Will of George Meriwether [TMSI #680]
from Kentucky Land Survey 4957

In the name of Almighty God Amen I, GEORGE MERIWETHER, of Louisa County being in perfect sence and memory do make and appoint this my last will and Testament.

In____ as I am sensible that I am in debt it is my will and desire that my Executors make sale of part of my estate on the best terms they can sufficient to discharge all demands against me. Then as I have given bond for the sum of seventeen pounds ten shillings to be paid annually to my mother FRANCES PRYOR and have given the said FRANCES PRYOR liberty to occupy the house she lives in and five acres of land and to have liberty to cut wood and any kind of timber and to make use of the spring it is my will and desire that my executors pay the greatest attention to what relates to the said FRANCES PRYOR and not suffer her to be molested in the possession of the above five acres of land and appurtenances during her life and to pay the sum above mentioned yearly during her life as pr. bond of that may not be any wrong consideration put on the above clause, it it my will and desire that the said FRANCES PRYOR enjoy and keep in possession during her natural life the said house and land and annuity above mentioned and after her death to revert to my estate and be disposed as if the above clause had never been made.

Item and as I have been seen by the will of the said FRANCES PRYOR that among the estate she wills to me there is a boy Harry, which said negro boy Harry I give and bequeath unto her son SAMUEL PRYOR my Brother in Law [half brother], and if he dies without heir I give the said negroe boy Harry to my son WILLIAM MERIWETHER.

Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife MARTHA MERIWETHER one negroe girl Bitt and her future increase forever.

Item I give an bequeath unto my beloved wife MARTHA one third part of negroes and household furniture and stocks of every kind during her natural life and at her death she is at liberty to will the said negroes and household furniture and stocks to and among my children, and to no other person whatever. It is likewise my will and desire that my said wife MARTHA MERIWETHER keep in her possession the house I live in and one third of the tract of land around it during her life and at her decease to be disposed of in the same manner as the rest of the land I have disposed of.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son WILLIAM MERIWETHER on negroe boy to be choosen by him when the said WILLIAM come of age - to him and his heirs forever. The said gift being in consideration of a sum of money I sold a peace of land given to me by his grandfather WILLIIAM MERIWETHER, at the time of the said gift requested that his said grandson should have a little negro in consequence of the said gift.

Item all the rest of my estate to every kind and sort to be equally divided among all my children and to be divided when one comes of age and his part given and then put together again, and as ____ as they come of age or marries to have a division, this is my will and desire that any said estate shall remain and the produce thereof be in the hands of my wife and she only being accountable for the maintainance and education of my children without my said wife enters into a second marriage then she is only to enjoy what I have mentioned before - according to the intent and meaning of the several bequests.

I do appoint CAPT. WILLIAM MERIWETHER, NICHOLAS MERIWETHER an REUBEN MERIWETHER my executors who I direct to have my sons well educated and taught the languages - without there appears so great a dullness in my said sons that it would answer no purpose - and put to some genteel profession such as Phisick, Law or Divinity and in order that they may comply with my request I do empower my said executors to sell such land or the whole of either of my sons estates that will be necessary to educate or qualify him or them for either of the said professions and my said executors are empowered and I do thereby empower them, at any time before a division of my estate to sell any part thereof that would be necessary to educate and accomplish my sons in the said professions and what ever sum they shall lay out on either of my said sons as aforementioned shall be deducted out of the estate I have left them, so that one may not enjoy more than another of the estate I leave to be divided equally among them and finally, it is my will and desire that my executors that when my estate is divided or any division made if they should think it to the interest of advantage of my said children that any part of the whole of the said estate be sold, I do impower said executors to make sale thereof and divide the money among my said children or if they think proper I would have them lay it out in some other estate for each particular child. I would be so understood that I would have my executors to act and do in the same manner as he would think I would do, as I have not the least doubt of their willingness and ability to serve me in my several requests. In witness thereof I have herein set my hand and seal this sixth day of July Anno Dom. one Thousand seven hundred and seventy five.

Signed & Sealed in presence of GEORGE MERIWETHER (seal)
WM. WHITE
DAVID W. MERIWETHER
JOHN HOWER
NATHANIEL HARRIS

To be annexed by way of codicil to the above will viz. for fear there should be any mistake in the division of my estate my will and meaning is that all my children that is already born and those that may be born after the date hereof shall and may enjoy the said estate bequeathed in the above will and if either of the said children dies before they come of age or married their part to be equally divided among the survivors.
Signed & Sealed this seventh day of July 1775.
Test. NICHOLAS MERIWETHER GEORGE MERIWETHER (seal)

At a Court held for Louisa County on Monday the 8th day of July 1782
This will was this day presented in Court by NICHOLAS MERIWETHER one of the executors therein named and was proved by the oath of WILLIAM WHITE gent. and NATHANIEL HARRIS two of the witnesses thereto also the codicil was proved by the oath of the said NICHOLAS MERIWETHER the witness thereto and on the motion of the said executor who made an oath according to said certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form he giving security whereupon he together with his securities is entered into bond according to law.

Test: John Nelson Clk Cur

NICHOLAS MERIWETHER the only acting executor.


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