S. B. and William T. Tate represent that their “much beloved brother Milton Tate departed this life” in 1856, “leaving no Widow or Children” and owning three slaves to whom he bore “a deep attachment.” The petitioners point out that “for many years before his death he had resolved to so arrange his matters that after his death Said Slaves would not be forced to Serve another.” They report, however, that Milton died before he had “time to make a formal will & testament by which to effect his desire in relation to Said Slaves.” They further state that their brother did make a nuncupative will but they have “doubts as to [its] legal validity.” The petitioners therefore “most humbly beg your Honorable Body to pass an act making valid to all intents & purposes the will of Milton Tate.”
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Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
