Last Will and Testament of Myrtle Jennings Linton

This will is only 30 years old and you may ask why I chose to add it to the website.  Myrtle Jennings, daughter of Charles Jennings and Callie Crittenden, born February 22, 1905, married Louis Benjamin Linton, son of Thomas Alvey Linton and Susan Mary Duncan, born in 1889, December 29, 1843, in Logan County, Kentucky.  Louis Linton was an old bachelor.  He and his spinster sister, Mattie Mae Linton, born in 1894, lived together after the deaths of their parents until the marriage in 1943.  Mattie continued to live with her brother and his new wife until her death in 1968.  Louis Benjamin Linton, a descendant of Captain John Hancock Linton and his wife Ann Nancy Mason, through their son Benjamin Franklin Linton.  Louis loved genealogy – almost as much as I do!  I guess that’s debatable!  I am fortunate to have a few of his letters written to some of my friends that shared the information.  He was quite a character, always joking and amusing!  Captain John Hancock Linton was the son of Moses Linton and Susanna Hancock, born in 1750 in Prince William County.  There were two other children from the marriage – a son Moses, who lived until about 1770, and a daughter, Catherine Jennings Linton.  Ah, now you see the connection.  I find it interesting that Captain John’s sister had a middle name Jennings (I’m still searching for a connection in the family for the name) and his great-great-grandson, Louis, married a woman with that last name.  I enjoyed the list of names of those receiving furniture or money bequests; and money left for upkeep of the Grinter Cemetery – and her dog, Tippy!

I, Myrtle Jennings Linton, of Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky, being of sound mind and disposing memory, do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking all wills by me heretofore made.

Item 1.  I desire that all of my just debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon as practicable after the time of my decease.

Item 2.  I give my three-corner cupboard to Philip Hampton, Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Item 3.  All household items labeled “Linton” shall become the property of Thomas A. Linton, Pattie Rose Netzow and Nancy Sue Wilson.

Item 4.  I give my large chest of drawers to Jeannette Hampton Davenport.

Item 5.  I give my small chest of drawers to Virginia Edwards.

Item 6.  I give unto Jane P. Bass the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).

Item 7.  I give the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) to Bessie Harton.

Item 8.  I give the Jennings furniture to Jean Stark and Kathy Mayfield, and it is labeled.

Item 9.  I give all of my furniture and household goods to Mildred Mansfield and Marie Jennings, or the survivor of them, with the further request that Mildred Mansfield and Marie Jennings give unto Wilbur Markham and Paul Markham a part of the said furniture, this includes all furniture not listed above.

Item 10. I hereby direct that my executor, hereinafter named, deposit the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) in Citizens National Bank of Russellville, Kentucky, with the interest therefrom to be used for the maintenance of the Grinter Cemetery located on the Hopkinsville Road near Russellville, with Citizens National Bank of Russellville, to be responsible for the distribution of said funds for said maintenance.

Item 11.  At the time of writing this will, I have a dog named “Tippy” which is very dear to me, and I hereby direct that my executor, hereinafter named, prior to any distribution of my estate, make adequate provisions for the care of said dog, including but not limited to the finding of a good home for said dog, providing for necessary medical attention and all other things necessary for the well-being of my beloved pet, said sum not to exceed $5,000.00, with money remaining after the death of said dog to be divided as set out in Paragraph X hereof.

Item 12.  My late husband, Louis B. Linton, devised to me the farm where we formerly lived, with right to sell same, and I have found the sale of same in my best interest.  After deducting my 1/8 interest in the farm and cost of sale, I realized approximately $113,659.50 from the sale of same.  While it may be necessary to encroach upon the proceeds of sale of said farm, I have deposited the proceeds of sale of said farm in savings certificates and have designated on the savings certificates that the money for the purchase of same came from the sale of said farm.  It is my intent that the money from the sale of said farm be distributed under the provisions of my late husband, Louis B. Linton’s will, one-half (1/2) to the Methodist Home of Kentucky, Inc., Versailles, Kentucky, and one-half (1/2) to my late husband’s three nieces and nephew, namely:  Thomas A. Linton, Jr., Pattie Rose Netzow and Nancy Sue Wilson.

Item 13.  All the remainder of my property, both real and personal, I give, devise and bequeath to my cousins, namely:  One-fifth (1/5) to Virginia Edwards; one-fifth (1/5) to Paul Markham, and in the event he predeceases me, then his share to his children; one-fifth (1/5) to Wilbur Markham, and in the event he predeceases me, then his share to his children; one-fifth (1/5) to Mildred Mansfield, and in the event she predeceases me, then her share to her children; one-twentieth (1/20) to Marie Jennings; one-twentieth (1/20) to Jean Jennings Stark, and in the event she predeceases me, then her share to her children; one-twentieth (1/20) to Kathy Mayfield, and in the event she predeceases me, then her share to her children; and one-twentieth (1/20) to Linda Jannings.

Item 14.  I hereby make, nominate and appoint Jesse L. Riley, Jr., to be executor of this,  my last will and testament, and hereby authorize and empower my said executor to compound, compromise, settle and adjust all debts and claims which may be presented against my estate, or which may be due my estate, and to sell, at private or public sale, at such prices and upon such terms of credit or otherwise, as he may deem best, the whole or any part of my real estate or personal property, and to execute, acknowledge and deliver deeds and other proper instruments of conveyance thereof to the purchaser or purchasers.

Witness my hand this 4^th day of November, 1983, at Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky.

Myrtle Jennings Linton

Signed and acknowledged by the said Myrtle Jennings Linton as and for her last will and testament in our presence and by us subscribed as attesting witnesses in her presence and at her request and in the presence of each other, this the 4^th day of November, 1983, at Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky.  Jesse S. Riley, Jr., Davonna Page.