Jonathan Irons Will and Estate

Jonathan Irons appears to have died in 1813 in Bullitt County. In Bullitt County Will Book A, on pages 112-114, we have both his will and statements of how his widow, Agnes Irons received her dower portion. The first section below tells how men were assigned the task of first determining which of his slaves would go to his widow. The second part tells what part of his land would be her dower share. The third section is a transcription of Jonathan Iron's will itself.

An image of each section will appear below, followed by our transcription of it.

Bullitt County Sct. April County Court 1814 Ordered that William Simmons, William Morrow, Cephas Simmons, Samuel Simmons or any three of them being first sworn do allott to Agnes Irons, widow and relict of Jonathan Irons deceased, her dower in the lands of the said Jonathan Irons which lies on the north side of Salt river and also her dower in the slaves of which the said decedent died possessed and that they report according. Copy attests Frederic W. S. Grayson CBCC

Bullitt County Sct. This day Wm Morrow, Wm Simmons and Samuel Simmons appeared before me a justice of the peace for said county and took the oath prescribed by law as commissioners to allot Agnes Irons her dower agreeable to the written order. Given under my hand this 17th day of May 1814. J. Alexander JPBC

Bullitt County. We Wm Simmons, Samuel Simmons and Wm Morrow, three of the commissioners appointed by the county court of Bullitt at their April term 1814 to allott to Agnes Irons, widow and relict of Jonathan Irons deceased her dower in the slaves belonging to the estate of the said decedent. Having been first duly sworn, proceeded to make the said allotments and do allott to the said Agnes a negro woman named Lucy and a negro girl named Maria, and we do further state that the said Agnes pay to the said estate the sum of nine pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence, being a balance against her in making the allotment We also state that we have not taken negro George who was pledged to Wm Pope into this allotment. Given under our hands this 17th day of May 1814. Wm Simmons Sr., Wm Morrow, Saml Simmons.

At a County Court held for Bullitt County on Monday the 3rd day of July 1815 it was ordered that all papers filed in the clerk's office of this court and which by law were required to be recorded should be recorded forthwith. In pursuance of which order I James Halbert, clerk of said court, do certify that the foregoing allotment of the slaves of Agnes Irons, widow and relect of Jonathan Irons deceased hath been truly recorded in my said office. Given under my hand this 14th day of July 1815. James Halbert.

Bullitt County. We Wm Simmons, Wm Morrow and Samuel Simmons, three of the commissioners appointed by an order of the county court of Bullitt County at their April term 1814 to allott to Agnes Irons, widow and relect of Jonathan Irons deceased, her dower in the lands claimed by the decedants on the north side of Salt River. Having been first duly sworn, proceeded to make the allotment of the lands, being in all 591 1/2 acres as appears to us from deeds in her possession, and we do allott to the said Agnes for her dower in the aforesaid 591 1/2 acres, 191 1/2 acres thereof within the following bounds to wit, beginning at an elm and hickory standing on the north bank of Salt River, thence N 31 W 190 poles to two white oaks, hickory and ash on the top of a ridge, thence S 30 W 225 poles to three beeches, thence South 60 E 160 poles to two hickories and walnut on the bank of Salt River, thence up said river with its meanders 137 poles to the beginning, and being that part of the 591 1/2 acres which was conveyed by Philip Buckner and Tabie his wife to the said Jonathan Irons by deed bearing date 29th November 1798, given under our hand this 19th May 1814. Wm Simmons Sr., Wm Morrow, Samuel Simmons.

At a county court held for Bullitt County on Monday the 3rd day of July 1815 it was ordered that all papers filed in the clerk's office of this court and which by law were required to be recorded should be recorded forthwith. In pursuance of which order I James Halbert, clerk of the said court do certify that the foregoing allotment of the land to Agnes Irons, widow and relict of Jonathan Irons deceased, hath been truly recorded in my said office. Given under my hand this 14th day of July 1815. James Halbert.

In the name of God amen. I Jonathan Irons of Bullitt County do make and ordain this my last will and testament. Imprimes - I desire that my personal property in posssession be sold and disposed of and out of the proceeds that my just debts be paid, and if the said proceeds together with the debts taht are due me should prove insufficient I wish that the deficiency be made up by the sale of such of my negroes as may be necessary for that purpose. Item, I divise my negro woman Lucy to my wife Agnes during her life. I devise to my said wife the sorel mare she usually rides forever and I devise to her during her life one third part of my lands. Item, I devise to my son Jonathan Irons my negro boy Jerry forever. Item, all my estate not above disposed of exclusive of the lands claimed by me whether by deeds, bonds or otherwise, after the payment of my just debts, is to be equally divided among my wife Agnes and my children Rebecca, Johnston, Nancy, Jonathan, Betsy and Polly. Item, all my lands whether claimed by me by deed of conveyance, bond, or otherwise I devise to James Caldwell & his heirs in trust for the separate use of my daughter Sally to her & her heirs forever, to James Caldwell & his heirs in trust for the separate use of my daughter Rebecca to her and her heirs forever, and to my children Nancy, Jonathan, Betsy and Polly and their heirs to be equally divided among all my said children, share and share alike, giving to the said Caldwell one sixth part in trust for my daughter Sally as aforesaid, and one sixth part in trust for my daughter Rebecca as aforesaid to the separate use of them & their heirs, provided however that this devise of my lands to my children as aforesaid shall be subject to my wife's dower therein devised to her as above. I appoint Fred Wm Spence Grayson guardian to my son Jonathan and request that he have him well educated. I appoint James Caldwell and my wife Agnes Irons executor & executress of this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 29th January 1813. Witnesses: Fred W. Sence Grayson, Lewis Wilcoxson Jr., Wm Brashear, Elisha Lucky.

At a county court held for Bullitt County on Monday the 3rd day of July 1815 it was ordered that all papers filed in the clerk's office of this court and which by law were required to be recorded should be recorded forthwith. In pursuance of which order and it appearing that the within will of Jonathan Irons deceased hath been duly proven by the oaths of Fred W. Spence Grayson and Elisha Lucky, I do certify that I have truly recorded the same together with this certificate in my said office. Given under my hand as clerk of the county court of said county this 14th day of July 1815. James Halbert.

---

If you, the reader, have an interest in any particular part of our county history, and wish to contribute to this effort, use the form on our Contact Us page to send us your comments about this, or any Bullitt County History page. We welcome your comments and suggestions. If you feel that we have misspoken at any point, please feel free to point this out to us.