Will of Lodwick Puckett
[Abstract; all spellings and punctuation from original]
I Lodwic Puckett do make and publish this my last will and testament. I will that my funeral expences be paid and all my just debts as soon as posible. I will that Louisa a negro girl be sold and the proceeds of the sale be equally divided among the children of Rebecca Hodge formerly Rebecca Puckett my daughter, I will to my daughter Nancy L. Alford two hundred dollars to remunerate her for the trouble she has had with my unfortunate daughter, Elizabeth. I will that Amanda a negro girl be sold and the proceeds be given to Nancy L. Alford and if she be dead I want the money to go to her children. I will that Henry a negro boy be sold and the money put out on interest and the interest be paid to my daughter Elizabeth anually for her support during her natural life and at her death I want the money equally divded among my children I further will that all the balance of my property real and person be sold and the proceeds be equally divided among all of my children, to wit Luke Puckett’s children the children of Rebecca Hodge dec’d Nancy Alford Elizabeth Puckett Elam Puckett and William S. Puckett all of which are my lawful heirs. It is my will that my slaves should be sold to persons that would be likely to keep them and not to any person that would take or send them off to sell agane. It is my will that my slaves shall not be sold to any person that they are not willing to live with that they have the privilidg of selecting there masters. I will to my beloved wife Nancy twenty five acres of land to include the house and spring, to have as long as she will live upon the same, but if she should move off or rent it out or di, then the land to go back to my estate. The reason that I have not done more for my beloved wife is before we were married we made a marriage contract and each of us were to dispose of there own property and keep it separate and apart from the other which has bin the case. The contract was never recorded but it has always bin regarded by both of us. I doe appoint Isham R. Peebles executor of this my last will and testament and he has power to advertise and sell the property, given under my hand and seal this the 12th day of December one thousand eight hundred and fifty three. Signed/Sealed Lodwick Puckett. Witn: Wm. R. James, Luckett Davis. Proved in court by W.R. James and Luckett Davis, 5 Mar 1860. (Rutherford County Record Book 20, pp 414-415)