This will is interesting in the fact that it was evidently written in South Carolina, and that John Gill died there.  He owned property both in South Carolina and Virginia – since Kentucky was still a part of that state.  How sad that his family was not able to have him buried close by them.  Quirks Run is in Boyle County today, but at that time was part of Mercer County.

Mercer County Clerk’s Office – Will Book 1, pate 36

In the name of God, Amen.  I, John Gill, of Mercer County, State of Virginia, Kentucky District, do make and ordain this my last will and testament as follows.  That plantation on which my family now resides at the head of Quirks Run I leave wholly and solely to my beloved wife Margaret Gill and to her heirs forever – all the rest and residue of my estate real and personal must be sold and after paying my just debts be equally divided amongst my children, share and share alike, and in case my wife should bear me a posthumous child then and in that case the said child shall be entitled to an equal share of my estate with my other children and my will is that my executors in Carolina shall at their discretion sell and dispose of my property in this state and remit the proceeds to my executors in Kentucky or

send the property there as to them shall see best.  And I do constitute and appoint my brother, William Gill, and John and Thomas Pitman, my executors in Kentucky, and William Bishop, Richard Ellis and Robert Lithgaw my executors in South Carolina.  Witness my hand this 26^th day of September 1788.

John Gill

Signed, published and declared as the last will and testament of John Gill in presence of William McGowen and William Sanders.

State of South Carolina, Richmond County

The above is a true copy taken from the record in Book B, Folio 52, certified under my hand and seal of office the 9^th day of October 1789.

Frederick Myer, D. C. Clerk

Richland County State of South Carolina

Before me Thomas Taylor, Esq., one of the justices for said county personally appeared William McGowen, who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of almighty God maketh oath and saith that he was present and did see the within named John Gill sign and acknowledge the within instrument of writing as his last will and testament and that his deponent, with William Sanders, did sign their names as witnesses thereto.  Sworn this 16^th October Anno Domini 1788.

Thomas Taylor

At a court held for Mercer County at the Courthouse on the 22^nd day of June 1790

This copy of the writing purporting to be the last will and testament of John Gill, deceased, together with a certificate of the proof there of and also a certificate from the clerk of Richland County that the same is a true copy of the records thereof exhibited into court by John Pitman and Thomas Pitman, executors therein named and on their motion the same is ordered to be recorded.

Teste Thomas Allin, C. C.