This was the first will recorded in Williamson County. Williamson County, Tennessee; Will Book 1, pp 1-3 

In the name of God I James Hopkins of the County of Williamson and State of Tennessee being sick and weak in body but sound in mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and Testament as follows viz:

Item. I give my body to the dust and my soul to God that gave it hoping for a happy resurrection at the great day of Judgment only through the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to my soul.

Item. My will and desire is that my Executors pay all my Just debts and to enable them to do this that they collect a bond I have on John Blackmore and likewise they sell a young stud horse named Hyderalle to the best advantage for the defraying the same.

Item. I lend to my beloved wife Elizabeth the house and plantation I now live on during her widowhood and at her marriage or death all my household furniture, Stocks of all kinds Tools of every sort be equally divided between my children that now lives with me (Viz) John, Elizabeth, Jonathan, Hannah, Jason, Winifred, Keziah, Betha and James Pickering to them and their heirs forever.

Item. I give my daughter Lucy sundry matters of household furniture and Stock in my lifetime as her full share of my property to her & her heirs forever.

Item. I give my son John one mare called Jenny one cow & calf one sow and pigs to him and his heirs forever and Whereas I own five hundred and forty acres of land on the waters of Stones river my will and desire is that it be qually divided paying respect to land and water between my sons John, Jonathan, and James Pickerin to be divided off to them as they come of age or _______ to them and their heirs forever.

Item. I give the tract of land and plantation I now live on containing one hundred & forty acres to my son Jason to him and his heirs forever. My will and desire is that as my sons Jonathan, Jason and James Pickerin come of age that my executors furnish them with a _______ ______ cow and calf to be given to them out of the estate to them and their heirs forever.

Item. I give my wife Elizabeth one mare call’d Betsy with saddle and Bridle to her during her ___ life and whereas I have received fifty dollars of John Pickerin in part pay for one hundred aceres of land being a part of my tract on Stones river, there being a balance due me of one hundred dollars my will and desire is that if said John Pickerin does not within twelve months from this date pay to my executors the said balance of one Hundred Dollars, they then proceed to sell said Hundred Acres and after paying back the before mentioned fifty Dollars to the said John Pickering the remains be equally divided between my daughters living with me Viz: Elizabeth, Hannah, Winifred, Keziah and Bitha.

My Desire is that if my Executors at any time shall think it meet for the good of my sons or Expedient for them to be bound to a trade that they do agreeable thereto.

I Do constitute my beloved wife Elizabeth and Brother Joseph Hopkins my Executors to this my last will and Testament.

Given under my hand this ninth day of February 1800.

Signed James Hopkins

The Execution of which will and Testament as before ____________ was in open court held for the County of Williamson May Session 1800 proved to be the act and deed of the said James Hopkins decd by the Oath of John Pickerin a subscribing witness thereto at which time Elizabeth Hopkins and Joseph Hopkins Qualified as Executrix and Executor and Received Letters Testamentary.

Note: Blank spaces in the above indicate that there was a word or words that could not be identified when transcribed.

Submitted by: Janelle Swearingen, Tulsa, OK (JANEL36 [at] aol [dot] com)

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