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File James H Otey Living Church 13 Jan 1957
Aged Will of First Bishop of Tennessee Discovered In Sealed Cache During Demolition of Building
By Leo Soroka
The yellowed, tattered, remains of a last will a testament, written almost 100 years ago by the first bishop of the diocese of Tennessee, was recently discovered in a dilapidated building on the Mississippi riverfront in Memphis. The will of the Rt. Rev. James H. Otey, dated March 11, 1862, was discovered by a demolition crew wrecking the old building.
The bishops's will was among sundry papers of business firms found in a well preserved wooden box sealed off in an 18-inch space between the celing and the roof of the building. Old-timers in Memphis said the building used to be higher but that through the years several of the floors had been knocked down and new roof placed on the remaining floors, which may explain how the documents found their way to that strange hiding place.
The will showed Bishop Otey had little cash, some property in Memphis, Arkansas, and North Carolina, and many Church books which he left to his six children with the words: "I exhort and earnestly beseech my children to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest what is contained in these books, and to give good heed to their teachings as able to make them wise unto salvation, uselful in life, and happy in death."
In making specific bequests of Bibles, prayer books, and other Church literature, Bishop Otey wrote, "If I could impart to them wisdom these books contain I should give them more than thousands of gold and silver or all else that this world contains."
The will indicated that the diocese wasn't in too good shape financially. Bishop Otey made reference to the fact that the diocese of Tennessee allowed him "upwards of $2,500 for salary in 1860 and fell in arrears more than $1,500." The will mentioned in a list of debts owed to him, that the same salary deficit existed the following year from 1861-62.
Of his manuscripts, sermons, or papers, Bishop Otey "strictly" forbade any publications, saying he didn't think they "possessed enough to entitle them to such a distinction."
"An honest author is better judge of his own writings, than his friends," he wrote.
He bequeathed personal items, such as gold rimmed eyeglasses, ivory handled ra= zors, large signet or bishop's ring, gold pen, and pencil case to his family and friends. In his will he disposed of six slaves, to remain in the family, not to be sold, "I especially enjoin that these servants shall not be sold out of the family and tht they all be allowed the blessings of Christian worship and instruction," the bishop wrote.
He thought of the diocese in asking executors to invest $100 in some stock of fund, the interest to be paid annually to the treasurer of the diocese of Tennessee. And at his death, Bishop Otey directed that nothing be inscribed on his tombstone "if any is placed over me, but my name, date of my birth and death, and the words 'First Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Tennessee!' "
Bishop Otey started his will with a long prayer, ending in with the words" "The blood of Jesus Christ - clenseth us from all sin."
[of?] Holy Catholic Church check this quote-
University of the South Jessie Ball duPont Library University Archives Manuscript Collection MSS 088 James Hervey Otey Papers Box 1 of 3 Folder 2 "Clippings and Misc. Item
File: James H. Otey An Otey but for your files: Charles C.B. Seymor says in his SELF-MADE MEN, N.Y. (Harper) 1858, re Matthew ontaine Maury : "****Under such circumstances, his (Maury's) educational advantages were necessarily slight, and wholly due to the exertions of a clergyman, the Rev. Mr. Otey, now bishop of a southern diocese." "hile the adverb "wholly" seems to be in error, it is an interesting contemporaneous comment upon Bp Otey. (Maury learned some lessons of his lessons by drawing and writing upon the pieces of sole leather in a cobbler's shop, I have read.) Best regards,
CMcRP AUG 15 1960