Sterling Tarpley Will

Sterling Tarpley Will
Submitted by Sara Binkley Tarpley

From Wilson County Tennessee Will Book No. 13, pp. 46-47
Sterling Tarply's Will

[Transcribed by Sara Binkley Tarpley 1998]

I Sterling Tarply of the County of Wilson and State of Tennessee being old in
bad health but of sound mind and memory do make and publish this as my last
will. Item 1st. I will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid
as soon after my death as practicable out of such perishable property as can
be best spared. Item 2nd. As my wife Lucretia Tarpley has been a loving &
faithful companion and helped me to make and take care of what I have I will
that she have & enjoy all my property both real and personal during her
natural life. Item 3rd. At the death of my wife I will that my son John
Tarply have one hundred ten acres of land, to begin on Cumberland river in
Beasley's line and run east so as to include the low Spring that he now uses
& the possession which he now has thence North, West, and South for
complement. Item 4th. I will (at her death) to my son Sterling Tarply one
hundred and twenty acres of land, Beginning on Cumberland river at the mouth
of [illegible] Jackson's Spring branch moving east to Isaac Jackson's line
thence south & west to the river, thence north with the river to the
beginning for complement. Item 5th. At the death of my wife I will to my
son Joseph B. Tarpley one hundred and fifty acres of land including the
plantation in which I live, bonded on the South by the John New tract, on the
east by the Jackson tract, & on the north by the B[illegible] tract and to
river so as to make the 150 acres. I also give my son Joseph B. Tarply
twenty acres on the Cumberland river including the place that he cleared and
built a log barn on, commencing at the southwest corner of the clearing and
moving east, thence north, thence west, thence South to the beginning so as
to get the twenty acres in an oblong form from East to West. Item 6. The
remaining portion of my land I give to my four daughters Elizabeth S. Beasley
or her trustee, Caroline Walker, Jennet Brown, & Julia Childress or her
trustee, to be equally divided between them according to value at my wife's
death. Item 7th. I will to my daughter Polly L. Hill the negro girl now in
her possession named Crissy said girl Crissy is about twenty years old & one
dollar in cash and no more. Item 9th. I will to my grandson Joseph Harrison
Childress a little negro to be worth three hundred dollars at the death of my
wife. Said negro to be placed in the hands of a guardian to be appointed by
court. Item 10th. At the death of my wife I will that all my personal
property including the negroes be equally divided between my sons John
Tarpley, Sterling Tarply, & Joseph B. Tarpley & my daughters Elizabeth S.
Beasley or her trustee, Caroline Walker, Jennett Brown and Juliett Childress
or her trustee. Item 11th. in order that my two daughters Elizabeth S.
Beasley & Julia Childress may have the benefit of the property above willed
to them & fearing they would not if their husbands Josiah Beasley & Michell
Childress should get possession, I will that my son Joseph B. Tarply receive
and manage their property for them letting them have the benefit of it as
their families may need it but not to pay the debts of said Beasley or
Childress, and in case my son Joseph should refuse to act as trustee or agent
for my said daughters my will is that the Chancery Court (or Circuit Court if
necessary) appoint one and allow him a reasonable compensation for his
services. The trustee is to continue as such as long as it is [in?] the
power of said Beasley or Childress to spend the property if given up to them,
but whenever that power ceases to exist my daughters, if living, are to have
the sole management of their property for the benefit of themselves &
children. 12 Item I will that my wife Lucretia Tarply act as the sole
Executrix of this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have
herewith set my hand and seal this 18th day of March 1842.
kjn Sterling Tarply [seal]
Henry Jackson
Thomas Pettway

State of Tennessee Wilson County Court Sept. Term 1848
The last will and testament of Sterling Tarply dcd was expedited in open
court and fully proved by the oaths of Henry Jackson & Thomas Pettway the
subscribing witnesses to the same and was ordered by this recorded as the
last will of said deceased.
Recorded Nov. 7th 1848

J. S. McClain Clerk
of Wilson County Court

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