IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN:--I, Andrew Jackson, Sr., being of sound mind,
memory and understanding, and impressed with the great uncertainty of
life and the certainty of death, and being desirous to dispose of my
temporal affairs so that after my death no contention may arise relative
to the same; and whereas, since executing my will of the 30th of
September, 1833, my estate has become greatly involved by my liabilities
for the debts of my well-beloved and adopted son, Andrew Jackson, Jr.,
which makes it necessary to alter the same: Therefore I, Andrew Jackson,
Sr., of the County of Davidson and State of Tennessee do make, ordain,
publish and declare this my last will and testament, revoking all other
wills by me heretofore made.
_First_, I bequeath my body to the dust whence it comes, and my soul to
God who gave it, hoping for a happy immortality through the atoning
merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. My desire is
that my body be buried by the side of my dear departed wife, in the
garden at the Hermitage, in the vault prepared in the garden, and all
expenses paid by my executor hereafter named.
_Secondly_, That all my just debts be paid out of my personal and real
estate by my executor; for which purpose, to meet the debt of my good
friends General J. B. Blanchin & Co., of New Orleans, for the sum of six
thousand dollars, with the interest accruing thereon, loaned to me to
meet the debt due by A. Jackson, Jr., for the purchase of the plantation
from Hiram G. Runnels, lying on the east bank of the river Mississippi,
in the State of Mississippi; also, a debt due by me of ten thousand
dollars, borrowed of my friends Blair and Rives, of the city of
Washington and District of Columbia, with the interest accruing thereon,
being applied to the payment of the lands bought of Hiram G. Runnels as
aforesaid; and for the faithful payment of the aforesaid recited debts,
I hereby bequeath all my real and personal estate. After these debts are
fully paid,
_Thirdly_, I give and bequeath to my adopted son, Andrew Jackson, Jr.,
the tract of land whereon I now live, known as the Hermitage tract, with
its butts and boundaries, with all its appendages of the three lots of
land bought of Samuel Donelson, Thomas J. Donelson and Alexander
Donelson, sons and heirs of Savern Donelson, deceased, all adjoining the
Hermitage tract, agreeable to their butts and boundaries, with all the
appurtenances thereto belonging or in any wise appertaining, with all my
negroes that I may die possessed of, with the exceptions hereafter
named, with all their increase after the before recited debts are fully
paid, with all the household furniture, farming tools, stock of all
kind, both on the Hermitage tract farms, as well as those on the
Mississippi plantation, to him and his heirs, forever. The true intent
and meaning of this may last will and testament is, that all my estate,
real, personal and mixed, is hereby bequeathed to my adopted son A.
Jackson, Jr., with the exceptions hereafter named, to him and his heirs,
forever.
_Fourth_, Whereas I have heretofore by conveyance, deposited with my
beloved daughter, Sarah Jackson, wife of my adopted son, A. Jackson,
Jr., given to my beloved granddaughter, Rachel Jackson, daughter of A.
Jackson, Jr. and Sarah his wife, several negroes therein described,
which I hereby confirm--I give and bequeath to my beloved grandson,
Andrew Jackson, son of A. Jackson, Jr. and Sarah his wife, a negro boy
named Ned, son of Blacksmith Aaron and Hannah his wife, to him and his
heirs forever.
_Fifth_, I give and bequeath to my beloved little grandson, Samuel
Jackson, son of A. Jackson, Jr. and his much beloved wife Sarah, one
negro boy named Davy or George, son of Squire and his wife Giney, to him
and his heirs forever.
_Sixth_, To my beloved and affectionate daughter, Sarah Jackson, wife of
my adopted and well beloved son, A. Jackson, Jr., I hereby recognize by
this bequest the gift I made her on her marriage, of the negro girl
Gracy, which I bought for her, and gave her to my daughter Sarah as her
maid and seamstress, with her increase, with my house-servant Hannah and
her two daughters, namely Charlotte and Mary, to her and her heirs
forever. This gift and bequest is made for my great affection to her--as
a memento of her uniform attention to me and kindness on all occasions,
and particularly when worn down with sickness, pain and debility. She
has been more than a daughter to me, and I hope she never will be
disturbed in the enjoyment of this gift and bequest by any one.
_Seventh_, I bequeath to my well beloved nephew, Andrew J. Donelson, son
of Samuel Donelson, deceased, the elegant sword presented to me by the
State of Tennessee, with this injunction, that he fail not to use it
when necessary in support and protection of our glorious union, and for
the protection of the constitutional rights of our beloved country,
should they be assailed by foreign enemies or domestic traitors. This,
from the great change in my worldly affairs of late, is, with my
blessing, all I can bequeath him, doing justice to those creditors to
whom I am responsible. This bequest is made as a memento of the high
regard, affection and esteem I bear for him, as a high-minded, honest
and honorable man.
_Eighth_, To my grand-nephew, Andrew Jackson Coffee, I bequeath the
elegant sword presented to me by the Rifle Company of New Orleans,
commanded by Captain Beal, as a memento of my regard, and to bring to
his recollection the gallant services of his deceased father, General
John Coffee, in the late Indian and British war, under my command, and
his gallant conduct in defense of New Orleans in 1814 and 1815, with
this injunction: that he wield it in protection of the rights secured to
the American citizens under our glorious constitution, against all
invaders, whether foreign foes or intestine traitors.
I bequeath to my beloved grandson, Andrew Jackson, son of A. Jackson,
Jr., and Sarah his wife, the sword presented to me by the citizens of
Philadelphia, with his injunction: that he will always use it in the
defense of the constitution and our glorious union, and the perpetuation
of our republican system: remembering the motto--"Draw me not without
occasion, nor sheath me without honor."
The pistols of General Lafayette, which were presented by him to General
George Washington, and by Colonel William Robertson presented to me, I
bequeath to George Washington Lafayette, as a memento of the illustrious
personages through whose hands they have passed--_his father, and the
father of his country_.
The gold box presented to me by the corporation of the city of New York,
the large silver vase presented to me by the ladies of Charleston, South
Carolina, my native state, with the large picture representing the
unfurling of the American banner, presented to me by the citizens of
South Carolina, when it was refused to be accepted by the United States
Senate, I leave in trust to my son A. Jackson, Jr. with instructions
that should our happy country not be blessed with peace, an event not
always to be expected, he will, at the close of the war or end of the
conflict, present each of said articles of inestimable value to that
patriot, residing in the city or state from which they were presented,
who shall be adjudged by his countrymen or the ladies to have been the
most valiant in defense of his country and our country's rights.
The pocket spyglass which was used by General Washington during the
revolutionary war, and presented to me by Mr. Custis, having been burned
with my dwelling-house, the Hermitage, with many other invaluable
relics, I can make no disposition of them. As a memento of my high
regard for General Robert Armstrong, as a gentleman, patriot and
soldier, as well as for his meritorious military services under my
command during the late British and Indian war, and remembering the
gallant bearing of him and his gallant little band at Enotochopco creek,
when, falling desperately wounded, he called out "My brave fellows, some
may fall, but save the cannon"--as a memento of all these things, I give
and bequeath to him my case of pistols and sword worn by me throughout
my military career, well satisfied that in his hands they will never be
disgraced--that they will never be used or drawn without occasion, nor
sheathed but with honor.
_Lastly_, I leave to my beloved son all my walking-canes and other
relics, to be distributed among my young relatives--namesakes--first, to
my much esteemed namesake, Andrew J. Donelson, son of my esteemed
nephew, A. J. Donelson, his first choice, and then to be distributed as
A. Jackson, Jr., may think proper.
_Lastly_, I appoint my adopted son, Andrew Jackson, Jr., my whole and
sole executor to this my last will and testament, and direct that no
security be required of him for the faithful execution and discharge of
the trusts hereby reposed in him.
In testimony whereof I have this 7th day of June, one thousand eight
hundred and forty-three, hereunto set my hand, and affixed my seal,
hereby revoking all wills heretofore made by me, and in the presence of
Marion Adams,
Elizabeth D. Love,
Thos. J. Donelson,
Richard Smith,
R. Armstrong,