1805 Will of William Cleaver

Nelson County Will Book A, Page 1017-1019

In the name of God, amen.  I, William Cleaver, Senior, of Nelson County and State of Kentucky, being of sound mind and disposing memory and weighing duly the uncertainty of life, continuing in a frail body, have thought proper and do hereby make and ordain this instrument of writing and under my hand and seal my last will and testament in manner and form following.

Imprimis.  It is my will and desire that my body be buried in a Christian like decent manner at the discretion of my executors hereafter named, in sure and certain hopes of a blessed resurrection and the full enjoyment of the peace, happiness and tranquility of the life to come.  And as to the worldly goods it has pleased our Creator has favored

me with the privilege of acquiring, it is my desire should be disposed of as herein devised and bequeathed.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my loving wife, Hannah Cleaver, the one third part of all my personal estate, without discrimination together with any grain, meat, etc., that may be on hand at my death for family consumption forever and further it is my desire, that my wife shall have free and peaceable possession of the one third of my plantation, whereon I now live, to include my house and during her natural life, and at her death it is my will and desire that my executors shall sell my plantation to the best advantage, he can either by public or private sale as then shall seem most advantageous for my heirs, and it is my will and desire first, that all my just debts be paid, next that it is my will and desire that John Huston reserve twenty pounds from my executors at the time the sale of the said plantation and settle with the rest of my  heirs, and it is my will and desire that the remainder of my estate that is not heretofore bequeathed shall be equally divided amongst my children (to wit)

Benjamin, William, Stephen, David, James and Hannah, unless one hundred dollars that my son James hath already received, which is to be deducted from his dividend, when my executors shall come to make a final settlement with the rest of my heirs – and lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Stephen Cleaver and my neighbor Michael Campbell, my lawful executors, vested with full power to execute the same in every part as executors of this my last will and testament.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal to this instrument of writing declaring the same to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking and annulling every other will or testament heretofore by me made and executed.  Done this 28^th day of August, eighteen hundred and five 1805

                            William Cleaver

Signed, sealed and acknowledged before us, signed August 28, 1805

Benjamin Edwards, Burr Harrison, Cyrus Talbot, James Lindey

At a county court held for Nelson County on Monday the 14^th day of December 1807

The last will and testament of William Cleaver, deceased, was proved by the oaths of Burr Harrison and James Lindey, two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. 

Teste.  Ben Grayson, CC