Loyd, Stephen � Will written 1826; After debts are paid I Will to wife Elizabeth, Negro girls, Fatha, Hannah, Lucy; Negro boy Nicholas, all household, kitchen furniture, stock of horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, my tract of land, all plantation tools, poultry, etc. If she should marry, an equal division be made among my children, Susan, William, Martha, James, Sally, John, Eliza, Elizabeth and Catherine. Because of an affliction, I wish my son James to have one hundred dollars more than an equal division. When William arrives at twenty-one, he will be entitled to a horse.

Executors: Stephen Hightower, Meshack Boyce
Witnesses: James MacGowen, William B. Brooks

Codicil: I also wish my two younger children Stephen Coleman & Alexander Green to be considered equally entitled as the other children except James & William.
Witnesses: Robert McLaurine, Henry Loyd.     Probated 1831

Submitted by Judy (Bunch/Whitley) Fox

Luker, James R. � Will written 1835; To wife Elizabeth Luker, two hundred thirteen acres of land on Richland Creek, also all personal property. If she marries, the estate to be sold as law directs and the money to be equally divided with all my children, to wit: Eldagertia, John Brazil, James Richmond, Charity, Joseph, Rivers McKay, George Washington and Jerome Pillow Luker.

Executor: (no name)
Witnessess: John Young Sr. John R. Luker

Submitted by Judy (Bunch/Whitley) Fox

Madry, Guston R. �Will written 1880; To wife Rebecca A.F. Madry, my entire estate lying in the Eighth District known as the Garret Farm, also all household & kitchen furniture, two mules, one two horse wagon, and money. At her death it is to go to my three boys, John Westly, William James, Theophalis B. Madry to be equally divided.

Administrator: Rebecca A.F. Madry
Witnesses: S.D. Clack, D.C. Biles, J.P. May Jr.
Probated 1880

Submitted by Judy (Bunch/Whitley) Fox

Madry, Richard �Will written 1887; Executor to pay debts & funeral expenses and have erected head & foot stones to my own and wife's graves. To my children, Nancy Jane Street, Obediah P. Madry, Sarah Elizabeth Hazelwood, wife of John Hazelwood, Tabitha A. Parr, wife of James Parr, Thomas J, Madry and my granddaughter Sallie Walker all my estate to be divided equally. I have heretofore given my two children Tabitha A. Parr and Nancy J. Street each twelve hundred dollars in property and to my son Obidiah P. Madry one thousand dollars, I have given daughter Sarah E. Hazelwood fifteen hundred dollars but have not given my granddaughter Sallie Walker anything. She is to be made equal. I plan to have a house built for Tabitha Parr, if do so, then the cost shall come out of her share.

Executors: Thomas J. Madry, Wade Street, son-in-law.
Witnesses: J.P. May, W.H. McCallum
Probated 1889

Submitted by Judy (Bunch/Whitley) Fox

Reed, Carson P.� Will written 1872; My remains to be buried in Mt. Moriah graveyard. To wife Tranquilla T. Reed, two thousand dollars in gold and eighty dollars in silver, to daughter Clara L. Buford, my stock in Columbia, Pulaski & Elkton Turnpike Company, to son Jesse J., one half stock in Nashville & Decatur Railroad Company, to daughter Tranquilla V. Kirkpatrick, tract of land beginning in middle of old Elkton Road opposite my rock fence and South with said fence reserving one & a half acres where Sharon Church stands, to son Carson P. Reed, one half my stock in Nashville & Decatur Railroad Company and the tract of land on which he lives. To daughter Cora Bell Reed, one Tennessee State Bond for one thousand dollars and six hundred fifty dollars in money. Also the tract of land on which I now reside. I have an agreement to sell Dock Campbell & Bickerton Reed Black a tract of land but execution to have full power to change contract. Wife Tranquilla shall occupy and possess my dwelling house and have use and control of all stock, horses, mules, cattle, hogs, farming utensils. Six hundred dollars to be equally divided among children of deceased son Wyly M. Reed. The balance then equally divided among my children now surviving to wit: Jesse J. Reed, Carson P. Reed Jr, Clara L. Buford, Celestia M. Jones. Tranquilla V. Kirkpatrick & Cora Bell Reed. No bequests to children of deceased daughter Martha J. Mtchell. I have heretofore given their mother during her lifetime more than I am able to give my other children.
Executrix, Executor: Tranquilla T. Reed, T.M.N. Jones, son-in-law.

Witnessess: C.P. Reed, Epperson Tarpley, George E. Suttle.

CODICILE: In the event that Dock Campbell & Bickerton Reed Black one or both fail or refuse to comply with terms of verbal contract, then sell the land.

Probated 1873

Submitted by Judy (Bunch/Whitley) Fox

A researcher's note:

I recently was pleased to find the Will of Rev. Carson Pate Reed on the Giles County web site. Since it enabled me to understand a family treasure, I thought that I would share the story with you.

One of my aunts has a "prayer book" that was published in 1828, and given to C. P. and Tranquilla Reed by Noble R. Ladd. This prayer book was passed to Vernon Kirkpatrick, a granddaughter of C. P. and Tranquilla Reed, by her grandfather per her handwritten inscription on the inner cover. This book is bound and contains the Psalms of David, various hymns and prayers. Its cover was originally scarlet red, and measures 4.25 by 2.5 inches. Its original inscription, presumably in the hand writing of Noble R. Ladd, is not entirely clear, though the names of the people referenced are discernible with the exception of "Luisa". My best guess transcription is: "A Present by Noble R. Ladd To C. P. Reed and by Luisa To his wife Tranquilla T. Reed."

Vernon was the daughter of Sumner and Tranquilla Reed Kirpatrick. Neither Vernon, nor her brother Carson ever married. They shared a home for all their lives, and they lived near my great aunt Ethel and Norman Campbell in Davidson County TN for many years. Ethel was a cousin of Vernon's, and the granddaughter of Albert and Clara Lindley Reed Buford. You show burial records for Norman Campbell and one of his daughters, Clara Jane in the list of Lynwood Cemetery graves.

Noble R. Ladd seems to have been a friend of C. P. and Tranquilla Reed from their time in Lawrence County AL. There is a record of a Noble R. Ladd getting married to Maria Woodin on 4 JUL 1822 in Lawrence County AL. This was about 6 months before C. P. and Tranquilla married there. The Will was key in identifying the Kirkpatrick connection.

Thanks ever so much.

Sara Jane Koperski
October 2, 2005

Reed, Robert D ...Will written 1891;
Executor to give my two sons Thomas N. & John S. Reed each credit on the notes which I hold against them of five hundred each. Executor to pay daughter Mary E. wife of T.P. Johnston six hundred dollars she having received already four hundred dollars, to daughter Lura A. wife of W.B. Black and my son Robert J. Reed each one thousand dollars. The remainder of personal property to be sold except one bedstead, bed & three quilts which I give to Ellen Keel. Each heir to receive one thousand dollars.
Executor: (blank)
Witnessess: R.P. Yancey, J.M. Knox
Probated 1891

Submitted by Judy (Bunch/Whitley) Fox

Kincaid, David M. ... Will written 1866;
It is my Will that a line be run and land lying east of line shall be sold excepting the wheat crop now growing on it. If my present crop will not pay debts the deficit shall be paid out of the proceeds of sale of land. The remainder of proceeds be divided among my heirs who have not received any part of my estate until proceeds shall make them equal to heir who has received the smallest part. The remainder of my lands to wife Elizabeth Diana Kincaid during her lifetime. In the event of her second marriage she shall have an equal part with that heir who has the largest part of my estate. Wife is to have all livestock.
Executrix: Elizabeth Diana Kincaid
Witnesses: B.W. White, R.A. Wilson

Submitted by Judy (Bunch/Whitley) Fox

King, Cary ...Will written 1894;
I have given to Arthur King thirty acres of land, a Deed of Gift, land being in the Ninth Civil District on old Stage Road in the presence of these witnesses; Reverend W.H. Swinea, Ralph Holt, Shadrack Holt and James H. Holt citizens of Giles County. As mt last request my wife to have the gray mare and spring wagon as he own, also my harness and all in the house she wants. If other perishable property is sold she shall have a share of it. Executor: (blank)
Witnessess: Howell Swinea, Ralph Holt, Shadrack Holt, James H. Holt
Probated 1894

Submitted by Judy (Bunch/Whitley) Fox