I John Stricklin of the County of Hardin and State of Tennessee, planter, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made. And first I direct my body to be decently entered in a manner suitable to my condition in life, and as to such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to entrust me with I dispose of the same as follows. First I direct that all my debts and all my funeral expenses be paid as soon after my decease as possible out of any money I may die possessed of as may first come in the hands of my executors from any portion of my estate real or personal. Secondly I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Martha during her life the following property to wit my land containing fifty acres be the same more or less lying on the big branch a fork of Horse Creek with its buts and bounds together with all the household and kitchen furniture and all the farming utensils belonging to said plantation also one wagon and yoke of steers seventeen head of hogs one rifle gun one scythe [sic] and cradle and one set of blacksmith tools to have and to hold for her use and benefit during her natural life and at her death what is left to be equally divided between my two sons William C. Stricklin and Jesse Stricklin after paying one dollar to each of the other heirs to wit Thomas Stricklin, Jack?, John Stricklin, William B. Stricklin, Elizabeth Lance?, Dicia Dulea?, Martha Akins, Sally McCarn, Nancy Mills, Mary Stricklin, and Agatha Stricklin. I do hereby make ordain and appoint my beloved son William C. Stricklin Executor of my last will and testament. In witness whereof I John Stricklin the said testator have to this my will written on one sheet of paper set my hand and seal this 17th day of July in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight.
Summary of John Stricklin’s Will (July 17, 1848)
The basics: John Stricklin, a farmer in Hardin County, Tennessee, wrote this will to specify what happens to his property after he dies.
First priority: Pay off any debts and funeral costs from whatever cash or assets are available.
What Martha (his wife) gets during her lifetime:
- 50 acres of land on the big branch of Horse Creek
- All household and kitchen furniture
- All farming tools
- One wagon and a yoke of steers (oxen)
- 17 hogs
- One rifle
- A scythe and cradle (grain harvesting tools)
- A set of blacksmith tools
After Martha dies: Whatever remains gets divided between his two sons, William C. Stricklin and Jesse Stricklin — but only after paying $1 each to his other eleven children:
- Thomas Stricklin
- Jack(?) Stricklin
- John Stricklin
- William B. Stricklin
- Elizabeth Lance(?)
- Dicia Dulea(?)
- Martha Akins
- Sally McCarn
- Nancy Mills
- Mary Stricklin
- Agatha Stricklin
Executor: William C. Stricklin (one of the main heirs) was appointed to carry out the will’s instructions.
In plain terms: John left everything to Martha for her lifetime, then the bulk of the estate passes to William C. and Jesse. The other eleven children each receive a token $1 inheritance — a common practice at the time to acknowledge them legally while directing the main estate elsewhere (often to children who stayed on the farm or cared for aging parents).