Muhlenberg County Kentucky
Wills: S
Esther Stahl, 1862
I Esther Stahl do hereby make and ordain this to be my last Will & testament revoking all wills heretofore made by me.
Item First, I give to my Nephew Samuel S. Stahl a tract of land in Ohio County on Rough Creek containing about 245 acres the same conveyed to me by John Medkiff this bequest is given upon the express condition that said Samuel Stahl pay off and discharge all debts and liabilities which are now out standing against me or such debts as may be outstanding against me at the time of my death and also my funeral expenses and I hereby ratify the gift of personal property heretofore made by me to said Samuel and I also give to him a note which I hold on John W. Stahl for $266.00 or there abouts, with the understanding that my estate is not to be responsible to him in the event said note is not collected and if I should collect said note in my life time, then he is not to have any claim therefore.
Item Second I give and bequeath to my niece Rebecca Jane Christian the proceeds of the sale of a tract of land in Ohio County on Green River, sold by me to Patterson & Vickors & for which I hold their agreement to pay me four thousand five hundred dollars on said sum above & I have given the same to the said Rebecca Jane hereby ratifying that gift, and I now will and desire that my said niece Rebecca Jane and her husband John W. Christian shall control said debts as they see proper, and they are appointed and authorized & empowered to convey said land to the purchasers.
Item third, I give and bequeath to my niece Rebecca Jane Christian my two slaves Balzora Ellen and Mariah and I hereby ratify the gift of personal property heretofore made to her, and give her a cow & calf now in her possession.
I will that all my other property be divided equally between the said Samuel & the said Rebecca Jane and it is understood that the bequest made in the first Item of this will is also to be conditioned upon the event that the said Samuel shall make no charge against his sister Rebecca for articles furnished her prior to this date nor for any sum which he may have paid for her schooling, boarding &c.
I appoint Samuel Stahl and John W. Christian Executors of this Will.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this the 29th day of September 1857.
Signed and acknowledged
Esther Stahl
In the presence of
Henry D. McHenry
Henry W. Harris
I Esther Stahl do make and publish this to be a codicil to a Will made by me on the 29th day of September 1857 & which is attached hereto.
I will & desire that the note of $266.00 on J.W. Stall be given to J.W. Christian & Rebecca Jane Christian, and the bequest made to Samuel Stahl that he should pay my debts & funeral expenses & have the tract of land containing 245 acres is hereby ratified & confirmed without the conditions as expressed in the Will.
I desire that the uncollected portion of the land debt on Patterson & Vickers be given to Rebecca Jane Christian and also a house & lot in Greenville purchased by me of Walton & that she hold the same (that is the notes & the house & lott) to her own separate use and benefit for & during her life & at her death to the heirs of her body
The said John W. Christian & wife may sell and dispose of the house & lott, but the proceeds to be invested for the use above specified & the notes may also be collected by them and invested in same manner & I charge upon Rebecca Jane & her husband to pay off all my just debts & funeral expenses. I appoint J.W. Christian my sole Executor. I ratify all Gifts made by me & the remainder of my estate if any I give to my niece Rebecca Jane.
I request my brother Henry W. Harris to have me interred at the family burying ground in Warren & the expenses to be paid as above.
Given under my hand this the third day of September 1859.
Signed sealed & acknowledged
Esther Stahl
In the presence of
Henry D. McHenry
Henry W. Harris
State of Kentucky
Muhlenberg County Sct.
January County Court 1860.
The foregoing last Will and Testament & Codicil of Esther Stahl decd. was produced to court on the 5th day of November 1859 and proved to be the act and deed of said decedent by the oath of H. W. Harris a subscribing witness to said last Will and Testament & codicil thereto attached and on the date first aforesaid, the said last Will and Testament together with the Codicil were exhibited into court and fully proved to be the act and deed of the said Esther Stahl deceased, by the Deposition of Henry D. McHenry the other Subscribing witness thereto which last Will & Testament & Codicil was ordered be to be recorded. Wherefore the same together with this certificate hath been truly recorded in my office. This 19th day of December 1862.
att. Tho. J. Jones Clk.
Source: Muhlenberg County Kentucky Will Book 3, p. 200.
Updated August 15, 2022