In the name of God Amen: This 26th day of July in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Twenty, I, James Defrees, of Sumner County and State of Tennessee, being sick in body but of a perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God Almighty, therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it to me, and as touching such worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with, I give, and devise, and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.
First, I give to my beloved wife, Sophi Defrees, all my tract and parcel of land whereon I now
live, to her for her proper use during her natural life, together with all my utencils, my wagon and
gears, stills, and tubs and also my household and kitchen furniture except what I may hereafter
in this will dispose of. I will and bequeath unto my son Asher Defrees to be paid over to him by
my executors hereafter named the sum of $40 to be paid him out of such property of my estate as
can first of disposed or. I also give and bequeath unto my daughter, Elizabeth, the wife of Charles
Frady, the sum of $1.75. I give and bequeath unto my son James Defrees a decent support to be
from my estate during his natural life. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rebecca Defrees, a
decent support of food and raiment during the time she may remain a single woman and also one
feather bed and furniture which bed and furniture I hereby give to her and her heirs forever. I give
and bequeath unto my son John defrees $1.75. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Hannah the
wife of David Hart the sum of $1.75. I give an bequeath unto my son David Defrees the sum of
$1.75. I give and bequeath unto my son Moses Defrees the sum of $40 to be paid out of my
estate in such property as can be best spared. I bequeath and give to my daughter Nancy the wife
of Edward Williams $1.75. I give and bequeath to my daughter Polly, the wife of James Stovall
$1.75. I give and bequeath unto my son Ricely Defrees all that piece of parcel of land whereon
Edward Williams now lives on. Beginning at the petition line between Edward Williams and
myself marked JDF running across the other fork of Bledsoe Creek to a sugar tree also marked
JDF and so in a direct line between my N and S line between Matthew Wilson and myself. I give
and bequeath unto my son Joseph Defrees the balance of the above described track of land being
the tract whereon I now live to them and their heirs forever. It is also express will and desire that
at the death of my beloved wife Sophi Defrees, the property and estate of every kind herein left to
her may be equally divided between my sons Wricely Defrees and Joseph Defrees. And I do lastly
constitute and appoint my wife Sophi Defrees and my friend William Austin executrix and
executor to this my last will and testament and I do hereby utterly revoke, disannull and disallow
all and every other former will or wills legacies, bequeathed and Ex'ors by me in any way named
before this time willed and bequeathed satisfied and confirmed this and no other to be my last will
and testament. I witness where of I hereunto set my hand and seal. This day and date as first
above written.
James Defrees
Witness: W. Smith
Jas. Morris
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