Will of Martin Hazard

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Taylor County, Kentucky, United States
Surname/tag: Hazard

Transcription of the will of Martin Hazard^[1]

In the name of God amen I Martin Hazard of Taylor County and State of Kentucky being in my proper senses mind and memory and having the fear of God before my eyes and knowing the mortality of man and the uncertainty of his existence here or this earth i do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.

1st I give and bequeath unto my son William Hazard my negro woman Lucinda and her children named Stephen, Chapin, Eliza, and Whitlield and the tract of land on he now lives which I have made him a deed to and one half of a tract of land about one hundred and eighty acres known by the name of the Brown tract to be divided the long way and he to have the east of this I give to him and his heirs forever.

2nd I give and bequeath unto my son John Hazard the tract of land on which he now lives of one hundred eighty five acres and the other half of the Brown tract the west side and my negro man Milton to him and his heirs forever.

3rd I give and bequeath to my two grandchildren Betsy F Hazard and Henry Hazard, heirs of John Hazard the four negros that I made them a deed of gift to some years ago which is recorded at Greensburg namely Kitty, Martha, George, and Parthena and also give to my grandson, James T Hazard their brother two little negroes named Fanny and Scott all I give to them and their heirs forever.

4th I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Benningfield the tract of land on which I now live of two hundred and thirteen acres and farm joining it of acres and my negro man Simon and boy Sam and girls Sally Mandy Martha and Mary to her and her heirs forever.

5th I give and bequeath to my grandson William L Turner my negro boy Nelson to him and his heirs forever.

6th I give and bequeath to my granddaughters Patsy Turner two hundred and fifty dollars in money in place of my negro Nancy to her and her heirs forever, but if she dies without any legal heirs of her body it is my will and desire that the money go to her sister Harriet Lively and brother William L Turner and be equally divided between them or their heirs forever

7th And lastly the balance of my estate both real and personal I leave to be sold and the money it brings to be divided into four equal parts and one part to be given to William Hazard, and one part to John Hazard and one part to Nancy Benningfiedl and the other part to the three heirs of Betsy Turner, deceased, and be equally divided between them namely Harriet Lively William L Turner, and Patsy Turner or their heirs forever, but if Patsy Turner dies without any legal heirs of her body, it is my will and desire that her parts to her sister and brother Harriet Lively and William Turner and to be equally divided between them or their heirs forever.

And i do appoint A F Gowdy Executor to this my last will and testament reversing all former will and testaments whatsoever. In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand seal this 10th day of October 1852.

Signed sealed and acknowledged in the presence of us witnesses

James Hubbard

Samuel Williams Jr

F M Williams

Codicil to the foregoing will

Having this day examined the foregoing will I desire the following amendment and explanation to the same viz I desire that the slaves not specifically divided in the foregoing will to have the privilege of choosing their own masters and said slaves are to be valued by three men chosen by my executor who after having valued said slaves the masters chosen may take them after paying the appraisement and my said executor to make the bill of sale accordingly and distribute the money according to the provisions of the within will. May 14th 1853

Attest

Wiliam Irvin

E L Barbee

2nd codicil to the foregoing will

I have this day given to my Executor A F Gowdy one thousand dollars which I wish to be loan out for me at legal interest and account for and pay the same to me during my lifetime or to my heirs after my death and any money that I hereafter place in his hands I wish disposed of in the same way, Given under my hand April 19th 1854

E L Barbee

Wm Irvine

April 19th 1854 I have received the foregoing money and will account for it as directed above

A F Gowdy

Attest

Wm Irvine

The will was produced in court on 31 December 1855

Sources

1. ↑ "Will books, 1848-1924", database with images, FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9PR-5C3J, accessed 29 August 2021, Will of Martin Hazard, Taylor County, Kentucky, FHL film #007648667, image 63 of 448, Taylor County Court Clerk, Will books Vols. 1-2 1848-1924