THE FOLLOWING TRANSCRIPTIONS WERE MADE BY ME FROM THE ORIGINAL RECORDS
1850 Will – Dallas County, Arkansas
Source: Dallas County, Arkansas, Will Book A-B 1843-1855 pp. 101-21
The last will and testament of Robert J. Wilcox made and published on this the 22nd day of March A.D. 1850. Witneseth
1st That I do hereby revoke annul and make void all former wills and testament by me heretofore made.
2nd I will and desire that all my just and lawful debts be paid as soon after my death as possible, out of my moneys I may die possess of or which may first come into the hands of executrix.
3rd I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Jane D. Wilcox all my estate both real and personal of every description whatever during her natural life or so long as she may remain a widow for the purpose of raising and educating my children to the greatest advantage the estate will (illegible) of.
4th It is my will and desire that as my children, except as herein after mentioned, become of lawful age or marry, and wish to leave their mother, that my executrix at her discretion, may give to each of said children whatever she may think proper, first taking a receipt to the amount of the value of the property given, which amount shall be accounted for in the final settlement of my estate.
5th It is my will and I do direct that should any of the slaves or other property of my estate not suit my family, my executrix, and she is hereby authorized at her discretion to sue any part of or portion of the property of my estate, and the title shall be good to the purchases both in equity and law as if I had made such sale in my lifetime.
6th It is my will that my children remain on the plantation free of charge, after they become of age, at the discretion of their mother, she giving them home to do so.
7th It is my will that, at the death of my wife, the residue of my estate that has not been expended by her shall be equally divided between all my children then living, and the heirs of those deceased, hereby nevertheless specially excepting my daughter Martha Eliza, who has lately against my wishes and consent intermarried with one Henry Coxe to which said daughter Martha Eliza I will and bequeath the sum of one shilling in lieu and in full of all rights benefits or interest in my estate hereby expressly meaning and intending to give to her or to her said husband no other or further benefit right or interest than said (illegible) last aforesaid.
8th I do hereby nominate and appoint my beloved wife Jane D. Wilcox, my executrix of this my last will and testament with full power to act without giving any bond or security for the performance of her duty as such, with the privilege of calling to her assistance any suitable person. Should any other person qualify and act in execution of this my will, I desire that they be held to give bond, and security. Signed and sealed this day and year first above written. Robert J. Wilcox
Witnesses:
P. Watts
S. G. Smith
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State of Arkansas
County of Dallas
Be it remembered that on this the 22nd day of March A. D. 1850, before me Presley Watts as clerk of the circuit court and exofficio clerk of the court of probate, in and for the county of Dallas personally came and appeared Robert J. Willcox to me personally well known, and acknowledge and declared that the annexed and foregoing instrument in writing was his act and deed, and intended for and was his last will and testament, and that he had executed the same for the uses purposes and considerations therein mentioned at set forth.
Witness my hand as such clerk of said circuit court and exofficio clerk of the court of probate and the seal of such court of probate on this the 22nd March A. D. 1850.
P. Watts, clerk
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Dallas County Ark.
The foregoing will was filed and probated on the 22nd day of March 1850 and the same is now duly recorded this 9th day of April A. D. 1850.
Attest
P. Watts, clerk of Probate Court
1852 Will and Probate – DeSoto Parish, Louisiana
Source: Maury County, Tennessee, Will Books, v. F, 1848-1874, pp. 138-92
Succession of Robert J. Wilcox in the District Court for DeSoto Parish, Louisiana
Petition for probate of will
To the Hon. the Judge of the 16th Judicial District of the State of Louisiana for the Parish of DeSoto – The petition of Jane Davis Wilcox of this residence, respectfully represents that her husband Robert J. Wilcox has lately died in this Parish, and left a will or testament in the nuncupative form in which petitioner was appointed sole Executrix. Wherefore she prays that the said will, which she prays to file herewith, be admitted to probate in your Hon. Court, that the witnesses thereto be cited to appear in the Clerk’s office thereof on a day to be fixed, and that she be appointed and qualified as Executrix of said will and for general in the premises.
Jane D. Wilcox
Filed January 20, 1853
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Clerk’s order
The State of Louisiana Parish of DeSoto
In the 16th District Court Clerk’s office
Succession of Robert J. Wilcox
By reason of having read the foregoing petition, and the law and evidence being in favor of petitioner, it is ordered and decreed that the last will and testament of Robert J. Wilcox, late of the aforesaid Parish be filed and admitted to probate and that the witnesses thereto be cited (three at least of them) to appear this day at the Clerk’s office in the Town of Mansfield, Parish aforesaid, for the purpose of proving said will, and that Mrs. Jane Davis Wilcox, surviving widow of the deceased, be sworn as Executrix and that after due proof of said will, that letters testamentary issue to her.
January 20th, 1853. J.D. Wempe, Clerk of said court.
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Appointment of Executrix
The State of Louisiana Parish of DeSoto
In the 16th District Court Clerk’s office
By reason of the law, the evidence, and Mrs. Jane Davis Wilcox having been sworn as Executrix of the last will and testament of her deceased husband, Robert J. Wilcox, the aforesaid Jane Davis Wilcox is hereby confirmed and appointed Executrix of the last will and testament of Robert J. Wilcox deceased Mansfield.
January 20 A.D. 1853. J.D. Wempe, Clerk of said court.
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Will
Ne varietur January 20th 1853 J.D. Wempe Clerk
The State of Louisiana Parish of DeSoto
I, Robert Wilcox, a resident of the Parish of DeSoto in the state of Louisiana, reminded of the uncertainty of life, and being of sound and disposing mind, do make and ordain this my last will and testament. First, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Jane Davis Wilcox all my property, both moveable and immoveable and slaves, to have the whole and sole control and management of the same until my youngest child becomes of age. It is my wish and desire, that if she should give to any one of my children, a portion of my property on their coming of age, the same may be valued so, that upon a final division each heir may have an equal share of my estate. It is my wish, that if my wife should marry again, that she have a child part of my estate. Give and bequeath unto my brother James W. Wilcox my saddle horse. Finally, I appoint my wife Jane Davis Wilcox sole Executrix of this my last will and testament with the express understanding that she is to take the administration of my estate, without giving any security for the faithful administration of the same. In witness whereof, I have caused this will to be written and read aloud in presence of me and the undersigned witnesses this 20th day of November A.D. 1852, declaring the same to be my last will and testament. Thus done and signed in the Parish, and on the day aforesaid, R.J. Wilcox. (Attest) Robert Reynolds, R.T. Gibbs, M.T.J. Alston, R. Mundy, C.S. Mallett. Ne varietur January 20, 1853
J.D. Wempe, Clerk filed January 20, 1853
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Process verbal, Proof of will
The State of Louisiana Parish of DeSoto
In the District Court Clerk’s office
Be it remembered that on this twentieth day of January A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty three, I, Jacob D. Wempe, Clerk of the District Court for the Parish of DeSoto, have this day to file and prove the last will and testament of the Robert J. Wilcox, deceased, and under oath declared to the written statement which I have filed and marked B. The will aforesaid, was then read by me in an audible voice in the presence and hearing of the witness aforesaid and the said will was ordered by me to be executed and record having marked “Ne Varietur” at the beginning and end of each page. Thus done and signed at Clerk’s office, of the aforesaid Parish on this 20th day of January A.D. 1853.
J.D. Wempe, Clerk of said court
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Affidavit of Witnesses
The State of Louisiana Parish of DeSoto
In the matter of proving the last will and testament of Robert J. Wilcox, late of this residence deceased, the following witnesses as follows M.T.J. Alston, Reuben Mundy and R.T. Gibbs, sworn say that they recognize the signature of Robert J. Wilcox to the last will and testament made and signed by him on the 20th day of November A.D. 1852. That they recognize their own genuine signatures together with the signature of C.S. Mallett and Robert Reynolds as attesting witnesses thereto. That said will was written by the hand of R. Mundy at the dictation of the deceased testator and after it was so written, it was read in an audible voice, in the presence and hearing of the testator and witnesses aforesaid, approved by him, and signed with his own hand, and declared this to be his last will and testament. All these acts were done without turning aside to other acts and without interruption. (Signed) M.T.J. Alston, R.T. Gibbs, R. Mundy. Sworn to and subscribed before me on this 20th day of January A.D. 1853.
J.D. Wempe, Clerk of court
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Oath of Executrix
I, the undersigned, so solemnly swear, that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on my by law, as Executrix of the last will and testament of my deceased husband Robert J. Wilcox, according to the best of my knowledge and abilities, so help me God. Jane D. Wilcox. Sworn to and subscribed before me, on this twentieth day of January A.D. 1853. J.D. Wempe, Clerk A true record John Wempe, Dep. Clerk
(See posts in chronological order)
- Dallas County, Arkansas, “Will Record Book A,” 101-2, Robert J. Willcox, 22 March 1850; imaged “Record of wills, 1843-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99W3-7WG6/ : accessed 25 August 2026) > Wills, v. A – B 1843-1855 > images 80-1 of 486; citing Dallas County Probate Court, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
- Maury County, Tennessee, “Wills Books 1848-1874, Vol. F,” 138-9, Robert J. Wilcox, 20 January 1853; imaged ““Tennessee Probate Court Books, 1795-1927,” database with images, FamilySearch, (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-2PCY-G9: accessed 28 August 2026) > Maury > Wills, 1848-1874, Vol. F > image 100 of 304; citing Maury County Clerk, Columbia, Tennessee. ↩︎
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