John Finnie Will Transcription

Date: 11 May 1811 to 28 Oct 1811
Location: Union, Kentucky, United States
Surnames/tags: Finnie Cary Graham

I John Finnie of the county of Union in the State of Kentucky being well apprised of the course of Human events and wishing to make a disposition of my estate after my decease do hereby declare my will & intentions as follows. First I name the following persons, my wife Rachel Finnie, William Taylor of Shelby County my Brother James Finnie of Union County, Samuel M. Taylor of Clark County, my son in law Frances Graham of Franklin County and my son John Finnie all of the State of Kentucky as my Executrix and Executors. In the first Instance I desire that all my Just debts be paid. I also desire that no Inventory or appraisement on any part of my estate take place except as is herein after provided. I leave in charge to my wife Rachel Finnie and at her disposal only as is herein after excepted all my personal estate to include my slaves during her life time for the following purposes—the maintainance [sic] of my said wife, the education and maintainance [sic] of my children by her, that is the ones named as follows. John G. Finnie, Eleanor M Finnie Susannah G Finnie, Elizabeth Finnie James W Finnie and George F Finnie the extent of the education and the amount to be expended upon them of the above named children to be at the discretion of a majority of the persons named above to manage my estate and I wish an accurate account kept of such expenditures. It is to be understood that the property above mentioned as left in charge of my wife, that no account is to be ??pled against her I having full confidence and leave this matter to her own accountability I further leave in charge of my wife Rachel Finnie for the purpose narrated in the disposition above made of the personal property and as a home for my single and unmarried children the tract of land whereon I am now improving in the county of Union for my said wifes lifetime with such alterations as to quantity or I may make on the back of the instrument. I will and bequeath to my Youngest son that may live to the age of Twenty one years the before mentioned tract of land and I wish my Executrix and Executors from the first money they may collect of my estate which can be spared in their judgements I wish prudence to appropriate a sum not exceeding five hundred Dollars, the superintendence of the building which is to be placed on the land before mentioned to be under this direction of my wife, this building being as I have before mentioned as a home for my younger children during their minority. It is my will that out of the action money to be collected from the debts owe me that the persons named to manage my affairs purchase as soon as the nature of the case will permit, two sites for plantations in said county of Union to contain in and about three hundred acres each the first choice to be given to my eldest surviving son when he reaches the age of Twenty on the other is for my other son who is not before provided for, in case of the death of either or any of my sons before they reach the age of Twenty one the property here intended for them is to be equally disposed of amongst my other children with the exception of my daughter Nancy T Cary. I will and desire that a childs proportion go to her children and not to herself.
The residue of all other monies that is due or may become due—and from the sale of sales of any lands which I now possess or my estate my hereafter be possessed of I authorize my Executrix and Exors to dispose of that in the lands out of the county of Union and those monies I wish to be ??? out in slaves, more especially for the benefit of my Daughter—I wish all the slaves that I now hold and those that may be purchased as above mentioned to be by my Executrix and Executors as equally divided amongst my children with the exception of Nancy T Cary who is herein after provided for, as can be done giving to each Daughter and the children of Nancy Cary one slave more than the sons—It is my will and desire that as any of my children want either a slave or house furniture and it can without essential injury be spared to them that they may have it at the discretion of the persons charged to manage my estate and that they be charges with it at its valuation. I will in trust for the support of my Daughter Nancy Cary the same proportion that I give to my other Daughters for her life—and at her death to her children to be equally divided amongst them—I also desire that she may remain on the plantation with my wife that is on any part that my wife may assign free of rent as long as she wishes not to exceed the period of my youngest son coming of age—It is to be understood as my will that in the event of my wife Rachel Finnie herein before given for her in the contracting or management of my estate are to seize and tho possess granted and vested in her are to pass to the other persons named as my executors in this Instrument—It is my will that my Daughter Mary B T Graham have an equal proportion with my other Daughters taking into valuation the property I have already given her—I further will that in the event of my said wife Rachel Finnie Entermarrying [sic] after my decease that she shall give up and disclaim any claim or right to the plantation which I have herein assigned for the support and maintainance [sic] of my children and take the use of a third of the balance of my estate—The property which I have advanced to my Daughter Nancy T Cary is to be deducted from the property as my dividend of property I now leave her children as mentioned in this instrument Done and concluded this Eleventh day of May One thousand Eight hundred and Eleven Witness my hand and seal
J. Finnie
In presence of
Mary Taylor
Thomas Berry
Jonathan Taylor

Union County Sct At a county court holden for the county aforesaid on Monday the 28th day of October 1811 This Instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and Testament of John Finnie deceased was established in court and proved by the oath of Jonathan Taylor a subscribing witness thereto and ordered to be certified—And at said Court continued and holden for said county on Tuesday the 29th of October 1811 was fully proved by the oath of Thomas Berry another subscribing witness thereto and thereupon ordered to record. Attest Sam Casey clk.

Sources

1811 John Finnie Will. Kentucky, Union County, Probate Court, Wills, Vol. A, p. 1, 7 May 1811, digital image 85 of 363, FamilySearch.org ([1]: accessed 22 June 2023)