Augustine Cissell came with other Catholics from St. Mary’s County, Maryland, about 1794, to Pottinger’s Creek, the area of settlement from 1785.  Holy Cross Church was started there in 1792, where Augustine was buried after his death from cholera in 1833.  I have read, but have no proof, that his wife, Mary Frances Hammett Cissell, and son, Sylvester Cissell, also died of cholera, within a few days of Augustine.

Fortunately for us, Augustine Cissell names all his children in his will, with married names and husbands of his daughters.

Although now a part of Marion County, in 1833 when Augustine died, this was still Washington County land.  It was separated in 1834.

Will of Augustine Cissell

Washington County Will Book E, Pages 205-206

In the name of God, Amen.  I, Augustine Cissell, of the county of Washington and state of Kentucky, being very sick and weak but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be giving unto God, calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, I do make and ordain this my last will and testament.  That is to say, principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul

into the hands of Almighty God that give it and my body I recommend to be buried at the Holy Cross churchyard at the discretion of my executor, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the might power of God, and as touching such worldly estate where with it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

First.  I desire all my just debts to be paid and then I give to my beloved wife, Frances Cissell, the house and home where I now live during her life time, except if she marries, and if she marries she is only to have the third part and the other parts sold.  Likewise she is only to have the following slaves during her widowhood: Peg, Martin and Zachariah, to have during her lifetime.  Except she marries, if she does, she is only to the third part and the balance sold and the two thirds part of land and slaves, provided my wife marries, is to be sold and to be equally divided among all my sons and daughters and the said my wife Frances, is to have the third part of all the balance of my estate.  And I give my two sons, Martin and Emmanuel Cissell two hundred dollars each of them, to be paid out of my estate and said Martin and Emmanuel Cissell is to have a horse at the valuation out of the two hundred dollars then.  I recommend all the balance of my estate to be sold and equally divided between all my sons and daughters, that is to say, Robert Cissell, Elizabeth Summers, the wife of George S. Summers, Uriah Cissell, Julianne Livers, the wife of John Livers, Sylvester Cissell, Mahala Cambron, the wife of Raymond Cambron, Martin Cissell, Emmanuel Cissell.  All my sons and daughters also I give to Attaway Wheatly twenty-three dollars if not paid before my death.  Also, I give to the Holy Cross Church ten dollars and I give the Rev. Robert Murray ten dollars and my sorrel horse after my death.  And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other former writings and wills, legacies bequeathed and executors by me in any wise before named will and bequests, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-one.  I also name my wife, Frances Cissell, as my executor.

Augustine Cissell

Signed in the presence of us, James Ballard, Bennett Cissell

At a county court began and held for Washington County at the court house in Springfield, on Monday 26^th day of August 1833, the last will and testament of Augustine Cissell, deceased, was produced in court and proven by the oaths of Bennett Cissell and James Ballard, two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and admitted to record which was done in Will Book E, Page 205.

P. B. Booker, C. P. T.