CLAIBORNE COUNTY, TENNESSEE Will Book, Volume 1Will of COMFORT ROBINSON, deceased In the name of God, Amen. I, Comfort Robinson of the town of Tazewell, in the county of Claiborne, in the state of Tennessee, being weak of body and far advanced in life, but of sound and disposing mind, do make, ordain and publish this my last will and testament.
First and principally, I commit my soul to the great author of my existence; and my body to the grave to be decently buried by my Executors; my grave to be surmounted with a metal or stone covering, or a stone wall raised two feet high and of the size of the grave. And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me, I dispose of the same as follows.
Imprimis, it is my will and desire that so soon as may be after my death and burial, that my Executors hereinafter to be named, take into their possession all my estate, both real and personal, including any money that may belong to me, and to collect any and all debts that may be due to me, out of which they should defray my funeral expenses (including the expense of fixing my grave as is herein directed), and they shall pay my just debts, should any remain unpaid, at my death.
Item, to Jane Spillers, my adopted daughter, in consideration of her attention and affectionate conduct towards me, I give and bequeath my wardrobe and wearing apparel, to be delivered to her by my Executors whenever she may demand the same.
Item, my will and desire is that my Executors shall rent my house and lot in the town of Tazewell, to some careful tenant, with proper covenants to prevent waste, and the rents and profits thereof, during the natural life of my husband William B. Robinson, shall be a fund in the hands of my Executors, which after the payment of the taxes of said lot, they shall appropriate in whole or in part as may be necessary for the support and maintenance of my said husband, William B. Robinson, during his natural life.
Item, my will and desire is that my Executors permit my adopted daughter, Jane Spillers, to select any article of my household that she may choose, and which is hereby given to her forever.
Item, my will and desire is that my Executors sell my personal property not otherwise disposed of, on such credit as will bring the best price. And after the payment of my just debts, funeral expenses as well as a reasonable compensation to my Executors for their trouble and expenses in executing my will, the balance shall be paid over by them as hereinafter is directed by me.
Item, my will further is that so soon as may be after the death of my husband William B. Robinson, my Executors sell my house and lot in the town of Tazewell, upon such credit and terms as, in their discretion, will ensure the best prices, and the proceeds of said house and lot, any portion of the rents and profits of said house and lot that may remain in their hands upon the death of said William B. Robinson, they shall hold to be disposed of thereafter by me in this my will.
Item, because Jane Spillers, my adopted daughter, hath manifested towards me the affection of a dutiful child, and her children have ever treated me with a proper respect, and because her son James hath accidentally become a cripple for life by the loss of one of his hands, whereby he hath in a great measure been deprived of the respect of acquiring a living by manual labor, my will and desire is that the residue of my personal estate remaining in the hands of my Executors, after discharging the bequests hereinbefore made, be paid in the hands of said Jane Spillers; and also that the fund arising from the sale of my house and lot and any rents and profits that may arise from the same, over and above what may be appropriated by my Executors to the support and maintenance of my said husband William B. Robinson, be likewise paid into the hands of said Jane Spillers, wife of William Spillers, to be received and held by her in trust for the support of herself and children so far as need be, and for the education of her children, and especially for the support and education of her unfortunate son James. And I do enjoin upon the said James Spilllers that he use all diligence and industry in the improvement of such opportunities as may be afforded him of acquiring an education and qualifying himself for a useful and honorable station in society. And I do further enjoy upon the said James, on all suitable and proper occasions, whenever he may have the means of so doing without detriment to himself, to contribute some sum (be it even a small sum), to the church of which I may die a member.
Item, in the event the said Jane Spillers should die before the payment of the moneys before mentioned, into her hands, then they shall be paid by my Executors into the hands of the proper and lawful guardian of the children of the said Jane Spillers, who shall receive the same, and subject to the limits and limitations hereinbefore expressed.
I do appoint William Houston and Peter Marcum, Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made. Given under my hand and seal this 26th day of February 1842. Test: Gray Garrett R. C. Hansard Comfort (X) Robinson
Codicil to the Will of COMFORT ROBINSON, deceased The state of Tennessee, Claiborne County Whereas, I, Comfort Robinson, of the county and state aforesaid, did make and publish my last will and testament, to which Gray Garrett and Robert C. Hansard are the subscribing witnesses. Now, I, the said Comfort Robinson, being of sound mind, than God, do make and publish as a codicil to my said last will and testament, that is to say, it is my will and desire that after my death, Jane Spillers, wife of William Spillers, and my adopted daughter, if she should survive me, shall select whatever she shall choose of such articles of my household property, and the said articles of household articles which she shall so select, shall be hers and her heirs forever. And the property so selected by the said Jane Spillers, shall not be sold or taken into account by my Executors. Given under my hand and seal this 15th day of November 1843. Test: Gray Garrett Comfort (X) Robinson
Inventory of the Estate of COMFORT ROBINSON, deceased Property includes on April 10th 1848: One china (cherry), two short post bedsteads, feather bed, bolster, two pillows, two underbeds, five quilts, two quart decanters, two quart bottles, wooden chest, small cherry falling leaf table, looking glass, two coffee pots, coffee mill, four large chairs, small chair, two bread trays, kitchen table, box, barrel, meat axe, chopping axe, yardstick, chamber mug, load of firewood
William Houston, Executor
Sale of the Estate of COMFORT ROBINSON, deceased Buyers were: John W. Hall – china press $15.00; decanter $.37 ½; looking glass $.53; coffee pot $.13 ½; coffee mill $.25; bread tray $.07; chopping axe $.87 ½; box (dry goods) $.15; barrel $.08 ½
William Parker – falling leaf table $5.00
Lafayette Evans – bed stead and underbed $4.75
Francis Graham – bedstead, underbed and cord $3.80; five quilts $7.68; two black bottles $.12 ½; chest $1.25
John W. Roberts – feather bed, two pillows and bolster $6.45; decanter $.30
Benjamin Lankford – three snuff barrels $.05; old barrel $.05; coffee pot $.05
William Marcum – five chairs $1.00
Walter R. Evans – meat axe $.05; kitchen table $.25
James F. Hooper – yardstick $.05
John Eweley – chamber pot $.30
B. Fuller – lot firewood $1.25
Total amount received from sale was $49.86, that was held on the 22nd day of April 1848, is respectfully submitted this 24th day of April 1848.
William Houston, Executor
Sale of the Estate of CUMFORT ROBINSON, deceased 2nd sale or the real estate: One house and lot in the town of Tazewell, sold on the 30th October 1848 at public outcry at the Courthouse for the sum of $311.00. The time of sale was one hundred in hand and the balance two hundred and eleven dollars in twelve months.
Given under my hand and seal this 28th day of December 1849.
William Houston, Executor Settlement of the Estate of CUMFORT ROBINSON, deceased Amount of sale of personal property $49.86 Amount of the sale of the real estate $311.00 Amount paid out by Executor for the estate $192.60
Leaves a balance of $168.25 remaining in the hands of the Executor, this 31st day of December 1849. William Houston, Executor
