John Beckwith, the patriarch of his line in Bullitt County, died on 8 Aug 1825 without a will, and administration of his estate was relinquished by his widow Martha Beckwith a month later. Thereupon the court granted that administration to a family friend, George Washington Simmons.
We gain a picture of that estate from a deed made the following January by John W. and Mary Beckwith in which John William Beckwith insures that his mother will receive her one-third of his part of the estate, referring to it as "the one third part of the one undivided sixth" of the estate. This tells us that the estate was being divided six ways, but as yet remained undivided. This is the first deed shown below.
The same day, John W. and Mary Beckwith deeded his remaining portion of his one-sixth of the estate to the remaining heirs, including Sarah Beckwith (his sister), Benjamin Summers (husband of Yolinda Beckwith), Richard A. Winn (son of Eleanor Beckwith, dec'd), William Yeatman (son of Martha Beckwith dec'd) and Ann Uptonia Beckwith (daughter of Upton Beckwith, dec'd), as shown in the second deed below.
Bullitt County Deed Book F, Pages 170-171
This indenture made this 10th day of January in the year of our Lord, 1826 between John W. Beckwith and Mary Beckwith his wife of the county of Bullitt, and state of Kentucky of the one part, and Martha, Beckwith of the same county and state of the other part. Witness that said John W. Beckwith and wife, for, and in consideration of the sum of one dollar current money of the United States to them in hand paid and the natural love and affection, which the said John W Beckwith bears towards his mother, the said Martha, they the said John W. Beckwith and wife have granted, bargained and sold and by these presents do grant, bargain and sell, alien and convey onto the said Martha Beckwith the one third part of the one undivided sixth of the following tracts, or parcels and pieces of land (being the whole of the real estate whereof John Beckwith dec'd died seized and possessed, either in law or equity) being 450 acres of land being the place called the home place and whereon said John Beckwith dec'd died, conveyed in different pieces some to said Beckwith and some to Benjamin Summers, 100 acres of land in Bullitt county conveyed to said John Beckwith by Seth B. Thornberry, the mill tract of land conveyed to John Beckwith by Pope and Breckinridge and by Hornbeck, the house and lot in the town of Shepherdsville purchased of Jonathan Gore, and whereon the said Gore now lives, the house and lot in the same town called the Hugh's place wherein Henry F. Kalfus now lives, the house and lot in the same town, the same in which Matthew Wilson now lives, and the brick house and lot adjoining the same known and called the bank house, and one undivided moiety of 500 acres of land in Hardin County, meaning hereby to convey to her the said Martha Beckwith the one third of the one undivided sixth part of all and singular the whole of the real estate whereof the said John Beckwith dec'd died seized and possessed.
Bullitt County Deed Book F, Pages 171-172
This indenture made this 10th day of January 1826 between John W. Beckwith and Mary Beckwith his wife of the County of Bullitt and Commonwealth of Kentucky of the one part and Sarah Beckwith, Benjamin Summers, Richard A. Winn, William Yeatman and Ann Uptonia Beckwith of the second part. Witnesseth that the said John W. Beckwith and Mary his wife for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar current money of the United States to them in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and confirm unto the said parties of the second part all their right, title, interest and claim and dower of, in and to all the estate real whereof John Beckwith died seized and possessed, either in law or equity, to wit, 450 acres conveyed to said John Beckwith in different parcels call the home plantation, and whereon he died, a part of which was conveyed to Benjamin Summers, 100 acres of land conveyed to said John Beckwith dec'd by Seth B. Thornberry, the mill tract containing about 127 1/2 acres conveyed to said Beckwith dec'd by Popes and by Hornbeck &c., the house and lot in the town of Shepherdsville conveyed to said Beckwith dec'd by Jonathan Gore Jr. and the house and lot in same town conveyed to said Beckwith by Benjamin Hughes and by the Sheriff of Bullitt, the same in which H. F. Kalfus now lives. The house and lot in same town in which Matthew Wilson at present now lives, conveyed to said John Beckwith dec'd by the sheriff, and also the house and lot adjoining the same known by the bank house and lot. And also a tract of land in Hardin County, being one undivided moiety of 500 acres, excepting however and herein this conveyance reserving the one third part of the sixth of each tract or parcel of land hereby conveyed which is conveyed by said John W. Beckwith and wife to Martha Beckwith by deed bearing same date herewith. Together with all and singular the premises hereby conveyed with the appurtenances unto the same belonging or in any wise appertaining, reserving and excepting the one third part of the undivided sixth of each tract or parcel thereof as aforesaid unto them the said parties of the second part and their heirs and assigns forever. And they the said John W. Beckwith and wife do hereby warrant and defend the same (excepting and reserving the one third part of the sixth of the whole as aforesaid) to the parties of the second part and their heirs and assigns against the claim of themselves and all persons whatsoever claiming by through or under them or their heirs, but not against the claims of any other persons. In testimony whereof the said John W. Beckwith and Mary his wife have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and date above written.
[John W. Beckwith signed in the presence of N. C. Summers, who then recorded the indenture in the clerk's office as deputy clerk.]
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The Bullitt County History Museum, a service of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is located in the county courthouse at 300 South Buckman Street (Highway 61) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The museum, along with its research room, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday appointments are available by calling 502-921-0161 during our regular weekday hours. Admission is free. The museum, as part of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and is classified as a 509(a)2 public charity. Contributions and bequests are deductible under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code. Page last modified: 12 Sep 2024 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/bchistory/jwbeckwith-jbeckwithheirs.html