MARSHALL COUNTY, TN - WILLS John ENDSLEY ==================================================================== 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: Dick Wood ==================================================================== Notes: JOHN ENDSLEY made his will in Bedford County, TN 13 Feb 1826 before Marshall County was established. He died 21 Sep 1828 and is buried at Round Hill Cemetery, Belfast, Marshall County TN. His will was not recorded until after his widow, Mary, died on 13 Oct 1854. She is also buried in Round Hill Cemetery. JOHN'S will was recorded in Bedford County on 25 Oct 1854 and in Marshall County on 6 Nov 1854. The portion of Bedford Co. these Endsleys lived in had been carved off of Bedford Co. and became a part of Marshall County when it was established in 1836. The following copy of JOHN ENDSLEY's Will is on microfilm at the Tennessee State Archives in Nashville: Microfilmed by Tennessee State Library and Archives Marshall County County Court Clerk Wills Volume_____A , pages 354-357 Nov 1835 to Oct 1855 John ENDSLEY'S Will- In the name of God Amen I John Endsley of the State of Tennessee Bedford County Being of disposable memory blessed be to God, do this 13 day of February in the year of our lord one thousand and eight hundred and twenty six make and publish this my last will and testament in the following manner vis.Item 1st. my will and desire is that my Just debts and funeral charges be first paid out of my estate. Item 2nd.I will and bequeath to my daughter Damarias Anderson my black Girl Ester of the value of one hundred dollars during her natural life. I also will to my said Daughter Damarias the land I bought of Joshua Kelly containing ninety seven acres and eighty poles including all the improvements of five hundred dollars to her during her natural life at her death to be equally divided amongst the heirs of boddy I also devise to my said Daughter Damarias her Horse and saddle & bridle on cow & calf two feather Beds & furniture cash and other property to the present date.the whole amounting to Twelve hundred dollars all of which She has received-Item 3rd.I will and divest_to my son John Milton Endsley one hundred acres of land It being the plantation whereon Hugh Leeper formerly lived on the value of seven hundred dollars to him and the heirs of his boddy forever.I also devise to my son J M Endsley black man Henry of the value of five hundred dollars to him and the heirs of his boddy forever, I also devise to my said son My sixty gallon_Still that I bought of Thomas Cummings & six mash tubs at at one hundred dollars value and further I give to my son the Gray Horse he now has in possession & saddle in all one hundred & thirty dollars & also my surveying Instruments & bed and furniture.valued at seventy dollars but proviced his part of my estate should not amount to that sum when it is acertained what will be an equal Share In that case he the said Jett Endsley is to pay back to the estate so that his share will be equal to that Item 4th.I will and devise to my Daughter Cynthia Endsley my black Girl Riah to be valued when She gets her in possession and to have a Horse at no less value than one Hundred dollars or to be made up to that in other property and also her saddle valued at thirty dollars also two Beds and furniture and one Cow & Calf and in the event of her getting married in that case my will is that she receive in such property as can be Spared or money if it can be Spared to purchase Land making her part with what she has heretofore received Twelve hundred dollars.But the Black girl Riah as before mentioned I devise to her the said Cynthia during her natural life and at her death to the heirs of her boddy if any otherwise to go to her brothers and sisters equally. Item 5th.I will and devise to my son Isaac Newton Endsley my black boy Wesley to him and the heirs of his boddy forever valued four hundred dollars, Bay Horse Colt called Boliver and saddle worth thirty dollars and my silver watch at twenty five dollars and my cold to be valued when grown. Item 6th.I will and devise to my son Bedford Endsley my black boy Lewis to him and the heirs of his boddy forever,if he has any otherwise to go to his brothers and sisters equally to be valued when he receives him also I devise to him the said Bedford Endsley one Horse worth one hundred dollars,and saddle & bridle worth at least thirty dollars.Item 7th. I will and devise to my beloved wife Mary Endsley all the balance of my property & estate not heretofore devised both land negroes Cash & bank Stock property of every description during her natural life or widowhood for the purpose of Raising Education Exceptions.That when any of my children stands in need of any property in that case she may help them to any property She thinks they stand in need off_and the same to be valued and taken out of their distributative Share of my Estate and in the Event of the marriage of my Wife Mary my will is that the remainder of my Estate not heretofore devised be valued by some good men not connected with the legatees by affinity or otherwise & to be equally divided amongst my children & my wife_Share & share alike first deducting what each legatee has previously received and out of their Share of my Estate And all those of my children that have arrived at the age of twenty one years are to choose Guardians & through them to receive their part and hire out the men and sell as much perishable property as they the Guardians shoud be advisable And if any of my children should die before they arrive at the age Twenty one years in that case my will is that their part of my estate be equally divided amongst thier surviving Brother & Sister should my wife not marry at her death my will is that all my property be equally divided amongst all my children as above described all but my wife's part which she may devise as she may think proper-Item 8th.In addition to what I have devised my sons Isaac Newton and Bedford Endsley I devise all the balance of my land not heretofore devised devided between the two and their mother vis.my wife enjoy the home place during her life or widowhood and the same to be valued by disinterested pursons and to be taken out of their Share of my estate,and I do hereby appoint my wife Mary Endsley Executrix to this my last will and testament with privalidge to employ any person She may think proper to assist her in discharging of her duty In witness whereof I the said John Endsley have hereunto set my hand & seal the day and date year above written. John Endsley (SEAL) Thomas Cummings Jurat Benjamin Simmons State of Tennessee Bedford County I John H Oneal clerk of the County court of said County Hereby certify that the foregoing is a true & perfect copy of the last will and testament of John Endsley dc'd as appears of record in my office. Witness my hand at office Oct 25th 1854 John H. Oneal, Clerk State of Tennessee, Marshall County I S. Talley, clerk of the county court of said county do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and perfect transcript of the last will and testament of John Endsley together with the clerks certificate thereon as was filed in my office Witness my hand at office November 6, 1854 S Talley, clerk together with the clerks certificate thereon as was filed in my office November 6th, 1854. S Tally (clk) Transcribed from the microfilm by Dick Wood 15 May 2001