Muhlenberg County Kentucky
Wills: B
Mary H. Bowen, 1827
The following Will appears in Muhlenberg County Deed Book 8, pp. 50-53.
Image
Transcription
June the 8th 1824
In the name of God Amen. I, Mary H. Bowen, of the county of Sumner and state of Tennessee, being now in sound mind and memory, but in the decline of life and knowing the certainty of death, do make and ordain this my last and testament.
Item, I will and bequeath unto my two sons Wm. R. Bowen and Samuel A. Bowen, one hundred acres of land to be laid off at the west end of my survey, beginning at the coner formerly Desdricks corner and running to Cantrell line as to make the quantity of above named land my two sons are to keep in trust for my daughter Louisa Sanders during of her natural life and to the heirs of her body forever but to be expressly understood that should my son in law in right of his wife or my daughter Louisa SAnders or any third [party] bring suit and gain any thing or damages of money from the estate of my decd. son John H.. Bowen for the mismanagement of his father's estate in that case. I have the above named land to be sold to pay said demand or as much thereof as will be sufficient for the same and my two sons Wm. R. Bowen & Samuel A. Bowen may have any execution that the said Sanders and wife may have against the heirs of my son John H. Bowen levied on said land and sold which sale shall be as bonding on me as if the title to said land was in the heirs of my said son John H. Bowen.
Item 2nd, I iwll unto my two sons Wm. R. Bowen and Samuel A. Bowen above named one hundred acres of land to be laid off at the north end of my survey, adjoining the land of Stephen Cantrell on the line running east and west for my daughter Celia W. Stone, during her natural life & then to the natural heirs of her body forever, ,but if said Celia W. Stone, with the covenant of my sons Wm. R. & Samuel A. Bowen think best to sell the said lands, they can do so and apply the proceed to the use of my daughter Celia W. Stone during her natural life and then to heirs of her body forever.
Item 3rdly, I give and bequeath unto my sons William R. Bowen and Samuel A. Bowen and my three grandchildren, mary H. Bowen, William Grant Bowen and John H. Bowen, infant heirs of my sons John H. Bowen, the residue of my land in Sumner County to be equally divided in three lots, my son William R one lot, my son Samuel A one lot, and my three grandchildren one lot between and the lot that may fall to my grandchildren shall be valued by three or four respectable men and my sons may take the same land at the valuation of 3 or 4 respectable men if they wish it and pay the same or the proportion to each grandchild when they arrive at the age of twenty one or marries severally with legal interest on the same from the time of valuation or if they should chose pay it before to be put out on interest for thier use.
Item 4thly, I will and bequeath unto my two sons William R. and Samuel A. Bowen in trust for my daughter Celia W. Stone, two negroes named Hampton and Nancy during of her natural [life] and with their increase and then to the heirs of her body forever.
5thly Item, I will that at my death all my estate to the and personal not before named be equally divided between my five children and three grandchildren towit, Louisa Sanders, Katharine Campbell, William R. Bowen, Samuel A. Bowen, Celia W. Stone and my grandchildren Mary H. Bowen, William Grant Bowen, and John H. Bowen, one equal share and my grandchildren collectively one share.
6thly Item, I will that all my estate both real and personal that may come to the hands of any executors for the use and benefit of my daughters, Louisa Sanders, Katharine Campbell and Celia W. Stone, remain in the hands of my executors in trust for my said daughters during of their natural lives and then to the heirs of their bodies forever.
Item 7thly, I will that my landed estate in Kentucky may either be sold or divided as my exors. may think proper for the benefit of my children and grandchildren to be divided in the same manner and proportion as the rest of my estate already disposed of.
7thly [sic], it is my will that my four old negroes (To wit), Labon, Lucy, Sarah and Winny, who have been faithful and obedient and assisted in caring [for] my family are to be at perfect liberty, and to live with any of my children that they may chose, my sons William R. and Samuel A. Bowen to see that they are kindly treated and to have permission to visit their children at reasonable times and to see them well take care of.
8thly and lastly, I constitute my two sons William R. and Samuel A. Bowen exors. of this my last will and testament. I hereby revoke all former wills. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the year and date above written.
Mary H. Bowen
Witnesses
Hubbard Sanders
Chloe Sanders
H. Russell
N.B. It is my wish that Labon and Sarah live with my son William R. Bowen and that Lucy and Winney live with Samuel A. Bowen or Celia or any of them they wish.
Mary H. Bowen
In persuance to my last will & testament, it is my will and desire that my young negroes already divided by will be divided as follows viz. to my daughter Celia W. Stone and heirs of her body, a negro girl named Lucky. Item to my daughter Louisa Sanders and her heirs negro girl Polly. Item to my son Samuel A. Bowen, negro boy Simon. Item to my grandchildren Mary H. Bowen, Grant Bowen and John Bowen, heirs of John H. Bowen decd., negro girl Celiah one share. item to my daughter Katharine Campbell negro girl named Madaline. Item to my son William R. Bowen negro boy named Harry. Lastly, the residue of my young negroes heretofore divided to be equally divided among the above named heirs with exception that my daughter Tabitha Moore have a negro girl Narcissa or a horse saddle and bridle together with a bed and furniture as equal to said negro girl at her option.
In conclusion it is my desire the whole of the aforesaid negores shall remain in possession of my son William Bowen agreeable to an agreement entered into by him and myself until all my just debts are paid and as soon thereafter as may be expedient to be divided as herein specified.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 3rd day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty seven.
Mary her x mark H. Bowen
In presence of
Chloe Sanders
James M. Grey
Maria R. Grey
Alteration in Mrs. Bowen's Will
I will that my daughter Tabitha Moore have one of my young negores or a horse and my saddle with my bed and furniture. Also my family, I will that my son William R. Bowen have three cow and calves, one steer, 10 head of sheep, twenty head of hogs, one bed and furniture. I will that my son John H. Bowen's children have two cows and calves and ten head of sheep. I will that my daughter Celia W. Stone have one yoke of steers and cow or heifer. I will that my brother Henly Russell [have] one bed and bedclothes and one my mare's colts next Spring if they have a [??] one April 16th 1825.
I will that this be done before a division take place and also will that my heirs relinquish all claim to the above mentioned negroes before said division.
Mary H. Bowen
Teste
Pebus[?] E. Harris
H. Russell
State of Tennessee, Sumner County Court May Term 1827
The last will and testament of Mary H. Bowen was exhibited in court for probate and duly proven agreeable to law by the oaths of Hubbard Sanders, Chloe Sanders & Henly Russell subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
A copy teste A.H. Douglass clerk of said court.
State of Tennessee, Sumner County Court August Term 1827
William R. Bowen, one of the exors. of Mary H. Bowen decd., appeard in court & took the oath of exor. presented [sic] by law and together with John T. Desmukes and Robert Harper, his security, entered in & acknowledged their bond to the Governor in the sum of twelve hundred dollars conditioned as the law directs.
State of Tennessee, Sumner County
I, A.H. Douglass, clerk of the court pleas and quarter session for said county do hereby certify that the above and foregoing last will and testament of Mary H. Bowen decd. is a true and correct copy thereof of the probate and qualification of Wm. R. Bowen, executor &c., also taken from the records of Sumner County Court. Given under my hand and seal of said court, this 22nd day of May 1832 and fiftysixth year of American Independence.
A.H. Douglass clerk of said court
State of Tennessee, Sumner County
I, Thomas Anderson, chairman of the court of pleas and quarter session for the county of Sumner aforesaid, hereby [certifiy] that Alfred H. Douglass is clerk of said court, that full faith and credit is due to all his official acts as such and his attestation is in due form of law. Given under my hand and seal 22nd of May AD 1832.
Thos. Anderson, Chm. Su. Co. Ct.
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Muhlenberg County } Sct.
The foregoing instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Mary H. Bowen, deceased, was produced to me in my office on the 14th day of September 1832, which together with the testimonials therein endorsed is admitted to and truly recorded. Given under my hand as clerk of county court for the county aforesaid.
Chs. F. Wing
Source: Muhlenberg County Kentucky Deed Book 8, pp. 50-53.
Updated August 20, 2022