This early will of Mason County begins on page ten and goes through page twelve.  Jacob Edwards must have been fairly young, with just four children, and naming his father as one of the executors.

In the name of God, Amen. I, Jacob Edwards, being sick and weak in body but of sound mind, memory and understanding, and considering the uncertainty of this transitory life, do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following.

First of all I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Elizabeth the plantation whereon I now dwell, containing one hundred and twelve acres, during her natural life and likewise a Negro girl called Clary during her natural life, also the whole of my household furniture and stock of every kind during her widowhood and then to be equally divided amongst four children, to wit, Sarah Emily, Milly, Mary and Alexander.

I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Sarah Emily one hundred acres of land lying on the north of Licking River due on a bond from John Curtis, assigned by John Harding, to her and her heirs and assigns forever.

I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughters Milly and Mary whatever is recovered of William Wood and Arthur Fox concerning a bond I obtained of them for two hundred acres of land and that sum or sums of money obtained from the aforesaid Wood and Fox to be laid out in purchase of lands by my executors for my two daughters aforesaid and to be equally divided between them, to them and their heirs and assigns forever.

I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Alexander four out lots adjoining the town of Washington containing by estimation twenty acres and one quarter of an acre to be sold by my executors after the crops are gathered in this present year also. The money arising from the sale of said lots to be laid out in lands and the said lands so purchased by my executors to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

I give and bequeath unto Dinah Sudduth one hundred acres of land being a military survey located and surveyed by John O’Banion lying about three miles up Three Miles Creek on the north side of the Ohio River nearly opposite to Limestone to her and her heirs, assigns forever.

I desire my executors to sell my lot in Washington which I purchased of James Key, likewise to sell and dispose of all my blacksmith tools to satisfy my trifling out debts and the

balance to be for the use of my family. Hereby revoking all other wills by me heretofore made, I also appoint my beloved wife Elizabeth executor, also my father James Edwards, Richard Marshall and George Edwards whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto interchangeably set my hand and seal, affixed this ninth day of April Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and ninety one.

Jacob Edwards

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared in presence of James Stephenson, John West and John Rains.

Will was proved July 28, 1742.