Know all men by these presents that I Aaron Hodges of the County of Sumner State of Tennessee -- knowing the certainty of death and the uncertainty of life have thought proper to make and publish this my last Will and Testament and do hereby publish in manner and form following to wit -- First I wish all my just debts and funal expenses paid -- Secondly I wish my wife Elizabeth to have during her natural life the use of a Seventy five acre tract of land on which David Bradly now lives and also all the plantation lying above a new Cross fence of the place I live on. Also I give her the use of all my negroes durring her natural life and as much of my stock of all kinds, as she may choose, also as much of the House hold and Kitchen furniture as she wants to have and possess during her natural life -- Thirdly, I wish all the remainder of my perishable property equally divided between my children to wit Holly Hodges, Chirsly Hodges, Asa W. Hodges, Martha Hodges, Nancy Brown, Chloe Keen, & Mariam Hodges And also I wish them to have the remainder of my land which is not left to my wife to be equally divided between them, and the better to enable them to divide I authorize and empower them any five agreeing thereto to make sale thereof altogether or in parts as may best suit and to make a good sufficient tittle or tittles thereto provide each one of the above named Children bind themselves to the sum of five dollars each annually to my wife for better support and mentinance of her the Said Elizabeth and further before they take possession of the land they are to build necessary and comfortable houses for the Said Elizabeth on the said seventy five acre tract and as soon as they comply with these requistions they are to take full possession as above stated and not before. I also wish my wife Elizabeth Hodges to have one year's support out of the Crop and Stock that I may be possessed of at my death. Fourthly at the death of my wife I wish my grandson William A. Edwards to have an equal portion of the Stock which she may then possess with said of my other children -- that is as much as they draw when they first divide Also I wish to have the 75 acre tract of land as assigned to her I also wish the land laid off for his benefit above the new Cross fence and all the negroes and such other property as she may have sold on a twelve month's credit and the money arising from said sale to be divided as follows Martha Hodges one hundred dollars Holly Hodges one hundred and fifty dollars Nancy Brown one dollar Cloe Keen one hundred and fifty dollars -- Chrisly Hodges one hundred and fifty dollars Asa W. Hodges one hundred and fifty dollars Mariam Hodges one hundred and fifty dollars and William A. Edwards one hundred and fifty dollars. And said division if there is any over I wish it equally divided between the said Martha Hodges, Holly Hodges, Nancy Brown, Cloe Keen, Christly Hodges, Asa W. Hodges, Miriam Hodges and William A. Edwards providing always that the said William A. Edwards lives with my wife or under the control of My Executors, but if he is disobedient and refuses to be governed and advised by them then I wish him cut of with one dollar, and, his part equally divided among all the rest. It is however understood that the money arising from the sale of the land last mentioned is not under any circumstance any part of it to go to the said Wm A. Edward the 75 acreas being a fair portion of the land for him. Lastly I appoint Chrisly Hodges and Meredith Hodges my executors revoking all former wills satisfying and confirming this my last will and Testament. In winess whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed my Seal the 19th day of November AD 1844
| Acknowledged by the Testator in our presence, Tested by us at his request | Aaron Hodges | Seal |
| E. C. Hodges | ||
| A. T.? Hodges |
| Aaron Hodges | Seal |