Elisha Atkinson’s 1820 will outlines his final wishes regarding his estate in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. He entrusts his soul to God and specifies decent burial arrangements. His estate provisions include support for his son Joel, distributing livestock and funds to his children, including Seth, Allen, Betty, Amos, and John S. He allocates enslaved individuals to certain heirs, with stipulations for their management and inheritance. The will revokes any prior testamentary documents, affirming this as his final testament, and was proven in court in 1835 and 1836.
In the name of God amen. I Elisha Atkinson of Muhlenberg County Kentucky being in perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto god, calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of the allmighty god that give it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent christian burial at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of god and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it has please god to Bless me in this Life devised as follows.
First I give and ordain that my Son Jowel Atkinson to have Decent Support out of my Estate with the assistance of a negro woman named Nigge and Magge is to live with Joel during his natural life and at his death with Amos or John S. which she see cause Magge is to return to my Estate and valued and is to go to Amos and John S. Atkenson and the woman Magge is to have choice which of them she live with after my decease.
I give to my son Seth the cattle that he has and ten dollars; then I gave to my son Allen one horse to be valued to fifty dollars; then I give to my daughter Betty the cattle that she has had and ten dollars; and then I give to my son Amos a young Negro woman named Fanny and a negro boy named Burrell during his natural life at his death be divided amongst his children and then I lend my son John S. Atkenson a negro boy named Lewis and fanny’s oldest child named Sina at a three years old during his life and at his death to go to me if John S. should die without heirs the negroes to return to my Estate and the Balance of my Estate to be Equally divided between Amos and John S. Atkenson as my Executors and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other manner testament will legises bequests executors by me in any wise before named willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the twenty sixth of February in the year of our lord Eighteen hundred and twenty.
Elisha Atkinson (Seal)
Teste
Jordan Bass
Lewis Dobyns
Kentucky – Muhlenberg County Sct.
January County Court 1835
The foregoing last will & testament of Elisha Atkinson deceased was exhibited into court & proved to be the act & deed of said Atkinson by the oath of Jordan Baß [Bass] a subscribing witness & ordered to be certified and at the March term of said court in the year 1836 said will was fully proved by the oath of Lew Dobyns the other witness & ordered to be recorded.
Att. Ch.F.Wing clk
Source: Muhlenburg County Kentucky Will Book 3, pages 18-19.