I share with you today the will of Eleanor Miles, dated January 23, 1805. When she died Eleanor lived in Washington County. She mentions ‘being old and weakly in body, but of sound mind and understanding.’ But the second paragraph lets us know where she lived! She wanted to be buried at Hardin’s Creek Chapel. This land would become Marion County in 1834, the lower half of Washington. Hardin’s Creek is located just a few miles from St. Charles Church, a runoff from Beech Fork River, beginning in the said county close to the town of Manton, flows close to Markers Mark Distillery, continuing southwardly through to St. Charles, and ends at the tiny town of St. Mary just a few miles hence. Since Eleanor wanted to be buried at the chapel I checked my cemetery photos from St. Charles, but I have no photograph of her gravestone.
The Hardin Creek Settlement was founded in 1786, with the first church built in 1806. The chapel Eleanor speaks of must have been a modest building, as per usual in those early times. The second church was made of brick, built in 1832 and the present church, in 1905. This last is the one I attended and played organ for during my younger years until my marriage.
Eleanor was the wife of Henry Miles, who died in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, in 1774, before many of the Marylanders found their way to Kentucky in 1786. Eleanor and her children made Kentucky their home and left many descendants, some who still live in the area, and others that have moved away.
In her will Eleanor left as her executors son, William Miles, her daughter Priscilla Miles Osbourn, and son-in-law Thomas Osbourn. It was quite normal to have a son or son-in-law as executor, but I believe this is the first time I’ve found a daughter listed as such.
Eleanor Miles Will, Page 409 – 411
In the name of God Amen. I, Eleanor Miles, of the County of Washington and State of Kentucky, being old and weakly in body, but of sound mind and understanding, do constitute and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament, to wit.
My body I wish to be decently interred into the graveyard at Hardin’s Creek Chapel, my soul I resign to my Creator who gave it me and as to my worldly goods after all my just debts are paid, it is my will and desire that they may be disposed of in manner and form as follows.
Item First. I will and bequeath unto my son William Miles one Mulatto Negro girl named Clare and a Negro boy named George to be long to him and his heirs forever, and also Clare’s increase.
Item Second. I will and bequeath unto my son Barton Elexius Miles one Negro man named Charles to him and his heirs forever.
Item Third. I will and bequeath unto my son Joseph Miles one Negro man named Harry and after my receiving either rate of twenty dollars per annum during my life out of the hire of said Harry as part of maintenance, the residue his, Harry’s hire from the 21st day of August in the year 1804. I also will and bequeath unto my son Joseph
both that, and Harry, to belong to him and his heirs forever.
Item Fourth. I will and bequeath to my son Edward Francis E. Miles five shillings current money of this state and no more of my estate, he having already received more than his proportion of my estate in the way of the way of our letting claim to Rachel and her children.
Item Fifth. I will and bequeath unto my daughter Audrey Vain one Negro woman named Nanny and a boy named Benjamin to belong to her and her heirs forever and also Nanny’s increase, if any.
Item Sixth. I will and bequeath unto my daughter Priscilla Osbourn one Negro woman named Anne and her child Milly and their increase, to belong to her and her heirs forever.
Item Seventh. I will and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Montgomery the sum of twenty five pounds cash Kentucky currency to be paid with the money arising from the sale of my property last fall and if the money due for that sale cannot be collected in time William Miles Barton, L. Miles, Thomas Osbourn and William Vain pay the sum of seventy five pounds unto my daughter Sarah out of their own estate in horse creatures valued at cash price and upon condition they do make such payment in horses in that they shall be entitled to, equally amongst them, for the money due from said sale of my property.
Item Eighth. I will and bequeath unto my grandsons Rhodia Elexius Mudd and Thomas Mudd the sum of five shillings cash current money of this state to each of them and their heirs and no more because their father John Mudd received more than his wife’s proportion of my husband’s estate when he married her, Henrietta, my daughter.
Item Ninth. I will and bequeath unto my daughter Priscilla my fire tongs and unto Audrey Vain my shawl, looking glass to Rhodia Elexius Mudd and it is my will he shall have it.
Item Tenth. Having paid my full proportion of our purchase of land from Patrick Doran and my name being out for the balance, it is my will that if Doran should thereafter make a good rite to the land so that said balance due on the bond I gave Doran must be paid, that Barton L. Miles and William Vain pay it out of their share of my estate and as for their parts of the land the balance is due as there was three hundred and fifty acres purchased upon Barton L. Miles and William Vain paying an equal part of the balance yet due. Therefore, as above, it is my will that the land to be purchased be equally divided between them.
Item Eleventh. I leave my son William Miles and my daughter Priscilla and her husband Thomas Osbourn, Executors, of this my last Will and Testament and all the remainder of my estate in this will to be sold to the best advantage and after all just debts, expenses and legacies as in not otherwise provided for is paid off, it is my will that the balance be equally divided amongst my children William Miles, Barton L. Miles, Priscilla Osbourn, Joseph Miles, Sarah Montgomery, Audry Vain and none other of my children or grandchildren to have my part or share thereof, revoking all other wills or any other will be me heretofore made and acknowledging this to be my last Will and Testament as witness my hand and seal this 23 day of January in the year of our Lord 1805.
Eleanor Miles, her seal
We, the Subscribers, do certify that this will was signed and acknowledged in our presence by the said Eleanor Miles, she being in her proper sense and understanding the date above
John Lancaster, Matthew Cissell, Ignatius Mattingly, his mark
At a County Court held for Washington County the 7th day of July 1806
The last Will and Testament of Eleanor Miles, deceased, was proved by the oaths of John Lancaster, Matthew Cissell and Ignatius Mattingly, witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of William Miles and Thomas Osbourn, two of the Executors therein named, who made oath and executed and acknowledged bond as the law directs, a certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Teste. John Reed
Categories: Old Wills
