In the name of God Amen.
I James Spensley of the town of Mineral Point in the county of Iowa and state of Wisconsin being of ripe age and of sound disposing mind memory and understanding having in mind the uncertainty of life and my approaching dissolution do hereby make and publish tis my last will and testament in manner and form as follows.
First. I give and trust my sould to my maker Almighty God.
Second. I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Ruth Spensley, wife of Harker Spensley of this town, all of my property of whatever kind, nature or description after all my just debts and funeral expenses shall have been paid out of the same in case she shall survive me.
Third. In case my said daughter Ruth Spensley shall not survive me, I will that all my property shall be given in equal shares to her children or child who shall be living at my death, or if no such child or children shall be living at my death, then my property is to go by my will, to the heir or heirs of such child or children.
Fourth and lastly. I hereby appoint James Spensley of the city of Mineral Point and William Harker of the city of Mineral Point County of Iowa and State of Wisconsin Executors of this my last will and testament. And I hereby request them to act as such.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred and seventy.

James Spensley - his mark

The above instrument consisting of one sheet of paper, was now here signed and sealed by James Spensley the testator in the presence of each of us and was at the same hour published and declared to be his last will and testament by him; and we at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have severally subscribed our names ...... as attesting witnesses.

Joseph Pedelty ... Broughty ferry Scotland
William Pedelty ... Newdigins Wiscon

To the Hon Robert Wilson County Judge of Iowa County

The petition of Wm Harker of Mineral Point in said county respectfully shows that James Spensley late of Mineral Point aforesaid departed this life in the said Mineral Point on the 2nd day of January A.D 1873 having previously as your petitioner is informed and believes duly made and executed his last will and Testament. That your petitioner is named one of the Executors therein. That said deceased was at the time of his death an inhabitant of the said County of Iowa. And that said last Will and Testament relates to personal property.
Your petitioner further shows that the hsirs and next of kin of deceased are as follows
Ruth Spensley of Mineral Point Wis
Christopher Hutchinson of Beetown Wis
James Hutchinson of ? City Colorado
Spensley Hutchinson of Shullsburg Wis
Jospeph Hutchinson of Shullsburg Wis
Margaret Hutchinson of Mineral Point Wis
Ellen Hutchinson of Beetown Wis
Elizabeth Meullin? Of Shullsburg Wis and
Ruth Hutchison of Shullsburg Wis
Your petitioner further shows that the personal property of deceased amounto to about Five Hundred dollars and that deceased left debts ? and unpaid to an amount unknown to your petitioner.
Your petitioner on behalf of himself and James Spensley his co-executor herewith presents the said last will and Testament and asks that the same may be proved and letters testamentary granted therein according to same.
Dated at Mineral Point
This 27th day of January 1873

State of Wisconsin Iowa County
On this 27th day of January 1873 personally came before me Wm. Harker the petitioner named in the foregoing petition who being by me duly sworn did depose and say that he had read the foregoing petition by him sucribed and known the contents thereof; and that the same ins true of his own knowledge enabling as to the matters therein stated on information and belief and as to these matters he believes it to be true.
Wm. Harker

Calvert Spensley
Circuit Court Commissioner
Iowa County Wis

James married Margaret Watters in 1815 at Grinton.