WILSON COUNTY, TN - WILLS - Martin Hancock Will 1831 ********************************************************************************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dan S. Sharp ********************************************************************************* Wilson County, Tennessee Wills, Volume 1834-1837, page 147-148 Martin Hancock Will I Martin Hancock of the State of Tennessee and County of Wilson do hereby make my last will and testament in manner and form following viz. 1st. I give unto my wife Elizabeth Hancock during her life fifteen Acres of land to include the dwelling house that I now live in and all the out houses that may be on the same. The said fifteen acres to be laid off in the corner of the tract of land that I now live on so as to include the houses above mentioned. I also give unto my said wife Elizabeth Hancock the following named Negroes, namely, Joane, Ben, Tom, Stephen, Cloe, Charity, Rien, Addam, Terry, Anthony, Dick, Claudis, Randal, & Sarah & their increases before and after making this will to my said wife Elizabeth forever-to dispose of as she may think proper. I also give my said wife all my house hold and kitchen furniture, also the first choice of my horses, also as much of the stock of all kinds as my Executors may think needful to dispose of as she may think proper. 2nd. I give the balance of the tract of land I now live on and that willed to my wife at her death, to my two sons Hope Hancock and Samuel Hancock to be equally divided between them. So as for Hope to continue where he now lives provided that the said Hope and Samuel shall pay unto my other two sons Dorson Hancock & Martin Hancock One hundred dollars each within two years after they become in possession of the above bequeathed land. For the purpose of making the above named Dorson and Martin equal in my estimation with Hope & Samuel with the land I have heretofore given the said Dorson and Martin to them and their heirs forever. 3rd. I give unto my daughter Priscilla Skean (? hose beast) the second choice of my stock. 4th. My will and desire is that my Negro man Bob at my death may be free to do and act for himself- 5th. My will & desire is that all my property of what kind soever(sic) that are not disposed of in this will may be sold on a twelve month credit and the proceeds thereof (after paying all my debts be equally divided between my six daughters (Viz) Nancy Sparks, Hannah Hancock, Priscilla Skean, Edy Skean, Sally Sharp, and Milly Edwards to them and their heirs forever. And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my two sons Hope Hancock & Saml. Hancock Executors to this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other or former wills or testaments by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this 28th day of April in the year of our Lord 1831. Martin Hancock (Seal) Witness Thomas (J.?) Green, Proven State of Tennessee Wilson County || County Court Sept. Term 1835 The last will and testament of Martin Hancock decd. was exhibited in open court and fully proven by the oaths of Thos. (J.?) Green, subscribing witness to the same and ordered by the court to be recorded. And thereupon Hope Hancock and Samuel Hancock the within named Exrs. Were qualified to execute the same according to law and entered into bond with security good and sufficient conditioned as the law directs and Letters Testamentary were thereupon issued to them upon said estate. Test. J. S. McClain, clk of sd Court Recorded the 13th Nov. 1835 Test. Josiah S. McClain clk of Wilson Cty. Court Transcribed by Dan S. Sharp from a copy of the original provided by Joan W. Pruett from the Tennessee State Library and Archives, 20 June 2003.