The Shemwell Family

Will of John Parham, Sr. This document was found in the 1850 Tennessee State Supreme Court case- Loyd Selby and wife, Rebecca Selby, et al. v. John Parham, exe. of John Parham, dec. etal. The original document is located at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville, Tennessee. Submitted by Michael W. Boniol I John Parham do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all other wills by me at any time made. 1st ..1 devise that my funeral expences and all my detts be paid as soon after my death as possible out of my money that I may have at my death or may come at the hands of my executor. 2nd • .I give and bequeath to my wife Mary Parham my Black woman Adar, and my black boy George, one yoke of steers, one cart one horse and two milk cows, and all of my stock of hogs, household and Kitchen furniture, and my present crop of com, during her lifetime and at her death, the black woman Adar, to live with my children whom she may chose, and the Black boy George and what property may be left at my said wifes death to be equally divided amongst my children. 3rd • .I give to my daughter Rebecca Selby two negro girls valued at six hundred dollars. 4th.. I give and bequeath to my son Johnson Parham in his lifetime one negro woman named Syntha and a negro child named Betsy valued at six hundred dollars, and my son Johnson Parham had bought and paid for my son Allen Parhams part of my estate by my consent, he Johnson Parham has received one negro boy named Sampson of my son Allen Parham share of my estate valued at three hundred dollars and is entitled to the rest of my son AlleJ?. Parhams share and my son Johnson Parham has bought my son Shamwell Parhams share by my consent of my estate, and has received nothing. I therefore give Shamwells share to Johnson P. heirs,- 5th.. I give to my daughter Elva Parham one negro boy named King, her lifetime if she will come here to live, and at her death the said negro to be divided equally amongst my other children or their heirs, - 6th.. I give to my daughter Ann Hinch one negro girl named Rose and one Boy child named William valued at six hundred and fifty dollars,- 7th.. I give to my grand son John Parham, a son of my son Johnson, One negro boy named Gilbert also one negro girl named Jane, to be valued to him at my death by three freeholders and the valuation all over his share he is to pay over to the rest of his brothers and sisters, as they come of age without interest. 8th.. I give to my granddaughter, Elizabeth Rector, One negro girl named Alsey to be valued to her by these freeholders at my death and what said negro is valued over her lawful share is to be paid to her sisters and brothers when they become of age without interest. 9th.. I give to my grandson, one negro Boy, my grand son William Parham that is named Henry to be valued to him by three freeholders at my death, and what he is valued over his lawful part he is to pay over to his brothers and sisters as they come of age without interest - Lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint John Parham Jr. my executor. In witness whereof I do to this my last will and testament, set my hand and seal his 25th day of September 1846. John Parhams(s) Witness William Nail & Simeon Selby. It should be noted this will was penned by William Nail. One reason the will was contested is due to the fact Mary, John Parham's wife and Elva, his daughter, died before him. The following individuals gave depositions to the lower court in Bledsoe County: William Nail, Lucy Morris, Simeon Selby, John D. Morris, James Ormes, Mary Ormes, Wiliam D. Brown. John Tollett, Anderson M. Crofford, Cravens Sherrill, and T.G. Schoolfield. Their testimony is included in this fifty page document. An inventory was also given in this document. It should be noted the area where the Parham family lived was Bledsoe County during 1850 but the area became Cumberland County when it was formed in 1856.