The will of Moses Bellah, who died 19 July 1828 in Rutherford County, Tennessee, is dated 2 Oct 1827 and was probated at the August Term of Court, 1828. It follows:
"Be it remembered that I, Moses Bellah of Rutherford County & State of
Tennesse, being weak of body but of perfect sound mind and memory thanks be to God for the
same have made and published to my beloved wife Elizabeth her heirs and assigns the second
Choice of all my horses, the first and third Choice of all my cows with their last calves,
two beds and furniture, bureau and the half of my household and kitchen furniture except
the cupboard. I also give and bequeath unto my said wife during her life or widowhood her
Choice of one half part in value of all the negroes I die possessed of, Isaac and Allison
excepted, with the use and occupancy of one room below & do up stairs in my Dwelling
house and use of one Kitchen & third of the Garden. 2nd. I give and devise unto my son
John Bellah his heirs and assigns the one half in value of the tract of land I own (said
in the deed to be 190 acres but I suspect is not more than 170) in the lower end of the
tract whereon he lives to be valued his buildings excepted according to the timber and the
freshness of the soil compared with the scarcity of timber and worn state of the soil and
other incumbrances on the upper end where I live; I also give and bequeath to my said son
John and his heairs two negroes Jerry and Peter. 3re. I give and bequeath unto my daughter
Nancy Gibson and the children of her body two negroes Kit and Henry to her and children
aforesaid and their heirs forever. Lastly, I give and devise unto my son Samuel and his
heirs the other half of my land or part where I resided to be valued as aforesaid, but if
he dies without lawful heirs of his body I devise the whole to my son John and his heirs;
I also give and bequeath unto my said son Samuel two negroes Isaac and Allison together
with the remainder of all the negroes I die possessed of, after my wife has chosen her
half part aforesaid together with all and singular my stock of horses, cattle, hogs and
sheep with the wagon gear and farrming implementy of every description andthe other half
of my household and Kitchen furniture including the cupboard and remainder of bedding to
him and his heairs forever--provided he pays all my just debts and funeral expenses and
give unto my grandson Moses Gibson one horse or horse and saddle worth seventy five
dollars when he is twenty one years of age; and to my Grand daughter Elizabeth A. Bellah
twenty five dollars when she is eighteen years of age, and to each and every of my other
Grand Children that may be liviing at the time of my decease one Bible each when they
become severally Capable to read them and it is further my will that at my wife's decease
her share of the negroes be equally divided between my three children John Nancy and
Samuel Nancy's part to decend to her children as aforesaid and I hereby nominate and
appoint my two sons John and Samuel Joint Executors of this my last will and testament and
further will that none of the negroes of Samuel's part shall be sold without they both
concur in the sale and sigh the bill of sale if John be living and all Bills of Sale
signed only by Samuel shall be void and null within the space of eight years from this
date after that time they shall be good and lawful with John;s concurrence or signature.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my own proper hand and seal this 2nd. day of
October, 1827."
"Moses Bellah of Rutherford County & State of Tennessee being very weak and
sickly in body, but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to almighty God for the same do
this 2nd day of October 1827 make this Codicil to my last will and testament in manner
& form following (that is to say) I give to my beloved wife Elizabeth all her bedding,
loom and all the apparattus thereto belonging her looking Glass and family Bible as also
all articles ofwhat description or sort soever not disposed off in the annexed will it is
my will that she and my son Sam's divide equally between them all the negroes I have at my
decease to be equal in value except a boy named Dan which I bequeath to my son John Bellah
on condition he pays to his daughter Elizabeth A. Bellah $26. bequeathed in the first part
of my will it is also my will my Grand son Moses Gibson receive fourty dollars in liew of
a horse named in the former part of this will. It is my will that the two old negroes
Harry & Lucy go live with either of my Children they Choose and if they become not
able to support themselves all my legatees shall contribute equally for their support.
Lastly if my son Samuel should decease without lawful heirs of his body all his Estate
(except the land) shall go to my daughter Nancy Gibson's children to be divided amongst
them equally share and share alike. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
seal this 2nd. day of October 1827. Signed sealed published and declared by the above
Moses Bellah as a Codicil to be annexed to his last will and Testament. Moses
Bellah."
Inventory of property including nineteen negroes.
[The family Bible mentioned in the will was last known to be in the possession of John
Davidson Bellah of St. Jo, Texas. It contains much of the data relating to this branch of
the family since Moses' time.]
Author: Roger L. Roberson, Jr. • Last updated: 11 January 2003