Zillah Adams

b. say 1803
  • Zillah Adams was born say 1803.
  • She witnessed the New Tag of Reaves Adams and Sarah (?) in January 1818 at Dickson County, Tennessee;
         In the name of God Amen. I Reaves Adams of the County of Dickson in the State of Tennessee being weak in body but of sound sense mind and memory at this time, yet knowing, the uncertainty of this earthly life and, that is appointed for man to die and after death to judgment do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following.
         First I commend my Soul to Almighty God that gave it and by the merits of Jesus Christ I trust and believe to be saved, and my body to be burried in such descent and Christianlike manner as my Executor hereafter named shall think proper And as for my temporal estate and whatsoever else God hath been pleased to bestow on me I give and bequeath as follows.
         My Will and desire is that all my just debts shall be paid and my funeral expenses discharged. Also my Will is that my loving Wife Sarah Adams as soon as she shall find it convenient sell the land on which we now live and make a deed to the same, and the money arrising from the sale of the land with the addition of two hundred and fifty dollars to be collected and made out of my personal estate, that is not otherwise appropriated and more if my Wife deems it necessary be applied to the payment of a tract of land, which she is hereby authorized to purchase which tract of land so purchased is to be and to remain to her during her natural life and at her decease the said tract of land to be sold and the money arrising therefrom to be equally divided between all my children.
         Item. I give and bequeath to my loving Wife during her natural life a Negro girl named Mary and at my Wifes decease if my son Howell Caller Adams is twenty years of age that then the said negro Mary and all her increase be sold to the highest bidder on twelve months credit and all the moneys arrising therefrom to be equally divided between all my Children, to wit. Cinthy Adams, Zillah Adams, Sarah Adams, Benjamin Johnson Adams, William Adams, Thomas Adams and Howell Collier Adams to be to them their heirs and assigns forever and the same measure to take place with the monies arrising from the sale of the land and all the remaining part of my estate of every kind I give and bequeath to my loving wife to raise and School my children an to give them as they marry or come of age as she can spare of think proper, and at her decease to be disposed of between my children share and share alike to be to them and their heirs and assigns forever, provided she remains a widow and should she marry I assign her, the fourth part of the last mentioned property and the remaining three fourths to be equally divided between my children.
         Lastly, I constitute and appoint my loving wife Sarah Adams whole and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament revoking and making void all will or wills by me formerly made, provisioning abd declaring this to be my last will and Testament in the presence of the subscribing witnesses. In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand seal the twenty first day of August Anno dommini 1817. Reves Adams , Witnesses: John Humphries, John Davidson, John Luke.
         State of Tennnessee, Dickson County, January 1818 Term, Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions. This day was proven in Open Court the last Will and Testament of Reves Adams deceased by the oaths of John Humphreys and John Davidson which was ordered to be recorded and certified accordingly. Field Farrar, Clerk.
  • Last Edited: 19 Feb 2011