Nancy F. Phelps' 1892 Will

Nancy Floyd Rogers, daughter of Rev. George Lawson Rogers, first married Thomas Phelps in 1835. After he died, she married his cousin Wesley Phelps in 1851. There were no children born to either couple. Among his other accomplishments, Wesley Phelps was Bullitt County Judge for a time.

As there were no descendants when Wesley Phelps died, all of his estate went to his widow. Before her death, Nancy made out her will as transcribed below, leaving this estate to her nieces and their children.

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Bullitt County Will Book J, pages 158-159

I Nancy F. Phelps of Bullitt County, Ky., do make and publish this my last will and testament.

First, I will and devise to my sister Amanda Merrifield all the land owned by me, inherited from my deceased husband Wesley Phelps, situated north of the road leading from Shepherdsville to Mt. Washington, the same land purchased by my said husband from George E. Rogers and wife, and Abe Foreman and wife, also about twenty acres of sail land was purchased by my said husband from the heirs of Humphrey Simmons.

Second, I will and devise in equal shares to my three living nieces and the children of my deceased niece, viz: Jennie Hogland, Sallie Holcomb, Eddie R. Bartlett and the living children of Nannie B. Merrifield deceased, all the land owned by me south of the road leading from Shepherdsville to Mt. Washington, same land inherited by me from my deceased husband Wesley Phelps and the same purchased by him from the heirs of Humphrey Simmons.

Third, I will and devise all the residue of my estate, real, personal and mixed, in equal shares to my sister Amanda Merrifield, my nieces Jennie Hogland, Sallie Holcomb, Eddie R. Bartlett and the children of Nannie B. Merrifield deceased, save and except the following special bequest, viz. I will and devise to my niece Narriett F. Bransford my piano forte, also my six large silver spoons.

To my niece Fanny Burns, six medium size silver spoons; to my nieces Jennie B. Merrifield and Mary Hamilton Merrifield, to youngest children of my sister Amanda, I will one dozen silver tea spoons to be divided equally between them.

Fourth I nominate my friend W. T. Morrow executor of this my last will and testament.

(signed) N. F. Phelps Witnesses: David M. Bates, James D. Hough.

State of Kentucky, Bullitt County, Sct. I W. N. Ridgway, clerk fo the Bullitt County Court in the State of Kentucky, do certify that on the 11th day of April 1892, he foregoing last will and testament of N. F. Phelps deceased was produced in open court and proved by the oath of David M. Bates and James D. Hough, subscribing witnesses thereto, to have been signed and acknowledged by the said N. F. Phelps in their presence. And they attested same in her presence at her request and in the presence of each other. They also proved the full capacity of mind of the said N. F. Phelps deceased and the same being fully proved was ordered to be recorded as her last will and testament. And that I have truly recorded the same with this certificate in my office this the 14th dya of April 1892. (signed) W. N. Ridgway, Clerk.

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