Van Buren County, Missouri

Date Signed: May 7, 1849

Date Proven: November 14, 1850

     In the name of God Amen. I, David Burris of the county of Van Buren and the state of Missouri being mindful of my mortality do this 7th day of May in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty-nine make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following while I am yet of sound mind and memory and blessed with health and strength.

     First I desire to be decently and privately buried without any funeral pomp and with as little expense as may be. Also I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Elender Burris during her widowhood (if she survives me) all my goods, chattles and effects and in a word my whole estate and if she remains a widow till her death then it is my will that she have my whole estate during her life and dispose of or sell any part thereof if necessary except the Negros. It is also my will that at my beloved wife Elender Burris's death if she remain a widow or at her marriage if she marry after my death that all my estate (with the exception of fifteen dollars) be equally divided between my eight beloved children by my present wife Elender Burris to wit: Elizabeth Gibson, formerly Elizabeth Burris, James Burris, Masten Burris, Hetty Burris, Louisa Warden (formerly Louisa Burris), Mary Ann Gibson, (formerly Mary Ann Burris), Malinda Burris and Andrew J. Burris. It is also my will that Angena Crowder (formerly Angena Burris), William M. Burris and Nancy Martin (formerly Nancy Burris) these three being my children, but not by my present wife, it is my will that the three last mentioned children have the fifteen dollars above excepted equally divided among them that is to say five dollars to each one of them. It is my will that all the personal property I now have and also all the personal Estate I may hereafter acquire should be divided in the proportioned above mentioned. It is also my will that my wife Elender Burris may select either one of the children to see to and to care of her and do so then it is my will that such child shall have my real Estate at the death of my wife and also have equal parts of my personal estate as above mentioned.

     It is also my will that George Hackler of Van Buren County be and I do hereby appoint him Executor of this my last Will and Testament revoking and annuling all former wills by me made and ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 7th day of May in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and forty-nine.

David Burris

Signed, published and declared by the above named David Burris as and for his last Will and Testament in presence of us who at his request have signed as witnesses to the same.

William Crawford and Henry Tarrant