NOTE: The will was originally transcribed from Sumner County records by Juanita Patton in her book, "The Family of Isham and Betsy Hodges From Virginia to Tennessee." The will is quoted here without changes in spelling and punctuation. Dashes (-----) have been used to indicate illegible words or letters.
In the name of God Amen.
Know all men by these presents that I Isham Hodges, Senior of the County of Sumner and the State of Tennessee, knowing the uncertainties of life and the certainty of death have thought----to make and publish, this my last Will and Testament and by these presents do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in---and for all following to wit.
First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Betsy Hodges, a lifetime Estate in all my Estate real and personal not hereafter disposed of by me to have, hold,possess and enjoy the same during her natural life, Secondly I give and bequeath to each the lawful heirs of my oldest son Asa Hodges one dollar to be equally divided among them and their heirs forever.
Thirdly I give and bequeath unto my son Rowland T. Hodges one dollar to him and his heirs forever; Fourthly I give and bequeath unto the lawful heirs of my son Isham Hodges one dollar to them and their heirs forever.
Fifthly I give and bequeath unto my son Meredith Hodges one dollar to him and his heirs forever. Sixthly I give and bequeath to my son William Hodges to him and his heirs forever one dollar. Seventhly I give and bequeath unto my son Ezekiel C. Hodges, Thirty-one acres of land lying on the east side of us entry made by a Kentucky warrant and on the south side of a forty-five acre tract on which he now lives, to him and his heirs forever to have, hold, and possess and enjoy the same forever. Eighthly I give and bequeath to my daughter Betsy Ausbrooks the sum of fifty dollars at the decease of my wife Betsy Hodges to be paid to the said Betsy Ausbrooks by my daughters Milly Hodges and Phebe Hodges and my two grandsons Isham H. West and David H. West each paying 50/100 dollars. Ninthly I give and bequeath to my daughter Milly Hodges the one-third part of my land after taking out Ezekiel's thirty-one acres, and bay horse colt now in my possession, two feather beds and furniture. Tenthly I give and bequeath unto my daughter Phebe Hodges the other third part of all my lands as above, and one roan filly now in my possession and one feather bed and furniture. To the said Milly and Phebe Hodges to have, hold, possess and enjoy same forever. Eleventhly I give and bequeath unto my two grandsons Isham H. West and David H. West the other third part of my land and one feather bed each, and one horse beast each of equal value with that given to my daughter Phebe, to be equally divided between them, to them and their heirs forever. Twelfthly the remainder of my Estate at the death of my wife Betsy Hodges I wish equally divided between my daughters Milly and Phebe Hodges and my two grandsons Isham H. West and David H. West, to them and their heirs forever.
Thirteenthly I wish all my just debts paid. Fourteenthly I hereby appoint Ezekiel C. Hodges and Meredith Hodges, my Executors of this my last will and testament. Fifteenthly I hereby revoke all former will by me---heretofore notifying and confessing this my last will and testament this 23rd day of December in the year of out Lord, one-thousand eight-hundred and twenty-nine.
Signed/Isham Hodges, Sr.
Signed, sealed and acknowledged by the aforementioned Isham Hodges to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator the 23rd day of December in the year of our Lord one-thousand and eight-hundred and twenty-nine.
The witnesses were J.B Brizendine and William Manod