MySource:Mksmith/Jediah Ashcraft will 1793

From Hardin County, Kentucky, Will Book C, pp. 57-59:

In the name of God, Amen.

I Jediah Ashcraft being in perfect health of body, and of perfect memory and mind, but calling to mind the mortality of my Body do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. And first I recomend my Body to the earth to be buried in a decent and christian like manner at the discresion of my Executors, and my soul to God, that give it, and as tuching such worldly Estate wherewith it pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner:

lmprimus. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife, Nancy Ashcraft, the sole benefit of the land on which I now live to be by her freely enjoyed during the time of her life. And also all my stock of horses kind, cattle, sheep, hogs. My personal estate as before said together with my household furniture and uttentsials for Husbandry are wholly at her disposal and she may dispose of the same as she thinks proper. After my lawful debts are paid except one Horse, worth fifteen pounds, a good man or woman saddle and Bridle (as the sex may be) for each of my following children Viz, Nancy, John, Nelly and Jacob, and also a middle rate cow and calf to each of s'd children, the whole to be delivered to them or to each one of them when they become of age, or if any of them should marry before they become of age, the same to be delivered to them at the time of their marriage. And any part of my personal estate that my wife may not dispose of by Will or otherwise in her life time, I allow the same to be equally divided between all my children and the whole of the land on which I now live containing 288 acres after my wife's deceased, I give the same to my son Jacob to be by him freely enjoyed by him his heirs & assignees forever, and my tract of Land containing 560 acres on Ashcrafts Creek, I give and dispose of the same as follows; that is to say, To my Son, Daniel, I give three hundred acres of the upper and of said tract to be divided by a line a cross the same parallel with the upper line of said land, and the remaining two hundred and sixty acres, I give the same to my Son, John, to him there heirs & assigns forever. And my tract of twelve hundred and some odd acres on Bear Creek, I allow the same to be equally divided according to quantity and quality between my Daughters Viz; Susanna, Mary, Nancy and Nelly to be by them freely enjoyed by them their heirs & assigns forever. I do hereby constitute and appoint my well beloved wife, Nancy Ashcraft, my sole Executrix of this my last Will & Testament. And I do hereby revoke & disannul all other Wills made theretofore by me, Allowing this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament & In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 19th day of April one thousand seven hundred and ninety three.

Jediah [his X mark] Ashcraft {SEAL}

Sign'd seal'd publish'd
& pronounced by the s'd
Jediah Ashcraft as his last
Will & Testament
in presence of us

P. Philips
Geo. A. Hamilton
John O Daniel

At a Court held for Hardin on Tuesday the 26th day of August, 1794. The within Will was proved by the oath of John O Daniel and ordered to lay for further proof.

At a County Court continued and held for Hardin County at the Court House in Elizabethtown on Tuesday the 14th day of October, 1817. The above and foregoing Instrument of writing purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of Jadiah Ashcraft, dec'd, was produced in Court (the same having been partly proven by John O Daniel on the 26th day of August, 1794) and was on this day again proven by said ODaniel as follows; That the said Will was attested by Philip Philips and George A. Hamilton in the presence of the said ODaniel & in the presence of the said Jadiah Ashcraft, and that Philip Philips is now dec'd, and that he believes that George A. Hamilton is dec'd from information. And also Benjamin Helm came into Court on this day and stated on oath, that the signature of Philip Philips appears to be in his own handwriting, which the court considered as satisfactory proof, and on motion of Jacob Ashcraft, the said Will was ordered to be recorded. Whereupon I have truly recorded the same.

Atteste, Saml. Haycraft, Jr. C.H.C.C.