WILL OF ARTHUR FORBESS (Forbis)

Will of Arthur Forbess (Forbis)
submitted by Shirley D. Webb

January Term 1849

I, Arthur Forbess, though weak in body but sound in mind, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament.

In the Name of God Amen.

First, I give my soul to God, who gave it, and my body to the dust to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner.

I Will that all my debts and funeral expenses be paid in a manner herein provided for.

I give & bequeath to my beloved wife, Rachel Forbess, our bed, bedstead & furniture, our bureau & our small chest; the cupboard and its contents. All working utensils belonging to the kitchen; Also our bay filly. I also give her the use and control of my dwelling house and kitchen together with any outhouses during her life.

My oldest child – Susan Bowers, I have, on her marriage, given her what I was able – a just division of my estate.

To my daughter, Nancy George, I have also given a just portion of my estate.

To my son, John Forbess, I have given a horse & saddle & bed, a just division.

To Thomas C. Forbess and Francis C. Forbess, I give & bequeath the tract of land on which I live containing one hundred and thirty acres and one-half upon the following conditions: that said Thomas C. & Francis C. Forbess pay all the debts now against the estate and my funeral expenses. Also that they maintain and provide for their mother Rachel Forbess, all necessary things while she lives & further that they provide a competent and maintenance for my two youngest Sarah J. Forbess & Mary E. Forbess while they remain unmarried and upon their marriage that they each have a bed & bed clothing – a cow – a set of cups and saucers – a set of plates and a wheel. But, in case the said Thomas C. & Francis C. Forbess should fail to comply with the above conditions that my wife, Rachel, shall have her lawful dower for her maintenance during her lifetime. My stock of cattle, hogs & sheep, my yoke of steers and cart, my chesnut sorrel mare I give for the use of the farm to carry out the above obligation. I appoint Eli S. Caruth & Alexander Caruth my Executors to execute this my last will & testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 26 day of Oct 1848.

Test Jos Aston Arthur (X) Forbess (Seal)
Walter Caruth

State of Tennessee, Wilson County Court January Term 1849
The last will and testament of Arthur Forbess dec’d was produced in open court & fully proved by the oaths of Joseph Aston and Walter Caruth subscribing witnesses to the same and ordered to be recorded as the last will of said deceased.

Recorded 19^th February 1849 I.S. (L?) McClain, Clerk of said Court

Notes: Arthur Forbis married Rachel Carruth 9 Jun 1815 in Wilson Co, TN. He was born in North Carolina about 1794. Their children were: Susan who married Green C. Bowers 12 Feb 1835; Jane who married Lucas George 26 Dec 1839. (after Jane died, Lucas married her sister, Nancy, on 30 Dec 1840); John who married Sarah Ferrill in 1846; Thomas Calhoun who married 1) Sarah J. Douglass; 2) Mary Jane Organ; 3) Louise Beck Jackson and 4) Mary Beck; Francis C. who married Mary____; Sarah; and Mary who married ____Wickham. Lucas George, Thomas & Francis Forbis and Mary Wickham all migrated from Wilson Co, TN, to Texas about 1858.

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