John Nevitt lived in Charles County, Maryland, before immigrating to Kentucky in the later years of the 18^th century.  He was the son of Richard Nevitt and Mary (possibly Montgomery).  Richard and Mary four children – Elizabeth, Anne, Richard and John.  John Nevitt’s father, Richard died September 3, 1724, in Charles County, leaving his wife a young widow.  The next year Mary married Edmund McAtee, with whom she had four children – Mary, Agnes, Elizabeth and Rosamond.  In Mary Nevitt McAtee’s will of 1774 she gives to her grandchildren, children of ‘my son John Nevitt’ a Negro man named John Cooke and household furniture, to be held by John then given to his children.

John Nevitt married Anne Gates, daughter of James Gates and Janet Boarman.  In Janet Boarman Gates’ will she left her granddaughter Ann Nevitt a Negro girl named Virlinder, letting John Nevitt and Ann Nevitt use the Negro during their lives.  John Nevitt, her grandson, was given a cow and Ewe.  Janet’s son-in-law John Nevitt was given ½ the rest of the estate not bequeathed to others.

I, too, descend from James Gates and Janet Boarman.  Their daughter Margaret Gates married Peter Carrico.  The Carrico family moved from Charles County, Maryland, to Washington County, Kentucky, about 1795.  Bartholomew Carrico, their son, died in Nelson County before 1823, making it quite likely that the Nevitt family moved to Kentucky with the other residents of Charles County that made the move in those early days of the state.

Accordingly, John Nevitt lived about five years in this new state.  He made his will in 1800 in Nelson County, Kentucky, and it was probated May 10, 1802, dying in the first months of the year.  The year in the clerk’s book is a bit difficult to read, but the entry before and after give the same date, May 10, 1802.

In his will John Nevitt gives the ‘land I now live on lying on Trace Creek and all my household furniture and what is remaining of my estate after my just debts are paid’ to sons Richard and Joseph.  Trace Creek is a little stream located southwest of the little town of New Hope in Nelson County.

Children of John Nevitt and Ann Gates mentioned in his will:

1. John Nevitt (given land in Maryland called Nevitt’s Choice, on Ten Mile Creek, located in Prince George’s County).
2. Richard Nevitt – his children, John’s grandchildren, Joseph and Lucy mentioned in the will
3. Joseph Nevitt
4. Ann Nevitt, married a Mr. Bowling
5. Charles Nevitt
6. James Nevitt

Will of John Nevitt

Nelson County Will Book A, Pages 618-620

In the name of God, Amen.  I, John Nevitt, of Nelson County, in the State of Kentucky, and with the blessing of God in perfect health and sound disposing mind, memory and understanding, do make, publish this my last will and testament in manner and form as following.

First.  I give and bequeath to my son, John Nevitt, all my rite and title to a tract of land in Red Stone settlement called Nevitt’s Choice, situated on the waters of Ten Mile Creek, and five shillings sterling.

Second.  I give and bequeath to my son, Richard Nevitt, one Negro man named Clem, one man named Jesse, one cow and calf, during his life, and after his death to be equally divided among his lawfully begotten children.

Third.  I give and bequeath to my son, Joseph Nevitt, one Negro man named Henry, and one Negro boy named Ben, one large looking glass.

Fourth.  I give and bequeath to my daughter, Ann Bowling, one cow and calf, feather bed and furniture, but my will is that the bed and

Furniture be equally divided between Ann Bowling and Ann Adams.

Fifth.  I give and bequeath to my son, Charles Nevitt, forty pounds.

Sixth.  I give and bequeath to my son, James Nevitt, forty pounds.

Seventh.  I give and bequeath to my grandchildren, Richard Nevitt’s son Joseph and Lucy Nevitt, one Negro woman named Susannah.

My will is that my wife, Ann Nevitt, shall hold all my estate which I have bequeathed to my several children above mentioned, during her widowhood.  My will is that my two sons, Richard Nevitt and Joseph Nevitt, shall have the land I now live on, lying on Trace Creek, and all my household furniture and what is remaining of my estate after my just debts are paid.  I leave my two sons, Richard and Joseph Nevitt, whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament and I do by the present will revoke and disannul all former wills by me heretofore made.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of January, one thousand eight hundred.

John Nevitt

Signed and sealed and acknowledged in presence of Walter Burch, Arthur McLean, Samuel McLean

At a county court held for Nelson County on Monday, the tenth day of May 1802

This last will and testament of John Nevitt, deceased, was proved by the oaths of

Walter Burch and Samuel McLean, subscribing witnesses thereto and sworn to by Richard Nevitt and Joseph Nevitt, the executors therein named and ordered to be recorded, and on the motion of the said executors, certificate is granted thereto for obtaining probate thereof in due form, they having given bond with Walter Burch and Thomas Bowling, their securities, in the penalty of three thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs.

Teste, Ben Grayson, Clark