Kate’s Notes: In this case I was able to work from both a transcription made in 1937 (source citation following the transcript of the will) and a copy of the handwritten original document. It was fortunate to have both at my disposal as the old transcription contained a number of errors and omissions, as well as some inconsistencies in format. This will book is actually divided into two parts, the first consisting of the transcripts made in 1937 and the second part of images made from the original handwritten documents.
    Some portions of this will were mentioned in a1951 newspaper article from Abilene, Texas. Sam Gilliland, a grandson of Eli Gilliland and great-grandson of John Gilliland, had sent a copy of the will to the newspaper; it was Sam’s daughter who had located the original testament, which she then passed along to her father. A transcript of this article may be found among “Wills & Estates” in the Gilliland Trails library.
    The name of one witness to the will was not clear to me and I have indicated as such within brackets.
    The grandson mentioned in the will, John Welch, was a son of John Gilliland’s daughter, Priscilla. Her name appears again in Will Book No. 1 regarding the allotment of John’s lands. A transcript of this particular document may be found in the GT library under “Land and Property”.  I must speculate, however, that some portion of the record concerning the allotment of lands, details of which were so much a part of John’s will, was missing from the ledger. Please see my comments prefacing that transcription.
    The volume which served as the source of this transcription may be found at the FamilySearch website of the LDS Church https://familysearch.org

-Kate Maynard, 2013

THE WILL OF JOHN GILLILAND, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, 1795

Probate Court Books, 1795-1927
Jefferson County, Tennessee
Will Book No. 1, 1792-1810

JOHN GILLILAND

    In the name of God Amen I John Gilliland of the County of Jefferson territory of the United States South the river Ohio being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is principally and first of all I resign my soul into the hand of Almighty God who gave it to me, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting but at the great day of Judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, And my worldly estate I give and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. Imp. I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Elizabeth Gilliland all and every part of my household furniture, also one equal third part of my stock, also one third part of the rents after all my debts are paid to be at her disposal during her natural life for the supporting and tuition of those that are of non age, but at the day of her death to dispose to the Legatees as she shall see cause. Imp  I give and bequeath unto my son Robert Sixty pounds out of the revenue at the end of three years after the end of the lease to be in property at the Judgment of two men. Imp. I give and bequeath unto my son John the island at the upper end of the premises and as much of the backland adjoining as will make it an equal allotment with the rest of the Legatees to enter into possession of the premises at the end of the lease provided he pays in proportion to the Legatees if any due.
Imp. I give and bequeath unto my son James all my wearing over and above his equal proportion with the Rest of the Legatees. 
Imp. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Priscilla, my son James, my daughter Mary, my son Able, my son Harvey, my son Isaac, my son Eli, my son Josiah all and every part and tracts of my land except my son John’s part or portion of land to be equally divided amongst the above mentioned Legatees my son Robert Gilliland excepted to be laid out in equal lotts in quality and quantity by two or three disinterested persons to be nominated by Joseph Hamilton & John McNabb or John Gilliland Junr, or any two of them the Legatees to draw lotts after lotted out in their equal portions, and that Executors hereafter mentioned to make deeds to the Legatees. 
Imp – And it is my will and desire that my grandson John Welch shall have one hundred Dollars expended in education provided he lives with the family untill of age or at such place as the Executors shall chuse. Also it is my will that the different deed or deeds be made to the Legatees above mentioned on or before the end of the lease. 
I hereby make and ordain my worthy friends Joseph Hamilton and John Gilliland Executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I the said John Gilliland have to this my last will and testament set my hand & seal this 24th day of March 1795  Signed sealed published and declared by the said John Gilliland the testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us who were present at the signing and sealing thereof.

Jos. Robinson
John Mc Nabb                                             John Gilliland                     {seal}
John [Neitherton]

Do NOT publish this transcription elsewhere without credit to the transcriber, preferably with express permission of same. If used as a citation, please use the following as the source:
Transcriber: Kate Maynard, 2013
www.gillilandtrails.org

*************

Source:
RECORDS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
TENNESSEE
WILL BOOK No. 1 –
1792-1810

COPYING HISTORICAL RECORDS PROJECT
WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
OFFICIAL PROJECT No. 165-44-6999

MRS. JOHN TROTWOOD MOORE
STATE LIBRARIAN & ARCHIVIST, SPONSOR

MRS. ELIZABETH D. COPPEDGE
STATE DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL PROJECTS

MRS. PENELOPE JOHNSON ALLEN
STATE SUPERVISOR

MRS. MARGARET HELMS RICHARDSON
SUPERVISOR FIRST DISTRICT

WORKERS:
MRS. LILLIAN EWING
MRS. ELLEN HYNDS WILSON
MR. ROBERT BETTIS

April 9, 1937