William N. Griffin - 1921 Last Will & Testament

William Newton "Bill" Griffin was a local lumber dealer, and strong supporter of the local school. He wrote his will in 1921, leaving his estate to his children, as shown below. When he died in February 1924, The Pioneer News printed the obituary you will find beneath his will.

To settle his estate, his heirs petitioned the Circuit Court to appoint a commissioner to sell his real estate and divide the proceeds amongst his heirs.

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Bullitt County Will Book K, Page 62

I, W. N. Griffin, being of sound mind and disposing memory and knowing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, do make this my last will and testament, as follows, to-wit:

1st - I desire that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid as early after my demise as can conveniently be done.

2nd - I desire that all my property both real and personal including all my money, bonds and notes be divided equally among my five children, Marie Maraman, Ruth Rouse, Katherine Bealmear, Grace Griffin, and William Griffin, Jr., except $2000.00 which I direct my Executors to hold for the benefit of my father, Gib. Griffin for his life, the remainder to be divided equally among my children at his death.

3rd - I desire that my executors hereinafter named shall hold the part of my estate herein devised to my son, William Griffin, Jr. for him until he arrives at the age of 25 years and pay him the income therefrom annually that they keep his part or interest and see that he is educated out of the income if sufficient, but if the income is not sufficient to educate him, they may use a part of the principal to a reasonable degree for the purpose of educating him, and if when the said William Griffin, Jr. arrives at the age of 21 years he proves to the satisfaction of my executors that he is capable of handling his estate in a profitable manner to himself they may in their discretion pay same to him. I desire that the other children be paid their part of my estate as early after my death as can conveniently be done. They must pay William Griffin his part when he arrives at the age of 25.

I hereby appoint V. H. Rouse and C. L. Croan my Executors for the purpose of settling my estate in pursuance to the terms of this my last will and testament. This the 16th day of February 1921.

(signed) W. N. Griffin

We, W. S. Rouse and J. W. Croan in the presence of each other and in the presence of W. N. Griffin at his request sign this will as artesting witnesses to his signature thereto, he having signed same in our presence - this the 16th day of February, 1921. (signed) W. S. Rouse, J. W. Croan

State of Kentucky County of Bullitt...Sct. I, Lindasy Ridgway, Clerk of the Bullitt Counth Court in the State of Kentucky, certify that the foregoing last will and testament of W. N. Griffin, deceased, was on the 10th day of March 1924, produced in open court and proved by the oaths of W. S. Rouse and J. W. Croan, subscribing witnesses thereto, to have been signed and acknowledged by W. N. Griffin to be his last will and testament in their presence - that they attested same at his request - in his presence and in the presence of eacdh other - full capacity of mind of said testator at the time of making said will ws also proved - and same being fully proved as required by law ws admitted to probate and ordered to be recorded as the last will and testament of W. N. Griffin, decesed, which with with certificate I have truly recorded in my office this the 10th day of March 1924. (signed) Lindsay Ridgway, Clerk, by E. E. McCormick, D. C.

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