State of Tennessee, Dyer County
February 28th A.D. 1872

In the name of God amen. I JOSEPH RAY of the County of Dyer, and State of Tennessee being of sound mind, and disposing memory do make constitute and ordain this my last will and testament...

It is my will that my present wife MARENA A. RAY have her Dower in my real estate... and further that she have one years allowance and all other property, of every discription... so far as the same may be on hand at my death to be set apart as the law directs and nothing more.

It is further my will, and desire that all my real estate (my wife's dower in the same as above named excepted) together with a sufficiency of Horses, and Stock of all kinds and provisions of all kinds, Farming utensals of every description house hold and Kitchen furniture and every else necessary for house keeping, and running a farm so far as the same may be on hand be kept together for the use and benefit of my children whome I shall hereafter name as long as they remain single and live upon the same until the youngest one them is twenty one years of age viz:-
JOHN T. RAY, MARY A. E. M.M. J. RAY, GENERAL JOE RAY, SARAH C. RAY, CHRISTOPHER C. RAY, HARRIET D. RAY, RUTH D. RAY, AMERICA L. RAY, FANEY B. RAY, ALIS RAY, AMANDA C. RAY who are all children of my first wife.

It is further my will and desire that should there be any thing belonging to my Estate over and above what would go into the hands of my present wife MARENA RAY and my said children whom I have heretofore mentioned that it be sold by my Executor and appropriated to the use, and benefit of my said children upon the principle and conditions as above stated and should my present wife die before my youngest child above named is twenty one years of age then her Dower is to be used as the rest of my real estate for the use and benefit of my above named children upon the above named principles...

I nominate and appoint JOHN T. RAY my Executor...

Signed... the day above written.

JOSEPH RAY

Witnesses:
A. T. FIELDER
J. H. DAVIS

[Note from transcriber: The family of Joseph Ray is found on the 1870 Dyer Co. census, in Dist. 1, which later became part of Crockett Co. He is later found on the 1880 Crockett Co. census. This will was therefore probated in Crockett Co., even though he lived in Dyer Co. when the will was written]