Will of Major Temple I, Major Temple of the County of Greene and State of Tennessee do declare this my last Will and Testament, revoking all others. First. All my just debts are to be punctually and speedily paid. Item. To my beloved Wife Mary Temple I bequeath the prerogative or use of my dwelling house and kitchen during her natural life, two beds, bedsteads and furniture, my household and kitchen furniture, her saddle and bridle, my wearing apparel, One hundred Dollars in Cash, my servants Phebe, Jack and Lydia, one horse beast and three cows of her choice, to be at her disposal at her death except the dwelling house and kitchen. Item. To my son Thomas Temple, I bequeath my servant boy Ivy should said boy survive me, but should he not, then to my said son Thomas an equal dividend of my estate with my son James and heirs of my son John as hereinafter mentioned. Item. To my son James Temple. I bequeath the whole of my farm and tract of land whereon I now live, containing two hundred and forty acres, to be enjoyed by him, his heirs and assigns forever. Also, my farming utensils including gears sufficient to work the plows with a sufficiency of my stock of every description (horses excepted) for the comfortable subsistence of the family he may then have charge of, and also the services of my servants Phebe, Jack and Lydia in assisting to raise and secure the Crops, and any other business tending to the benefit and progress of the farm and his own convenience, yet he is not to command their services unreasonably or at such times as might produce inconvenience to my beloved wife, without her consent. In consideration whereof my said son James Temple shall find and provide for my beloved wife Mary Temple during her natural life, a comfortable living and suitable attention in her infirm and declining state of health. He is likewise to provide a suitable and sufficient subsistence for said Servants and Stock of my Wife during her natural life. Item. My Horses, wagon, the residue of my beds and furniture with all other property of mine not herein enumerated and bequeathed, shall be sold by Executors for the best prices that can be had. Item. To my son in law and Daughter, John and Jinney Berry, I bequeath the sum of twenty dollars, and to the heirs of my son William Temple, twenty dollars jointly, they having already received a reasonable proportion of my Estate. Item. To my son John Temple’s Heirs and James Temple, I bequeath the residue of monies arising from the sale of my Estate, One half to said Heirs and the other half to said James Temple, and the Debts due me to be divided between them in the same manner... first discharging out of said monies, my debts, funeral charges and legacies aforesaid. Item. To my Daughter in law, Isabella Temple, I allow one half of the grains and crop on hand, she with my two grand Daughters as Heirs of my son Josiah Temple, Dec’d. having received of my son James Temple his notes for seven hundred and seventy five dollars in full of all claim they might have in my estate. Item. I constitute and appoint my sons Thomas, and James Temple Executors of this my Will. In Testimony whereof, I , the said Major Temple have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this 8th day of August in the year of our Lord, 1816 Major Temple witnesses: Josiah Clawson Christopher Bradshaw And to the heirs of my son William Temple twenty dollars jointly interlined before signed. Abstract of the will of Mary Temple Mary Temple. Probated and contested Monday 23 Oct 1820 To son, Thomas, servant, chest, 2 chairs and a cow. To son, James, cupboard and 2 chairs. To daughter-in-law, Jinney, widow of William Temple deceased, largest pot, hooks, churn, cotton cords. To daughter-in-law Isabella, widow of Josiah Temple, check reel, 2 tackles and churn. To grand-daughter, Mary K Robinson, daughter of Thomas Temple, a servant. To grand-daughter, Peggy Temple, daughter of Thomas, one feather bed. To grand-daughter Jenny Temple, daughter of Thomas, one dutch oven. To grandson James H Temple, son of William, one riding horse. To grand- daughter Mary K Temple, daughter of William, one bed and furniture. To grand-daughter, Maria, daughter of Josiah Temple, deceased, one coffee mill. To heirs of my deceased son William, Grand-daughter, Mary E.R. Temple, daughter of John Temple. To Jenny, one dish. Written 22 Jan 1818 Mary Temple wit: V. Sevier Eliza Temple This will was exhibited by Thomas Temple and contested by James Temple. note: Mary Temple’s pattern of naming grandchildren appears to be that she named only the older ones; for some were born when she wrote this will, but were not named. Children of Major Temple and Mary Kennedy; order of birth unknown. William Temple, son of Major Temple. b ??, d pre 1816 prob TN. m 6-14-1797 Jane Smith. She was b 1770-80. Jane is in the 1830 census of Knox Co, TN. with 3 males ages 15-20. William evidently died intestate...no records have been found on his estate. Making the determination of his children a difficult task. Only two of his children were named in his mother Mary’s will - James and Mary K. This is his believe issue: 1. James Harvey Temple b 1800 TN, d aft 1850 m 11-23-1824 Mary E Alexander in Roane Co, TN. James is in the Knox Co, TN court records throughout the 1820s. He is in Roane 1830 &40, and in Greene Co, IL 1850. 2. Mary K. Temple m John Galbraith 7-23-1825 Knox Co, TN. 3. Jeremiah Smith Temple b 1803 TN, d 1858 Knox Co, TN. m 1st 1 8-15-1826 Nancy Wilkins in Knox Co, TN. (this is my line) m 2nd 6-21-1856 Eveline Alexander in Monroe Co, TN. 4. Thomas S. Temple b 1805 TN, said to have moved to AR after 1850, but I have found no records on him there. m 1-6-1831 Polly Frost in Knox Co, TN. 5. Pulaski L Temple b 1810-20, he is said to have died young. In 1840 he has living with him a female age 70-80, who maybe his mother Jane. 6?? Pleasant J Temple b 1814 LA (according to the 1850 Mortality Schedule) d Jan 1850, he was a school teacher and died of fever. m 6-23-1836 Mary Jane Galbraith in Knox Co, TN. If this is the son of William and Jane, then his being born in LA certainly makes me wonder... He is of the right age to be one of the boys living with Jane in 1830, which still leaves another male of that age who remains unknown. 7. male b 1810-15 There is a Daniel Temple in the 1840 census of Knox Co, TN who maybe the missing son. This Daniel is in the court records 1835-1839, then nothing more on him. I have found no marriage records on a Daniel Temple. Josiah Temple b ?, d pre 1816 probably TN. son of Major Temple m 12-8-1800 Isabella Fain in Greene Co, TN. Josiah is another of Major’s children that remains somewhat of a mystery. Josiah is on the Giles Co, TN tax list of 1812. Mary mentions two daughter’s of Josiah, but names only one: 1. Maria Temple b 1802 TN m 4-25-1820 William Hammer Thomas Temple b 5-1-1766 SC, d 6-30-1852 Greene Co, TN. son of Major Temple m 6-13-1791 Jane Moore in Greene Co, TN. Thomas was the only son of Major’s that lived to the 1850 census in which he states he was b in SC. Major owned land in a section of NC that became SC and this maybe where Thomas was born. Jane Moore Temple was b 5-16-1767 d 1-16-1859, she left a will in Greene Co, TN in which she names the following daughters: 1. Mary K Temple m 12-24-1815 James Robinson 2. Margaret Temple m 2-3-1820 William M Biggs 3. Elizabeth Temple m 8-1-1822 Allan G Gallaher 4. Sarah R Temple m James Biggs 5. Jane Temple m 5-14-1835 James M Slemmons 6. Eleanore (Ellen) Temple m 8-25-1830 David McCord 7. Isabella Temple John Temple b ? d 6-5-1816 Giles Co, TN. son of Major Temple. m 12-19-1795 Jane Russell in Greene Co, TN. John Temple’s will was proven 6-5-1816 in Giles Co, TN., but I have not found an actual will, only the recording of it being proven. Then in the orphan records we have the following: Ebenezer Petty guardian of Nancy Temple, Samuel Briggs guardian of Matilda Temple, Thomas K Gordon guardian of Eliza Temple, orphans of John Temple. The Gordon’s are connected through Mary Kennedy, who’s neice married a Gordon and lived in Giles Co, TN; I am not sure of the other two. There is a real possiblity that John had grown children by 1816 as proven by Mary Kennedy Temple's will where she names only one of John's children - Mary E. R. Mary Temple wasn't named in the orphan papers. 1. Mary E. R. Temple 2. Nancy Temple 3. Matilda Temple 4. Eliza Temple James Temple b c1773? d 1822 near Memphis, TN while on a surveying expedition. Son of Major Temple. m 2-12-1811 Mary Craig in Greene Co, TN. After James’ death Mary remarried 11-3-1835 Henry A Farnsworth in Greene Co, TN. James’ son Oliver Perry Temple states his father was about 50 years old at the time of his death in 1822... yet, in the 1783 tax list James is listed with Major Temple, which should make him older than the ten yrs he would be according to Oliver’s date. So, this remains unresolved. In the Court Minutes of Greene Co, TN James’ children are named: 1. Nancy R Temple m 9-4-1828 John T Barkley 2. Eliza M Temple (court minutes record her as being a lunatic) 3. Jane M Temple m 4-30-1832 John G Farnsworth 4. Major Samuel Temple b 1816 TN, m Margaret Biddle 5. William Temple b 1818 m Mary ? 6. Oliver Perry Temple b 1-27-1820 Greene Co,TN, d 11-2-1907 Knox Co,TN. m Scotia Caledonea Hume 7. Eleanor B Temple m 4-21-1841 Washington M Wilhite Jenny Temple, daughter of Major Temple. She is named as the wife of John Berry in Major’s will. I have nothing more on Jenny.