MySource:RFillerup/Washington County, Tennessee Will Book, Vo 1. pp. 88-89.

WILL OF WILLIAM NODDING

      In the name of God Amen. I, William Nodding of Tennessee State. Washington County (farmer) being frail in body but in perfect mind and memory, thanks given unto God, calling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say, first of all - I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent Christian buriel at the descreation of my executors nothing doubting but at the general rescreation I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and has touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me within this life, I give demise and dispose in the following manner and form. After my just debts and funeral charges are paid, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Nodding all the lease I took from Daniel McCray for the land where the said McCray now lives which lease is for my life and Mary Nodding's live. I also give and bequeath unto my daugther Sarah McCray, a tract of land as is supposed two hundred acres which her husband Daniel McCray has a deed of conveyance from me for together with one negro man named Tony in their possession to be set free in the year one thousand eight hundred and six on the twenty fourth day of December. I also give her my smallest still together with my household furniture and moveable effects which negro and effects to are in their possession. I also give to my daughter Mary Bayless sixty two acres of land which Samuel Bayless her husband hath taken a deed of conveyance from me for together with a man of couler named Tom in said Bayless possession said Tom to be set free on the fourteenth day of February in the year one thousand eight hundred and seven. I also give to my daughter Elizabeth Calvert seventy five acres of land now in possession of William Calvert her husband by deed from me together with the following persons of color, Bet, Dark, Linn, Peter and George now in possession of said Calvert and all set free by my directions at the age of thirty five years except George who is free at twenty five by an order of last county court of our county at the petition of said William Calvert to possess the above by paying John Brown's five orphan children two hundred and fifty dollars in property the persons decreed to said Calvert are of following ages - Bet thirty years of age the seventh day of February last. Dark, eleven the sixth day of May last. Peter, six the twentieth of this instant. George three the fourth of May last. I also give to my daughter Elinor Hill my girl of couler named Millie now in her possession to be free the twenty fifth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twelve. And as touching the posterity of any slaves or persons of couler here to fore named in this will I declare and will them their birth free as white people are by law except the future children of Bet who are to serve twenty five years and their children free born. I also give to John Brown's orphan children two hundred and fifty dollars to be paid by Calvert aforesaid. I also constitute and ordain Daniel Mc Cray and William Calvert the sole executors of this my last will and testament and I do hereby disallow revoke and disannull all and every other former treatment wills legacies bequeaths or executors by me in wise. before named willed or bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I here unto set my seal this twenty fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four. 
    Signed sealed published and declared by the said William Nodding as his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names. 
                    His 
         William X Nodding (Seal) 
                  Mark 
William Bayless 

Reuben Bayless Hannah Bayless

The foregoing will was proven in court by the oaths of William Bayless and Rueben Bayless two of the subscribing witnesses thereto at May session 1812 and ordered to be recorded.