You can obtain a copy of the will from the Sumner County Archives.
Note: My copy is very faded and difficult to read.
In the name of God Amen:
I James Vinson of Sumner County State of Tennessee being of sound mind and memory and
wishing my worldly estate to be disposed of in the following manner after my decease, do make
and publish this my last will and Testament, it the manner and form following viz.
First
I leave unto my wife Rhoda Vinson the _ use content and benefit of _ third part of the plantation
whereon I now live, including the whole of my dwelling house, one third of the orchard, one third
of the barn and other buildings, during the time of her natural life and at her death I _ the whole of
said estate, to go to my son Stokely Vinson. I also _ unto her during her natural life my negro
man Dave and his wife Rachel with their offspring at her death, I allow said negro Dave and his
wife Rachel to be _ and sold _ to which ever my children bid most for them but to no other
person, then children . . .
Second
...the money which is coming from Joseph White to me for one negro fellow A__ which said
White sold at Orleans for one thousand dollars in purchasing one negro boy and girl for my son
Benthall Vinson.
Third
...my daughter Parthena McCall the negro girl Nell . . .
Fourth
...my son Enos Vinson a negro boy Dick now in his possession
Fifth
...my son James Vinson one negro boy Isaac now in his possession.
Sixth
...my daughter Susannah Hamilton a negro woman Doll now in her possession with her increase
during her natural life and at her death said negro Doll and all here increase to be equally divided
between the children of my said daughter Susannah.
Seventh
...my son Stokely Vinson a negro girl . . .
Eight
...my illegitimate son Edmond, commonly Edmond Vinson, all that tract of land where said
Edmond now lives containing about eighty or eighty four acres be the same _ _the tract
commonly called Walnut field.
Ninth
...allow the whole of my negroes that have not heretofore been named and disposed of to be
equally as can be into six parts or lots . . . my said children Parthena, Benthall, Enos, James,
Susannah and Stokely to bid between themselves for choice of said lots . . .
...I allow my son Stokely Vinson to have the whole use and benefit of my house and lot in the Town of Cairo for the term of four years next after my death . . . I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Evelina Vinson, daughter of Benthall Vinson, one horse, saddle and bridle . . . my two daughters Parthena McCall and Susannah Hamilton to have three hundred dollars . . .
...the Cotton Factory in said Town one hundred acres of land in Warren County . . . appoint my friend Thomas Anderson and my three sons Enos Vinson, James Vinson and Stokely Vinson my whole and sole Executors . . .
...this twenty fourth day of July in the year 1818
Signed, sealed in presence of
Thomas Anderson
Abraham Whitson
Codicil
I James Vinson being in a low state of health but of sound mind and memory...the tract of land I _
purchased of William William S. Patton to be _ to the plantation on which I now live . . . go to my
son Stokely after the death of my wife
2nd
That part of my said last will in which I _ unto my wife during her natural life my negro man Dave
and his wife Rachael with their offspring I wish revoked . . . (faded) son commonly called
Edmond Vinson the tract of land whereon he lived at that time commonly called walnut fields . . .
I also revoke and make void that part of my said last will in which I gave to my granddaughter
Evelina Vinson daughter of Benthall Vinson one horse saddle . . . I also give and bequeath
illegitimate son Edmond before mentioned a track of land containing abut four hundred acres
lying on the _ fork of _ in Livingston Kentucky - my land in Warren County I allow my Executors
to sell . . . also the tract of land . . . I lately bought of Isaac Gregory . . .
...set my hand and seal this _ day of May 1822
James
his
X
mark
Vinson
Signed sealed and acknowledged in witness of
Thos Anderson
James Vinson Jr.
James Hamilton
State of Tennessee
Sumner County Court May Term 1822
The last will and testament of James Vinson together with a Codicil thereto were produced open
Court . . .