Thanks so much to Valerie Barlow for the following will. According to Valerie, this James ELDRIDGE was the son of John ELDRIDGE and Sarah GILLILAND, grandson of Thomas ELDRIDGE / ALDRIDGE and Catherine TAYLOR, descended through the Talbot Co, MD ALDRIDGEs to the Northumberland Co, VA Clement ALDRIDGE family that the ARLEDGE family is also descended from: > From: > POSSUM1964@aol.com > LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JAMES ELDRIDGE > > I.JAMES > ELDRIDGE .DO MAKE AND PUBLISH THIS MY LAST WILL ANDTESTAMENT,HEREBY RREVOKING > AND MAKING VOID ALL OTHER WILLS BY ME AT ANY OTHER TIME MADE. > FIRST--I DIRECT THAT MY FUNERAL EXPENSES AND > ALL MY DEBTS BE PAID AS SOON AFTER MY DEATH AS POSSIBLE OUT OF ANY MONEY I > MAY POSSESSED OF OR THAT MAY FIRST COME INTO THE HANDS OF MY EXECUTOR. I > DIRECT MY EXECUTOR TO SELL FOR CASH ANY PROPERTY AND PAY ANYTHING THAT I MAY > OWE IN ANY STORE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER MY DEATH. > SECOND--I LEAVE TO MY BELOVED > WIFE, HARRIETT ELDRIDGE, ALL THE IMPROVED LAND LYING IN THE COVE FOR HER > SUPPORT DURING HER LIFE AND ALSO ENOUGH OF TIMBERLAND FOR HER TO USE AND > ANY WHERE SHE WANTS IT.EXCEPT SHE WOULD PREFER HAVING ALL SOLD AT ANY TIME. > I DIRECT MY EXECUTOR TO SELL TWO LOTS OF LAND. THE LOTS WHERE A.J. TINCH NOW > LIVES AND ONE OF THE LOTS OF TIMBERLAND, AND ALSO MY MOUNTAIN LAND TO BE > SOLD WHEN HE THINKS BEST.AT ANYTIME MY EXECUTOR IS AUTHORIZED TO SELL ALL OR > ANY PART OF SAID LAND WITH ANY ORDER FROM COURT. > THIRD--I GIVE AND BEQUEATH TO MY FOUR CHILDREN--L.D. > ELDRIDGE,S.C. BOHANNON,ELIZABETH HOLFORD, AND G.C. ELDRIDGE IS TO HAVE ALL > THE MEANS OR ESTATE REMAINING IN THE HANDS OF MY EXECUTOR TO BE EQUALLY > DIVIDED WXCEPT, THE L.D. ELDRIDGE I GIVE ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND THE SAID, > G.C. ELDRIDGE , I GIVE HIM ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS OUT OF THE TWO HUNDRED AND > FIFTY DOLLARS HE IS OWING ME,LEAVING THE SAID G.C. ELDRIDGE OWING ME ONE > HUNDRED AN DFIFTY DOLLARS ON THE SAID NOTE THAT G.C. ELDRIDGE HAS TAKEN IN > POSSESSION, AND THE EXECUTOR, AND AFTER HE PAYS IN OR DISCOUNTS THAT, THAT HE > IS TO EQUAL WITH ALL THE BALANCE HEIRS. FOURTH-- I > LEAVE ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO HAUL IN MY TOMBSTONES FROM NASHVILLE FOR OUR > GRAVES AND POLKS,OR AS MUCH AS WILL BE NEEDED OF SAID SUM OF MONEY, I ALSO > LEAVE TO MY GRANDDAUGHTER,VERNOY P. BILBREY . FIFTY DOLLARS. > LASTLY,I NOMINATE AND APPOINT L.D. ELDRIDGE, MY EXECUTOR, IN > WITNESS WHEREOF TO THIS MY LAST WILL AND TESTEMENT. I SET MY HAND AND SEAL > THIS FIFTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 1882. > > JAMES ELDRIDGE (SEAL) > SIGNED SEALED AND PUBLISHED IN OUR > PRESENCE AND HAVE SUBSCRIBED OUR NAMES HERE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE > TESTATOR,THIS THE FIFTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 1882. > > > W.H.PARRIGIN > J.H.RAY > STATE OF TENNESSEE > OVERTON COUNTY ************************************* Pam Wilson wilsonpam@mindspring.com Marietta, GA List Administrator, EFSS-L (Early Families in Southern States), HOLBERT-L and LAWLER-L through Rootsweb.com Associate list administrator, Arledge/Aldridge list (arledge@tx3.com) Coordinator, Arledge Family History Project http://www.geocities.com/heartland/prairie/8208