Hi all, I am a little confused about some info I have concerning Dance & Baxter families, probably because I don't have enough information, so I'm hoping some of you might be able to fill in some blanks. Following this is a transcript I made of James P Baxter's will dated 3 Aug 1839 James names his wife E. C. Baxter. There is a bible record that James married Elizabeth C Guthrie in 1820 James further names these heirs: Sarah J Daniel EK Daniel HB Baxter [might be NB] Jt BAxter JF Baxter he then gives a share of his estate to the heirs of MC Dance and names them: JECB Dance [might be I instead of J], JH Dance, Sallie Dance then lists MM Ferguson JH Baxter MMDJ Baxter WAJ Baxter Now my first thought on reading this will was that the MC Dance was Mary Caroline BAxter BUT the transcript of marriage records says that JWM Dance married Mary C on 5 Oct 1848. BUT that can't be right when James will was written 9 years before the marriage date. SO, is the transcript wrong on the marriage date OR were there 2 MC BAxter's that married Dance's???? Here follows a transcription of the original will. Please pass it on to any interested parties, mary Transcribed from a copy of the original will; but I forgot to write down the info about the microfilm it was on but it was Will Book # 2 pg 288 I have written it as exactly as possible. Where I couldn't read a word at all it's marked as [?] of if I wasn't sure then the same brackets & ? to indicate such. I James P Baxter of the County of Lincoln and State of Tennessee do hereby publish this as my last will and testament in the following [?] -My Will is that the [proceeds?] of my estate be equally divided, that is I give to my dear wife E. C. Baxter one equal share [therein?] full of her [dower?] and she the E. C. Baxter by the permission of J. T. Baxter one of the Executors hereunto is to have the use and benefits of Jenny, [Damin?], Molly and Gingo and their increase if any there be. Sarah J Daniel one equal share, E. K. Daniel one equal share. N. B. Baxter one equal share subject to a deduction of three and three dollars and Seven ½ Cents and also his Note with in [toragh Hisnon?] ½ to the Time of distribution J. T. Baxter one equal share with an addition of twenty one dollars. J. F. Baxter one equal share subject to a deduction of one hundred and six dollars. The heirs of M. C. Dance one equal share to be equally divided between them that is [I or J] E C B Dance TH Dance and Sallie Dance-Now my will is if either of said heirs died the other two is to have the whole of said share and if two of said heirs died the one is to have the whole of said share if all three dies before they [? Reach? Attain?] at the age of twenty one years my Will is that their share fall back to my Estate and be equally divided between the balance of my Heirs, MM Ferguson one equal share JH Baxter one equal share subject to a deduction of three hundred and twenty six dollars MMDJ Baxter one equal share and also a Horse W A J Baxter one equal share and also a Horse Now my Will is that there is no distribution to take place until the twenty fifth day of December eighteen hundred sixty nine only to E. C. Baxter and E. K> Daniel pay over to them of their parts as they need it-if any part of said share be paid over to the balance of said heirs before eighteen hundred and sixty nine they are requested to give notes and Security with interest thereon payable to said Executor against said time eighteen hundred and sixty nine. I do Hereby nominate and appoint JT Baxter and JF Baxter executors to this my last Will and Testament in witness whereof the said JT Baxter hath hereunto set his hand and seal this August 3 1839 JP Baxter (seal) Witnesses Loderick Robertson James Mastin, his mark [JS?] Bedford his mark There is then a bit starting with "State of Tennesse Lincoln County, I ." clerk of the county court et. It is written very small with several blots and cross outs but from the bits I can make out the will was apparently probated in 1839