MAURY COUNTY, TN - WILLS - Daniel Wilks, 9 Jan 1824
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Recorded January 9, 1824
Maury County, Tennessee

In the name of God, Amen.  I, Daniel Wilks of Maury County and State 
of Tennessee, being old but in my perfect senses and not knowing when 
it may please the blessed God and Saviour to call me from here to 
Eternity, do make and ordain this my LAST WILL AND testament revoking 
all others heretofore made by me.  In the first place, I commit my 
Soul to my blessed God and Saviour who gave it, hoping he will bless 
and sanctify and make it meet, to be in his glorious presence, where 
I may see my Saviour in his glory to praise him forever and ever and 
as to my body, I commit it to its mother Earth to be buried by my 
wife and children, in a Christian manner, and I hope the Lord will 
bless and Sanctify my body, that it may be prepared by grace and 
Spirit of God and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to be fitted 
and prepared that Soul and body may be in a State of enjoying the 
comfortable presence of the Great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and 
find favour in his glorious presence, that it may enter in through 
the gate into the City.
And my worldly Estate, that the Lord has blessed me with, I desire 
and leave in the following manner, in the first place I desire that 
all my just debts be paid, and I desire to make mention of the first 
gifts that I have given, that my Executors may know how to make my 
children and equal division.  
Then, I have given to my daughter Polly Wilks, one Negro man named 
Gerry, and one Negro woman named Sarah, and beast and saddle and 
Bridle, one feather bed and furniture and other things towards 
housekeeping together with their increase, to her and the lawful 
heirs of her body forever, as her first gift.  Then, I have given 
to my son John Wilks, one Negro man named Charles and one Negro 
woman named ____ one beast saddle and Bridle, one Feather Bed 
furniture and one hundred Pounds, with all their increase to him 
and the lawful heirs of his body forever, as his first gift.
Then, I have given to my daughter Sarah Wincole(?), one Negro man 
name Alexander and one Negro woman named Cindy, one beast, Saddle 
and Bridle, Feather Bed and furniture, one cow and calf, one Sow 
and pigs and other articles towards keeping house, to her and the 
lawful heirs of her body with all their increase forever, as her 
fist Gift.
Then, I have given to my son Daniel Wilks all that came by his 
mother, which was three hundred acres of land, lying in Luninburg 
County called Williamson's Tract, and one Negro girl named Tames, 
some cattle, one feather Bed and furniture, one Trunk, together 
with all their increase, to him and the lasful heirs of his body 
forever as his first Gift.
Then, I have given to my daughter, Elizabeth R. one Negro Man, 
named George, and one Negro woman named Molly, one beast, Saddle 
and Bridle, one feather Bed and furniture, one cow and calf, one 
Sow and pigs, one chest, with all their increase to her and the 
lawful heirs of her body forever, as her first Gift.
Then, I have given to my Son Benjamin Wilks, one Negro man named 
Starling, one Negro girl named Mary, one beast, Saddle and Bridle 
and I desire that he should have one feather Bed and furniture, 
and one cow and calf, one Sow and pigs, together with all their 
increase to him and the lawful heirs of his body, as his first 
Gift.
Then, I have given to my Son Minor Wilks one Negro Boy named 
Soloman, one Negro girl named Alsey, and a little Negro Boy named 
Manuel, one Beast, saddle and Bridle, and I desire that he should 
have one feather bed and furniture, one cow and calf, one sow and 
pigs, together with all their increase to him and the lawful 
heirs of his body forever, as his first Gift.
Then, I have given to my Son, Jesse Wilks, one Negro Boy named 
Ned, and one Negro boy named George one Negro girl named Lindy, 
and I desire that he should have one beast, Saddle and Bridle, 
one Cow and Calf, one Sow and pigs, one feather Bed and furniture, 
together with all their increase, to him and the lawful heirs of 
his body forever, as his first Gift.
Then, I have given to my daughter Heneriter Wilks, one Negro boy 
named Hart, one Negro girl named Hannah.  I have also given her 
one Negro boy named Dennis, for which she is to discount fifty 
pounds, out of her part of the first division.  I desire She 
Should have one Beast, Saddle and Bridle, one feather Bed, and 
furniture, one Cow and Calf, one Sow and pigs and a good Chest, 
or a good Seal Skin Trunk, which she makes choice of, together 
with all their increase, to her and the lawful heirs of her body 
forever, as her first Gift.
And I bequeath unto my wife Betsy Wilks, one Negro man named 
Lewis, one Negro woman named Moley one Negro boy named Barnet and 
one Negro girl named ________ also a residence on the land where 
I now live with leave to work the Said Negroes on the said land, 
during her natural life.  And then the land to be equally divided, 
between my three sons Benjamin Wilks and Minor Wilks and Jesse 
Wilks.  I also wish my wife Betsy Wilks to have two good work 
horses and two cows and calves, two Sows and pigs and a Sufficiency 
of pork, corn and other things for her Support for one year out 
of the present Crop.  Also one feather Bed and furniture and all 
the kitchen furniture, also the cupboard in the house and the 
furniture it contains.  Also the loom, wheels, table, chairs and 
all the household furniture, after the children getting what is 
above named, and all my working tools Ploughs, hoes, etc.  So 
long as she shall live, and at her decease all that I now leave 
to her, is to be equally divided among all the legatees and after 
paying all my just debts, the balance of my Estate I wish to be 
equally divided between Polly Wilks, John Wilks, Sally Coles, 
Elizabeth R. Gunn and Henritta Wilks.  It is also my will that 
no divisions of my Estate, shall take place until the present Crop 
is completely finished.
I nominate and appoint my three Sons Benjamin Wilks, Minor Wilks 
and Jesse Wilks, Executors to this my last will and Testament.  

Signed, Sealed and delivered	Witness my hand and Seal this twenty
 in the presence of us		first day of May, one Thousand eight
James Howard			hundred and Twenty One
John Dicker					
Jesse H Thomas			Daniel Wilks		"Seal"