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James L. Chaffin, an elderly Davie County farmer, died on September 7, 1921, after a fall downstairs. In a will dated November 16, 1905, 16 years earlier, he bequeathed the family farm and all of his possessions to his third son, Marshall, who was named sole executor of the estate.

The widow and three other sons, John, James, and Abner, were left nothing. This came as no surprise, as the will had not been a secret. Marshall was his father’s pride and joy. The will was duly probated and the property turned over to Marshall.

Almost four years later, in early June 1925, the second son, James, told of having a vivid dream. His father appeared to him, wearing his familiar long black overcoat. The apparition said nothing but pointed to an inside pocket of the overcoat again and again.

James awoke in a cold sweat. Unable to get the dream out of his mind, he went to the old homeplace in search of the overcoat. His mother remembered that
she had given the coat to the older son, John. John now lived in Yadkin County, about 20 miles away.

Later in the week, James drove over to his brother John’s house. John was not at home, but his wife found the old overcoat tucked away in a closet. It was too big for John. Together the two of them examined the coat. The inside pocket was sewn shut. When they cut it open they found a roll of yellow paper, tied up with string. James untied the string and unrolled the paper to read, in his father’s faded handwriting, “Read the 27th chapter of Genesis in my daddy’s old Bible.”

This Bible, a family heirloom, was kept in a bureau drawer at the old Chaffin farmhouse in Davie County. Before James left, he and his sister-in-law looked up the reference in her Bible. It is the story of how Jacob won his father’s blessing and received his brother Esau’s birthright.

James decided he should take witnesses with him to examine the Bible of his grandfather, Nathan S. Chaffin. He and his daughter got a neighbor, Thomas Blackwelder, and Blackwelder’s daughter to accompany them to the old homestead. There the four of them followed James’ mother upstairs. When the old book was lifted out of the bureau drawer it fell into three pieces.

Mr. Blackwelder picked up the section containing the Book of Genesis. At the 27th chapter a paper was found, written in the elder James Chaffin’s handwriting. It read:

After reading the 27th Chapter of Genesis, I, James L. Chaffin, do make my last will and testament, and here it is. I want, after giving my body a decent burial, my little property to be equally divided between my four children, if they are living at my death, both personal and real estate divided equal, if not living with share going to their children. And if she is living, you all must take care of your mammy. Now this is my last will and testament. Witness my hand and seal.

James L. Chaffin
This January 16, 1919

Prior to the time this will was found, Marshall had died. Upon being shown the will, his widow immediately agreed that it was in her father-in-law’s handwriting, and therefore valid.

The court ordered the first will canceled, and the second will was probated.

This may be the only instance in modern legal history in which a ghost played a part in changing a court decision.

This story is told in “Immortality, The Scientific Evidence”, by Alson J. Smith, published in 1954 by Prentice-Hall, Inc., New York.