GIBSON COUNTY, TN - WILLS - Estate Settlement of Isham F. Davis 1847 ==================================================================== Contributed by Beth Zimmer ===================================================================== Property of Isham F. DAVIS, decd, to be Divided Among Heirs Gibson County, TN Chancery Court January Term 1847 Tuesday the 21st day of the Month and Second day of the Term Page 167 Court met according to adjournment, present and presiding the Honorable Andrew McCampbell Chancel John L. Davis Racheal S. Davis Sarah A. Barksdale Humphrey Donaldson Judy his wife William E. Wade Rebecca his wife Isham F. Davis Benja F. Terril Mary J. his wife Robert Davis by his Guardian E. Donaldson vs Harmon H. Davis Be it remembered that on this day this cause came in to be heard on Bill Anmer and Exhibits before his Honor Andrew McCampbell Chancellor L C. When it appeared to the court that Isham F. Davis departed this life in Gibson County Tennessee intestate and Administration in his estate was granted by the County Court of said County to John L. Davis one of the complainants that when the said Isham F Davis departed this life he left the following heirs and distributees to wit Racheal S widow and relict. John L Davis Sarah A Barksdale who intermarried with Nathaniel Barksdale who died before the said Isham F Davis left his widow the said Sarah. (Editors note: Racheal instead of Sarah?) Juda who intermarried with said Donaldson Rebecca who intermarried with said Wade Isham F Davis Harmon H Davis Mary Jane who intermarried with said Terrel Robert Davis and Ebenezer Donaldson was his Guardian. It also appeared to the court that when said deceased departed this life he was seized and possessed of the following described lands and town lots to wit one tract containing 640 acres bounded as follows Beginning at dog wood and Hickory Sapling Robt C. Williams south east corner of 640 acres entry on John C. McLeemores north boundary of his 572 acre entry running east with said MeLeemores line at 176 poles crossing McLeemores creek in all 224 poles to a Hickory or elm _____ _____ south west corner of his 950 acre tract thence north with his line passing his north west corner at 380 poles and a creek running west 438 poles in all 457 poles to an ash and elm thence west at 118 poles crossing a creek running south in all 224 to an Iron wood (page 168) and black gum thence south at 89 poles crossing Davis Creek running south west at 129 poles at 139 at 152 poles and at 187 poles crossing MeLeemores Creek bearing north west at 230 1/2 poles tracing R. C. Williams north east corner and at 253 poles crossing a branch bearing north east in all 450 poles to the Beginning. Also one other tract of land containing 34 acres Bounded as follows to wit: Beginning at a dogwood the south east corner of Entry NO. 1042 in the name of Ebenezer Donaldson 25 acres. Thence north passing his north east corner at 611 poles in all 160 poles too 3 white ___ Humphrey Donaldson north east corner on A M Webbs south boundary line thence east 34 poles ____ Webbs south east corner thence south 160 poles thence west 24 poles to the beginning. Also one other tract of land bounded as follows to wit Beginning at a ___ oak and sweet gum Goodlet and Campbells north east corner of their 1000 acre tract winding south with there east boundary line and passing their south east corner in all 540 poles to a dogwood and Iron wood, thence east 100 1/2 poles crossing a branch at 104 1/2 poles crossing again at 168 poles crossing w Creek running south in all 272 1/2 poles to a white oak and a Beach thence north at 342 1/2 poles passing Bill & B Estell south west corner of their 500 acres Entry and with their line in all 540 poles to w dogwood on their west boundary line thence west with Hendersons line and passing it at 190 poles in all 272 1/2 poles to the beginning containing 920 acres including 420 acres given to Herman H Davis and John L Davis by the said Isham F in his life time off of the north end of said tract of land last described. Also one town lot situated in the town of Trenton (Illegible)............... page 169 distribution and division among the aforesaid heirs and distributees to wit Lela Bill Butler Fenda Amanda Charles Mary Matilda Frank Sophia Abram Ned ___ Eliza Louisa Judy Ferriby Jimmy Dicy Handy Angeline & Ben It also appeared to the court that the said Isham F in the year 1838 advanced to John L Davis a tract of land of 210 acres and a negro girl Sarah a Negro boy Peter Negro boy called Pluto one saddle horse one bed bedstead and furniture cow and yearling in cash $73 The note for which the administrator now holds in his possession two sows of pigs and saddle & bridle. That he advanced to Sarah A Barksdale negro woman Cherry Chance Pampey Caroline Jackson Household kitchen furniture two horses two cows and calves Bed and bedstead and two sows and pigs & $17.50 in cash That he advanced to William Wade and Rebecca his wife Negro woman Fanny negro ___ Winn Thomas L Jackson one horse saddle & bridle bed bedstead. three cows & calves House hold & Kitchen furniture and a sow and pigs That he advanced to said Humphrey Donaldson & Juda his wife on negro woman Priscilla Ray Mathew & Sam one horse & saddle two beds Bedsteads and furniture two cows and calves table ware and Kitchen furniture and three sows and pigs To Benjamin Terril & Mary his wife Negro Barbary Ailey and Munford one mule saddle & Bridle one horse two Cows and calves bed Table & kitchen furniture and one candle stand. To Isham F. Davis Two Horses and Two Saddles Two sows and pigs and some money. To Robert Davis one Horse And to said Herman H. Davis one tract of land of two hundred and ten acres some cooking utensils two head of Horse and that the said Isham F Davis paid for said Harmon.....(illegible) (page 170) Woodfin $12.00 to William P. Kelton $20.00 to M McLawn and $93.35 to Bledsoe $100.00 to ___Wilkins $4.37 to said T. B. Claiborne $12.42 to said Wilkins in the way of advancements. It further appears to his Honor that since the said Bill of Complainants was filed the complainant John L Davis has purchased of H. H. Davis his interest in said Estate. It further appears that Dower in the said lands has not been laid off or allotted to the said Racheal S Davis widow and relict aforesaid and that she is entitled there to. It is therefore ordered adjudged and decreed that the Sheriff of Gibson County summon five office Holders of said County unencumbered with the parties to lay off and allot to the said Racheal her Dower in said land, it being one third part there of according to quality and quantity during her natural life. And that the clerk & master of this court take and state an account of the value of the lands advanced to John L. Davis and to Harmon H Davis at the date of their deeds and of any improvements made by either of them prior to the date of their deed and that they account for the Rents and profits there of up to the date of their deed. That he also take an account of the value of the several negroes advanced to each of the legatees taking their value as to the date of the deeds of gift and that where there is no deed of gift the value of the negroes when the gift was made and the other kinds of property advanced be estimated as the date of the advancement when severally made--And it further appears to the Court the negro Boy Peter was not advanced to John L Davis and he is not chargeable with said Negro boy Peter as advancement. It is further ordered and decreed by the Court that the comissioners summoned by the.......(illegible) (page 171) one ninth part of said negroes of which said Isham F Davis decd seized & possessed and that the said commissioners decide the residue of said slaves Giving to the said John L Davis two ninths of the whole and to each of the other distributees one ninth part each and that they decide the residue of said lands and town lot (after allotting Dower) to the said Heirs charging each lot of Negroes and lands with the amount of advancements and that the said John L. Davis receive the share of H H Davis all other matters are secured until the coming in of said report. ============================================================================= Division of Property of Isham F. Davis, decd. Gibson County, TN Chancery Court Trenton Term July Term 1847, Thursday, the 4th day of the term, the 29th day of the month Page 230 Court met pursuant to adjournment present and presiding the Honorable McCampbell Chan John L. Davis Sarah Barksdale Racheal S Davis Humphrey Donaldson & Juda his wife William E Wade & Rebecca his wife Isham F Davis Ebenezer Donaldson Guardian for Robert Davis Benj F Terril & wife vs Harman H Davis Be it remembered that on this day this cause came in to be heard, before his Honor Andrew McCampbell Chancellor LC Setting at Trenton upon the Report of the Clerk and master of this court as well as the Report of the commissioners appointed by this Court which several Records being filed and are unexpected to and which are in all things confirmed. When it appeared by the Report of the Clerk & master that in his lifetime had advanced to John L Davis the sum of seventeen hundred and five dollars To Sarah A Barksdale two thousand twenty dollars and fifty cents To William E Wade and wife one thousand fifty four dollars twenty five cents To Humphrey Donaldson and wife Eleven Hundred Fourteen dollars fifty cents To Benjamin F Terril and wife one thousand sixty five dollars fifty cents To Isham F Davis one hundred and sixty there dollars To Robert Davis Forty five dollars To Harmon H Davis Thirteen Hundred fifty one dollars eight three cents. It further appeared to the court that the commissioners had divided the land of the said deceased and thus they had assigned to Racheal S Davis widow and relict of said deceased as her Dowry 405 acres of land including the _____ and being one third of the lands of where the said deceased did seize and possessed _____ to quality (page 231) and quantity which dowry interest is bounds as follows to wit Beginning at a Hickory & dogwood the south west corner of the said six hundred and forty acre entry running East with & southern boundary 131 poles to a small Beach & Black Gum Thence North 453 poles to hickory in the northern boundary of said Entry thence west 131 poles to its north west corner thence south with the western boundary of the said 640 acre entry 60 poles to the north east corner of a 34 acre entry in the name of the deceased, thence west 34 poles to 5 north west corner thence south 140 poles to it south west corner thence east with the Northern boundary of R C William's 640 acre entry 34 poles to 5 north east corner thence south with the eastern boundary of the same 230 poles to the beginning The rest and residue of said land the said commissioners preceded to divide and make partition into lots as follows to wit Lot No 1 mentioned and described in said Repot was drawn by Humphrey Donaldson and Judith his wife bounded as follows beginning at the north east corner of said 640 acres entry running west with it northern boundary 93 poles to a hickory the north east corner of the Dower ____ south with its eastern boundary 227 poles to a stake in a field thence east 93 poles to a stake and pointer on the Eastern boundary of the entry thence North 228 poles to the beginning lot No 2 Drawn by William E. Wade and Rebecca his wife containing 134 1/2 acres beginning at the south east corner of the said 640 entry running west with it southern boundary 93 poles to a small beech and black gum the south east corner of the widow dowry interest thence north 226 poles to the south west corner of No 1 thence east 93 poles to a stake and pointers thence south 229 poles to the beginning lot. No 3 was drawn by Robert Davis containing 100 acres a part of a nine hundred & twenty acre entry beginning at a dogwood at the south east corner of a 210 acre tract conveyed by the deceased to Harmon H Davis running south 117 1/2 poles to a stake & pointer thence west 13 W 19 poles to a stake & pointers thence east 156 3/4 pole, to the beginning. Lot No 4 drawn by Isham F Davis containing 100 acres beginning at the south west corner of ..........(illegible) (Page 232) to John l Davis running East 136 3/4 poles to a stake and pointers to the western boundary of lot No 3 being 117 1/2 poles thence west 136 3/4 poles to a post & black oak thence north 117 1/2 poles to the beginning. Lot No 5 was drawn by Benj F. Terril & Mary his wife containing 250 acres beginning on the Eastern boundary of the 920 acre tract & the south east corner of lot No 3 running west 272 1/2 poles to a black & post oak thence south 86 poles to a stake & pointers thence south 89 1/2 poles to a stake and pointers thence east 173 poles to its south east corner thence north 176 poles to the beginning Sarah A Barksdale drew lot No 6 containing 50 acres beginning at the south west corner of the original 920 acres tract running north with its western boundary 89 1/2 poles to a maple and pointers thence East with the southern boundary of lot No 5 80 1/2 poles to a stake & pointers thence south 89 1/2 poles to a stake in the southern boundary of the original survey thence west 89 1/2 poles to the beginning they also assign to Sarah A Barksdale one town lot in the town of Trenton known as lot No The commissioners further divided said slaves belonging to said estate when Racheal S Davis drew Frank Evaline & Celia John L Davis drew Abraim Dicey Andy & Louisa being John L & Harmon pd Davis interests Wm E Wade & Rebecca his wife drew Bill & Lordy Humphrey Donaldson & Juda his wife drew negroes Buller and Judy Isham F davis drew Charles Matilda May Sophia & Ben Benj F Terril & Mary his wife drew Ferrily & child and Angeline Robert N Davis drew Amanda Ned Ginney & Eliza & the commissioner further Report to make them equal with the amounts advanced and allotted the said John L Davis should pay over to Sarah A Barksdale Eleven dollars and that John L Davis should pay over one Hundred and fifty dollars by paying William E Wade & wife Forty dollars and thirty five cents by paying Benj F Terril & Mary his wife Fifty four dollars and ten cent to Robert N Davis one Hundred and Twenty four dollars and sixty cents. (page 233) and that Racheal S Davis pay John L Davis Sixteen dollars and six cents That Humphrey Donaldson and Judith his wife pay John L Davis Forty five dollars and that Isham F Davis pay John L Davis Eighteen dollars and forty cents which various sums of money with the amount advanced and the allotment make said Legatees equal It further appears to the Court that John L Davis drew the interest of H H Davis he being the owner thereof. It is therefore ordered adjudged and decreed by the court that all the rights bills in said negroes be divested and vested in the respective penury who drew them and all the right titles and claim in the land above described allotted to Racheal S Davis during her natural life and the loft of land drawn by Donaldson & Judith his wife be divested and be vested in Judith Donaldson her Heirs and assigns forever the lot of land drawn by Wm E Wade & Rebecca his wife be divested and vested in Rebecca her Heirs & assigns forever and the lot of land drawn by B F Terril & Mary his wife be divested and vested in the said Mary her heirs and assigns forever and all the rest and residue of said land drawn by the other legatees be divested out of all the heir herein an be bested in those who drew them their heirs and assigns forever and It is further ordered that the ____ is ____ pay the cost of this proceeding out of the ____ of the estate.