Will of Samuel Black [step son of Moses Higginbotham]

Garrard County, Kentucky Will Book B, page 53
and Montgomery County Virginia Will Book 3, page 350
Copied verbatim by Anna Lutz, Dunbar, West Virginia

The Will of SAMUEL BLACK, dated 8 August 1812, recorded 24 October 1812

In the name of God, Amen,  I SAMUEL BLACK, of Garrard County, and Commonwealth of Kentucky, being sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing that it is appointed for all men once die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally, and first of all, I give my soul into the hands of God, who gave it, and my body to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner, at the discretion of my Extors., Imprimuses.  It is my will, and I do order in the first place, all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied.  Item, I gave and bequeath unto POLLY BLACK, my dearly beloved wife, the plantation that I know live on, with all the benefits arising from it during her natural life, or widowhood, likewise, her choice of five horse beasts out of my stock, also five cows and calves, three head of sheep, thirty head of hogs, from six to eighteen months old, with all my household and kitchen furniture, one of my best plows and tacklin, also my negro boy STEPHEN, all the above mentioned property except the land and negro boy I give her and her heirs forever.  Item, I give and bequeath to WILLIAM JEFFERS my gun and shot pouch, my new saddle, three two year old heifers, one bay philley, four years old, now running with said JEFFRIES horses, to him and his heirs forever.  The balance of my perishable property to wit, MY negro women, MILLY, horses, cows, hogs, and all the balance of my plantation tools to be sold at publick sale, twelve months credit.   Item, I give and bequeath to my half-brother, ANDREW HICKENBOTTOM, all the benefits arising from a disputed piece of land lying on Sinking Creek in Virginia, in Montgomery County, to him and his heirs forever.  I give and bequeath to my half-brother IMMANUEL HICKENBOTTOM, a note of twenty-eight pounds four shillings on THOMAS BOWEN, one note of forty dollars on SAMUEL YOAKAM, likewise, thirty dollars levied out of my property, that shall be sold to him and his heirs forever.  I give and bequeath unto my POLLY BLACK, my dearly beloved wife, two hundred dollars arising from the sale of my property, to her and her heirs forever.  Item, I give and bequeath to WILLIAM JEFFERS, all the balance of my money arising from the sale of my negrowoman, and the perishable property exposed to sale, after my just debts are discharged, and the two hundred dollars, my wife, POLLY BLACK, is to have, and the thirty dollars, my half- brother IMMANUEL HICKENBOTTOM, is to have, the balance to him and his heirs forever.  I also give said WILLIAM JEFFERS, one great coat, and my black suit coat and breaches, forever.  After the decease, or marriage of my dearly beloved wife, POLLY BLACK, it is my will, the plantation, I now live on, to be sold and equally divided between my six nephews, to wit: SAMUEL TURPIN, SAMUEL KENAN, SAMUEL HICKENBOTTOM, son of JOSEPH HICKENBOTTOM, SAMUEL HICKENBOTTOM, son of SAMUEL HICKENBOTTOM, SAMUEL HICKENBOTTOM, son of ANDREW HICKENBOTTOM, SAMUEL HICKENBOTTOM, son of JAMES HICKENBOTTOM to them and their heirs forever.  After the death, or marriage of my wife, POLLY BLACK, I allow my negro boy, STEPHEN, to be sold, and the price of said boy, I give to my eldest sister MAGDALIN TURPIN, to her and her heirs forever, except her son SAMUEL TURPIN who share in the land.  I do therefore revoke and disannul any will and legacies, deeds of gifts by heretofore made and ratify, and confirm this, no other, to be my last will and testament, nominating, and appointing AUGUSTINE SMITH and ROBERT BRANK my Extors.,  Given under my hand and seal this eight day of August 1812.


Signed sealed and acknowledged in presence of
Charles BAKER, Richard RANDAL, Charles D. BUTCHER
              SAMUEL BLACK (Seal) Joshua W. BUTCHER