Page 293

I, John Crook, being of sound and perfect mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following:

Item first, I do give and bequeath unto by beloved wife Rebecca Crook one third part of all my cleared land situate lying and being in the County of White and the state of Tennessee together with a sufficient number of acres of timber land as near adjacent

Page 293

thereto as the same can be laid off to answer the purpose of all necessary repairs and for fuel for and during her natural life said third part of my cleared land to be so laid off as to include my mansion and other out houses where I now reside and also the spring now used by me. And it is my will and desire and I hereby direct that my executors herein after named lay off by miles and bounds to my said wife Rebecca the land and premises devised as aforesaid.

Item second: I do give and bequeath unto my son John Crook and my daughter Elizabeth Yount all the rest and residue of my lands, tenements and hereditaments situate lying and being in the county of White and state of Tennessee except the part bequeathed as above to my wife Rebecca, to them the said John Crook and Elizabeth Yount and to their heirs forever. And at the death of my wife Rebecca I do further give and bequeath to my said children John Crook and Elizabeth Yount and to their heirs forever all that part of my land bequeathed above to my wife Rebecca to be equally divided between them at the death of my said wife Rebecca and none of the lands hereby devised to my said children John Crook and Elizabeth Yount are to be divised until the happening of said event to wit: the death of my said wife Rebecca.

Item third: I give and bequeath unto my said wife Rebecca Crook and her heirs forever my negro girl slave called Edy and her increase, also my negro boy named Simon, also my negro girl slave commonly called Little Edy and her increase, also two beds and furniture, two cows and calves, six head of other young cattle out of my stock, also one ten gallon kettle, one pot, also one horse to be selected by her out of my stock of horses, also all the crockery and Delf Ware which she may claim, also six head of sheep to be selected by her out of my stock of sheep, also two sows and pigs, also four killing hogs, also two wheels, one reel, also what pewter ware she chooses to take, six chairs, as many water and washing vessels as she chooses to take, two chests and our clock. I also devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Rebecca Crook in addition to the foregoing property one years provisions for herself and family which I direct my executors to lay off and set apart to her and in the event there should not be a sufficiency of provisions on hand at my death for that purpose my executors are directed to supply the deficiency with any funds belonging to my estate which they may have in their hands.

Item fourth, it is my wish and desire that all the rest, residue and remainder of my personal property of what kind and nature so ever not already particularly devised (my negroes excepted) be sold by my executors at public

Page 294

auction to the highest bidder on a credit of twelve months. And the money arising from said sale together with what may be collected by them of the debts due me are directed to be applied in the first place to the extinguishment of all my just debts, should a surplus remain after paying all my just debts, I then and in the event give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Goolsby twenty dollars. Should a surplus still remain after paying my just debts and after paying my daughter Jane Goolsby twenty dollars above devised to her, then and in that event I give and bequeath to my grand children to wit: the children of my son John Crook and the children of my daughter Elizabeth Yount and to the heirs of my said grand children forever said remaining surplus to be equally divided between my said grand children to be paid to them respectively by my executors as they severally arrive at the age of twenty one years.

Item, it is my will and desire that my negro slaves Teythend, Nice, Phillis, Charity, Little Nice, (being two of the same name) Anthony and a negro child called Mary Jane, and the increase of said negro slaves be sold after my death either privately or publicly by my executors as they may deem best on a credit of twelve months. And it is my desire the my executors in making sale of said negroes, select for them masters who will treat them with humanity. The money arising from the sale of my said negroes, I give and bequeath to my said grand children to wit: the children of my said son John Crook and the children of my said daughter Elizabeth Yount to them my said grand children and their heirs forever to be equally divided between them, to be paid to them by my executors as they respectively arrive at the age of twenty one years.

Item, I give and bequeath to my grandson John Crook child of my son John Crook my negro boy slave named William, to him and his heirs forever.

And lastly, I hereby nominate and appoint my friends William Hill and Samuel Brown, executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand affixed my seal this 29th day of December in the year of out Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four.

his           

John   X   Crook

mark         

Signed sealed published and declared by the above named John Crook Sen. to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator. The word "my" in the second line from the bottom on the first page, the word my on the seventh line from the bottom of the second page inserted and the word "to" on the bottom line of the same page erased before signed.

William Mills - John H Mills

Page 295

State of Tennessee

White County                                                                                                                                              April Term A. D. 1838

This day Samuel Brown one of the executors of John Crook Sen. deceased produced in open court a writing purporting to be the last will and testament of John Crook Sen. deceased late of the County of White and the due execution and publication thereof was proven in open Court by the oath of William Mills and John H. Mills subscribing witnesses thereto for the purposes and things therein mentioned and that the said John Crook Sen. was at the date of the execution and publication thereof of sound and disposing mind and memory which is decreed by the Court sufficiently proven, and ordered to be recorded. And it is ordered that Samuel Brown and William Hill the executors named in said last will and testament who take upon themselves the burden of the execution therefore have leave until the next term of this Court to qualify, give bond and security. /c Given at office the 2^nd day of April A. D. 1838.

Test. N. Oldham clerk
of White County Court

Recorded 4^th day of April 1838
            Test. N. Oldham of White County Court

Page 297

Letters of Administration on John Crook Sen. Est.

State of Tennessee

Where as the last will and testament of John Crook Sen. late of the county of White deceased hath been exhibited to the county court of said county and proven in due form as required by law, and Samuel Brown and William Hill the executors named in said will having appeared in open court and relinquished and renounced their right to act as executors whereupon Anthony Dibrell was duly qualified according to law administrator with the last will and testament annexed of the said John Crook Sen. deceased. These are therefore to empower the said administrator to enter into and upon all and singular the goods and chattel, rights and credits of the said deceased and them into his possession take where so ever the same may be found in the state and an inventory to return unto this court within the time limited by law and all the just debts to pay so far as the said estate will extend or amount to. Witness Nicholas Oldham clerk of White county court at office the first Monday in May A. D. 1838 and of American Independence the 62nd year.

Test. N. Oldham clerk of said court

Recorded 9 May 1838 N. Oldham of White County Court

Page 302

Inventory and account of sales of the property of the Estate of John Crook Sen deceased and returned upon oath by Anthony Dibrell administrator of the will annexed at the June term AD 1838.

Sold 29 May, 1838

Page 303

Anthony Dibrell         
with the Will Annexed

Recorded 5 July 1838

Test. N. Oldham         
of White County Court

Page 307

Letters of Administration Presentated in John Crook Sen. Estate

State of Tennessee

White County                                                                                    October Term A. D. 1838

Whereas at a former term of this Court the death of John Crook Sen. late of the County of White was suggested in due form. And now for reasons appearing to the satisfaction of the Court, it is ordered by the Court that Anthony Dibrell Esquire be appointed Administrator Pendentalita of the said John Crook Sen. deceased. These are therfore to authorize you the administration to aforesaid to enter into and upon all and singular the goods and chattle, rights and credits of the said deceased and them into his possession take wherever the same may may be found in this State. And shall will and truly administer the said estate according to law during the pendencey of a certain suit in White Circuit County Court wherein Jacob Yount and wife as plaintiffs in contesting the validity of the last will and testament of the said John Crook Sen. deceased and the said administrator aforesaid is defendant. Witness Nicholas Oldham clerk of White county court at office the 2nd day of October A. D. 1838.

Test. N. Oldham clerk
of White County Court

Recorded 3 October 1838
            Test. N. Oldham clerk

Page 318

Letters of Administration with the Will Annexed of John Crook Sen. Deceased Estate

State of Tennessee

White County

Whereas at the November term A. D. of White County Court it appeared to the satisfaction of the Court that the last will and testament of John Crook Sen. deceased late of the County of White, was in the Circuit Court of said County fully proved and by this Court ordered to be recorded and the executors therein named formally renounced their right to execute said will. Whereupon Anthony Dibrell was appointed administrator with the will of the deceased annexed.

These are therefore to authorize and empower the said Anthony Dibrell administrator to enter into and upon all and singular the goods and chattles, rights and credits of the deceased and them into his possession take wherever the same may be found in this State. And an Inventory to make and return into this Court within the time limited by law. And all the just debts of the deceased to pay so far as said Estate will extend or amount to. Witness Nicholas Oldham clerk of White county court at office the first Monday of November A. D. 1838. And of the Independence of the United States the sixty third year.

Test. N. Oldham clerk
of White County Court

Recorded 7 November 1838
            Test. N. Oldham clerk

I, John Crook, being of sound and perfect mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following:

Item first, I do give and bequeath unto by beloved wife Rebecca Crook one third part of all my cleared land situate lying and being in the County of White and the state of Tennessee together with a sufficient number of acres of timber land as near adjacent thereto as the same can be laid off to answer the purpose of all

Page 319

necessary repairs and for fuel for and during her natural life said third part of my cleared land to be so laid off as to include my mansion and other out houses where I now reside and also the spring now used by me. And it is my will and desire and I hereby direct that my executors herein after named lay off by miles and bounds to my said wife Rebecca the land and premises devised as aforesaid.

Item second: I do give and bequeath unto my son John Crook and my daughter Elizabeth Yount all the rest and residue of my lands, tenements and hereditaments situate lying and being in the county of White and state of Tennessee except the part bequeathed as above to my wife Rebecca, to them the said John Crook and Elizabeth Yount and to their heirs forever. And at the death of my wife Rebecca I do further give and bequeath to my said children John Crook and Elizabeth Yount and to their heirs forever all that part of my land bequeathed above to my wife Rebecca to be equally divided between them at the death of my said wife Rebecca and none of the lands hereby devised to my said children John Crook and Elizabeth Yount are to be divised until the happening of said event to wit: the death of my said wife Rebecca.

Item third: I give and bequeath unto my said wife Rebecca Crook and her heirs forever my negro girl slave called Edy and her increase, also my negro boy named Simon, also my negro girl slave commonly called Little Edy and her increase, also two beds and furniture, two cows and calves, six head of other young cattle out of my stock, also one ten gallon kettle, one pot, also one horse to be selected by her out of my stock of horses, also all the crockery and Delf Ware which she may claim, also six head of sheep to be selected by her out of my stock of sheep, also two sows and pigs, also four killing hogs, also two wheels, one reel, also what pewter ware she chooses to take, six chairs, as many water and washing vessels as she chooses to take, two chests and our clock. I also devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Rebecca Crook in addition to the foregoing property one years provisions for herself and family which I direct my executors to lay off and set apart to her and in the event there should not be a sufficiency of provisions on hand at my death for that purpose my executors are directed to supply the deficiency with any funds belonging to my estate which they may have in their hands.

Item fourth, it is my wish and desire that all the rest, residue and remainder of my personal property of what kind and nature so ever not already particularly devised (my negroes excepted) be sold by my executors at public auction to the highest bidder on a credit of twelve months. And the money arising from said sale together with what may be collected by them of the debts due me are directed to be applied in the first place to the extinguishment of all my just debts, should a surplus

Page 320

remain after paying all my just debts, I then and in the event give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Goolsby twenty dollars. Should a surplus still remain after paying my just debts and after paying my daughter Jane Goolsby twenty dollars above devised to her, then and in that event I give and bequeath to my grand children to wit: the children of my son John Crook and the children of my daughter Elizabeth Yount and to the heirs of my said grand children forever said remaining surplus to be equally divided between my said grand children to be paid to them respectively by my executors as they severally arrive at the age of twenty one years.

Item, it is my will and desire that my negro slaves Teythend, Nice, Phillis, Charity, Little Nice, (being two of the same name) Anthony and a negro child called Mary Jane, and the increase of said negro slaves be sold after my death either privately or publicly by my executors as they may deem best on a credit of twelve months. And it is my desire the my executors in making sale of said negroes, select for them masters who will treat them with humanity. The money arising from the sale of my said negroes, I give and bequeath to my said grand children to wit: the children of my said son John Crook and the children of my said daughter Elizabeth Yount to them my said grand children and their heirs forever to be equally divided between them, to be paid to them by my executors as they respectively arrive at the age of twenty one years.

Item, I give and bequeath to my grandson John Crook child of my son John Crook my negro boy slave named William, to him and his heirs forever.

And lastly, I hereby nominate and appoint my friends William Hill and Samuel Brown, executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand affixed my seal this 29th day of December in the year of out Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four.

his           

John   X   Crook

mark         

Signed sealed published and declared by the above named John Crook Sen. to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator. The word "my" in the second line from the bottom on the first page, the word my on the seventh line from the bottom of the second page inserted and the word "to" on the bottom line of the same page erased before signed.

William Mills - John H Mills

November Term A. D. 1838

This day the clerk of White Circuit

Page 321

Court filed in this court a record from said Court showing that an issue Divcsavet velnow has been made in said Court upon the writing purporting to be the last will and testament of John Crook Sen. deceased and it appearing from said session that said writing was decided and approved to be the last will and testament of the said John Crook Sen. that the same was duly published and proclaimed as such and that the testator at the time of executing the same was of sound and disposing mind and memory. It is therefore considered by this Court and so ordered that the above mentioned last will and testament be recorded. Given at office the fifth day of November A. D. 1838.

Test. N. Oldham clerk
of White County Court

Recorded 9 November 1838
            Test. N. Oldham clerk

Page 407

Letters of Administration Rebecca Crook Deceased

State of Tennessee
White County

Whereas on this 5th day of October A. D. 1840 the death of Rebecca Crook late of County of White deceased was suggested in open Court and that she departed this life intestate whereupon John Parker and James Susgraph were appointed and qualified administrators.

These are therefore to authorize and empower the said Aministrators to enter into and upon all and singular the goods and chattles, rights and credits of the said deceased and them into their possession take wherever the same may be found in State. And an Inventory to return into this Court within the time limited by law. And all the just debts of the deceased to pay so far as said Estate will extend or amount to. Witness Nicholas Oldham clerk of White county court at office the first Monday of October A. D. 1840.

Test. N. Oldham clerk
of White County Court

Recorded 8 October 1840
            Test. N. Oldham clerk

Source:
Tennessee. County Court (White County)
Settlements and Wills, 1831-1893; Filmed by the State Library and Archives, 1967, Nashville, Tennessee; Microfilm of orginal records at the White County courthouse; includes indexes.
Family History Center Microfilm No. 0507899

Last updated August 07, 1999
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