Person:John Browder (7)

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 12, Ed. 1, Tree #3443, Date of Import: Apr 11, 1998]

        John Browder's father was established when in his will, probated in Chatham County August Court 1785, stated:
        As follows firstly unto My youngest Son John Browder I Bequeath the plantation I Now live containing three Hundred Acres of Land, one Negro Man Named Will, one Negro Woman Nemad Hannah and my Boy Philip, My tender Loving Wife to be Maintained out of it With Him As She Lives With the Use of one feather Bead And Two Cows And Calves, Secondly to My Son Darius Browder, one tract of Land Lying(torn) New Hope Containing three Hundred Acres one Negro Boy(torn) one Negro Girl Named Silve, one Bay Stallion
        From the book "VIRGINIA TAX PAYERS" 1782-87, by Augusta B. Fothergil and John Mark Naugle, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore 1971, John Browder paid one poll tax and five black poll taxes.
        John Browder was living in the Hillsborough District, Chatham County, North Carolina in 1790 as head of family with one male over 16 years of age and five females.  He may have had at least four daughters and owned three slaves at this time.
       Reference:
          1790 North Carolina census.  I have a copy in my file
       Darius and John Browder, sons of Edmund, came to the territory in 1795, a year before Tennesse became a state.  The Browder brothers settled in what is today Lenoir City.  The present day Loudon County was a part of Roane County from 1801 until Loudon was created in 1870.
        Reference:  A book named "We'll Call It Wheat" by Dorothy Moneymaker.  See James Browder notes.  I have a copy of pages 138 - 141 in my files.
        Reference: A book named "Fuqua - A Fight for Freedom" author unknown states that John and Darius, moved about 1800 from Hillsbroro District, Chatham County, North Carolina, to a farm located between Lenoir City and Loudon, TN.  He cites his source as page 72 of "The History of Sweetwater Valley", by W. B. Lenoir.  I have a copy of pages 167-169, 194, 230-132 &415 in my files. 
        John Browder is listed as one of the first settlers on the North side of the Tennessee River in about 1801.
         Reference:  A book named "Tennessee Cousins" by Worth S. Ray.  I have a copy of the page in my files.
         John was summoned to serve on the first jury in Roane County.  He was summoned to serve on the June session in 1805.  His name appears in the 32 men called for duty.
          In 1808 John and his brother Darius were members of Captain Rather's Company.   
          Reference:
           A book named "The History of Roane County Tennessee 1801-1870" by Emma Middleson Wells.
          The Browders were from the area in Roane known as Wheat. It wasn't really a town - just a community with it's own school. post office and churches but nothing more.  Browder is of Scotch origi
          The birth and death dates were taken from "Fuqua - A Fight for Freedom", page 231.  I have a copy of this page in my Browder file
          John Browder's will was proved by the oaths of Washington Norwood and John Winton. (Roane County, Tennessee, Abstracts of Estate Book "A," 1801-1824. Marilyn N. McCluen, 1965, page 54; County Records, pp. 109-113).

I have a copy of the original will in my Browder files and have transcribed it here.

                                                                            John Browder's will

In the name of God, Amen, I John Browder of Roane County and State of Tennessee, being in perfect mind and memory, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following vert. First.

 I give to my loving wife Fanny Browder during her life or widowhood the use of my plantation whereon I now live, or until my son Darius Browder become of Age, at which time he is to have one fourth part of said land and when my son James Browder become of age, he is to have one fourth part of said land, as mentioned I also lind to my wife during her life or widowhood, negro woman Sarah, and her oldest and youngest child, Jerre and Abraham, Kizzi, Molly and Pat, I also give and Bequeath to my wife all my household and Kitchen furniture to be disposed of at her death as she may think proper.

Item.

    I give and Bequeath to my daughter Jincy Eldridge, one negro girl about ten or twelve years of age, so soon as she can be conveniently purchased, together with one horse and other property to the amount of one hundred and fifty seven dollars, heretofore given.

Item.

   I give and Bequeath to my son Darius Browder when he arrives to the age of Twenty-one years one fourth of my tract of land where on I now live, not to include the Mansion house, also negro boy, Joshia, Fohim and his heirs forever having already given him my Dun mare's two year old filly and one sow and pigs.

Item.

   I give and Bequeath to my son James Browder when he arrives to the age of Twenty-one years, one fourth part of my tract of land whereon i now live, not to include the Mansion house, Also negro boy Jack to him and his heirs forever having already given him my dun mares one year old Filly and one sow and pigs.

Item.

    I give and Bequeath my saws and Blacksmith Tools to my three sons.

Item.

   I give and Bequeath to my son Jeptha Browder my tract of land lying in the forks of Holston and Tennessee Rivers negro boy Ned and tolerable good horse, when he arrives at the age of Twenty-one years.  Until that period arrives it is my will and desire that the said land be rented out and the rent or profits arising therefrom (after paying the state the instalments which are or may become due for said land) be equally divided between my daughters.

Item.

   I give and Bequeath to each of my Daughters, Nancy, Judah, Polly, Fanny and Elizabeth after they become of age or marry, and when requested one negro, to wit, the oldest of said Daughters to have the oldest negro not otherwise disposed of and so on to the youngest.

Item.

   In case I should finally hold my land on the North side of Clinch, after all suits are ended, It is my will that my Executors sell the same at their discretion and divide the money therefrom equally among or between all my daughters.

Item.

   It is my will and desire that my Executors sell a sufficiency of my crop or stock that may be to spare to pay off and discharge all the debts that may be due or owing by me as well as to make up whatever deficiency there may be in paying for a negro girl for my daughter Jincy Eldredge as mentioned in the second section.

Item. Should any of my Children previous to their marriage choose to remain with their mother, then and in that case they shall be entitled to so much of the produce or profits arising from the land and negros left to my wife as will (together with the property given them) be sufficient for their maintenance and support until marriage.

Item.

  At the marriage or death of my wife I give and bequeath to my two sons Darius and James Browder, the whole residue or remainder of the tract of land whereon I now live to be divided equally, Share and Share alike to them their Heirs and assigns forever.

Item.

  It is my will that at the marriage or death of my wife that all my negros not otherways disposed of be equally divided between all my children, sons and daughters, share and share alike and that all my stock of every kind, my crop of different kind, tools and other articles not disposed of be sold and the money arising therefrom be equally divided between all my daughters, share and share alike, (after deducting one hundred and fifty-seven dollars from Jincy Eldridge's part, it being the amount of property herefore given her) as mentioned in Section the second, to them and their Heirs forever.

Lastly.

    I do nominate, constistute and appoint William B, Lenoir and my sons Darius and James Browder as they arrive at the age of Twenty-one years Executors of this my last will and Testament and I do hereby Authorrise the said William Lenoir to act as Executor without giving bond and Security, and also to resign his Executorship in case he may wish to do so as soon as my son James arrives at the age of Twenty-one years.

Signed published and declared his to be his last will and Testament John X Browder (SEAL) This 4th day of July A,D, 1818 mark Noah Norwood John Winton Morina H. Norwood

State of Tennessee Roane County July Session 1818

    The Excutors of the foregoing Will was duly sworn in open court by the Oath of Washington Norwood and John Winton two of the Subscribing Witnessses thereto and admitted to Record.
                                                                   Henry Breagoalo  Clk
                                                             By his Deply   Pinny

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Brøderbund Software, Inc. World Family Tree Vol. 12, Ed. 1. (Release date: July 28, 1997)
   Tree #3443.

   Date of Import: Apr 11, 1998