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.
In the name of God Amen. I William Buckley of the County of Muhlenberg and
Commonwealth of Kentucky being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory,
do make and ordain this my last will and Testament. First, I recommend my
Soul to Almighty God. And as touching my worldly affairs where with He has
blessed me, I give and dispose of them in the following Manner. First, It is
my Will that all my lands in this State be sold at the discretion of my
Executors. And after all my just Debts is paid the money to be equally
divided among my children Nancy, Ann, Mary, Isaac, Reuhana, Van,
Cokey, Robert, Joseph & William. I have already give them that part of
land in the State of Indiana. To my Daughter Ann in consideration of
living with me more than any of the Rest of my children, I give her
independent of her equal share of the meat processes of my land when sold,
four head of Milk Cattle & Thirty head of hogs, twelve Sheep, together with
all my house hold and Kitchen furnature and all my Stock of Flacks and Wool
& Cotton I have on hand. To my daughter Reuhana I give one Mare and Colt
and one new Side Saddle independent of her Share of lands. The ballance of
my estate I wish to be sold and the Money equally divided amongs my Heirs.
Lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my friends Richard B. Dallam &
William Lane Executors of this my last will and Testament, hereby ratifying
and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. Hereby
revoking all other Wills heretofore made by me. Witness My hand and Seal
this 30th day of July 1825.
William Buckley -Seal
The word longer in the Seventeenth
line from the top intertine before
Signed
Test.
J. McConnell
David Hall
Thos. (X) Wood
John McConnell & Thomas Wood two of the Subscribing Witnesses to the last
will and Testament of William Buckley Deceased Makes oath that on the day
the deceased signed and acknowledge the said Will, after he had signed the
Will he stated he had neglected to mention his Daughter Sarah Showmon
who lives in the State of Maryland in his will & requested that the
aforesaid John McConnell, who wrote said Buckles Will, Should add as a
codesil to his will that it was his desire that his said Daughter Sarah
Showmon Should not have any part of his Estate as he had already given her
more than he would be able to give the ballance of his Children. And lastly
it was the said Buckles desire that the above Codicil or Supplement be
annexed to and made a part of his last will and Testament, to all intents
and purposes.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky
Butler County
This day came John McConnell & Thomas Wood before me Jacob Wills of the
Commonwealth, justice of the said County and made oath that the above is a
true Statement of the Codicil of the last will and Testament of William
Buckley Deceased. Sworn to by me this 30th of August 1825.
Jacob Wills, J.P.
Muhlenberg County
September County Court 1825
The foregoing last will and testament of William Buckles Dec'd. was
presented into Court and proven by the Oaths of John McConnell and Thomas
Wood two of the subscribing Witnesses therein named which together with the
Codecil and Certificate thereto annexed was admitted and ordered to be
Recorded.
Att. Ch. F. Wing, Clk
Source: Muhlenburg County Kentucky Will Book 2, pages 272-273.