Will of Joel Watkins
Submitted by Laura [vrbj0246@embarqmail.com]
1/10/2008
Will of Joel Watkins
Dated: December 25, 1841
Whitley Co. KY Deed Book 2 p.404
I am now feeble in body and being
apprehensive [that] I shall not again recover my health and
not being satisfied with the distribution of the estate if I
died intestate have and by these presents direct its
disposition in the following manner to wit: I give to my son
Claiborne my negro girl named Milly; also one hundred acres
of land lying on the barren forks of Indian Creek in Pulaski
County, KY. I give to my son Baker, fifty acres of land
adjoining the place he now lives in; I also give him my
Negro woman Clara hereby postponing the trust estate in
favor of my son in said Negro until after the death of my
wife. I want my executors hereinafter mentioned to sell to
the highest bidder upon credit of twelve months my negro
woman Betsey her son Joel and the youngest child a girl not
known and I want them all sold together as aforesaid and
when the money is collected I want my son Baker to have
three hundred dollars of the money and the residue equally
divided amongst my children as hereinafter mentioned. I give
to my grandchildren Willis and Jacky Brazil the sons of
Baker one hundred acres of land in Pulaski County on Bush
Creek. I give to my sons Claiborne and Baker the following
in trust for the following purpose to wit: the plantation I
now live on in the clearfork supposed to contain five
hundred acres for which I am now at law with Nathan Cox in
the Whitley County Circuit Court in trust for the benefit of
my daughter, Polly Smith and her children to be managed by
my sons trustees as aforesaid and as will in their judgment
best promote to interest and welfare of my daughter, Polly
during her life and after her death to be sold and the
proceeds of sell to be divided equally among her children
and her children’s children if any child of hers shall be
dead, living issue shall have and share alike to her
children and a child’s parts to her grandchildren and in the
event the said plantation being lost I give to my daughter
aforesaid in trust as aforesaid my plantation on Cane Creek
known as the Ward place but should I gain this land I want
the Ward place sold on twelve months credit and the money
divided as herein after mentioned. I also give to my
daughter, Polly Smith in trust as aforesaid my Negro girl
Nancy Ann, daughter of Betsy. I also give to her a gray
horse, Crocker and one sow and pigs as aforesaid. I give to
my sons aforesaid in trust for my daughter Almeda the
plantation on which she now lives containing about two
hundred acres more or less adding in fifty acres adjoining
it for the benefit of her and her children to be so managed
by my sons as trustees as aforesaid as will in their
judgment best promote the interest and welfare of her and
her children during her natural life and after her death to
be sold and the proceeds of sale equally divided among her
children. I also give to my sons aforesaid in trust as
aforesaid for my daughter Almeda a negro girl, Sally to be
hers in trust as aforesaid during her natural life and after
her death said negro and her increase is to be the property
of my grandchildren Mary and Darlington children of my
daughter Almeda and said negro not to be moved out of state
without consent of the trustees. I also give to my
granddaughter, Mary one side saddle now in the procession of
my daughter Almeda. I also give to my sons as aforesaid in
trust for my grandson, Claiborne Girdner one cow and a calf.
I also to my wife Patsy for and during her natural life the
place upon which I now live hereby postponing the trust
estate in favor of my daughter, Polly in said land until
after the death of my wife. I also give to my wife my negro
woman Clara during her natural life and then to my son,
Baker as heretofore I desire also that my wife shall have
absolutely all the household and kitchen furniture, three
cows, my gray mare, and colt and what hogs and sheep she
wants and my farming tools. I desire that my grandchildren
Sally Ann and Patsy Elizabeth Miller shall receive twenty
five dollars each. I give to my grandson Edward Darlington
Watkins fifty acres of land which I own on Big Poplar Creek.
I give to my granddaughter, Thursa Ann Emily Watkins one
side saddle and my executors are hereby directed to by it
for her when they collect the money arising from the sell of
my property the balance of all my property real, personal
and mixed I direct shall be sold and after the payments of
all just debts I direct the surplus to be divided equally
with my wife, Patsy and the four children, Baker, Polly,
Claiborne, and Almeda and I desire that Polly and Almeda
share thereof shall be held in trust by my sons as
heretofore I expect a lawsuit with Vincent Myatt and Levy
Cox about my claim to the land Vincent Myatt now lives and
if gained to be equally divided among my secondary devisees
above named. I hereby appoint my sons Baker and Claiborne my
executors of this my last will hereby revoking all other
confiding in their honest and integrity to see its
provisions faithfully carried out given under my hand this
24th day of December 1841. Joel A. Watkins
Test: L. Ballmeser and Joseph Culbirth
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