Will of John Darnall
Will Book A, Pages 8-10, Montgomery County, Kentucky
In the name of God, amen. I, John Darnall, of Montgomery County and State of Kentucky, being very sick and weak but in my perfect mind and memory, considering and calling to mind the uncertainty of this transitory life that I must die and leave this world whenever it should please God to call me, do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following.
First, I do commit my soul unto the hand of God who created it, and secondly, my body to be buried at the discretion of my executor, hereinafter mentioned.
Item, after my just and lawful debts are paid I do will and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Maryanne Darnall, my dwelling plantation and wood and rails to support it and likewise she may clear if she should see cause so as to augment the cleared land to the amount of seventy acres and also all my moveable estate during her natural life or widowhood.
Item, I do will and bequeath to my well beloved son, Henry Darnall, fifty acres of land to him and his heirs forever, to begin on the outside line which will be hereafter fixed by the Court so as to include his and my present dwelling, places to be laid off in good form provided he pays or causes
to be paid to the benefit of the remainder of my estate fifteen pounds lawful money of Kentucky.
Item, I do will and bequeath to my well beloved son, Cornelius Darnall, fifty acres of land to him and his heirs forever, to include his dwelling place, thence running up back Hays Run to my outside line and thence with said line for quantity provided he pays or causes to be paid to the receipt of the remainder of my estate fifteen pounds lawful money of Kentucky.
Item, I will that my executors shall lay off and convey to Thomas Anter Saul (?) one hundred and fifty acres of land running so as to include the quantity toward the Grapy Lick meeting house.
Item, I will and bequeath that the remainder of my land to be sold at public venue and the money to be equally divided amongst all my beloved sons.
Item, I will and bequeath all my removeable estate to my beloved daughters after the death or marriage of their mother, to be equally divided amongst them.
I do hereby constitute, make and ordain my beloved sons, Cornelius and Henry Darnall, my executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof, I have set my hand and seal this seventeenth day of December in the
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven.
John Darnall
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said John Darnall as his last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribers –
Anthony Furtad, Samuel Arvin, Thomas Darnall
At a Court held for Montgomery County the 6th day of March 1798.
This last will and testament of John Darnall, deceased, was proved by the oaths of Anthony Furtad and Thomas Darnall, witnesses thereto subscribed and ordered to be recorded. Cornelius and Henry Darnall, the executors therein named, qualified thereto according to law and who, together with William Higgins and Johnathan Barnard, entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of two hundred pounds, conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Teste. M. Harrison, C.M.C.
