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David-TN-1840 David, Sampson-Campbell Co TN-Will June 26,
1840 Book A
I Sampson David of the town of
Jacksborough and State of Tennessee do make and ordain this my Last Will and
Testament and do hereby dispose of all my worldly goods and substances as
follows, to wit ...It is my will that my wife Martha at her death may have
full power and authority at her death to dispose of all my personal property, or
money, bank stock &c (my negro HA-- excepted) in any manner she may think
proper. It is my will and desire that on the first day of January one
thousand eight hundred and forty (1840) all the slaves I now hold with their
increase, or any that I may hereafter buy (except such as I may in the meantime
choose to sell or dispose of) be hired out by Trustees hereinafter to be
named, and that as soon as the proceeds of their hire will be sufficient to
transport or send them to some State or Colony, where freedom is allowed or
tolerated and slavery forbidden that they be forthwith sent by my said Trustees
or any one of these, should the balance [unsure here: "refuse to send"?]
This provision I have made in this my will, because I am of opinion that
all mankind should be free and to the end that this part of my will be carried
into effect I do hereby appoint my friend John M. Brabson of Tazwell Tennessee,
William [E?.] Mynott, James M. M. White, Clark T. Barton, Drewry P. Armstrong
& Richard G. Dunlap of Knoxville Tennessee and Joseph Hart of Jacksborough
Tennessee to act as Trustees as herein before stated
...and I do further
authorize and empower my said Trustees as aforesaid or any one of them (in case
others will not act) at the death of my wife Martha David, should it happen
before the year 1840 to exercise his or their discretion with a view to produce
an earlier emancipation of said slaves, and it is my desire that said
Trustees be governed in the exercise of their discretion by the good conduct of
my said slaves to my said wife Martha during her lifetime, but
that discretion not to go beyond, or exceed the year one thousand eight
hundred & forty.
I do hereby appoint my wife Martha David
sole Executrix of this my last Will & Testament Given under my hand
& Seal this 26th of April 1826. Sampson David {Seal}
