Transcript of photocopy of Charles Hay Will from Washington County, TN Deeds & Wills at TN State Archives Vol. 1, p. 27-29
Done 1990 by C. E. Edwards at Nashville, TN
WILL OF CHARLES HAY
In the name of God, Amen. The 23rd day of December 1792.
I CHARLES HAY of Washington County in the ceded Territory South West of the Ohio River,
being weak and infirm in body, calling to mind the mortality of my body, being sound in my
understanding mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in writing.
that is to say, principally and first of all, I commit my soul to the hand of the almighty God who
gave it. looking for the pardon of my sins and acceptance of Jesus Christ my Redeemer and a
resurrection to eternal life by his grace and power and my body I commit to the earth to be buried
in a decent Christian manner at the desecreation of my executors hereafter named and as for such
worldly estate and goods as the Lord has given me in this world and as are now at my decease,
disposal. I give bequeath and dispose of the whole in the following manner.
First my will and desire is that all my just and lawful debts be justly and lawfully paid and discharged. next I give and bequeath to my loving wife REBECCA HAY the feather bed on which I and she usually lies with cover or quilt which we lie under and one patched quilt or cover for summer covering with the sheets and bolster belonging to the said bed with her saddle and the following books; Viz. her Bible, Boston fourfold State of man, Erskins Gospel Sonnets, a book entitled a dead faith anatomized with all her wearing clothing of every kind, all which aforesaid articles. She shall not be obliged to bring to appraisement or render as there is sufficient besides to pay just debts and particular legacies. Item --- I give and bequeath to my nephew CHARLES GREEN [Greer] my Dictionary with an old book of Arithmetic. Item---I give and bequeath to my nephew DAVID GREEN my bible. Item - -- I give and bequeath to my nephew CHARLES HATCHER the second volume of Baxter Philosophical enquiry into the Nature of the human soul. Item --- I give and bequeath to my sister HULDA GREER. the fourth column of Dr. Doddridge family expository. Item --- I give and bequeath to my sister SARAH HATCHER, daughter ANNA HATCHER the second column of Dr. Doddridge's family Expositor after my wife's decease. Item --- I give and bequeath to CHARLES H. NELSON, my wife's sisters son to the full value of or Ten Dollars to be laid out on learning him to read and write and the like and not to be put to any other use while he is in his minority. Item --- I give and bequeath to my brother REUBEN HAY my wearing clothes, Viz.---all the coats, jackets and breeches that are now made up with my cloak and wollen stockings with one surtoit coat of homemade cloth or the cloth to make, if it is not made up before my decease as also what saddle tools I have with my howel for making of saddle trees. Item --- I give to my wifes sister SARAH ROBISON one new bible or money to buy her one. Item---as far as the rest and remainder of my goods and chattels. I give and bequeath and dispose of them in manner following, that is to say I give and bequeath one third part thereof to my wife for ever also the second volume of Doddridges family expositor during her life and after her decease it shall belong to ANNA HATCHER aforesaid. Item---I give and bequeath the remainder of all my moveable goods and chattels as well as some part of the price of my land under such reserves and restrictions as shall be laid down and mentioned hereafter. After my wife third I give and bequeath one fifth part of the remainder to my sister HULDA GREER, daughter SARAH GREER all the remainder of the goods and chattels to be equally divided between my sister HULDA GREER'S youngest daughter MARY GREER and JAMESTON HATCHER the youngest daughters, two SARAH and REBECCA HATCHER.
As for the plantation or tract of land containing one hundred and seventy three acres on which I
now dwell. My wife shall have and keep possession of the whole of it with all the rents and
proffits of the same during her life without molestation. In consideration for which she shall keep
the fences in as good repair as she gets them and shall take care that the fruit trees are not
destroyed. after my wifes decease the whole of the land and plantation of one hundred and
seventy three acres shall be set to public vender and sold by one or more of my executors giving
one year credit upon good sufficient Bond and Bail given by the Buyers.
If required can being taken to give timely notice before the day of the sale and the money P sales
or price of P. land after lawful expenses and discharged shall be divided as follows Viz. one fifth
part thereof to CHARLES GREER aforesaid mentioned and one third part of the remainder to
DAVID GREER afore mentioned. My sisters sons and one half of the remainder to HARRIS
HATCHER, JAMESTON HATCHER son and the remainder to be equally divided between
CHARLES HATCHER and JAMES HATCHER sons to JAMESTON HATCHER as to the
reserve mentioned above. As then was about one hundred and ninety five Dollars of the estate of
JAMES GREER Dec'd part out to interest about the 18th of May one thousand seven hundred
and seventy nine, not without the approtation of the widow of the dec's and when I was in to take
up the money then was acts of assembly made from time to time that sheltered Debtors from
paying old Debts, which with my bodily infirmities has put and kept it out of my power to reserve
it at all now if she refuses to take a power to lift it for themselves which has been offered to some
of my children, but insists to have it paid out of my estate, the whole of it shall be deducted out of
the respective legacies left to her four children. I do hereby constitute make and ordain my wife
REBECCA HAY with Capt. JAMES SCOTT and NATHANIEL DAVIS Sr. Executrix and
Executor of this my last will and testament and I do hereby revoke disanul and make void all
former wills, testaments, Legacies or bequeaths heretofore made or bequeathed, asknowledging
and ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness
whereof I have set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Charles Hay (seal)
Witnesses:
Henry M. Mullen
Her
Agnes X Davis
mark
her
Mary X M. Mullen
mark