Source: Sumner County Tennessee, Will Book Vol. 5, pages 132 - 134
page 132
I, J. G. Ray being of sound mind and memory do constitute and make this my last will and testament.
1st. I will and bequeath that all my just debts be paid including funeral expenses, that they be substantial and plain but not extravagant.
2nd. I will and bequeath that all my personal property of every description household & Kitchen, and farming implements of all kinds, be sold by my Executor, except such personal property as my wife may reserve, also all crops, stock & provisions will be sold by Executors that may be on hand at my death.
3rd. I will and bequeath my farm in Dist. No.11 of Sumner Co., Tenn. containing 150 acres, on which I now live to A. W. Ray, my grand son and heir at law of deceased son John Ray, Mattie N. Earls, Roberta Apley and Annie M. Chapin to be equally divided among them, they are also empowered by mutual agreement to sell said farm. They will also pay the board of my wife Rebecca during her life out the proceeds of the rents or sale if said farm, should it be sold. Which shall be equally borne by A. W. Ray, Mattie N. Earls, Roberta Apley and Annie Chapin if other means should fail to give her sufficient funds to pay her board. The above named A. W. Ray, Mattie N. Earls, Roberta Apley and Annie Chapin are to pay my wife Rebecca Ray funeral expenses at her death which shall be substantial.
4th. I will and bequeath my benefit certificate in the Tennessee Conference Brotherhood to my wife Rebecca Ray my wife collect this benefit certificate.
5th. I will to my son William H. Ray of Belcherville Texas two hundred & fifty dollars in cash, which is evidenced by a receipt from him dated March 30th 1890 which amount I conscienciously (sic)[conscientiously] believe make him equal with all my children in the distribution of my estate at the present oppressed conditioned of financial affairs.
6th. I will and bequeath to my son James H. Ray a farm of 63 acres adjoining the farm on which I now live which I deeded him several years ago. I value said farm at six hundred dollars which was a [pg 133] a deed of gift.
7th. I will and bequeath to my son C. H. Ray the Northern one half of survey made by Chipman. The whole survey being 137 acres which lies on West side of Rogues fork of Bledsoe's creek, which has been conveyed to my son C. H. Ray by a deed of gift. The other one half of above land I sold to my son C. H. Ray for five hundred dollars, which I have conveyed to him by deed, I also will and bequeath to my son Charles H. Ray my silver watch as a keep sake. The five hundred dollars has been paid by son C. H. Ray for the land mentioned in this item.
8th. I will and bequeath that my son Edward S. Ray have one shop lot at Bethpage Tenn. adjoining the land of Yates & Turnpike also all tools that I may have in said shop, which I value at sixty dollars, also will him one hundred & fifty dollars in cash which I have his receipt for the same, this money was paid him when he made his trip to Kansas.
It my will and desire that my son Edward S. Ray be made equal with my grand son A. W. Ray, Mattie N. Earls, Annie M. Chapin and Roberta Apley in my estate, if there is no other means or proceeds out of which to make him equal to the last named A. W. Ray, Annie M. Chapin, Roberta Apley, Mattie N. Earls.
I will that Mattie N. Earls, Annie M. Chapin, Roberta Apley and A. W. Ray pay to my son Edward S. Ray a sum sufficient to make him equal to them in the property willed and bequeathed them in this will.
9th. I lastly, I hereby appoint Charles H. Ray and A. W. Ray the Executors of this my last Will
and testament. This July 29th 1896.
J. G. Ray
Witnesses,
G. W. Chipman
J. B. Hanna
State of Tennessee
Sumner County Court October Term Cot. 14th 1896.
A paper writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Rev. J. G. Ray deceased,
[pg 134] was this day presented in open Court for probate, when the same was duly proven by the
oaths of G. W. Chipman and J. B. Hanna, subscribing witnesses thereto when the same was
ordered filed and recorded as the last Will and Testament of J. G. Ray deceased.
A true copy
Harris Brown
Clerk