Transcription of will of Eli H. Moores


		    Copy
The Last Will and Testament of Eli H. Moores. Dced 
The State of Texas 
County of Bowie		I, Eli H Moores of the said said county of 
Bowie being of sound and disposing mind and memory, and being desirous 
to settle my worldly affairs while I have strength so to do, do make 
this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all others heretofore 
by me made.
Item 1st: I desire and direct that my body to be buried in a decent and 
Christian like manner suitable to my circumstances and condition in 
life.
Item 2nd: I desire and direct that my just debts be paid without delay 
by my executor to be hereafter appointed.
Item 3rd: I give, bequeath and demise to my beloved daughter Nannie H. 
Moores a certain tract of land, the same being my homestead and 
consisting of 206 acres of the H. Etheridge headright survey leaving 
out 80 acres, the fairground as surveyed and also 8 and 9 in block 6 of 
Texarkana Texas to have and to hold during her natural life and at 
her death descend to her heirs.
Item 4th: I give bequeath and demise to my beloved daughter Sarah B. 
Clements formerly Sarah B. Moores 160 acres of land, being the south 
half of my 320 acres headright survey adjoining my homestead, the line 
to be run due east and west just south of T. B. Moores house so as to 
leave a lane in front of his dwelling, also lots 2 and 3 in block no 55 
of Texarkana Texas to have and to hold during her natural life and at 
her death descend to her heirs. 
Item 5th: I give bequeath and demise to my beloved son Thomas B Moores 
160 acres of land, being the north half of my headright survey where he 
now lives.  Also lots 7 and 8 in block no 58 of Texarkana Texas to have 
and to hold during his natural death and at death descend to his heirs.
Item 6th: I give bequeath and demise to my beloved son Charles H. Moores 
160 acres of land of the J. M. Goff headright survey, where he now 
lives, also lots 5 and 6 in block 58 of Texarkana Texas, to have and to 
hold during his natural life and at his death descend to his heirs.
Item 7th: I give bequeath and demise to my beloved son William M. 
Moores 320 acres of land, being the W. Whitaker headright survey, also 
lot 7 in block no 55 of Texarkana Texas to have and to hold during his 
natural life and at his death descend to his heirs.
Item 8th: I give bequeath and demise to my beloved granddaughter 
Minerva A. Moores first child of my son Wm M. Moores, lot 8 in block 55 
Texarkana Texas to have and hold during her natural life and at her 
death descend to her heirs.
Item 9th: I give bequeath and demise to my beloved granddaughter Mattie 
M. Moores infant child of my son Wm. M. Moores, lot 9 in block 55 of 
Texarkana Texas to have and to hold during her natural life and at her 
death descend to her heirs.
Item 10th: The residue of my property both real and personal wherever 
and whatever it may be I give bequeath and demise to my said children, 
Nannie H. Moores, Sarah B. Clements formerly Sarah B. Moores, Thomas B. 
Moores, Charles H. Moores and Wm. M. Moores forever, to be equally 
divided between them share and share alike, quality and quantity be 
relatively considered.
Item 11th: I hereby constitute and appoint my son Charles H. Moores 
Executor and my daughter Nannie H. Moores Executrix of this my last 
will and testament.
Item 12th: It is my will and desire that no other action shall be had 
before the courts of this state after this my will is admitted to 
probate, and inventory and appraisement of my estate is returned and 
filed as the law directs, and it is my will and desire that my said 
executor and executrix be not required to enter into bond in winding up 
my estate, and that they be allowed to wind up my estate without giving 
any bond whatever.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day December 
AD 1884.  (signed) EH Moores

Signed declared and published by Eli H. Moores as his last will and 
testament in the presence of us the attesting witnesses who have hereto 
subscribed our names in presence in of said Eli H. Moores at his 
special instance and request.  This 16th day of December 1884
(signed) Jas B Hooks
    C A Hooks
    J H Smaleson
    J M Benefield


Editor's notes

This transcribed by William Moores McKemie (great great grandson of 
Eli) and Jean M. McKemie 5/2/2008.  Copy of the will provided by Gloria 
Moores (great granddaughter of Eli).  Apparently the copy of the will 
is available at a Texarkana museum.  I had not previously known of it's 
existence.

Eli died March 10 1886 at age 69.  All surviving children are mentioned 
in the will.  Not surviving were Eli Harrison Moores Jr and Mary 
Harrison Moores.

I had not realized that CH Moores inherited the Moores Lane property 
from his father Eli.  The small piece of land that my brother Myles and 
I own on Moores Lane we now know to have come down to us all the way 
from our great great grandfather and has been owned by Moores 
descendants for more than 124 years.  Myles and I are probably the only 
descendants of Eli still owning some of his land.

Mention of grandchildren is interesting.  Only William Massach Moores' 
children are mentioned.  I believe that they were motherless though I 
don't have the details at hand.  As I recall, Nancy ("Nannie") Harrison 
Moores raised William's (Uncle Buck) children.  At the time of the 
will, Eli had other grandchildren, including CH Moores' Eli and 
Charles.

Of the witnesses, the two Hooks are almost certainly cousins or 
in-laws; I believe Benefield was the County Clerk; I don't know of 
"Smaleson".