APRIL SESSION, 1841

      The last will and testament of James Crews, deceased, was produced to court for probate whereupon Andrew McCall and John Hood being witness to said will, being first duly sworn in open court, depose and say they are personally acquainted with James Crews, the testator, that they heard him publish and declare the same to be his last will and testament and that at the time of signing, sealing and publishing the same he was of sound mind and memory to the best of their knowledge and belief.  It is therefore admitted of record.

     I, James Crews, of the County of Knox and the State of Tennessee being weak in body but of sound mind and disposing memory and being desirous of disposing of all the worldly property which God in his providence has blessed me with - after providing for my debts and funeral expenses my will is that my personal property consisting of horses, cattle and hogs, household goods, farming implements be equally divided amongst my sons William, Robert, John, Gideon, and Archibald, and my will is that the property is to be divided in such way as to prevent selling it if it can be done.

     I give and bequeath to my daughter Betsey forty dollars in cash or a homebeast at cash price, Having given my deceased sons Ellison, Walter and my other daughter, Nancy Bayless, and James, what I consider their portion my will is that they shall not be entitled to any more of my property real or personal.  My real estate I bequeath to my three sons, William, Robert, and Archibald, to be equally divided among them taking into consideration the improvements, quality, etc. and each one of them is to pay their part of the expense of the division.

     Furthermore, my will is that the folling (sp) accounts, which I have against my sons are to be divided out of their respective shares: William sixty-five dollars, Robert twenty-one dollars and fifty cents, and Gideon ninety-two dollars and fifty cents.

     Furthermore, after the foregoing part of my will is complied with the remainder of money may be with the accounts is to be equally divided between William, Robert and Archibald and I do hereby constitute and appoint my two sons, William and Archibald, executors of this, my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made.

     In witness whereof I have hereby set my hand and seal this 8th day of December, one thousand eight hundred and forty.

James Crews

X

(his mark)

     Signed and sealed and declared to be the last will and testament of James Crews in presence of us who at his request are witness of the same.

(signed) Andrew McCall

(signed) John Hood