Peter Shepherd's Will

At the November 1822 session of the Franklin County, Kentucky Court, a document purporting to the the last will and testament of Peter Shepherd of Baltimore was produced with regard to land held in his name in that county. The Court satisfied itself that the document was Peter Shepherd's will, and ordered it recorded in the County Will Book.

The Court Order is shown and transcribed below. Beneath it is the will and its transcription.

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A writing purporting to be the last will & testament of Peter Shepherd deceased, was produced in court and it appearing to the satisfaction of the court that all the subscribing witnesses to said will are dead, and that the said decedent died seized and possessed of sundry land claims which lie in the County of Franklin, and the handwriting of the subscribing witnesses to said will and of the testator of said will being sufficiently proven to the satisfaction of the court by the oaths of John Brown, Thomas Todd and Robert Wickliffe, it is ordered that the said will be admitted to record as the last will and testament of the said Peter Shepherd deceased.

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In the name of God Amen I Peter Shepherd of Baltimore Town and County in the State of Maryland, being at this time of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, but conscious of the uncertainty of this transitory life and of the certainty of death do make publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following, this is to say -

Imprimis I recommend my soul unto the hands of Almighty God from whom I received it, and my body to be decently at the discretion of my executors hereinafter mentioned and appointed, and as to the following worldly goods with which it has pleased God to bless me I give and devise in the following manner, Viz. I give and devise all that tract or parcel of land situate and lying on the main falls Salt River in the State of Virginia containing fifteen hundred acres, also I give and devise four thousand five hundred acres of land situate likewise in the State of Virginia in and about the settlements of Kentucky, and also all other the rest and residue of my lands in and about the said settlements of Kentucky to be equally divided among my children, Adam, Michael, Peter, William, Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary and Susannah in equal portions, share and share alike, to have and to hold, all and singular the lands above mentioned unto and to the use of my said children, Adam, Michael, Peter, William, Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary, and Susannah, share and share alike, and to their heirs and assigns forever. Provided always and it is my will and desire that my son Adam Shepherd have the aforementioned tract of land of fifteen hundred acres of land on the Falls of Salt River as a part of his share or portion of the whole of the said lands above devised and provided also. Taht if any of my said children should die before he, she or they attain the age of twenty one years or day of marriage, that then and in that case his, her or their share or portion of the lands above devised shall be equally divided share and share alike among the survivors of my said children, and provided further that my executors hereinafter named shall have full power and absolute authority to sell and convey two thousand acres of my siad lands, if they shall judge is proper and expedient for the purpose of supporting the minors of my said children and to pay and discharge the expenses necessary for the further securing the lands above mentioned. And I do hereby nominate and appoint my son Adam, my beloved wife Elizabeth, and my son Michael to be the executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and annulling all other and former wills by me heretofore made, and declaring this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this first day of May in this year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven.
(signed) Peter Shepherd

Signed, sealed, published and delivered by the said testators as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
(signed)
Jno Cookey Owings
Elisha Wiltors
Benedict Swopes Jr.

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