Valentine King had the first will recorded in Nelson County in 1790.  He was a son of William King, of Prince William County, Virginia, and Elizabeth Edwards, daughter of John Edwards and Jane Arrington of Westmoreland County, Virginia.  Along with Cuthbert Harrison and Benjamin Grayson these are all neighbors and relatives of my Captain John Linton from Loudoun County, Virginia, which was formed from Fairfax, which was formed from Prince William, County.  Many of these families moved to the Washington-Nelson counties of Kentucky.

I also think it interesting that Valentine King owned land on/around what is now Poplar Level Road in Louisville – worth a fortune today!

Will Book A, Page 1, Nelson County, Kentucky

In the name of God amen.  I, Valentine King, of Nelson County and district of Kentucky, being of sound mind and memory thanks be to God for the same, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following.  That is to say, first of all I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the earth from whence it came, to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my executors hereafter named, and as to the worldly estate it hath pleased God to give me I dispose of it in the following manner.

Imprimis.  My will and desire is that all my just debts and funeral charges be first paid and satisfied.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my beloved sister Eliza Owens, during the term of her natural life, one third of the profits arising from the plantation I purchased of Patrick McGee which said plantation after her decease goes to my brother John Edwards King.  I also give and bequeath to my said sister Eliza Owens during her natural life one Negro girl called Cate which said Negro after my said sister’s decease goes to my brother John E. King and I further give to my said sister Eliza Owens one half the increase of the said Negro

Cate, that shall be raised from her during the life of my said sister, to her and her heirs forever.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my beloved brother John Edwards King the plantation and land purchased of Patrick McGee, he paying annually to his sister Eliza Owens one third part the profits arising from the said plantation during her life, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.  I also give said brother John E. King, after the death of his sister Eliza Owens one Negro called Cate and one half her increase that shall have been raised from her to him and his heirs and assigns forever.  I further give my said brother John E. King two hundred acres of land in Jefferson County, known by the name of the Popular Level, to receive the same and have possession after the death of Eliza Crips to whom I have left the said land during her natural life and I further give to my brother John E. King my wearing apparel, with my saddle, bridle and saddle bags to him and his heirs forever.

Item.  I give and bequeath to Eliza Crips, daughter of Nancy Brashear, during her natural life two hundred acres of land, her choice, out of five hundred acres of my

land in Jefferson County, known by the name of the Poplar Level on Floyds Fork which said land at her death goes to my brother John E. King.  I also give to the said Eliza Crips my mare called Ferrier and three thousand weight of tobacco for her heirs and assigns forever.

Item.  My will and desire is that all the rest of my estate, real and personal, be equally divided between my beloved mother, Nancy, and my brothers William and Withers King, and that my mother’s part, at her decease, to my two brothers, William and Withers, to them, their heirs and assigns forever.  And lastly I do hereby appoint my trusty and beloved friends, George and Cuthbert Harrison, executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all other wills by me heretofore made, declaring this only to be my last will and testament.  In testimony whereat I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 22nd day of February, 1790.

Valentine King

Signed, sealed, published and declared by this testator in presence of Anthony Foster, Paul Kester, Cuthbert Harrison

At a court held for Nelson County on Tuesday the 13th day of April 1790.

This last will and testament of Valentine King, deceased, was presented in court by Cuthbert Harrison, one of the executors herein named and proved by the oaths of Anthony Foster, Paul Kester and Cuthbert Harrison, subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to record.

Teste.  Benjamin Grayson, Ct. Clerk