KNOX COUNTY, TN - WILLS - Smith Major, 20 Feb 1840
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Contributor's Note:  The following will is for my 3g-grandfather, Smith Major; 
he was married to Elizabeth Crippen in Virginia prior to their move to Knox 
Co.  Note that some of his wife's relatives were witnesses to the will.
I had a problem transcribing some of the wording near the edges of the page; 
to keep it flat while filming, some type of weight was laid on the edges of 
the original document, obscuring some of the text.  However, it is pretty 
much complete.

		------------------------------------

             July Session 1840
                Smith Major
The last will and Testament of Smith Major Dec'd.
was forwarded to court for probate.  Whereupon
John F. Crippen & James Crippen subscribing
witnesses being duly sworn in open court
? and say they were acquainted with Smith
Major the Testator and that they heard him make
publish and declare the same to be his
Last Will and Testament and saw him sign
and seal the same at the time it (obscured)
and that at the time of the signing and sealing the
same he was of sound mind and memory and ?
to the best of their knowledge and belief.
Therefore said will was admitted to record 
which is in the words and figures following To
State of Tennessee
Knox County    -       I, Smith Major,   
being of sound mind and perfect memory   
do make and publish this my last will and
Testament in manner and form following.
First, I lend unto my beloved wife, Elizabeth
Major, during her natural life the following
property.  My negro man, James, and all my personal
property, with the exception of what will be
my Just Debts together with all the land
I own.  Secondly, I will that all my debts be
paid as soon as possible.  I do also give to
my eldest daughter, Nancy Scaggs, one dollar 
I do also will and bequeath unto my four (grandkids?) 
Margaret Rhea?, Julian Chandler, and Sarah (word?)
and Susannah Smith each one dollar
each.  Said legacees or sums or money, I will and (obscured)
shall be paid to the said legatees within one (year?)
and three months after my death.  I also will and
order one dollar to be paid to my eldest son William
Major within fifteen months after my death.

I also will that after the death of my wife, that (my?)
land be equally divided between my other four (sons)
To wit:  John Major, George Major, Robert
Major, and Nicholas Major.   And I also will that 
land be so divided that one share will include
the buildings.  And I will and order that share
to Nicholas Major.  And I also will and order 
four of my sons namely John Major, George Major,
Robert Major, and Nicholas Major each pay to my
grand daughter Isabella Scaggs the sum of twelve dollars
and fifty cents and at the death of my wife
I will and order that all my personal property be sold
the money arising from the same to be equally
(divided?) between three of my daughters, vis Elizabeth,
Jane, and Margaret Major.  I do also appoint 
William Sawyers sole Executor of this my last will
and Testament hereby revoking all former wills
? made in witness hereof I have hereunto (set my?)
hand and affixed my seal this twentieth day 
of February in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred
and forty.  Sign, sealed, & published & declared by the
Smith Major to be his last will and testament in the (presence?)
of as who have hereunto subscribed our names
in the presence of Testator.
                                   Smith X Major
                                    (his mark)
John F. Crippen                    Hugh Hall (or Hale)
James Crippen                      Ellish Griles

Then the court produced legal wording/phrases and the bondsmen Thomas D. 
Gdall (Gault?) and William P. Crippen for two thousand dollars?