Adam Wattenberger's Will

Washington CO, TN, Will Book, 15 Oct 1820

NOTE: The will is transcribed as it was written with spelling, capitalization, and punctuation errors left in tact
by Sandra (Nipper) Ratledge, great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter.

Last Will and Testament of Adam Wattenberger, Deceased.

In the Name of God, Amen.
I Adam Wattenberger Senr of the County of Washington and State of Tennessee being of Advanced age possessing a sound mind calling to mind my Mortality, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament revoking all former Wills & Testaments, as Followeth Viz

I ordain that my worldy property after defraying the Expence of a Decent and Christian Funeral of my Body and payments of all my Just Debts be Distributed as follows:

Imprimis I bequeth to my Dearly beloved wife Elizabeth Wattenberger all my Household and kitchen Furniture Beds and Furniture to be for her use and all Farming Utensils Until my youngest Child comes of age it is my wish to keep all my stock of Horses Cows Hogs & sheep and all other perishable property for the use of my wife to raise the family untill the youngest Child comes of age and as my children come to age Each one of them here after mentioned shall have a Horse worth between fifty and sixty dollars and common saddle and Bridle as four of my sons have had Horses saddles and Bridles worth the amount above mentioned to Wit. William Wattenberger Adam Wattenberger Jacob Wattenberger & Peter Wattenberger, so it is my wish those hereafter mentioned shall have a horse saddle & Bridle at the same prices as the come of age (Soloman Michael Frederick George Samuel Watenbergers) and it is my wish that my Daughters Elizabeth Wattenberger & Sally Wattenberger, as the arrive at the age of Eighteen years to have each of them a saddle to be worth Twenty Dollars and each of them two Cows and Each of them fifty Dollars Current money of Tennessee and each a Bed & furniture and spinning wheels, and it is my wish that my son Solomon Wattenberger on this account of Bodily Infirmity is to have one Hundred Dollars out of the first monies that is collected to be applyed for his Education and this is to be Extra from an Equal share with the rest of the Legatees and it is my wish that four Boys, to Wit. Michael, Frederick George & Samuel Wattenbergers be sent to school to read write and understand the rule of Three and it is my wish that my two Daughters Elizabeth & Sarah be sent to school to Learn to read and write and for this above mentioned four Boys and two girls for their Education to be paid out of my Estate and if my wife Elizabeth should Depart this life before my youngest child comes to age, all my property both Real and personal shall be sold at public sale and as my son Peter Wattenberger Learned the Blacksmith Trade there is to be One hundred Dollars deducted out of his share of his Legacy and if my wife should live until my youngest child comes to be of age she shall have my Corner Cupboard and Furniture, clock & Case one Beauro two milk Cows and one mare and saddle & Bridle one Bed and Furniture one Copper Kettle and as much household and Kitchen Furniture as may be necessary to keeping house and after her Dicease all to be sold and Equal Divided amongest the Legatees all the money that is due from the plantation that I sold to Jno. Adkins and what is not due as soon as can be collected and the Debts paid the Ballance to be divided amonst the Legatees those of age to have their part those that are not of age the money to be put to Interest untill the arrive at age all other notes and Book accounts in my possession Except one of fifty five Dollars on George Hinkle Senr. my Executors shall have to apply for he Necessaries wanted in my family If there should be need for it the Black Woman Sarah shall be sold by my Executor shall be sold the first opportunity and to the best advantage my Black man Samuel is to be hired out to the best advantage and the monies arriving from his her to be for the use of raising the Family. If he does well by hiring he is to be hired untill the youngst Child comes of age If not the Executors to sell him the first opportunity and the price of the Negro man to be Equal Divided amongest the Legatees.

I ordain and appoint Frederick Fensiler and Christian Zetty, Senr. Executors of this my Last Will and Testament signed sealed and acknowledged In the year of Our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Twenty this fifteenth of October.

adam wattenbarger (his own signature)

Test.
Frdk Fensiler? (unreadable signature)
(initial?) Cunningham
Christian Zetty