Will of Mark Crocker  1858
submitted by Barry Crocker

Mark Crocker
b. 19 January 1788, Spartanburg District, South Carolina d. 5 April 1858, Gibson
Co., Tennessee Married (1) Martha E. Bates and (2) Martha Mourning Adams Hammons

Last Will & Testament 1857

(Filed at Gibson County Courthouse, Trenton, Gibson County, Tennessee & transcribed
July 1998 by Max A. Crocker, Lexington, KY and Gary Crocker, Huntington Beach, CA )

I Mark Crocker of Gibson County and State of Tennessee, being in delicate health,
but of a sound mind, and fully capable of disposing of my worldly effects according
to my wish, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking
and making void all wills by me at any time heretofore made, and first I direct
that my body be decently Interred, in a manner suitable to my condition in life,
and as to my worldly estate as it hath pleased God to entrust me with, I dispose of
the same as follows -

Firstly I direct that all my just debts and burial expenses be paid as soon after
my decease as possible out of any moneys that I may be possessed of, or that may
first come into the hands of my executor from any portion of my estate real or
personal,

Secondly I lend unto my beloved wife Moring Crocker during her natural life my
Negro girl Mary. I give unto my wife the following property (viz) one good horse
and one side saddle, I give her also the following notes of hand, (and direct my
executor to collect the same and pay it over to my wife as soon as convenient after
they fall due) our note on I. H. Day & R C Henley for Ten dollars due the 9th of
Oct 1857 our note on W N Hammonds for Twelve dollars due 26th Dec. 1857 our note on
C C Hammonds Seventy dollars & 30 cents due 26th December 1857 our note on J W
Conner & David Conner fourteen dollars & 60 cents due 26th December 1857 our note
on A. M. Will & C C Hammonds for four dollars & 17cents due 26th Dec 1857 our note
on J M Witherspoon & A G Pearco Two dollars and 20 cents due 25th December 1857 our
note on J B Driskill for one dollar and 20 cents due 25th December 1857 and our
note on Thomas H Witherspoon for forty dollars due 22nd July 1857 all of Said note
were taken for property sold, belonging to my wife before our marriage. I give and
bequeath unto my said wife in addition to the above, three beds Steads, and
furniture sufficient for the three beds Six choice chairs one folding table, one
cupboard & one bureau (the ones that she brought to my house) all the table and
kitchen furniture that she brought to my house after our marriage

Thirdly it is my will and desire that my Son Benjamin H Crocker go to School ten
months and be paid for out of my estate,

Fourthly, I direct that my Son Benjamin H aforesaid have one good Horse Saddle and
Bridle, and that my Three Sons Asalom P. Alfred G, and Benjamin H, have each one
feather bed and furniture.

Fifthly I direct that as soon after the crop can be finished & gathered that may be
growing on my farm at my decease that my executor give good and Sufficient notice
by advertizement and that he sell to the highest bidder on Twelve months credit all
the personal property including all my negroes except the one loaned to my wife &
such of the other property as is otherwise disposed of and soon as possible after
the collection of the Sale money & such other moneys as may be due my estate I
direct that an equal distribution of the same be made by my executor between my
beloved wife Morning Crocker & and all of my children (viz) Edwin H Crocker, F. M.
Crocker Elias H Crocker Rufus C Crocker A. L. Crocker Wm L Crocker, A.P. Crocker,
Cullen J Crocker A. G. Crocker & Benjamin H. Crocker, and my two grand Daughters
Martha E. and Nancy C. Hancock, the children of my Daughter Irena Hancock dec'd is
to have the distribution share of their Mother equally divided between them.

Sixthly I further direct that my executor after giving a reasonable notice by
advertizement that he proceed to sell to the highest bidder on one Two and three
years credit requiring the purchaser to give bond and security for the money &
retain a lien on the same until the purchase money is paid all of my land &

I further direct that as each payment falls due and is collected, that my executor,
make an equal distribution of the same between my above names wife and children as
directed Above, my two grand daughters receiving the distribution share of their
dec'd Mother. So that there shall be an equal distribution between my wife & my
children above named.

Seventhly at the death of my aforesaid wife I direct that my negro girl Mary as
loaned to her during her natural life With her increase (should there be any)
return to my estate and after a reasonable notice by advertisement she be sold to
the highest bidder on a credit of Twelve months and the money equally divided
between my Children above named my Two Grand Daughters receiving their Dec'd
Mothers distribution share of the same

Eighthly my will and desire is that at the Sale of my land it be sold in two lots,
the tract of 320 acres on which I now reside be sold in one lot, and the other
tract of 175 acres be sold in the other lot/-

Lastly, I do hereby make, ordain, and appoint, my Two beloved Sons, Edwin H Crocker
& R C Crocker Executors of this my last will and Testament, in witness whereof I
the testator have to this my last will and testament written on one sheet of paper
Set my hand and seal this 29th day of May one thousand eight hundred fifty seven.

Signed and published in the presence of us, who have Subscribed in the presence of
the Testator Signature below assigned

William Stone

William E. Stone

Mark Crocker (seal)