Good morning! I am a one-handed typist, going through the new photos Ritchey and I took at New Providence Presbyterian Cemetery. My list is coming along, albeit slowly. I decided to share the will of George McAfee, also buried in this cemetery. Six children are listed in George’s will – George, Peggy (Margaret), John, James, Polly (Mary) Armstrong, and Susannah McAfee – along with his wife Susannah. The will was written March 21, 1803, with a codicil added April 14th of the same year, after George received notification that his son John had died in Charleston, South Carolina. One of the most interesting parts of the will are the two desks given to his daughters – Peggy received the black walnut desk and Susannah a cherry desk. Fascinating to have two desks!
Five McAfee brothers – James, Jr., George, Samuel, Robert and William – came to Kentucky in 1773 and founded the part of Mercer County to later bear their name – the small town of McAfee.
Will of George McAfee
Mercer County Will Book 3, Pages 340-341
March 21, 1803
I, George McAfee of the County of Mercer and State of Kentucky, being weak in body and health but of perfect mind and memory I do in the name of God make and ordain these presents to be my will and testament.
Imprimis, I recommend my soul into the hands of almighty God who gave it to do as it seemeth good in his bountiful providence and fatherly care and my body to be decently buried after death by my executors and friends.
And secondly it is my will and desire that a certain agreement between myself and George McAfee Junr., (my son) which was acknowledged and recorded by me in the Clerk’s Office of this county be withdrawn and destroyed, the same not being for valuable consideration.
Thirdly, it is my will that Peggy, my daughter, have my Negro woman Phoebe and her two children and the black walnut desk to her and her heirs forever.
Fourthly, it is my desire that the remainder of my personal property be liable to pay my just debts and be applied to redeem my land which is now mortgaged to Isaac Shelby Esquire. As to my sons John and James and my daughter Polly Armstrong, I have given them all that I intend.
Fifthly, it is my will and desire that as soon as my land is redeemed, which my Executors are required to do with as much expedition as possible after my decease, that my daughter Susannah shall have 150 acres pf land bounded as follows – viz, beginning at a sugar tree (corner to a tract of land I sold to William Mahon) on the bank of Salt River, running up said river to the mouth of the first branch below my meadow, thence eastward course as to strike a black walnut sapling, corner to David Banta’s land and mine, thence such a course northward so as to include the aforementioned quantity of land north of said eastward line and also the cherry desk to her and her heirs forever.
Sixthly it is my desire that my dearly beloved wife Susannah and son George, after my debts paid, have the remainder of my land, estate as tenants in common and at the death of my
beloved wife Susannah all my landed property to remain to my son George and his heirs forever.
Seventhly, it is my desire that Samuel Gray, Esquire, my dearly beloved wife Susannah and George McAfee, my son, be appointed my Executors to carry into effect this my will. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st March 1803.
George McAfee
Subscribed in presence of us teste – John McKarney, Robert B. McAfee, Robert Rennick
Codicil to the will of George McAfee
N.B. whereas I have received notice that my son John McAfee died in Charleston, South Carolina, without a will, whereby all his property both real and personal descends to me, it is my will that all the property which the said John died possessed of in South Carolina go to my son James for the purpose of paying the debts of said John, and further it is my will that the plantation of the said John be sold to pay the remainder of John’s debt (after the property in South Carolina is exacted) if any surplus is to be divided amongst my beloved wife, my son George, Polly Armstrong, Peggy and Susannah as witness my hand and seal this 14th day of April 1803 Executors as above to act and make the sale of John’s land.
George McAfee
Teste Robert B. McAfee, John Rennick
Mercer County April Court 1803
This will was proved in Court to be the last Will and Testament of George McAfee, deceased, by Robert B. McAfee and John Rennick, two subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
Teste Thomas Allen, Clerk
Categories: Old Wills
