JOHN MORRIS (1803-1849) - WILL & ESTATE RECORDS Franklin County, TN - Will Record 1808-1876, page 272 I John Morris considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory do an publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form as follows that is to say I want my Plantation on Elk River being in the 14th District in Franklin County sold and was or as much as will pay my just debts also the plantation on which I now live. I give to my beloved Wife Sarah Morris her lifetime or widowhood for to raise and school my children on and for her to give of to them as they marry or become of age as she feels able my slaves Matilda Williams Sarah and Mary I wish to remain with my wife her lifetime or widowhood for the purpose of raising and schooling the children and when the youngest child becomes of age make an equl Division of them and all the property between the children her retaining a childs part My Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad stook I wish it sold the first year after the road is put in operation and the proceeds equally divided between my heirs. I appoint Edward Morris my Executor of this my Last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this fifth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty Nine before signed John Morris (seal) Attest M. R. Mann R. J. Turner Recorded November 9, 1849 by Wm. E. Taylor clerk State of Tennessee, Franklin County County Court November Term 1849 There the Last Will and Testament of John Morris decd was produced in open court for probate. Whereupon came M. R. Mann and R. J. Turner the subscribing Winess thereto who being duly sworn depose and say they were personally acquainted with the Testator in his lifetime that he signed sealed and acknowledged the same in their presence to be his last Will and Testament that he was of sound mind and disposing memory at the time he signed the same and that they signed their names there to as witnesses at the request and in the presence of the Testator and on the day it be as dated Whereupon it was ordered by the court that said Will be recorded as the Law directs. Witness Will E Taylor Clerk of said Court at office November 9 1849 Wm. E. Taylor clerk --------------------------------------------------------------- Tenn. State Archives Microfilm from Franklin Co. Records, Roll # 117, Book 4, page 28-9 Type Record - Deed (Power of Attorney) Know all men by these presents, we Sarah Morris John H and Ellen E Miller, Madison M and Adline E Ferguson, James L Morris, John F. Morris, William R. Morris, Frances E Morris, Edward L. Morris, Mary J. Morris, Sarah A. Morris, Martha V. Morris of the County of Williamson and State of Texas, have made constituted and appointed and by these presents do make constitute and appoint Felix E. Smith of the County of Travis and the State of Texas our true and lawful Attorney for us and in our names, place and stead, to act for us and in our name place, and stead in the County of Franklin and State of Tennessee, to sell, our stock in the Nashville & Chattanooga R. R. of Five hundred dollars, belonging to the Estate of John Morris Jr, deceased, and to make a full and final settlement with Edward Morris for us and to receive any and all money due us from the Estate of John Morris deceased both Jr & Sen. and to transact any and all business herein mentioned or that we may hereafter direct by letter or otherwise giving and granting unto the said attorney full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite & necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all interest and purposes as we might or could do if personally present, with power of substitution and revocation hereby satifying and confirming all that our said Attorney or his substitute shall lawfully so or cause to be done by virtue here of. In witness whereof we have hereunto set my hadn and seals this First day of Feb one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine. Sealed and delivered in presence of Sarah Morris (seal) Mary Jane Morris (seal) Fanny E. Morris (seal) Martha V. Morris (seal) Sallie A. Morris (seal) W. R. Morris (seal) E. D. Morris (seal) John F. Morris (seal) Jas. L. Morris (seal) M. M. Ferguson (seal) Adline E. Ferguson (seal) J. W. Miller (seal) Ellen E. Miller (seal) State of Texas County of Williamson Before me the undersigned authority personally appeared Sarah Morris, Mary Jane Morris, Fannie E. Morris, Martha V. Morris, Sallie A. Morris, W. R. Morris, E. D. Morris, John F. Morris, James L. Morris, M. M. Ferguson and Adaline E. Ferguson all of whom are to me well known to be the individuals described in and who signed and executed the within and foregoing Power of Attorney and acknowledged that they had executed the same for all the uses purposes and considerations therein set forth and contained. And Adline E. Ferguson wife of the said M. M. Ferguson after having been examined by me privately and apart from her husband and having the said Power of Attorney fully explained to her, she the said Adline E. Ferguson acknowledged the same to be her act and deed and declared that she had willingly signed the same,without constraint, and for the uses and purposes therein expressed to certify which I hereto set my hand and affix my seal this 3rd day of Mar A. D. 1869 P. H. Adams Notary Public W. C. Texas State of Texas County of Williamson Personally appeared before me A. W. Morrow Clerk of the County Court of said County of Williamson and State of Texas which is a Court of Record. J. H. Miller one of the parites to the annexed Power of Attorney bearing date February 25th 1869 with whom I am personally acquainted and who acknowledged that he executed said Power of Attorney for the purposes therein contained and that he signed sealed and delivered the same. And Ellen E. Miller the wife of said J. H. Miller having appeared before me privately and apart from her husband, and the said Ellen E. Miller acknowledged the execution of said Power of Attorney to have been done by her freely voluntarily