Mercer County, Kentucky

In the name of God Amen.  The twenty-third day of May, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, I, Abraham Estes, of the County of Mercer and district of Kentucky being sick and weak in body, but of sound mind and memory thanks to God for it; and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed unto men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament.  Viz. Principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that give it, and my body I commit to the earth, to be buried in a Christian-like and decent manner 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 it herewith hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and dispose of the same in manner and form following.  Item.  I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Kesiah four Negroes to wit, Matt, Juda, Phillis and Jacob, also one feather bed and furniture, also one horse and saddle together with all my pewter, except two dishes and six plates which I shall give to my son Henry, also the whole of my kitchen furniture, except one pot and half a dozen knives and forks, which I shall also give my son Henry, also the whole of my tools and plantation utensils, except three new broad hoes, also intended for my son Henry; also one wagon and gears to be freely enjoyed and possessed by her during her natural life except so much of it as I shall hereafter bequeath to my two youngest children.  Item.  I give and bequeath to my daughter

Lucy one Negro boy named Nero, also one feather bed and furniture, also one horse and saddle together with two dishes, three plates and one half dozen knives and forks and a pot, also two cows and calves which she has now in possession to be fully enjoyed and possessed by her and her heirs forever.  Item.  I lend to my daughter Rachel one Negro girl named Murreen, and her increase to be freely enjoyed and possessed by her and the lawful heirs of her body forever; also one feather bed and furniture, one horse and saddle, two cows and calves, two dishes, three plate and one half dozen knives and forks which she now has in possession to be freely enjoyed and possessed by her and her heirs forever.  Item.  I give and bequeath to my daughter Betty Ward one Negro fellow named Sam, also one feather bed and furniture, one horse and saddle, two cows and calves, two dishes, three plates and dutch oven and one half dozen knives and forks which she has already in possession to be freely enjoyed and possessed by her and her heirs forever, and as the  fellow I give her is of less value than those given to my other daughters it is my desire after the decease of my wife that her portion shall be made equal to her other sisters.  Item.  I lend to my daughter Jemimah one Negro boy named David to be freely enjoyed and possessed by her and the lawful heirs of her body forever, I also give and bequeath to her one feather bed and furniture, one horse and saddle, two cows and calves, two dishes and three plates, one half dozen knives and forks which she now has in possession to be freely enjoyed and possessed by her and her heirs forever.  Item.  I lend to my son Henry two Negroes, to wit, Wagoner and Anthony, to be freely enjoyed and possessed by him and the lawful heirs of his body begotten, I also give and bequeath to him one feather bed and furniture, one horse and saddle now in possession, two cows and calves,

two dishes and six plates, one pot and one half dozen knives and forks and three broad hoes to be freely enjoyed and possessed by him and his heirs forever, but if he dies without an heir, then this estate to return to be equally divided among all my children.  Item.  I lend to my daughter Frankey two Negroes, to wit, Moses and Nancy, to be freely enjoyed and possessed by her (whenever she may marry or come of age) and the lawful heirs of her body forever, and if she dies without a lawful heir of her body, then her portion is to return to my estate and be divided among all my children that are then surviving, equally.  I also bequeath to her one choice horse, out of my stock, and saddle, two cows and calves, one feather bed and furniture, one pot, two dishes, six plate and one half dozen knives and forks to be freely enjoyed and possessed by her as aforesaid.  Item.  I lend to my son Joel two Negroes, to wit, Matt and Milly, also one good horse and saddle, one feather bed and furniture, two cows and calves, two dishes and six plates, one pot and one half dozen knives and forks to be freely enjoyed and possessed by him whenever he shall come of age and the lawful heirs of his body, but if he shall die without an heir then the estate to return to my family and be equally divided among all my children then surviving.  Item.  I leave to my wife in order to for sale, to purchase lands, pay debts and defray the necessary expenses of the family seven Negroes and their increase, to wit, Peter, Walker, Charles, Jacob, Juda, Phillis, Sook and her child, or so many of them as she in her wisdom shall judge necessary, and it is my desire that the lands that may be purchased shall at her decease fall to my son Joel to be freely enjoyed and possessed by him as aforesaid.  It is also my desire that the tract of land which I possess on the waters of Green River be

disposed of at the discretion of my Executors, the one half to be enjoyed by my son Henry, the other half to be enjoyed by my son Joel.  Lastly, I nominate and appoint William Rice and my wife, Kesiah, and Robert Childers and Henry Estes to be my only and sole Executors of this my last will and testament, utterly revoking and making null and void all other wills, legacies and bequests by me before now named or mentioned 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 the day and year above written.             Abraham Estes

Signed, sealed and acknowledged in presence of Joseph Robinson, Joseph Lawrence, Robert Lawrence.

Item.  Before this will is signed it is my desire that the part of the estate that may be in the possession of my wife at her decease shall be equally divided among all my children that shall then be living, after my daughter Jemimah’s portion is made equal to the other daughters, to wit, Lucy and Rachel.  Witness my hand and seal the day and year above written.                     Abraham Estes

Teste – Joseph Robinson, Joseph Lawrence, Robert Lawrence.

At a court held for Mercer County at the Courthouse on Tuesday, the 23rd day of September 1788.

This last will and testament of Abraham Estes, deceased, was produced in Court and proved by the oaths of Joseph Robinson, Joseph Lawrence and Robert Lawrence, witnesses thereto together with a memorandum thereto amended is ordered to be recorded.

Teste.  Thomas Allin, County Clerk