Will of Benjamin Reeves
Mason County, Kentucky
Will Book A, Pg 91-94
30 Jan 1794
Probated 26 May 1795
Transcription
IN THE NAME OF GOD Amen I Benjamin Reeves of the County of Mason & State of Kentucky being very sick & weak in body but of perfect mind & memory thanks be given to god Calling into mind the mortality (sic) of my body & knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to Die do make & ordain this my Last will & Testament that is to say Principally and first of all I give and Recommend my soul unto the hands of almighty god that gave it & my body I Recommend to the earth to be Buried in Decent Christian Burial at the Discression (sic) of my Executors And as touching such worldly Estate as I possess I give devise & Dispose off (sic) the same in the following manner and Form first I Ordain that my Negroes Maryland Cloe & Rachel shall be free in three years from the present date Pleasant shall be free Elven (sic eleven ?) years from the date hereof Winaford shall be free in thirteen years from the date Joseph shall be free in seventeen years from the date Thomas shall be free in Seventeen years from the date Siller shall be free in twenty three years from the date William shall be free in twenty five years from the date Samuel shall be free in twenty five years from this date Also I give unto my loving wife Sibbol fifty Acres of Land including the Houses where She shall make choice Together with Cloe & Rachel their time & also Joseph & Adam During her life or until they come to the age above mentioned Also half the Stock & Housel (sic) goods during her life after my debts is paid I also ordain that my wife shall give unto Elizabeth Melton her grandaughter (sic) one Horse worth twelve Pounds Cash one Second Rate Cow & Calf one Ewe & Lamb one Sow & pigs when She comes of age or other wise my Executors to pay the above if she should die & also ordain that my son Austen Smith Reeves shall have all the Land west of Clarks Run where he now lives together with the negroe girl he now has named Pleasance unto the time of her freedom together with her increase until they come to the age of twenty Seven I also give unto my Daughter Sarah Fields One Hundred acres of my Land Laying on licking that I purchased of John Crawford together with the Negroe girl named Winaford that She now has during of her time & her Increase until they come to the age of twenty Seven ~ I also give unto my son Benjamin Reeves one Hundred & fifty acres of my Land laying on Licking above mentioned together with my negroe Boy Thomas until he comes to the age mention ~ I also give unto my son Samuel Reeves all my Land the East side of Clarks Run forever after my wife’s Decease her fifty Acres together with the Negroe man named Maryland his time together with half the Stock after my debts is paid & farming utentials (sic) and Housel (sic) goods during my wifes life I also give unto my Daughter Nancy Roses children one hundred acres of Land at lickin if Obtained & that to be divided Equal I also give unto the above named Elizabeth Melton fifty acres of said Land if Obtained I also give unto my son Benjamin Reeves one suit of my best Cloaths (sic) I also Ordain at the death of my wife the Stock & farming tools and housel (sic) goods in her & Samuels Possession be sold & Equally divided among my children together with the Remainder of the Land on Licking as the Value of the Land if not Obtained Each Child to have the worth his or her quote in money According to the Value of the Land when Recovered I further give unto my son Samuel three Negroes Sillar William & Samuel during my wifes life & If my wife should die before the said Young Negroes comes of age that is in her possession & my son Samuel then their time to be sold among my Children only they & theirs posterity at the age of twenty Seven that is as before mentioned & further ordain that all children born of these Negroes mentioned shall be free born after they obtain their freedom I also make & Ordain my son Austin Smith Reeves & my wife Sibbol Reeves the sole Executors of my last Will & Testament & I do hereby Utterly disallow Revoke & disanull all & every other form & Testament will legacies bequaths (sic) & Executors by me & any ways before named willed & bequeathed (sic) Ratifyed & confirming this & no other to be my last will & Testament IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this thirtieth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred & ninety four.Signed Sealed published pronounced
& Declared by the said Benjm. Reeves
as his last Will & Testament Benjamin Reeves (Seal)
In the presence of us who in his presence }
& in the presence of Each other have }
hereunto Subscribed our names }
John (his I mark) Pedicoard }
Wm. Marsh } NB & likewise an Omission concerning
John Conrey } the grain both made & on the ground
to be appropriated to the use of the family & Stock on the place.
At a Court held for Mason County the 26th day of May 1795 The last will & Testament of Benjamin Reeves Deceasd was proved by the Oaths of John Pedicoard William Marsh & John Conrey three of the Witnesses thereto & Ordered to be Recorded & on Motion of Austin Smith Reeves & Sibbol Reeves the Executors therein named who made Oath thereto & entered into an Acknowledged bond Conditioned &c certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Teste T. Marshall Jr. C.M.C.