Will of Jacob Vance

In the name of God Amen I Jacob Vance of Giles County, the state of Tennessee and far advanced in years & finding myself weak in body but in good health in perfect mind memory & understanding God be thanks do this 25 day of August 1814 make constitute and ordain this my last will testament in manner following:

First I recommend my soul in the hands of Almighty God & my body to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my exes. and as for my worldly good & effects wherewith it has pleased God to help me with this who I give & dispose the same in manner following:

Firt I will that all my just debts & funeral expenses with the probate hereof be fully satisfied & paid out of my estate.

Item I give & bequeath unto my well beloved wife Sarah Vance one young mare & two cows & calves & also one bed & furniture to be by her possessed, enjoyed & disposed of as she sees convenient.

Item I give & bequeath to my son William Vance a debt upon the estate of Mark Thompson twenty seven dollars & eighty four cents, also one young sorrel horse & two steers & one bull which is his in full of his part (in hand?) & proportion out of my estate.

Item I give & bequeath unto my son Jacob Vance a certain roan mare, two cows & calves and one yearling heifer also all my stock of hogs except seventeen head of spare sows & (barrons?) which is my will & desire for my wife Sarah Vance to have with three head of sheep also and all my horses for return to be by her possessed, enjoyed and disposed of as she sees convenient and as for my worldly utensils I wish & desire to be equally divided between my two sons Jacob Vance & William Vance.

Item I give & bequeath to my two sons John & James Vance the sum of one dollar to each of them which shall be in full of their shares and portion out of my whole estate as I have done & given to them before in my life time sufficient for their part and share and which shall be paid them within twelve months after my decease.

Item I also give unto my daughter Nancy now wife of George Lemly, the sum of one dollar which shall be paid in full of her share & portion out of my whole estate as I have done & given to her before in my life time sufficient portion & share & which shall be paid to her within twelve months after my decease and lastly I nominate, constitute & appoint my wife Sarah Vance & my son William Vance exers. of this my last will & testament & I will & desire that they shall do & perform the same according to the true intent & meaning thereof:

I do hereby (___) & make said all possessions & bequests by me herefrom made ratify this & no other to be my last will & testament in witness whereof & the said Jacob Vance have hereunto set my hand & seal this day & year first above written Signed, Sealed, published & delivered in presence of A.Y. Isaacs Thomas Johnson

The last Will & Testament of Jacob Vance deceased, produced in open court for probate & thereupon come A.Y. Isaacs & Thomas Johnson the subscribing witnesses thereto who being sworn upon the (_____) of Almighty God say that they saw the testator sign, seal & publish & (____) his last Will & Testament and that (____) at the time of said signing be of sound mind & memory (unreadable)

Witness Brice M. Garner Clerk of said court at office this 7th August 1815 Recorded 18 August 1815 Brice M. Garner Clerk