Last Will and Testament of Upton EDMONSON
       In the name of God, Amen, this 10 th day of May, One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventy (1870). I, Upton Edmonson, of the County of Dickson, Gentlemen being through the blessings of God in a sound mind and memory but calling to the frail tenure of life and that it is appointed to all men once to die, do make and ordain my last Will and Testament. That is to say, _____ (first?) of all I recommend my sole in to the hands of Almighty God who gave it to me. And the disposal of my body I leave to the entire discretion of my friends.
       First, of my worldly affairs, I want all of my just debts paid by my executrix herein after named out of any money that I may have or that is due me. If not enough, to sell any species of my property until they are satisfied.
       Secondly, I give and bequeath my beloved wife, Martha Ann, all of my property. That is to say, everything that I have or hold and all the interest in my father's estate that was willed to me by my Father. My beloved wife is to have this property to do and act with as she pleases. It is my Will that there be no law suits about my property and no hard feelings.
       I do appoint my dear Wife sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament, to act as she thinks best and do not require any security of her.
       In witness whereof I have herewith set my hand and seal the day of and year above mentioned.            Upton Edmonson (Seal)
Witness: R. W. Wyatt, S. H. Adkins, Dickson County Court, January Term 1871
       This day was presented in open court a paper writen purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Upton Edmonson, dec'd and proven to be such by the oaths of R. W. Wyatt and S. H. Adkins subscribing and witness as to the same which was approved by the court (last line did not appear on the copy that was made of this page)
       Dickson County: Jany 6 th , 1871, there was the foregoing ____ (last?) Will and Testament of Upton Edmonson recorded in _____ (Will?) Book B. page 124 as directed by the County Court of sd _____ (County?) at its January term 1871.  Thos. R. Grigsby, Clerk
______ _____ Mathis, Deputy Clerk
Used spelling from original document but added paragraphs and some punctuation to aid in reading. The last paragraph did not copy on the very right hand side of the page and I lost about one word from each line. Submitted by: Russell B. James 1-29-2005