Will of Josiah Crofts
Probated April 1882 Polk County, Tn.
In the name of God aman. I Josiah Crofts do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following:
First I give my soal into the hands of Almighty God hoping and believing in a remission of my sins be the merit and mediation of Jesus Crist, and my body I commit to the earth to be burried at the decretion of my execetors, being of sound and disposing mind and memory calling to mind and falicty incertanity of human life and being descious of setting my wordly affairs and directing how the small estate with which it has pleased God to bless me shall be disposed of after my death while I have thought and capacity so to do and so to my worldly estate and all the property real and personal of which or mixed of which I shall (die?) seized and possessed and to which I shall be intitled to at the time of my decase. I devise bequesth to and dispose there of in the manner following to wit;
I devise and bequesth to my beloved wife Margaret Crofts my farm lying in 7 civil district Polk County Tennessee, it being worth about two hundred dollars. It being north half of the south most quarter of section seventeen Ocoie Purchase in range 5 East of the basin line fractional township three 7 civil district Polk County, Tennessee bounded on the North by Wm. Crofts, on the West by George Shappard, on the East by J. R. Kimsey, on the South by Frank Mitchell. I also devise and bequeth to my beloved wife Margaret Crofts all my household furniture, farming tools also all my livestock and incress to have and to hold the same to her for and during her natural life.Hier; from and after the decease of my beloved wife Margaret Crofts.
I second devise bequath to my beloved daughter Mary Franklin all of the estate real, personal and mixed as described to my wife for said Mary Franklin to have and to hold during her natural life to wit: 80 acres of land worth about two hundred dollars it being in 7 Civil district Polk County, Tennessee being North half section 17. Bounded on the North by Wm. Crofts, on the West by George Sheppard, on the East by J. R. Kimsey and on the South by Frank Mitchell.
I Third devise and will after death of my beloved wife Margaret Crofts that my beloved daughter Mary Franklin have and hold during her natural life my household furniture and all my livestock and increses and at the decease of my beloved daughter her son and my grandson the beloved child which I have raised who has been as kind and obedient and tender to.....(?) and with me so after the death of wife and his mother my beloved daughter my will is that my grandson Napolian Franlkin have all of my estate named in this above written will.
At his grandmother's and his mother's death that said Napolian to have and to hold forewver and ......(?) My express will and meaning is and do hearby order and appoint that if any differences, despute or question or controvcrsy shall be moved or raised or happen concerning any gift bequest manner or thing in this will ......(?) bequested expressed or ......(?) that then no suits in law or equity or otherwise shall be brought connected or prscauted for and concerning the same but the same shall be referred wholy to the award order and determereation of my friend this my will and testament. In ......(?) ........(?) of I here will let my hand and seal this first day of May 1880.

Josiah Crofts
Seal

This above interestment is of one sheet of paper 21 3/4 inch in leanth 7 1/2 inch in width, was at the date there of delivered to us by the testator Josiah Crofts to be his last will and testament and be there a known adged to each of us that he had described the same and was at his acquest signed our names herewith as atseting witnesses this May the first 1880.
Y. L. Bledsoe, resident in Polk County, Tennessee
C. L. Hensley, resident of Polk County, Tennessee

Children of Josiah and Margaret (Mitchell ?-Not proven) Crofts
(1)Caleb J. Crofts b; April 4, 1830 Sumter Co., SC. -m- Martha Jane Boring, divorced in Cumberland County, Tn.
(2)George Washington Crofts b; March 20, 1832 Tn. -m- Martha Elizabeth Bazzell
(3)Thomas Asberry Crofts b; March 14, 1834 Tn. -m- Caroline Boring
(4)Martha Crofts b; 1836 Tn.
(5)Mary Crofts b; December 19, 1839 Tn. -m- Mitchell Franklin
(6)Susannah Emaline Crofts b; May 17, 1842 Monroe Co., Tn. -m- Yancey Bledsoe
(7)William "Bill" Crofts b; March 1844 Monroe Co., Tn. -m- 1'st Louisa Stewart, -m- 2'nd Lillie Coleman
(8)Malinda Crofts b; 1848 Monroe (or) Polk Co., Tn. -m- John Anderson Poteet
Submitted by:Edith Croft Ward

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