RUTHERFORD COUNTY TN - WILLS - William Helton 1864 ******************************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Darlene(Campbell)Scott ******************************************************************************** Transcribed by March 20, 2005 Rutherford County Tennessee Last Will And Testament Of William Helton written at Johnson Island Sandusky, Ohio Feb the 4th 1864 while being held in the Civil War prison camp. In the name of God be it so, I, William Helton, of the county of Rutherford State of Tennessee, bein sound in mind, but of very feeble health not expection to live to return to my family in Tennessee and feel that I am prepared to enter a new and better state of existance do make and ordain this my last will and testament. 1st. I appoint my beloved wife Nancy Helton of Rutherford Co., Tennessee my Executrix to execute this will. 2nd, She will proceed to collect all debts due me and if the proceeds are not sufficent to pay my burial expenses and all other debts, she will sell then publicly or privately a sufficient amount of my personal effects. 3rd. I will that my wife the said Nancy and my son Andrew P. Helton have my tract of land of the one hundred and sixty acres in Rutherford County, Tennessee civil district No. 19 as tenants in common until the death of tyhe said Nancy when the absolute estate in the same shall descend to said Andrew. 4th. I will that my other tract of land consisting of seventy acres be equally divied amongst the remainder of my children: Martha A. Hoover, Sarah E. Dunn, Margaret J., Mary E. & Eliza L. B. Helton, equally, share alike. 5th. I will that the balance of my personal estate be held by my Executrix and advanced in equal portions to my unmarried daughters as they marry and leave their mother-my son Andrew P. having received more land than the balance, to have none of personalty. I witness wherof I hereto sit my han and seal the day and date above request of the testator Franklin White/ Willaim E. Lyner Signed X William Helton Cash paid for coffin for Dec'd as per receipt $80.00 expenses of bringing remains of dec'd William Helton home from the Civil War prison camp. $1,117.63 End Note: William Helton captured at Murfreesboro, Tennessee near the end of the Civil War. William Helton was serving in the Confederate Army as a recruiter and Conscript Officer at the time of his capture. William was marched from Murfreesboro, Tennessee to Louisiana, then to Lexington, Kentucky before being shipped up north to the Union forces Prison camp outside Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio on Johnson Island. A copy of this will was given to me at a Helton family reunion by Jean Young. The original is still in the family.