The Last Will and Testament of John Ashley
Warren Co. TN, Book 1, Wills and Inventory, pg 26-31, 1828
In the name of God Amen,
I, John Ashley of the County of Warren and State of Tennessee being of perfect mind and memory but Calling to mind the mortality of man and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament.
First of all I recommend my Soul to the hands of the Almighty God who give it my Body I recommend to the earth to be Buried in a deasent manner at the discretion of my Executors all my Just debts to be paid out of the money arising out of the Sale of my property here after mentioned first of all I give to my beloved Wife Polly Ashley the following property to wit:
one cow and calf two Beads and furniture one flax and one Cotten Wheel two head of sheep one Sow and Seven piggs also one years old Barrow one kettle one small pot and Skillet and her Saddle one Smothing Iron
(page 27) one Chest four peuter plates and four delph plates one set of Tea Cups and Saucers one Water pale piggen and milk Churn and Tin Bucket also 2 Chaires three knives and three Crocks one Coffee pot and Soop Spoon three Tin cups one peuter dish and one delph dish also one square table and one pot Trammel and Washing tub 2 Tumblers and two mugs.
Item 2, I give unto my son Francis Ashley one Broun mare Saddle and Bridle also one Cow and Calf and one sow one Barrow also Ewe and Lamb and one plough and axe and hoe and Rifle Gun. (This would cause me to believe that Francis was the youngest child, maybe still living at home, and had not yet received much tangible property from his father.)
Item 3, I give unto my daughter Sally Abrell fifteen dollars Worth of my property the rest of my Children having received their proportionable part my Land and all the balance of my property to be sold at twelve months credit and the money arising from the Sale after paying my debts to be divided betwen my Wife Polly, my daughter Peggy Colville, my daughter Rachel Evans, my daughter Ingram, my son Charles Ashley, and my son John Ashley, my daughter Sally Abrell, my son Daniel Ashley, my Son Uriah Ashley and my son Andrew Ashley, my daughter Nancy Allison and my daughter Mariah Lynn and my son Francis Ashley all to Shear and Sheare alike - ratifying and confirming this my last Will and Testamen making Void all former Will. Leaving my beloved wife Polly and William Lynn my Sole Executors in Witness Whereof I have here unto Set my hand and fixed my Seal this 11th April 1828 in presence of us.
JOHN ASHLEY (Seal)
Witnessed: Bejamin Wooten, William Wooten
(Page 28):
An Inventory of the Estate of John Ashley Dec.
To wit
One hundred and five acres of Land one Cow and Calf one yearling 13 head of Hogs 6 head of Sheep one Bed and furniture one falling Leaf Table 1 Small chest a pale and 2 piggins 5 Chairs three Wheels and 1 Loom one Cut Reel 1 pair fur dogs Shovel and Tongs Two pots one Oven a Small Skillet 2 pair of pot hooks 2 Erthen dishes and 3 tumblers 3 pitchers 4 bowls two Bottles 4 plates 1 mug one Canister one razor 2 tin pans one Set of Tea Cups and Saucers 2 waters two Tea Bords 4 peuter plates and one peuter dish 1 pair Candlemoles one Sausage Stuffer 1 pair sheep shears one flax Hackle 4 knives and fork 6 Spoons one trumpet one pair of Small Stelyards and one Coffee mill 5 Crocks 2 pair Cotten Cards one Looking Glass 3 Books one Candle Stick one bedstead one Rifle Gun 2 shot pouches 2 ploughs and Swingletrees, 3 ____ Rings 2 Clevises 2 pair drawing Chairs one ax and tomahawk 2 hoes one Iron wedge and one Log Chain one hand Saw and one auger one Sythe and Cradle and Cuting knife one pair strechers and one mans Saddle 2 Tin Cups 3 gimblets and one taper bit one Small Kegg 2 Small Barrels 2 Bells one Set of Spools a small chunk of Iron.
(Page 29):
Sale Bill of John Ashley, Dec'd
John Fults - 1 Cutting Box & Knife - 75
John Ingram - 1 Pot - 87 1/2
Thomas Miers - 1 Oven 1 large pot - 1.25
John Ingram - one falling ax - 93 3/4
Polly Ashley - 1 Set of Dog Irons - 1.75
John Ingram - Hoe & Tomahawk - 43 3/4
Polly Ashley - Shovel & Trumpet Skillet - ____
Thomas Macy - Hoe Iren Wedge - 75
Adrew Northcut - Chain & Strechers - 1.25
Francis Ashley - Singletree & C - 1.06 1/4
Benjamin Wooten - Plough & C - 1.56 1/4
John Ingram - 3 piggens - 75
Richard Allison - 2 crocks - 31 1/4
What Laym - 2 crocks - 25
Richard Allison - Hems & Traces - 87 1/2
Francis Ashley - Chains Hems & Coller - 1.50
Polly Ashley - 1 Cut Reel - 12 1/2
John Ingram - Saw & augur - 1.06 1/2
John Fults - Sythe & Bridle - 2.00
(Page 30):
David Williams - Wheel & Cards - 75
James Spradlen - Flax Wheel & cards -50
James Spradlen - & Sundries - 1.25
David Williams - Saddle - 4.00
John Sales - 2 Chairs - 50
Polly Ashley - 1 flask Tumbler & 2 chairs - 37 1/2
Austin Cappinger - 1 Small Chest - 1.37 1/2
Richard Allison - ___ Spools Water knives & fork - ____
Austin Cappinger - 1 chair - 18 3/4
Hiram Ingram - 1 folding Table - 5.00
Wm. Lynn - peuter & C - 2.18 3/4
John Ingram - Water Glass pitcher - 50
Polly Ashley - Water & C - 31 1/4
Casper Myers - 2 Boles 4 plates, cups & saucers - 1.50
Austin Cappinger - 1 Dish - 37 1/2
John Ingram - 2 Tin Cups Tumbler & Bottle - 62 1/2
Polly Braun - 2 pichers - 25
Wyat Lam - 1 Razor & Case - 50
John Ingram - Shuttles & ____ - 25
Jacob Lynn - 1 Loom ___ ___ - 3.37 1/2
William Wooten - Stelyards - 43 3/4
John Fults - fur Tariff - 25
John Myers - 1 flax hackle - 2.00 1/4
Polly Ashley - Coffee Mill - 37 1/2
John Ingram - 1 Looking Glass - 25
Thomas Myers - ____ - 10
John Ingram - 6 Sheep - 5.56 1/2
Jake Green - 1 Rifle Gun 2 Shot Bags - 17.50
John Sales - 2 gimlets & Taper bit - 37 1/2
Francis Ashley - 1 Shot pouch - 56 1/4
Rich Allison - 1 Bred Bole & Sifter - 6 1/4
Wyeth Lam - 1 Small Keg - 31 1/4
B. Wooten - Iron Sheep - 4.62 1/2
John Ingram - 1 cow & Calf - 8.87 1/2
James Northcut - 1 yearling - 4.00
Hiram Ingram - 1 Set Hogs - 5.25
James Spradlen - Flax Wheel - 75
(Page 31):
Polly Ashley - 1 Tract Land - 109.00
Amounting to 209.22 1/2