George Holloway’s will is interesting since he lists not only the names of his children – including married names for daughters – but he mentions the names of two gentlemen he purchased land from.  He must have been very ill when his will was written – it is not dated.  It is signed and witnessed.  The will was probated in Mercer County Court at the 1793 March term.  It is possible it was written a few weeks or months previously, either in late 1792 or early 1793.  I could find no burial information for George Holloway as I checked all my Mercer County cemetery books, but it is rare to find a stone that has withstood weather for that many years.

George and his wife, Mary, had six children – Samuel, James, John, Mary (who married a McGill), Charlotte (who married a Goodin) and Clayton, who was deceased before his father.  Only two grandchildren are mentioned, children of Clayton.

Charlotte Holloway married Lewis Goodin, November 3, 1788, in Mercer County.  The bondsman was her father, George.

Thomas Allin, first clerk for Mercer County, and who remained so until his death from cholera in 1833, was an executor for George Holloway.  He mentions Thomas as ‘my trusty and beloved friend.’

Peter Banta, John Thomas and Samuel Holloway were witnesses.

The two men who sold land to George Holloway were Abraham James and James Kinkead.  All mentioned in this will were early settlers of the county. 

George Holloway Will

Mercer County Will Book 1, Pages 95-97

In the name of God, Amen.  I, George Holloway, of the County of Mercer in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, being sickly and weak constitution of body, but of a sound and perfect mind and memory, and knowing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, and that it is appointed for all men once to die, so therefore make and ordain this my last will and testament in the manner and form following. (viz)

First.  I commit my soul into the hands of almighty God that gave it, and my body to the ground to be buried in Christian and decent like manner at the discretion of my executors hereafter mentioned, and as for the worldly goods and estate that hath pleased God, he blessed me with, I give and bestow and devise in the following manner, viz.

First my will is that my just debts shall be truly and faithfully paid.

Imprimis.  To my loving wife, Mary Holloway, I give and devise the whole of my estate, real and personal during her widowhood.

Item.  I give and devise to my son, Samuel Holloway, the forty-six acres of land I purchased from Abraham James, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

Item.  I give and devise to my son, James Holloway, the forty acres of land I purchased from James Kinkead, his heirs and assigns forever.  And it if should so happen that either of the two before mentioned sons should fail of having issue or heirs of their own body, that and in that case the land devised before mentioned to such of you failing of issue as aforesaid, shall revert to the other son to him and his heirs and assigns forever.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my son, John Holloway, one cow.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my daughter, Mary McGill, the sum of five shillings.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my daughter, Charlotte Goodin, one cow.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my two grandchildren by my son, Clayton Holloway, deceased, the sum of three (?) shillings to each of them, and lastly all the remainder of my estate, whether real, personal or mixed, I give and bequeath to my two sons, Samuel and James, to be equably divided between them and all the before mentioned legacies are to be paid in good trade at cash price and delivered up to their specific legacies at the end and termination of my wife’s widowhood.  And I do hereby constitute and appoint

my loving wife and my trusty and beloved friend, Thomas Allin, of Mercer County, whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament and hereby revoking and disannulling all wills and testaments heretofore by me made and on pronouncing, declaring this only to be my last will and testament.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this   day of   anno domine.

                                      George Holloway

Signed, sealed and acknowledged, pronounced and delivered in the presence of us –

John Thomas, Peter Banta, Samuel Holloway

Mercer County – March County Court 1793

This last will and testament of George Holloway, deceased, was exhibited into court and proved by oaths of John Thomas and Peter Banta, two subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.

                        Thomas Allin, County Clerk