Source: Will # 143 on microfilm at Sumner County, Tennessee Archives
In the Name of God Amen
I James Bentley, a citizen of the State of Tennessee and Sumner County, Do make ordain and
Declare this instrument to be my Last Will and testament revoking all others Impremes......
first I recommend my Sole To God who gives it me
Item all my Just Debts to be punctually and speedily paid.
Item I give and Bequeth to my belove wife Elizabeth the lower End of the tract of Land where on I now live from the ferey road Down wards with all and singularly the improvements thare unto belonging for and during her life time there to be Equally Divided Between my Children Share & Share a Like also I give her four Negro namely Elezinda george Lytha and ai...tan two head of horses two Beds and furniture and the Household and Kitchen furniture three Cows and Calfs three Sows & pigs Six head of sheep one plane.....uding hoes one whole years provision one set of gears. which I give to her for and during her life time as above together with all the pottry
Item I give and bequeth unto my son in law Reuben M Blakemore and wife Elizabeth five dollars in full of their Legicy from my Estate at my Death and at the Death of my Beloved wife Elizabeth as I don't mean giving hir and him anymore of my property but mean that five Dollars Shall be all thay are intiteled to of my Estate
Item I give unto my Daughter Polly Jeremiah John David Patsey Emiline James M and Nancy J Bentley Sons and Daughters of mine one good bed and furniture a peace Extra they having not had.any heretofore
Item I give to my suns David & James M one horse a peace and to James M my Sadle They having had none heretofore
Item my will is that my Executors rent out the uper part of my plantation untill the Death of my wife and then I will that the whole tract be Equally divided between my Children Except my Daughter Elizabeth Blackemore
Item I will that my Executors keep all my negro property together and not to sell them if it can be avoided until the Death of my Beloved wife Elizabeth at which time I will that a Division take place of all my property Boath real & personal and I heareby give to my Executors in trust for the Benefit of my Daughter Elizabeth Blakemore oneChilds part of my Estate which my Executors canuse for the Benefit of my Said Daughter at thare Discresion Dureing hir lefe time then I will that my Execators Equally Divide that which is the part given to them in trust for the Beniefit of my Daughter Elizabeth between my grand Children Suns and Daughters of my Daughter Elizabeth Blackemore giving them as much as I give any other one of my own Children. Say I mean that all of them have one part Equal to one of my Children
Item I will that all my stock not given away is to be sold at the Descresion of my Executors and the proceeds thare of to be Divided as before named. also I heare by appoint my Execitors the guardians for all my Children under age and Don't wish them to give Secutity for thear guardianship
Lastly I heareby Constitute and apoint my Dearly Beloved wife Elizabeth Bently and William Bently my Executrix and Executor of this will and testament not requiring them to give Securaty for their Executority In witness of ...and..Each of these things hearin Contained I hearby set my hand and Seal this 15th Day of January 1828
(his signature) Jms Bently (his seal)
Witness signatures were very hard to read
......Belot?
John L Mancy
Jeramiah Bentley
Jonathan (X) Badgett Jr
(his mark)
State of Tennessee
Sumner County Court Febry Term 1829
The last will & testament of James Bently Decd was exhibited in court for probate and duly
proved by the oath of Jeremiah Bentley John L Mancy & Jonathan Badgett Jr and ordered to be
recorded & thereupon William Bentley one of the Exors therein named appeared in court and
took the oath of Execor presented by Law the testator having directed that no bonds or security
should be required of his Execor
A copy Test A H Douglass Clerk
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