Mahala J. Mays (Mayes) will (1886), Hamblen County Will Book 1:123, Hamblen County Clerk’s Office, Morristown, Tennessee.  Transcribed from microfilm by Gail Roorda.

Last Will and Testament of Mahala J. Mays

     I, Mahala J. Mays, of Hamblen County, State of Tennessee being now of sound mind and disposing memory, now growing old, for the purpose of settling my business and disposing of what I have, I do, make, publish and declare this writing, to which I have affixed my name by making my mark, not being able to write, my Last Will and Testament.

     1^st my will is, and I direct my Executor here in after named, after my death out of the assets of my estate, first to pay all my just debts, including my funeral and burial expenses.

     2^nd my will is that all the rest and residual of my estate shall belong to my son-in-law, John P. Sloan, and his wife, my daughter, Scytha C. Sloan, and I hereby bequeath to them or the survivors of them, all my property real and personal of very kind and description, with the right to collect all debts, dues, and demands, due or owing to me from all sources, and the sums when collected to their own use free from all claims by any one else.

     3^rd the forgoing bequest is intended to include the sum of $300 due from James P. Mays for the balance due me on the tract of land conveyed by me on 2^nd day of Jan’y 1888 as shown by my deed, which my Executor is authorized and directed to collect, and which sum when collected is included in the foregoing bequest & My will is, and I hereby nominate and appoint John P. Sloan as my Executor of this my Last Will and Testament and that he be authorized to qualify and execute the same without bond or security.

                 In Testimony whereof I have hereinto subscribed

                 my name by making my mark and hereby declare this

                writing to be my Last will and Testament.

                      This 9^th day of December, 1886.

                                             Mahala J. x ^her Mays.

                                                                                                   ^mark

 We have subscribed our names as subscribing witnesses to the foregoing paper which Mrs. Mahala J. Mays in our presence?? (handwriting very faded) declared as her last will and testament, which we signed in her presence and the presence of each other. 

This 9^th day of December 1886

                                            J. P. Mays

                                            J. W. Stubblefield

Mahala J. Mays (Mayes) will (1886), Hamblen County Will Book 1:123, Hamblen County Clerk’s Office, Morristown, Tennessee.  Transcribed from microfilm by Gail Roorda.