Elijah Wilson’s will, dated February 22, 1812, outlines his wishes for the distribution of his estate. He bequeaths all his property to his wife, Elizabeth, during her widowhood and stipulates that if she remarries, she retains a third of his personal property. The land he currently occupies goes to his son, Jeremiah, with instructions for the remaining property to be equitably divided among his daughters, Esther and Elizabeth, after Elizabeth’s death. He appoints Jeremiah Pugh and Thomas Salisbury as executors and revokes any previous wills.
In the name of God Amen
I Elijah Wilson of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and County of Muhlenberg
being weak in body, but of sound mind and memory, and calling to mind that
it is appointed for all mankind once to die, do make and ordain this my last
will and testament as follows;
(Towit) First of all I request that my executors hereafter named pay all my just
debts.
Secondly, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth Wilson all my
property both real and personal during her widowhood and provided she never
remarries during her lifetime, for the support of her and my children,
Esther, Jeremiah, and Elizabeth and should my wife think proper to marry, my
will is that she have her third of my personal property to her and her heirs
forever. and in case of her marriage or otherwise after death, I give and
bequeath to my son Jeremiah the tract of land wherein I now live on the
waters of Pond Creek, Muhlenberg County, containing one hundred and fifty
acres to him and his heirs forever.
It is also my will that my excutors dispose of a tract of land lying on Pond
Creek that I herein aforesaid Uriah Clevenger in such way as they may
think proper and the proceeds to be divided between my wife and daughters and
the balance of my property after my wife's third are taken out in case of
her marriage or in case she should not marry, after her death my will is
that it be equally divided betwen my two daughters, Esther and Elizabeth and
it is my will also that should either of my children, before named, die
without lawful issue that what is hereby willed to the one may so decease be
divided and given to the survivor or survivors as the case may be to them
and their heirs forever. But should my executors think it advisable with the
consent of my beloved wife to keep the tract of land purchased from
Clevenger as aforesaid and sell and dispose of other property in lieu
thereof, it is my will that the said tract of land be equally divided
between my beloved wife and my two daughters Esther and Elizabeth to them
and their heirs forever. and it is wish that it be clearly understood that
if either of my daughters die before they come of age or marry that the
sustaining sister have the property hereby willed to them.
I appoint Jeremiah Pugh and Thomas Salisbury my excutors to this my last
will and testament hereby revoking all other wills heretofore by me made,
and ratifying this and no other to be my last will and testament in
testimony where I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 22nd day of Feb.
in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and twelve.
Elijah Wilson (seal)
Leroy Jackson
Robert X Robertson
Source: Muhlenburg County Kentucky Will Book 1, pages 142-144.