Recently Mark and Sandy Veatch contributed to the museum a collection of original deeds and financial documents dating back a century or more that had come into their possession.
Among the collection were checks written on the Boston Banking Company of Lebanon Junction, Kentucky by John L. Masden in apparent settlement of his father's estate.
The Boston Banking Company had been in operation in the Nelson County town of Boston for a number of years before moving its location to Lebanon Junction in the Fall of 1927.
Mr. Masden used checks drawn on that bank to distribute funds from the estate of Johnathon Masden, his father, who died on 18 Jan 1929, age 92.
Johnathon Masden first married Lucy Ann Waters on 7 Dec 1856, and they had three children: Sarah, John W., and Susan. Sarah married John Dragoo on 2 Jan 1879, and the first check shown here was to her.
John W. Masden married Rinnie Collings on 24 Sep 1885, and they had five children: Lee, William, Adison, Eva, and Myrtle before John died in 1903. The next check shown here was to Lee Masden, as heir of his father.
Myrtle Masden married James Hadden in 1923, and, as heir to John, she received the check shown here.
Susan Masden, youngest child of Johnathon and Lucy Ann, married Preston B. Samuels on 15 Dec 1881, and they had five children: Marsh, John Isaac, Nancy, Bessie, and William B. Samuels. Susan had died on 3 Nov 1924, and her share of her father's estate went to her children, beginning with her eldest son Marsh Samuels who received the next check shown here.
Next in line was John Isaac Samuels who received this check.
Nancy J. Samuels, Susan's daughter, had married Ezra W. Newman, and she received the next check.
Her sister, Bessie E. Samuels married Wilbur Stark. She received this next check.
And her brother William also received his share, as shown on this check.
Following Lucy's death, Johnathon Masden married Elizabeth Jane Duvall on 23 Feb 1865, and they had five children: Charlie, Mary Ellen, John L., Elizabeth, and Martha. Charlie's check is shown below.
Mary Ellen married R. K. Ricketts on 27 Jun 1895, and although she lived until 5 Mar 1932, we find no check in her name. John L. Masden, her brother, was apparently the administrator of their father's estate, as he was the one writing the checks. The next one is the one he wrote to himself.
Their sister, Elizabeth Masden married Dr. William S. Napper on 26 Nov 1904. She received the next check.
And Martha, the youngest child of Johnathon and Elizabeth, married Richard C. Ludwick. She received the final check shown here.
We have not yet located the court records regarding this estate, but they are likely available at the County Clerk's office. The varying amounts on these checks may reflect only partial settlements which may also include real estate and personal possessions.
The original cancelled checks, along with the other documents contributed by Mark and Sandy Veatch are available for viewing at the Bullitt County History Museum.
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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: 15 Oct 2024 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/bchistory/masden-checks.html
