Will of James Defrees
Signed 26-July-1820
Proved 1827

Transcribed by Linda DeFrees Franks
©2000

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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