Good freezing morning to you all!  While in Michigan we expected this snowy, icy weather, but didn’t anticipate it after moving back to Kentucky!  Thankfully, being retired, we don’t have to get out.  Ritchey stocked up several days before, therefore we are warm and toasty and have a full pantry! 

You haven’t heard from me in a bit as I am working on the second volume of early Kentucky marriage records – I believe I mentioned that in a post last month.  I felt the need to communicate this morning, especially since I’ve found something very interesting in the early marriages I’ve searched.

My dear friend Vicki has a very interesting line coming from William McBride, who was killed at the Battle of Blue Licks August 19, 1782.  William left wife, Martha Lapsley McBride, daughter of Joseph Lapsley, Sr., and Sarah Wood, and their six children – Sarah, born September 15, 1766; William, born April 20, 1771; Martha, born October 18, 1775; Mary Margaret, born August 24, 1781; Lapsley, unknown birth date; and Elizabeth, also unknown birth date.

While going through the old Lincoln County marriage records, I found a consent signed by Martha Templin – Martha Lapsley McBride Templin – for the marriage of her daughter Polly McBride (Mary McBride) and Elijah Embree.  The consent was dated December 12, 1799, and was written and signed by Martha Templin.  No marriage bond or minister’s return was found.  Only this consent.  What a treasure!  Not only is this important as proof of marriage, but it also tells us Martha was an educated women – she could write and sign her name.  In many books I have read how uneducated and illiterate early Kentuckians were.  In my research for this new book, I have found that it may not be true.  There were many more people who signed their name than those who signed with an x – their mark.  Many, like Martha Templin, wrote the consent for a child to marry.  We may have to revisit this thought later.

One more surprise.  I found the marriage bond for John Templin and Martha McBride in Mercer County!  Dated January 16, 1789, James Lapsley was bondsman – most likely her brother.

John Templin died most likely in early 1808.  In the Lincoln County Will Book I found a list of the Estate of John Templin dated April 15, 1808.  Also included in the records was notice that the will of John Templin, deceased was exhibited into Court and proven by John Jackson and Joseph Wallace, the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.  The record lists Martha Templin as widow of the deceased, and she was bound in the penalty of $5,000 according to law for the administration of the estate.

Will of John Templin

I, John Templin, of Lincoln County and State of Kentucky, being now in my perfect sense and understanding, but remembering that it is appointed for all men once to die, do appoint and constitute this as my last will and testament, revoking and disannulling all others.

Item first.  I recommend my spirit and my body to that being from whence I had my existence, and as to what worldly goods it has pleased providence to bless me with, I give and bequeath in the following manner, to wit.

Item second.  I give to my beloved wife Martha, all my household and kitchen furniture, my crop of every kind and whatever provisions I may have at my decease, together with two of her choice cows and her riding mare.

Item third.  The balance of all my property, lands and every species or particle of property I may

hold in this state or elsewhere to be sold under the instruction of my executors at my decease and the amount arriving from the whole of my property lands and when by my executors collected and put into the Kentucky State Bank, my wife and my daughter Nancy to receive yearly the interest arising from the same and said interest jointly used by them as their support during the time of each of their lives, and if my daughter first dies and leaves no issue, then my wife Martha to enjoy the whole of the interest during her life and at her decease the one-half of said stock to descend to her legal representative or whomsoever she may see leave to will it to, the other half to go to my brother’s children, to wit, my brothers Moses Templin and James Templin,

to be equally divided amongst each of their children, and if my wife dies and leaves my daughter Nancy alive or any of her issue, the whole of my estate to be drawn at one or at different times and given to her or her heirs or my executors shall direct for her support, but my daughter Nancy never to have the liberty of drawing or disposing of any part without the consent of my executors hereafter named.

Item fourth.  Lastly I appoint Thomas Wilson, Jesse Emmerson and George McRoberts, Executors, to this my last Will and Testament.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this fifteenth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eight, the words to be drawn, enterlined [underlined] before signing.

John Templin, his mark

Witnesses present – John Jackson, Joseph Wallace

At a County Court held for the County of Lincoln on Monday, the 11^th day of April 1808

The within will of John Templin, deceased, was exhibited into Court and proven by John Jackson and Joseph Wallace, the subscribing witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded.

George M. Roberts and Thomas Wilson, two of the Executors named in the will of John Templin, deceased, here is Court signified their refusal to qualify as such and satisfactory proof was made of the refusal of Jesse Emmerson, the other Executor named in the said Will.  And the said Will was produced in Court and proved in due form by the solemn affirmation of John Jackson and the oath of Joseph Wallace, the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on motion of Martha Templin, widow of the said John Templin, deceased, and Joseph Hall and Michael Leice, her securities, bound in the penalty of $5,000 conditioned according to law.  A certificate is granted her for the administration of said deceased’s estate according to

the will annexed.

Teste.  Thomas Montgomery, Clerk, Lincoln County Court

John Templin lists only one child in his will – Nancy Templin.  I believe this to be the child of Martha and John, who in 1808 could possibly be around the age of 18.  Martha Lapsley McBride Templin was born in 1746.  Her marriage to John Templin in 1789 would have been at the age of 43.  That sounds a bit old to conceive and bear a daughter, but at the age of 45 my mother gave birth to my youngest sister.  It is definitely possible.  Leaving wife and daughter equal shares makes for the reasoning that they are mother and daughter, not stepmother and stepdaughter.  I found no other mention of Nancy Templin.