MARSHALL COUNTY, TN - COURT- Dower Petition of Patsy Willis, 1837 ==================================================================== 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 transcribed by TNMARSHA-L@rootsweb mailing list members and contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dana Hill =================================================================== CHANCERY COURT LOOSE RECORDS, MARSHALL COUNTY TENNESSEE Copyright 9 Dec 2002 by Dana K. HILL My notes/comments in square brackets, *= unknown character Comments/corrections to dkhil@aol.com TSLA MICROFILM #73, FILE 2 WILLIS, Patsy--Pet. for Dower 18 Dec 1837 Page 1 To the Honorable Edmund DILLAHUNTY Judge &C. Your presiding in the County of Marshall State of Tennessee your petitioner Patsey WILLIS would represent to your honor that her late husband Davis WILLIS departed this life intestate on this day of one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven in Said County of Marshall Seized and possessed of the following tracts of land to wit One tract containing Seventy one and one half acres lying in that part of Marshall County which formerly belonged to RADFORD lying and being on the waters of West Rock Creek and bounded as follows Beginning on an elum and buckeye the South east corner of Robert JACKSONS Seventy two acretract Running South one hundred & forty four poles to a Stake Thence west thirty Seven poles to a Stake Thence north four poles to HOPWOODS Corner Thence west forty poles to a Sugar tree Thence north one hundred and forty and one foruth poles to a Stake thence west to the beginning also another tract of land containing seventy two acres and a half lying adjacent to the above described tract of land land bounded as follows Beginning at an elm and Sugar tree the North west corner of Thomas PARKER and Richard BROWN'S tract running east eighty three poles to three dogwoods thence South one hundred and forty four and one fourth poles to an elm and Buckeye thence east [or west--blob of ink] eaghty one poles to a Stake thence north one hundred and forty four and one fourth poles to the beginning also a third tract of land adjoining the two above decscibed Containing Fifty acres being a grant from the State of Tennessee to Davis WILLIS and bounded as follows Beginning at a white oak and two Sugar trees Supposed to be the north west corner of Abner PILLOWS 226 acre survey in the east boundary line of a 5000 acre tract of land in the name of Thomas POLK Running thence east twenty poles to an elm thence north one hundred and twenty five poles to a Buckeye White oak and Red oak the Sourth east corner of Willis HOPWOODS 50 acre Survey thence west fifty eight poles to an elm and Ironwood on the east boundary line of Said POLKS Survey thence South with the Sames to the beginning and also a fourth tract of land lying contiguous to the above described tracts and bounded as follows to wit Beginning on a dogwood and Sugartree on Ross's lease[line?] running east forty poles to a Stake thence north sixty six poles to an elm BIRMINGHAM's corner thence with his line west forty poles to a Stake Said BIURMINGHAM's Page 2 corner thence South Sixty Six poles to the begenning containing Sixteen Acres and one half acre Said four tracts of land contain in all Two hundred ten acres and a half and form nearly a square your petitioner would State that these four tracts of land constitute one and the same farm the farm on which her husband dwelt at this time of his death. Your petetioner will State that She is entitled to dower out of Said land according to the provisions of the law in Such cases made and provided Your petitioner would further State that She and Thomas ROSS were duly appointed Administratrix and Administrator of the estate of the Said Davis WILLIS deceased and that the Said Davis WILLIS departed this life leaving the following heirs and distrabuters to wit Rebecca who inter married with Edmond BRADLEY and Polly WILLIS who are of age and the following minors to wit Betsey who married John COLLINS Thomas WILLIS Jesse WILLIS and Sally WILLIS these together with your petitioner constitute his heirs and distributers at law Your petitioner prays to have dower laid off and allotted to her according to law as ar duty bound will ever pray [signed] CZ0[?] Page 3 I Thomas ROSS one of the administrators of Davis WILLIS deceased wave the notice required by the act of assembly to be given to me by the petitioner Patsy WILLIS on her application for dower and think the Same Should be granted 29th November 1837 [signed] Thos. ROSS adr I John W. RECORD guardian ad litem for the minor heirs of Davis WILLIS Deceased wave the notice required by the act of assembly to be given to me by the petitioner Patsey WILLIS on her applicattion for dower and agree the dower may be granted 29 November 1837 [signed] Jno. W. RECORD Guardian Ad Litem I the under signed one of the heirs at law of Davis WILLIS deceased wave the notice required by the act of assembly to be given to me by the petitioner Patsey WILLIS on her application for dower and agree that the Same may be granted 29th November 1837 [signed] Mary WILLIS I the undersigned one of the heirs of Davis WILLIS Deceased wave the notice required by the act of assembly to be given to me by the petitioner Patsey WILLIS Widow of Davis WILLIS deceased on her application for dower and agree that Same may be granted 29th November 1837 Test D. McGAHEY his Edmond X BRADLY mark Page 4 We John W. RECORD and J VENABLE are held and firmly bound to William McCLURE chairman of the County Court of Marshall County and his successors in Office in the sum of one thousand dollars for which payment we bind ourselves and our legal representatives; To be void however upon condition, that whereas the above bounden John W. RECORD has this day been appointed by the Judge of the Circuit Court of Marshall County in Open Court Guardian ad litem of the minor heirs of Davis WILLIS Deceased heirs at law of David WILLIS Decd. to defend a petition this day filed by Patsey WILLIS widow of the deceased for her dower of the land in the said petition mentioned - Now if the said JOhn W. RECORD shall well and truly defend said petition according to law, then this above obligation to be void; otherwise not. Given under our hand & seals November 30 --1837. [signed] Jno. W. RECORD (seal) [signed] J. VENABLE (seal) Page 5 State of Tennessee) March Term Marshall County ) A D 1838 ) Patsy WILLIS ) vs ) Edmund BRADLY ) & wife & others ) The commissioners appointed in pursuance of an interlocutory decree granted at the last term of this court upon the petition of Patsy WILLIS widow and relick of Davis WILLIS Deceased to lay off and Set apart Dower to her out of the lands tenements and hereditaments of her husband the Said Davis WILLIS Deceased report in the Words and figures following to wit Therefore it is ordered adjudged and decreed by the Court that Said report in all things be affirmed and that Said Patsy WILLIS be endowed of the lot Set apart for her in Said report during her natural life and that the petitioner pay the cost which has accrued on behalf of this petition for which execution issue Page 6 The real estate of ) The undersigned being unconnected with Davis WILLIS dec'd we ) the parties either by affinity or find to be 210 1/2 acres ) consanguinity and entirely disintersted 1/3 of which is 70 1/6 acres) haveing been summoned and duly sworn by which we assign the widow ) the Sheriff of Marshall County as a for her dower ) Jury to allot & set off to Patsy WILLIS ____________________________) her Dower out of the real estate of Davis WILLIS her dec'd husband afterhaveing duly considered and fully understood this whole matter do hereby assign to the sd. Patsy WILLIS for her Dower the following described land with the erections & improvements thereon (ie) a tract of land in Marshall County on the waters of Rock creek containing 70 1/6 acres Beginning at a hickory Thos. ROSS corner and in the south boundary line of the original tract and runs North 78 poles to an ash then South 45 degrees East to include the spring, 23 poles a stake then South 80 1/2 degrees East with the lane 112 1/2 polese a stake in the East boundry of the original tract then south 99 poles a stake then West 42 poles to a stake then north 4 poles HOPWOODS corner then West 40 poles a Sugar tree then north 53 poles a stake then West 42 poles to the beginning which in our opinion constitutes one third of the real estate of Davis WILLIS decd. given under our hands this 5th day of January 1838. [signed] J.R. HILL Shff [signed] H B BIGHAM (seal) [signed] Wm DAVIS (seal) [signed] Robt. DAVIS (seal) [signed] Levi COCHRAN (seal) [signed] James T**RO*E (seal) Page 7 Patsey WILLIS Petition for dower This cause came on the day of [blank] before the Hon Edmund DILLAHUNTY Judge &C and it appearing to the Satisfaction of the Court that Davis WILLIS departed this life intestate at the time mentioned in the petition filed in this cause in the County of Marshall Seized and possessed of the four tracts of land mentioned and deSignated in Said petition and that the petitioner is his widow and relick and it also appearing to the Satisfation of the Court that the sd Administrator and heirs of Said Davis WILLIS Deceased have waved the notice required by the act of assembly in Such cases made and provided. It is therefore ordered adjudged and decreed by this Court that a writ of dower issue to the Sheriff of Marshall County Commanding him to Summon five good and lawful men of Said County who Shall not be connected to any of the parties either by affinity or consanguinity who Shall be Sworn as the law directs to lay off and allot to Said petitioner one third part of Said land for dower including the mansion house out houses offices &C provided Said Widow desires Said mansion house out houses offices &C to be included for the part allotted to her and that Said petitioners make a report to the next term of this Court Page 8 State of Tennessee ) Circuit Court November term 1837- Marshall County ) ) Patsey WILLIS ) Decree for Dower-- vs ) Edmond BRADLY & wife) & others ) This cause come on the 30th day of November 1837. before the Hon. Edmund DILLAHUNTY Judge [damage on paper] and it appearing to the Satisfaction of the Court, that Davis WILLIS departed this life intestate at the time mentioned in the petition filed in this cause, in the County of Marshall seized and possessed of the said four tracts of land mentioned and designated in said petition & bounded and described as follows, viz lying & being on the waters of West Rock Creek Begining on an Elm & Buckeye, the Southeast corner of Robert JACKSONS 72 Acre tract, running South 144 poles to a stake, Thence West 37 poles to a Stake, thence North 4 poles to HOPWOOD'S corner; thence West 40 poles to a Sugar tree; thence North 140 1/2 poles to a Stake, thence East to the beginning, Containing 71 1/2 Acres: Also an other Beginning at an Elm and Sugar, the NorthWest corner of Thomas PARKER & Richard BROWNS tract, running East Eighty three poles to a Dogwood; thence South 144 1/4 poles to an Elm & Buckeye; thence East 81 poles to a Stake, thence North 144 1/4 poles to the beginning Containing 72 1/2 Acres. Also a third tract of land adjoining the two above described,--Beginning at a White Oak and two Sugar trees, supposed to be the North West Corner of Abner PILLOWS 226 Acre Survey in the East boundary line of a 5000 Acre tract of land in the name of Thomas POLK, Runing East 20 poles to an Elm thence North 12*[could be 125, 122 or 120] poles to an Elm Buckeye, White oak & Red Oak the South east Corner of Willis HOPWOODS 50 Acre Survey, thence West 58 poles to an Elm & Ironwood on the East boundary line of said POLKS survey; thence South with the same to the beginning, Containing Fifty Acres. And also a fourth tract of alnd Contiguous to the above described tracts, Beginning on a Dogwood and Sugar tree on ROSS'S line Running East 40 poles to a Stake; thence North Page 9 Sixty Six poles to an Elm, BIRMINGHAMS's Corner, thence with his line West Forty poles to a Stake said BIRMINGHAMS's Corner, thence South Sixty Six poles to the beginning Containing Sixteen and one half Acres- And Cotaining in all 210 1/2 Acres. And that the petitioner is the widow and relick, and it also appearing to the Satisfaction of the Court, that the administrator and heirs of the said Davis WILLIS deceased, have waived, the notice required by the Act of Assembly in such cases made and provided. It is therefore ordered, adjudged, and [damaged]ied by the Court, that a writ of Dower issue to the Sheriff of Marshall County, Commanding him to Summons five good and lawful men of said County, who Shall not be connected to any of the parties, either by Affinity of Consanguinity, who shall be Sworn as the law directs, to lay off and allot to said petitioner, One third part of Said lands for Dower, including the mansion house, out houses offices &C - to be included in the part allotted to her, and that he make report to the next term of this Court. A True Copy from the Petition & Decree on the Minutes [signed] David McGAHEY Clerk