Person:Rebecca Unknown (542)

Last Will & Testament

Wilson County Will Book No. 7, page 490 (1814-1819)

In the name of God Amen, I Rebecca Hays of the County of Wilson and State of Tennessee being sick and weak in body, but of sound mind and memory, calling to mind the mortality of my body, believing it is appointed once to die and after death to Judgement. I do hereby make and ordain this to be my last will and testament --

First of all I recommend my spirit to Almighty God the giver of the same, and my body to the earth to be buried in a Christian-like manner at the discretion of executors hereafter named believing that I shall receive the same in the morning of the resurrection by the power of Almighty God, and as to the worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give and bequeath in the following manner, to wit,

Item first I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sally Drew and her heirs a negro girl by the name of Hannah.

Item the second I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rachel Davis and heirs a negro girl by the name of Pherraby.

Item third I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Alford and her heirs my house girl Hannah.

Item the fourth I give and bequeath unto my son Harmon A. Hays a negro child by the name of Mann.

Item the fifth I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas T. Hays the land whereon I now live by his clearing out of the office together with the plantation tools, household, kitchen and table furniture, also two negroes, to wit, Charles and Davis, and all other property that is not named or has not been given away by me. I wish him to have and freely enjoy.

It is my will that Thomas T. Hays be my executor to execute this my last will and testament, ratifying and confirming all legacies, as well by deed of gift as by this will, hereby revoking all former wills, declaring this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25 March 1819.

Rebecca Hays (Her Mark)

Teste:
Richard Drake jurat
Flower McGregor jurat

Wilson Co., State of Tennessee, August term 1819 --
The within last will and testament of Rebecca Hays dec'd, was exhibited in open court and proved by the oath of Richard Drake and Flower McGregor the witness thereto and ordered to be recorded. The same recorded Oct. 1819. John Alcorn, Clerk

1.   So who is ready for a Drew-Maxwell-Harman theory? Lou Poole, Richardson, TX proposes that this Rebecca could be a Harman [Note that Person:Rebecca Harman (1) daughter of Matthias & Lydia could possibly be the right age to be this Rebecca user:cthrnvl ]
2.   MAXWELL-L Archives From: Jean Leeper
   
   Notes for Rebecca
   Rebecca left a will and she mentioned Sarah "Sally" Drew, her daughter.
   Rebecca did not name any other children who were not her Hays children.
   Sarah named her first son John Cloyd. Her second was Thomas Stephenson,
   who became a govenor of Arkansas. She later named another son Richard
   Maxwell Drew. He became a judge in LA.
3.   Person:John Hays (34) is a possible candidate for her second husband
4.   Please see the research of the late Madelon Wright Smith, former president of the Mt. Juliet-West Wilson Co. Tenn Historical Society, that has been added to Person:John Hays (44) and the merged family page for this John "Hermitage" Hays and his wife, Rebecca Maxwell Hays. Family:John Hays and Rebecca Unknown (2)
   
   I have also updated Person: John Hays (34) with his Last Will & Testament and a note explaining connection above.
   
   --~~~~ (Mark A. Hays)