In the name of God, amen.  I, George William Stephens, of Lincoln County, in the state of Virginia, calling to mind the uncertainty of this life and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die and as I am at this time in sound mind and perfect in memory, thanks be to God for the same, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say first and principally I recommend my soul to God who gave it in hopes of a joyful resurrection and my body to be decently buried at the direction of my Executors here after mentioned and as to what worldly estate it has pleased God to bless me with I dispose of in manner and form following – to wit:

Imprimis, that is to say my will and desire is that all my just debts and funeral charges to be paid and satisfied out of my estate.

Item.  I lend to my mother, Mary Stephens, that tract of land containing two hundred and twenty five acres adjoining Stephen Burgess during her

natural life but in case of her removal at her desire it shall be sold at public sale to the highest bidder and the money arising from said sale shall be equally divided between my brothers Jacob, Isaac, Joseph, Lawrence and Bryan Martin Stephens, to them, their heirs or assigns forever, reserving one fifth part of said amount for my mother to her, her heirs or assigns forever.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my half-brother Peter Stephens the sum of five shillings Virginia currency.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my half-brother John Stephens the sum of ten pounds Virginia currency.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my sisters Mary Earnest and Sarah Bowman the sum of ten shillings Virginia currency each.

Item.  My will and desire is that all my land in the District of Kentucky or all that shall be obtained for me or in my name shall be sold at public sale to the highest bidder and the money arising from said sale shall be equally divided between my brothers Jacob, Isaac, Joseph, Lawrence and Bryan Martin Stephens, to them and their heirs or assigns forever.

Item.  My will and desire is that all my movable estate shall be sold at public sale and the money arising by such sale shall be equally divided between my brothers Jacob, Isaac, Joseph, Lawrence and Bryan Martin Stephens to them, their heirs or assigns forever.

Item.  My will and desire is that my executors hereafter mentioned or such of them as shall qualify to this my last will be hereby empowered to convey such lands as sold to the purchasers or purchasers in fee simple, clear of all encumbrance whatsoever.

Lastly I do constitute and appoint my loving mother, Mary Stephens and my brother Joseph, Lawrence Stephens, executors of this my last will and testament utterly disannulling, revoking and making void all other wills heretofore made, declaring this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty-seventh day of December, one thousand seven hundred and eighty four.

George M. Stephens

Signed, sealed, published, declared by the testators to be his last will and testament in presence of us and at whose request we have subscribed our names – Watson Henry, P. Hite, Abraham Bowman, Robert Craig, James Bryan

At a Court held for Mercer County at Harrodsburg the 28th day of April, 1789.

This last will and testament of George M. Stephens,

deceased, was produced in Court and proved by the oaths of Abraham Bowman and Watson Henry, two subscribing  witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.

Teste.  Thomas Allin, Clerk

Will located at the Mercer County Court House.