertizement and that he sell to the highest bidder on Twelve months credit all the personal property including all my negroes except the one loaned to my wife & such of the other property as is otherwise disposed of and soon as possible after the collection of the Sale money & such other moneys as may be due my estate I direct that an equal distribution of the same be made by my executor between my beloved wife Morning Crocker & and all of my children (viz) Edwin H Crocker, F. M. Crocker Elias H Crocker Rufus C Crocker A. L. Crocker Wm L Crocker, A.P. Crocker, Cullen J Crocker A. G. Crocker & Benjamin H. Crocker, and my two grand Daughters Martha E. and Nancy C. Hancock, the children of my Daughter Irena Hancock dec'd is to have the distribution share of their Mother equally divided between them. Sixthly I further direct that my executor after giving a reasonable notice by advertizement that he proceed to sell to the highest bidder on one Two and three years credit requiring the purchaser to give bond and security for the money & retain a lien on the same until the purchase money is paid all of my land & I further direct that as each payment falls due and is collected, that my executor, make an equal distribution of the same between my above names wife and children as directed Above, my two grand daughters receiving the distribution share of their dec'd Mother. So that there shall be an equal distribution between my wife & my children above named. Seventhly at the death of my aforesaid wife I direct that my negro girl Mary as loaned to her during her natural life With her increase (should there be any) return to my estate and after a reasonable notice by advertisement she be sold to the highest bidder on a credit of Twelve months and the money equally divided between my Children above named my Two Grand Daughters receiving their Dec'd Mothers distribution share of the same Eighthly my will and desire is that at the Sale of my land it be sold in two lots, the tract of 320 acres on which I now reside be sold in one lot, and the other tract of 175 acres be sold in the other lot/- Lastly, I do hereby make, ordain, and appoint, my Two beloved Sons, Edwin H Crocker & R C Crocker Executors of this my last will and Testament, in witness whereof I the testator have to this my last will and testament written on one sheet of paper Set my hand and seal this 29th day of May one thousand eight hundred fifty seven. Signed and published in the presence of us, who have Subscribed in the presence of the Testator Signature below assigned William Stone William E. Stone Mark Crocker (seal)