Last Will and Testament of Leonard Richards, 1828

Will of Leonard Richards

1828 Casey County, Kentucky

By

Valerie J. Thompson

Transcribed Jan 21, 2013

In the name of god, Amen, Be it remembered that I, Leonard Richards, being in the county of Casey and state of Kentucky, considering the immortality of the mortal life & being of sound and perfect mind, blessed be to God for the same, do make this my last will and testament, in manner and form as followeth (to wit):

1^st  First I command my soul to God who gave it, and my body to be buried in a decent Christian manner.

2^nd I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Susannah, fifty acres of land to include the plantation & improvements whereon I now live for and during her natural life, and at her death to belong to my son, Benjamin Richards; also, that she have one third part of my personal property to be understood, all my estate, except … lands for and during her life & she is to have the privilege to choose such of my perishable property to that amount and at her death to be equally divided between my children hereafter named (to wit), my daughter, Ruth Spears, to have one fifth part; my daughter, Elizabeth Miller, one fifth part; my son, John Richards, one fifth part; one fifth part equally divided between all the heirs of my daughter, Susannah Hickerson, dec’d; one fifth part to my daughter, Hannah Breeding, also all the balance of my perishable property to be divided amongst my children hereafter named, one fifth part to my daughter Ruth Spears, one fifth part to my daughter, Elizabeth Miller, one fifth part to my son, John Richards, one fifth part equally divided between all the heirs of my daughter, Susannah Hickerson, dec’d & one fifth part to daughter, Hannah Breeding. I do hereby give & bequeath to my son, Benjamin Richards all the balance of my tract of land on which I now live, except 100 acres conveyed by me to my son, Leonard Richards, by deed. I do give & bequeath to my beloved wife, my negro woman named Inda during her life & at her death s’d negro to be sold & the money to be equally divided between all my children, children: my daughter, Ruth Spears to have one seventh part; my daughter Elizabeth Miller, one seventh part; my son, John Richards, one seventh part; one seventh part to be equally divided between all the heirs of my daughter, Susannah Hickerson, Dec’d; to my son, Leonard Richards, one seventh part; to my daughter, Hannah Breeding, one seventh part; to my son, Benjamin Richards, one seventh part.

I do hereby appoint my son, Leonard Richards & James Allen Executors to this my last Will & Testament revoking all former wills by me made,

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 8^th day of August 1828.

                                                                                                   Leonard X Richards  his mark {Seal}

Witness:

Daniel Sherwood
William Bigg
John Miller