Source: Sumner County Tennessee, Will Book Vol. 5, page 149
page 149
EyE(sic) Joseph Johnson do this day divide my littel(sic) estate with my children to wit: I want Olley hanard my daughter to have four hundred and fifty dollars and my picter(sic) and bed and beding(sic) and wash stand and contents.
I want Emley lasiter if she can be found to have two hundred and fifty dollars if not found then olley is to have one hundred dollars of that her money is to be used for n(sic) other purpose than to buy her a litel(sic) home to be deaded(sic) to her and her children. After my buriel(sic) expenses is paid the ballence(sic) to be devided(sic) eakely(sic) with T. R.(,) W. R. and J. D. Johnson.
To this I set my this march 17 1897.
Joseph Johnson
State of Tennessee
Sumner County Court June Term June 7th 1897.
A paper writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Joseph Johnson dec'd was
this day produced in open Court for probate, whereupon came into open C. B. Anderson and J.
D. Johnson and being duly sworn said that said paper writing was found after the death of said
Joseph Johnson among his valuable papers, and T. H. Murray & C. B. Anderson being duly
sworn in open Court say that the hand writing of said Joseph Johnson was generally known
among his acquaintances and that they are acquainted therewith, and that they verily believe that
the paper writing and every part there of is in the handwriting of said Joseph Johnson dec'd and
that his signature thereto is genuine, that they were acquainted with said Joseph Johnson during
his life time and that said paper writing referred to is dated Mch. 17th 1897, where upon said
paper writing is ordered recorded and filed as the last Will and Testament of Joseph Johnson
dec'd.
A true copy
Harris Brown
Clerk
(Note; the spelling and misspelled words are as written. J.P.)