In the name of God amen. This seventh day of August one thousand eight hundred and eighteen I George ESPEY of the County of Sumner and State of Tennessee being in perfect health and sound in mind and memory thanks be to almighty God for his mercies and calling to mind the uncertainty of this mortal life and the certainty of death do make ordain constitute and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following revoking and annulling by this presents all and every testament or testaments will or wills therefore by me made and this is to be taken only for my last will and testament and first of all I commit my soul to almighty God who gave it and my body to the dust to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named and for the distribution of my worldly goods which it hath pleased God to bless me with. I do order give and dispose of it in manner and form following viz first my will is that all my past debts be paid together with my funeral expenses Item I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Lucretia ESPEY one half of the tract of land I now live on, also one negro woman by the name of Hinney during her natural life and at her death to desend to the child or children that she is now pregnant with . Item I give and bequeath to the child or children that my said wife is pregnant with the other half of the before mentioned tract of land and their heirs forever. Item It is my will that if the child or children that my said wife is pregnant with should die before it or they should survive to lawful age I give and bequeath the whole of my estate both real and personal to my said wife Lucretia ESPEY and her heirs forever Item I give and bequeath to my said wife Lucretia during her natural life the residue of my estate not heretofore disposed of and at her death to desend as before directed in the legacy before given to my said wife. Item, I do hereby ordain constitute and appoint Henry HEAD wholly and soul Executor to this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this day and year first herein written.
| George Espey |
State of Tennessee
Sumner County Court November Term 1818
Henry HEAD Presenter of the last will and testament of George ESPEY appeared in court and qualified such by taking the oath of an Executor as prescribed by law whereupon the said Henry HEAD with George ROBERTS and Mathias JOHNSON his subscribing witnesses entered into and acknowledged their bond to the Governor in the penalty of three thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs N.B. The foregoing will was contested by William ESPEY and an issue made as to the validity thereof and a verdict thereon establishing said will which supriated the necessity of proveing the same by subscribing witnesses as is usual. The proceedings are to be found with the records of November term 1818.