The Will of John MAY was copied from the unpublished family history: GEORGE MAY OF BUFFALO VALLEY PENNSYLVANIA AND HIS DESCENDANTS, compiled by Florence LaRue MAY, 1985, pages 93-94.
Will: John MAY
I John MAY of the County of Ross, Ohio do make and publish my last Will and testament
Item first I give and devise to Mary Margaret MAY my beloved wife in lieu of her dower the farm on which we now reside situate in the County of Ross aforesaid Containing One hundred and Nine acres and three quarters of an acre more or less, during her natural life, and one horse creature and all the household goods furniture provisions and other goods and chattels which I may have and leave thereon at the time of my decease during her natural life aforesaid and also one hundred dollars in money in case she shall have need of it. At the death of my said wife the real estate aforesaid and such part of the said personal property as there may remain unconsumed and unexpended I hereby direct to be Sold at public sale to the highest bidder by my executor hereinafter named, the real estate to be Sold at one third part in hand another third part with interest in one year and the balance with interest at the end of two years.
Item second, I give and devise my whole estate finally to my children, four sons to wit, Strous MAY, George MAY, David MAY, and Jacob MAY and four daughters or their heirs towit, the children of my daughter Sivila ARCHBOLD deceased, my daughter Susannah MARKEL wife of George MARKEL, Polly HEFNER wife of Isaac HEFNER, and my daughter Elizabeth WHIP wife of Lewis WHIP to each and every one of my said Children I give equal one eighth part share and share alike, first Charging my four sons with three hundred ($1200) & some other charges on my book against them and some of the daughters as advances made to them respectively by me toward their portions or shares in my estate.
Item third. I do hereby nominate and appoint Daniel KERSHNER of the County of Ross aforesaid Executor of this my last will and testament hereby authorizing & empowering my said Executor upon the sale of real estate deeds to purchasers to execute acknowledge and deliver in free simple, hereby revoking all former Wills by me heretofore made testifying this and none other to be my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Fifth day of June in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred & fifty two.
John MAYSigned and acknowledged by the said John MAY as his last will and testament in our presence and Signed by us in his presence. Jacob PONTIOUS, Eleheu HOLDERMAN
At the time of his death John MAY was living with Thomas LEASURE, who submitted a bill to the administrator of the estate, in the amount of $449.54 for nursing and taking care while in sickness and paying hired girl for nursing in the last days. Also for boarding John's horses.
There is a doctor bill, dated Hallsville May 19, 1859, from Doctor W.C. GILDERSLEEVE for medical service and medicine from January twenty seventh to february twenty eighth 1859 for five dollars and twenty five cents.
John MAY had very little personal property at the time of his death, a writing desk, two trunks, a rocking chair, a clock, two silver watches, bed and bedding, a grey horse, saddle, a set of buggy harness and a buggy.Not a one of his children bought any of his personal property when it was sold. There were many notes owed to his estate mostly from his sons and from Jesse and Thomas LEASURE, Henry BOOKWALTER, Michael METZLER, William BARNHART, Robert LARRICK, John C. MAY (this is believed to be the son of Strouse May).
Copied from GEORGE MAY OF BUFFALO VALLEY PENNSLVANIA AND HIS DESCENDANTS, page 181
"Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio"
Colerain Township
Page 100Township Officers: Washington JENNINGS, Andrew HINTON and Samuel HARRISINGER, Justices of the Peace; Jacob BOUSTOER, S. PONTIOUS and Andrew HINTON, Trustees; John MAY, Clerk; A. ROSE, Treasurer; J. (?) THROGMORTON, Assessor; Andrew WIGGINS and A. G. BETZER, Constables; David JONES, Land Appraiser.
Page 101
John MAY was a pioneer of 1799. He was a great hunter, and served in the wars of 1791 and 1812. Frederick PONTIOUS was an early settler, a good man, who had much influence in society.
Copied fron the GEORGE MAY OF BUFFALO VALLEY PENNSYLVANIA AND HIS DESCENDANTS, page 150.
Pickaway Co., OH
Deed: Volume C, Page 803
John SHOEMAKER to John MAYThis Indenture made the Nineteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Six Between John SHOEMAKERr of Colerain Township in the County of Ross and State of Ohio of the one part and John MAY of the Township County and State aforesaid of the other part Whereas the United States by Patent under the Great Seal bearing date the twentyeth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three did Grant and Confirm unto the said John SHOEMAKER a Certain Lot or Section of land Numbered twenty six in the Township Numbered eleven and Range the twentyeth situate (then in the Territory Northwest of the Ohio and above the mouth of Kentucky River) now in the Township of Colerain County of Ross and State of Ohio aforesaid To hold the said Lot or section of Land with the Appurtenances to him the said John SHOEMAKER his Heirs and assigns forever as in and by the said recited Patent being thereunto had more fully appear Now This Indenture Witnesseth that the said John SHOEMAKER for and in Consideration of the sum of Five hundred dollars to him in hand Paid by the said John MAY at and before the sealing and Delivery of these Presents the receipt and payment whereof is hereby acknowledged hath Granted Bargained Sold aliened enfossed Released and confirmed and by these Presents Doth grant bargain sell alien enfoss release and Confirm unto the said John MAY and to his Heirs and Assigns All that Lot or piece of Land (Part of the above mentioned Lot or section of Land) bounded and described as follows to wit Beginning at the North west Corner of said section south one hundred and three Perches eight Links and one third of a Link to a hickory three inches in diameter Thence East three hundred perches fifteen links to a Post from a sugar tree eighty inches diameter bears West ten links distance Thence North one hundred and three perches eight links and one third of a Link to the northeast Corner Thence West three hundred and ten Perches to the Place of Beginning containing Two hundred acres and sixty five perches Together with all and singular the Houses out Houses Buildings Barns stables ways woods waters water courses Rights Privilege Hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever belonging or in anywise appertaining and the Reversions and Remainders Rents issues and profit and profits thereof And also all the Estate Right title interest property Claim and demand whatsoever of him the said John SHOEMAKER of in to and out of the same to Have and To hold the said Lot or piece of Land containing Two hundred acres and sixty five perches Hereditaments and premises hereby granted mentioned or intended so to be with the appurtenances unto the said John MAY his Heirs and assigns To the only proper use and Behoof of him the said John MAY his Heirs and assigns forever and the said John SHOEMAKER for himself and his Heirs doth hereby Covenant promise and Grant to and with the said John MAY his Heirs and assigns by these presents that he the said John SHOEMAKER and his Heirs The said Lot or piece of Land hereby Granted Hereditaments and premises with the appuntenances unto him the said John MAY his Heirs & assigns against him the said John SHOEMAKER and his heirs and against all and every other person and persons Whatsoever lawfully claiming or to claim the same by from or under him them or any of them shall and will Warrant and forever defend by these presents. In Witness whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.
Sealed and delivered in the Presents of us Samuel LUTS, Jacob LUTS.Received the day and year first above written of the above named John MAY the sum of Five hundred dollars the consideration money above mentioned in full.
John SHOEMAKER
Ross County: On the nineteenth day of May Anno Domini 1806 Before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and for the said County Came John SHOEMAKER the above Grantor and acknowledged the above Written Indenture to be his act and Deed and desired same may be Recorded as such In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid. Jacob LUTS
Rec'd 22nd March 1818
Copied from page 92-93 of GEORGE MAY OF BUFFALO VALLEY PENNSYLVANIA AND HIS DESCENDANTS (an unpublished family history) compiled by Florence LaRue MAY in 1985:
John MAY Jr. died before 3 June 1833 as on that date, John MAY, Jacob BOUSHER and John PATTERSON posted bond of two hundred and six dollars as securities on the goods and chattels of John MAY Jr. deceased. In the estate record is a bill dated 27 April 1832 from a Dr. R.P. SIMMONS, of Cincinnati, Ohio, in the sum of $5.00, and a receipt which states that Dr. SIMMONS was paid on 27 April 1832 by Mr. John MAY on account of his son John MAY decest the full amount due me was five dollars. There is also another receipt dated 3 December 1833, Adelphi, Ohio, "Received of John MAY Sr. Administrator of the estate of John MAY Jr. deceased one Dollar and Seventy five cents in full of all claims Signed by Barbara Reason (?)". The only estate that John MAY Jr. had was some vests and pantaloons which his brother Strouse MAY bought, some boots, a big coat, a mans jacket, and some boot trees which John MICHEL bought, a Sword_Plum, a Roundabout that his father John MAY Sr. bought. There is a mans Sadel listed but does not show who bought it. This indicates that John MAY Jr. died quite young and we do not know if he was married.
According to a note made by Florence LaRue May in GEORGE MAY OF BUFFALO VALLEY PENNSYLVANIA AND HIS DESCENDANTS, page 3, David May has NOT been documented as the son of John & Maria May, however records indicate that he could have been their son.