Rev. James Jason Matlock Jr.

Will of Jason Matlock

Submitted By: Wanda Albers

In the name of God Amen.

I, Jason Matlock of the County of Polk and the State of Tennessee, being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life, do therefore make ordain, publish, and declare this to be my last Will and Testament.

First: I command my soul to God who gave it to me, and my body to be decently co-signed to the tomb.

Second: It is my desire that all my debts and funeral expenses be paid.

Third: I will, give and bequeath to my son, Abraham H. Matlock all of my real estate, consisting of my homestead, it being the farm on which I now reside and have for several years last part, and of any other lands or town lots that I may died seized of. I make this bequest to my son, Abraham Matlock from the fact that he has remained with me in my old age and taken care of me in my old age and taken care of me and his mother with great kindness, and from the fact that some time ago he received a fall and broke his arm so that he will to some extent be a cripple through life. I therefore feel that it is my duty to aid him some. I also will and bequeath to my son, Abraham H. Matlock, all of my personal property except one bed and bed clothing.

Fourth: I will and bequeath to my beloved daughter, Elizabeth Coleman, one bed, bedstead and bed clothing.

Fifth: I do hereby make, constitute and appoint in this my last will and testament, Abraham H. Matlock, my lawful executor to carry out the provisions of this my will, and I hereby revoke and cancel all former wills by me made. In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and seal this 5th day of March 1875.

                                                                 Signed: Jason Matlock

The above instrument was subscribed by the said Jason Matlock in the presence and acknowledged by him to each of us and at the same time published and declared the above instrument to be his last will and testament and we as the testators represent and in his presence have signed our names as witnesses hereto this the 5th day of March 1875.

Witnesses:

John C. Williams, G B

Jason Jr., was the son of Jason, Sr. and his first wife, probably Fannie Elizabeth Rayburn; (married 2nd wife Mary Miller Matlock 1807.) Jason, Jr. was married to Elizabeth 'Betsy' Hicks, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Hicks. They were said to be parents of at least twenty children, but no one seems to have an accurate list of all of them.

Uncle Billy Harrison in his oral history records says 'some of their children' are Melinda married Jesse Coleman; Mary, Candace (Selvidge), Alex married Annie Rogers; Elizabeth 'Betty married Calvin Coleman; Moses married Rachel; Isaac, Absolom married Nancy Ann Duggan; James married Catharine Campbell; Walter, Moses H. married Nancy; Manerva married David Young and went to Parker County, Texas; Minnie, Abraham Haun married Rebecca Fields; Solomon died 1861 at Lynchburg, Virginia in 1861 of TB during the Civil War.

In the files of the Polk County Historical & Genealogical Society are letters from different Matlock descendants in Texas, and a granddaughter of Minerva Matlock Young states that she knew Manerva well and she said she had four brothers also living in Texas, Moore, James, Walter and John.

Ocoee Baptist Church was formed the 13th of August 1836, and Elder Jason Matlock was selected to serve as the first pastor. He had previously been active in the Sweetwater Association, having served three years as moderator and delivered the sermon on several occasions. There was a doctrinal dispute over missionary work which split Ocoee church, with Jason being anti missions and Zachriah Rose being a strong advocate of missions. The rift was healed in 1855.

Jason was one of the signers of the petition to form Polk County from Bradley and McMinn.

The will of Jason, Jr. was written March 1875 and probated in the April 1880 term of court. It only names two children, Abraham, to whom practically everything, land and goods, was given. The only exception was that a 'bedstead and bedclothes' went to his daughter, Elizabeth Coleman. Jason says that his son 'has remained with me in my old age and has taken care of me and his mother with great kindness."

The Matlock name will long be remembered in Polk County, and a little one room log schoolhouse and cemetery bore his name.

Jason Jr., was the son of Jason, Sr. and his first wife, probably Fannie Elizabeth Rayburn; (married 2nd wife Mary Miller Matlock 1807.) Jason, Jr. was married to Elizabeth 'Betsy' Hicks, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Hicks. They were said to be parents of at least twenty children, but no one seems to have an accurate list of all of them.

Uncle Billy Harrison in his oral history records says 'some of their children' are Melinda married Jesse Coleman; Mary, Candace (Selvidge), Alex married Annie Rogers; Elizabeth 'Betty married Calvin Coleman; Moses married Rachel; Isaac, Absolom married Nancy Ann Duggan; James married Catharine Campbell; Walter, Moses H. married Nancy; Manerva married David Young and went to Parker County, Texas; Minnie, Abraham Haun married Rebecca Fields; Solomon died 1861 at Lynchburg, Virginia in 1861 of TB during the Civil War.

In the files of the Polk County Historical & Genealogical Society are letters from different Matlock descendants in Texas, and a granddaughter of Minerva Matlock Young states that she knew Manerva well and she said she had four brothers also living in Texas, Moore, James, Walter and John.

Ocoee Baptist Church was formed the 13th of August 1836, and Elder Jason Matlock was selected to serve as the first pastor. He had previously been active in the Sweetwater Association, having served three years as moderator and delivered the sermon on several occasions. There was a doctrinal dispute over missionary work which split Ocoee church, with Jason being anti missions and Zachriah Rose being a strong advocate of missions. The rift was healed in 1855.

Jason was one of the signers of the petition to form Polk County from Bradley and McMinn.

The will of Jason, Jr. was written March 1875 and probated in the April 1880 term of court. It only names two children, Abraham, to whom practically everything, land and goods, was given. The only exception was that a 'bedstead and bedclothes' went to his daughter, Elizabeth Coleman. Jason says that his son 'has remained with me in my old age and has taken care of me and his mother with great kindness."

The Matlock name will long be remembered in Polk County, and a little one room log schoolhouse and cemetery bore his name.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 22 2020, 19:16:38 UTC