John was born at
Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, in March 1755. He married
Magdalena Spangler in 1782. John Ditty Sr. left a will on 15 September 1846 at
White Co., Tennessee; Last Will and Testament of John Ditty
I, John Ditty, of White County, Tennessee, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me heretofore made. I will that my son, John Ditty, maintain his mother during her natural life, to furnish her with the South end of the house in which I now live and the shed on the West side of the said room. Also that my wife, Mary Ann Ditty, and my daughter, Susanah Trigg, and her daughter Evaline Trigg, be furnished with a milk cow, and a sufficiency of bread and meat for their constant maintenance so long as they choose to live with their mother in the event of my son, John Ditty, getting married. If my daughter, Susanah Trigg and Evaline should prefer it to living with her brother, John Ditty, it is my will that my sons, Abraham and John, shall build her a house that now live so as to be convenient to water and firewood. Further, my will is that my daughter, Susanah Trigg, have and be paid by my son, John Ditty, two hundred dollars in money out of the part of my estate that I hereafter bequest to heirs to be paid after my decease as follows: To wit: twenty dollars for accessure (sic) until the whole two hundred dollars is paid, not to be in trust until one year after my decease and then there the above installments to be due at the end of each year. Also my daughter is to have two feather beds, and furniture, one pot, one tea kettle, one oven or skillet, three dishes, six plates, and one set of forks and knives. I also give and bequeath to the said Susanah and children fifty acres of land on the water on Minelick Creek known by the name of the Allen Lick, said place is now leased and my grand-daughter Evaline Trigg. I give and bequest the following for the named property to her: two feather beds, sufficient furniture for the said one house to be leased to her worth the fifty dollars and not under thirty nor more than eighty years old, one milk cow, two breed sows, and four breeding sheep.
I also will at my decease all my debts to be paid by my son, John Ditty. The funeral expenses of myself and my wife to be paid by my son, John Ditty. Then to my son Abraham Ditty I give and bequeath all that part of the plantation where he now lives so as to make it one half in quality and quantity and in the division of either has the advantage. They are to pay to the other so as to make it equal and I further will that a two hundred acre tract of land lying in Jackson County be equally divided between my two sons, Abraham and John Ditty. Also my wagon and blacksmith tools I leave to my sons jointly.
I further give and bequeath to my son, John Ditty, that part of the plantation where I now live to be divided as stated in my bequeath to Abraham. I further will that all the money and property of which I may die Seized or possessed after what I have disposed of or may dispose of afterwise I hereby give and bequeath to my son, John Ditty, Jr., and in the event of my daughter Susanah Trigg and her daughter, Evaline Trigg, should leave their brother, John Ditty, and both of them should remain unmarried my will and wish is that my son John Ditty feed all the stock that the said Susanah and Evaline may need to keep for their own use and personal maintenance.
My daughter’s Elizabeth Rash and Catherine Frigas (sic, Fergus) I have heretofore give them a full portion and part of my estate and therefore I hope they will not expect anything more from me as I know they have received their full share.
I do hereby appoint, make, and ordain my beloved sons Abraham Ditty and John Ditty, Jr., executors to this my last will and testament where I have herein to set my hand and official seal this 15th day of September 1846.
Witnesses: Chester W. Mitchell, William H. Mitchell, Robert Lindsey
State of Tennessee, White County
Appeared in White County Court 1847
This day was produced in open court writing proposing to be the last will and testament of John Ditty, Sr. a late citizen of White County deceased whose death was duly proven, and due to execution and publication of said writing to be the last will and testament of said John Ditty, Sr., deceased which was proven in open court by the oath of C.W. Mitchell, and W.H. Mitchell, two of the subscribing witnesses there to for. The purpose of contains and the same time made oath that the said John Ditty, Sr. at the date of execution and publication there of as such as was of sound and disposing mind and memory which is required by the court and ordered to be recorded.
Given at the office February 1, 1847 by William Little, Clerk.