Transcribed Will of James M. Roman

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States
Surnames/tags: Roman Ebbs

Contents 1 Overview 2 Transcribed Will 3 Persons Mentioned in the Will 4 Sources

Overview

This is a transcription for the will of James M. Roman. James was born in Kentucky about 1819. This will, dated 1886, leaves most of his estate to his former slave and then housekeeper, Florence Ebbs.

James and Florence lived together for many years. Florence gave birth to several children. The 1900 Census for Jefferson County, Kentucky, states that Florence had given birth to 15 children with 9 still living. ^[1] Birth and death records for the children refer to James as their father and Florence as their mother.

Transcribed Will

Will of James M. Roman

I, James M. Roman of the County of Jefferson and State of Kentucky being sound in mind and in the possession of all my faculties and being mindful of the uncertainties of life do make ordain and establish this is my last will and testament.

It is my will that after my death all my just debts, doctors bills and funeral expenses shall be paid out of any moneys I may have at the time of my decease and as soon thereafter as practicable. I give and bequeath to my niece Mary ?, the daughter of my sister Harriett Fishback, the sum of Twenty-five dollars to be paid her by my executor ameadiatly after my death and funeral expenses are paid. I give to my niece, Frances Pollard, the daughter of my brother John S. Roman, the sum of Twenty-five dollars to paid hear ameadiatly after my decease by my executor after paying all my just debts.

I give and bequeath devise to Frances Ebbs, my former slave and present housekeeper all my real and personal este. For and during her natural life to have and to hold the same to her free from the use or control of any other person whatsoever and it is my will and testament that the two youngest children of the Frances Ebbs shall be educated and supported out of my estate. Edney and Susan Ebbs while there mother Frances Ebbs lives and it is my testament that after the death of Frances Ebbs all of my estate real and personal shall be equally divided between her children, except Emily B? share and share alike for thare sole use thereafter forever and it is my will and testament that the wright of reserve of the grave yard is held secure exclusive of sale of the homestead I now ocupy and live on. I heareby appoint Covington Arterburn Executor of this my last will and testament.

Jefferson County, Kentucky January 13, 1886

James M. Roman Sr.

Atest

P? Krebs

R M ?

Codicil No. 1

I heareby revoke the appointment of Covington Arterburn as my Executor and appoint Frances Ebbs and Armisted Ebbs my Executors and request no security be requested of them.

January 24, 1886

James M. Roman Sr.

State of Kentucky

At a County Court held for Jefferson County at the Court House in the City of Louisville on the 7 day of March 1887. The foregoing instrument of writing purporting to be the last will testament and Codicil of James M. Roman dec’d late of this County was produced in Court and proven to be in the hand writing and wholly written by said Testator by the oath of Joseph Nichols whereupon the same was established by the Court to be the last will testament & Codicil of said Testator and ordered to be recorded and is recorded in my office as Clerk of said Court.

Geo? Webb, Clerk

Persons Mentioned in the Will

James Roman

Florence Ebbs

Harriet (Roman) Fishback

Frances (Roman) Pollard

John S. Roman

Edna (Ebbs) Richardson

Susan (Ebbs) Purdy

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M94G-6P2 : accessed 31 May 2021), Frances Ebbs, Magisterial District 7, Precinct 6 Louisville city Ward 8, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 75, sheet 12A, family 260, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,531.

• Ancestry.com. Kentucky, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1774-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Kentucky County, District and Probate Courts. Author: Kentucky. County Court (Jefferson County); Probate Place: Jefferson, Kentucky. Ancestry Record 9066 #134163 Image