As I work my way through Saunders and Saunderson clues, trying to determine whether Judith who married William Williams in Cumberland County, Virginia in 1788 was a Saunders or Saunderson, I am sharing transcriptions of family wills as I come across them.
Today’s will is for William Saunderson, son of William Saunderson (who died in Cumberland County, Virginia in 1781).
Like so many other Virginians, William Saunderson decided to move his family westward into the new lands found in Tennessee, where he settled and died in Maury County in 1808.
His will is a bit confusing because it states he lived in Davidson county, but it was proved in Maury County, with no explanation.
William Saunderson his will May 20th 1808
In the name of God amen I William Saunderson of Davidson County & State of Tennessee being of perfect mind & memory Calling to mind the certainly of Death & the uncertainty of the time it may be, do make constitute & ordain this my last Will & testament revoking and hereby disannuling all other Will or Testaments in any wise heretofore made by me I do also by these presents make constitute & ordain my beloved wife Jemima and my daughter Nancy Saunderson the sole Executrix & Wm Bradshaw Executor of this my last will & Testament in manner & form as follows to wit
Item 1st I give & bequeath to my beloved wife Jemima Sanderson two negroes to wit Jacob & Lucy & their increase or profits during her natural life or widowhood and on the day of her death or wedlock the said two negroes to wit Jacob & Lucy & their increase of profits to be equally divided between my present surviving daughters (To wit) Nancy, Sally, Lucy, Polly, & Patsey Sanderson.
Item 2nd I give & bequeath unto my two sons in law (to wit) Kemp Holland & Wm Wade Baker one dollar each to be paid them their heirs &c (and no more) out of my personal estate
Item 3d I give & bequeath unto my present surviving daughters to wit, Nancy, Sally, Lucy, Polly, & Patsey Saunderson all the rest of my real & personal estate to be equally divided amonst them their heirs & after my just & lawfull debts first being paid
In testimony where of I the said William Saunderson have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal this second day of February one thousand eight hundred & fifty.
William Saunderson Seal
Test: Thomas Hudson, Andrew Patterson & Samuel Shannon
Proved April Session 1808 of Davidson County, Tennessee