In the name of God Amen: I David BEARD, Sr. of the County of Sumner and State of
Tennessee do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, in which I bequeath and
dispose of all my estate both personal and real in the following manner. Viz. but first of all,
I commend my soul to the hand of God who gave it and my body to the grass to be buried
in a decent Christian manner: And the plantation on which I now live, together with the
farming utensils and half of the wagons I bequeath to my youngest son, Thomas
CARSON, all the right of my property such as horses, cattle, sheep, & I allow to be sold
&, after having paid all just debts to be equally divided between my four daughters and
three daughter-in-law, Viz, the wives of my sons, Adam, David, & Samuel, I also will and
ordain my two sons David BEARD & Thomas Carson BEARD to be my Executors of this
my last Will and Testament. In Testimony whereof I have set my hand and affixed my
seal, Sixth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
fifteen.
D. BEARD, Sr.
Signed and delivered in presence
of Carson DOBBINS
her
Elizabeth X DOBBINS
mark
State of Tennessee
Sumner County Court February Term 1815.
The last Will and Testament of David BEARD, Sr. was Exhibited in Court, and duly
proved by the oaths of Carson DOBBINS and Elizabeth DOBBINS, subscribing witnesses
thereto and ordained to be recorded. At the same time David BEARD and Thomas
Carson BEARD Executors named in said Will and Testament approved in Court and
qualified as by taking the oath of an Executor as prescribed by Law and thereupon said
Executors with _____ ______ their security entired and acknowledge their bond to the
Governor, in the penalty of two thousand dollars, conditioned as the Law directs.