James McNair's Will

 

His will was written with his own hand January 5, 1817, and proved at the July term of the Knox Co. Court, 1818. The will in full is recorded in Knox Co. Estate Book, Vol. 2, pages 351 and 352. His wife's will was written March 23, 1817, and was proved at the same session of the Court. The following is included in Gerry McNair Crow's notes: "Tenn. Census taken from NC land grants 1787-1791, No. of Grant 2442, James McNair, 200 acres 1790 on the south side of Holstein (River) opposite the mouth of German Creek." James' last will and testament is recorded in "Leaves From The Family Tree" by Penelope Johnson Allen and is as follows: "In the name of God., Amen, I, James McNair of the County of Knox, State of Tennessee, being in a low state of health, but of sound memory, do make this my Last Will and Testament. First I wish all my just debts and funeral charges to be paid from my moveable property and my daughter Myre to have a horse worth 100 dollars or the money. "To my true and well beloved wife, Martha, I give and bequeath my dwelling house as it stands with all and every part of furniture, the kitchen, smoke house, crib and Garden and the half of all kind of stock and farm tools, also old Cipeo, Rhoda and her child Cubit, all of which is to be at her disposal in her life time or at her death--I do will that my land at the death of my wife be sold to the highest bidder and also my boys, Bob and Austin, and from the sale, my son John is to have and receive one half of the purchase money, my son James on third, my son David and my daughters Polly, Hannah, Betsy and Myre shall have equal shares of the other third part. "My son John is to have one half of the stock and all untensils with his mother and have full care of her. He has Bob and Austin as assistantsand the whole plantation to cultivate for which he, the said John, is to let her have a full third part of all produce. "I choose my true and trusted friends Asahel Chapman and my son John as my executors to see that my last will and testament be carefully executed. All former will being made void and of no effect. This I say, is my last will and testament wrote with my own hand and sealed with my seal this 5th day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen. "Signed Jas. M'Nair, in the presence of Ro Armstrong, Fras. Bounds."