Person talk:Mary Black (47)

Misinterpretation of Alexander Black Jr.'s will [13 March 2016]

"It is my will that all my estate except the slaves who are to be emancipated and except the specific devices hereinafter mentioned shall be equally divided among the children, who may be living at the time of my death, of my sister Rachel Givings, my sister Mary Miller, my sister Nancy McClung, my sister Peggy Phemster, and my brother William Black."

I think people have been misinterpreting this will to mean that Mary Miller is alive. However, Alexander Black is not leaving anything to his siblings; he is dividing his estate among the living children of his siblings. HIs siblings do not have to be alive, and in fact, we know that William Black is long dead at this point, from his Kentucky grave. So there is no conflict and no confusion. Patrick Miller had four children by his first wife, Mary Black: Robert, George, Sarah and Mary, per "William Black and his Descendants". He then had at least five more children by a second wife: Alexander, Jean, John, Elizabeth, and Margaret. George and Sarah had died by the time he wrote his will, but Robert, Mary, Alexander, Jean, John, Elizabeth, and Margaret are all mentioned as beneficiaries in his will.--Laura20 03:02, 13 March 2016 (UTC)