Kentucky Genealogy contains information and records for Kentucky ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Specifically, it provides sources for birth records, death records, marriage records, census records, tax records, court records, and military records. It also provides some historical details about different times and people in Kentucky history.
The State of Kentucky is situated between 36 degrees 30 minutes, and 39 degrees 10 minutes, north latitude; and between 81 degrees 50 minutes, and 89 degrees 26 minutes, west longitude — and includes all that portion of territory which lies south and westward of a line, beginning on the Ohio river, at the mouth of the Great Sandy river, and running up the same, and the main and north-easterly branch thereof, to the great Laurel ridge or Cumberland mountains; thence south-west along said mountains, to a line of North Carolina. It is bounded north by Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio; east by Virginia; south by Tennessee; and west by the Mississippi river and State of Missouri. It is three hundred miles in length from east to west, and one hundred and fifty miles in mean breadth; and contains 42,600 square miles, or about twenty-seven million acres.
William Buckley of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, drafted his last will and testament in 1825, directing the sale of his lands and the equitable distribution of proceeds among his children: Nancy, Ann, Mary, Isaac, Reuhana, Van, Cokey, Robert, Joseph, and William. He provided additional bequests to his daughter Ann for her care and specified gifts to Reuhana. Importantly, he excluded his daughter Sarah Showmon from inheritance due to prior gifts. His will was witnessed and validated by John McConnell and Thomas Wood.
William Thompson Brown’s last will, dated December 31, 1877, outlines his final wishes regarding the distribution of his estate. He instructs that all debts and funeral expenses be paid first. His two youngest sons, W.T. and Nathaniel, receive his farm and specific horses. Fanny Brown is to receive $50 to equalize her inheritance. The remaining estate will be divided equally among all his children. Samuel Brown is appointed as the executor, revoking any previous wills. The will was proven in court in January 1881.
Thomas Bilbrew’s last will and testament, dated December 12, 1827, outlines his wishes for his estate in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. He directs that all debts be paid and bequeaths all real and personal property to his wife, Elizabeth, during her widowhood. He specifies the division of 200 acres of land among his heirs and outlines that a tract of land will serve as a home for Elizabeth, later to be divided among their heirs. Abraham Noftsinger and Peter Nall are named as executors of the will.
Rebecca Bell’s last will and testament, dated August 3, 1878, states that all her debts should be settled and her property, both real and personal, is to be divided equally between her two daughters, Sarah and Cynthia Bell. The will was witnessed by M.C. Hay and G.M. Fohl, and was proven in court during the September Term of 1878, subsequently recorded by Clerk John E. Reno.
Simeon Bates, of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, bequeaths all his property to his wife Betsy Bates for her lifetime, after which it will be divided among their three children: Richard W. Bates, Harry J. Bates, and Mitten Young Bates. He leaves each of his other children, William, Jesse, and Elizabeth Bates, a sum of five dollars, signifying this as their only inheritance. Simeon appoints John A. Towns as the executor of his estate. The will was witnessed and recorded in July 1849.
Jacob S. Baker’s will, dated March 15, 1841, outlines the distribution of his estate in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. He bequeaths his wife Salome the farm, household items, and one-third of his assets during her widowhood. Upon her death, he stipulates the equal division of his slaves among his sons and specific cash and land legacies to his daughters and sons. Notably, he appoints his sons David S. and Samuel as executors and emphasizes his desire for family harmony in settling the estate. A codicil from July 1843 modifies his initial bequest to favor his daughter Elizabeth.
