John Dyer's Will

Date: 27 Sep 1844 to 7 Oct 1844
Location: DeKalb County, Tennessee, USA
Surname/tag: Dyer

John Dyer wrote his will on 27 Sep 1844 and it was proved 7 Oct 1844 so he died sometime between those two dates. His will lists his wife Polly and all 12 of his children:

1. Jefferson D
2. John M
3. Carol (son)
4. Nancy
5. Manerva
6. Malthursa/Maltusoto
7. Margaret Peggy
8. Maria Dyer Mattheny
9. Matilda Dyer Gowin
10. Mahala Dyer Carr
11. Sally Dyer Burton
12. Polly Dyer Roberts

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Will of John Dyer

The Will of John Dyer

Transcribed by Ginger R. Smith, ginger.reney@gmail.com, 29 May 2014

Written 27 Sept 1844

DeKalb Co., TN

I John Dyer do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all other wills by me at any time made. First I desire that my funeral expenses and all my debts be paid as soon after my death as possible out of my money that I may die possessed of or may come to the hands of my executors. Secondly, I give and bequeath to my son Jefferson D Dyer my tract of land in Putnam County, Tennessee lying on the Walton road it being the tract on which I lived and from which I moved when I settled in Dekalb County said tract is supposed to contain about two hundred acres. Thirdly I give and bequeath to my son John M Dyer my tract of land in Putnam County Tennessee known as the Crider place said tract of land joins the land of John Ripeto, Abram Buck and Montgomery Kenard and others said tract is supposed to contain two hundred acres. Fourthly I do leave to my beloved wife Polly Dyer all my tract of land in Dekalb County where I now live during her natural life and after her death I give and bequeath said land to my son Carol Dyer and my Daughters Nancy and Manerva Dyer in the following portions to wit, to my son Carrol Dyer two thirds of said tract and to my daughters Nancy and Manerva one third divided between them. Fifthly I desire that all my perishable property be sold as soon after my death as convenient and credit of twelve months and out of the proceeds of said sales I give and bequeath to my daughters Malthursa and Peggy as soon as they many marry or come of adult? age as much as my other daughters had given to either of them by me when they married. Sixthly I give and bequeath to my daughters Maria Mattheny, Matilda Gowin, Mahala Carr, Polly Roberts, and Sally Burton ten Dollars each. Seventhly I do give and bequeath the balance after taking out the above bequests to my beloved wife Polly Dyer and my son Carrol Dyer and my daughters Malthursa, Peggy, Nancy, and Manerva equally between them for the purpose educating and clothing them. I desire that my executors sell my tract of land in Putnam County known as the Buffalo Waller either at private or public sale to the best advantage and the proceeds disposed of as the proceeds of the perishable property. Lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my friends Wm H Richardson and Alexander Martin my executors in witness whereof I do to this my last will set my hand and seal this 27th day of September 1844.

John (His Mark) Dyer

Signed sealed and published in our presence and we have subscribed our names hereto in the presence of the Testator this 27th day of September 1844.

Major (his mark) Marcum

Zachariah (his mark) Kirkland

State of Tennessee

Dekalb County :October Term 1844

A paper purporting to be the last will and testament of John Dyer dec’d was presented in open court for probate and was duly proven in open court by the oaths of Major Marcum and Zachariah Kirkland, subscribing witnesses to the same who being first duly sworn depose and say that they were acquaintances with John Dyer the testator and that he made his mark to said will and acknowledged that he executed the same for the purpose therein specified and by his request they became subscribing witnesses to the same and acknowledge that said will be recorded. Given under my hand at office the 7th day of October 1844.

Wm B Lawrence Clk

Of Dekalb County Court

Citation

1. ↑ Dekalb County, Tennessee, Wills, 1838-1854, Vol. A, p. 50, John Dyer, 1844; County Court Clerk’s Office, DeKalb; digital images, "Tennessee Probate Court Books, 1795-1927," FamilySearch. (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 22 April 2014). Image 100-101 of 159.