BOONE HISTORY AND ANCESTRY - William Grant II Will

This Will is that of William Grant II. In one of the clauses he mentions a slave being left to that of his daughter Rebecca who married James Lemon. This is the Keipper line.

Following is a copy of William Grant's will, found in Fayette County (Kentucky) Will Book "C," Page 349.

"In the name of God Amen, I William Grant of the County of Fayette and the Commonwealth of Kentucky being infirm and full of years but of sound mind and disposing memory, for which I thank God, and calling to mind the uncertanity of human life and being desirous to dispose of all such worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with, I give the same in the manner following, that Is to say,

1st. I desire that all my just debts should be paid together with my funeral expenses.

2nd. I desire that my Dear and beloved wife Elizabeth Grant have one third part of my estate both real and personal, after my debts is paid out of it & too legisees which are to be hereafter mentioned taken therefrom, and for that third part to include two negro girls Jenny and Fanny, which two girls my desire is that they shall be my wifes forever to do what she pleases.

3d. My desire is that a Certain negro lad now hired to James Lemon named Frank to be kept in the hands of my wife Elizabeth and trustees hereafter mentioned for the use of my daughter Rebecca Lemons, the said negro Frank to be left in the hands of my wife & the trustees that he shall not be taken to pay James Lemon's debts and is not to be considered the property of James Lemons at all.

4th. I give to my Grandson, William Grant son of John, a negro boy named Jesse, but he is not to have possession of the boy till after my wife's death unless my wife see cause to give the boy up sooner if she does not my desire is that my wife have the said boy as long as she lives.

5th. I give all the rest of my estate, both real and personal to be divided amongst my children and Grand children hereafter mentioned, that is to say, my sons John, William & Squire, my daughters, Mary Mitchell, Sarah Sanders, Elizabeth Mosby, and Rebeca Lemmon, likewise one moiety with my above mentioned children to be equally divided amongst my Grand children, the sons and daughters of my deceased son Isarael Grant, likewise one equal moiety as above mentioned to be divided between my two grandchildren Elijah & Betsy Grant; son and daughter to my dec'd son Samuel Grant; my desire is that all my estate mentioned in the 5th article be sold by my Executors to the highest bidders and the monies ariseing therefrom to be equally divided amongst my children above mentioned, the children of Isarael Grant dec'd and the children of Samuel Grant dec'd, to have–each of the familys of grandchildren above mentioned–one equal moiety divided amongst them.

6th. But as my son William is security for my son John to the Executors of William Fry dec'd, for a considerable amount, now my desire is if my son John pay off the above mentioned debt himself and my son William suffers none by it, then my desire is that my son John have his equal moiety as above descsibed, but if in case he should not and my son William should suffer thereby, then and in that case my will and desire is that my son William have the part intended for my son John or so much thereof as will make him whole.

7th. I appoint my son William Grant and John C. Richardson Trustees in this my will.

8th. I appoint my wife Elizabeth Executrix and my son William & John Richardson Ex'ors to this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all others and former wills or testaments by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 18th day of August in the year of–Lord Eighteen Hundred and Three. WILLIAM GRANT (Seal) Witnesses:

FRANCIS BROWNING

WILLIAM CALDWELL

OMBERNORD YUNLING

A codicil to this my last will and testament and it is my desire that it may be made a part thereof Whereas I give to my son Isareal Grant dec'd in his life time one thousand acres of land in Clark County on the waters of Stoner and never made any deed for the same and whereas my said son Isareal by his last will and testament did dispose of the same (reference being thereto had will more fully appear) I do hereby ratify and confirm the same. Witness my hand and seal this day of 1804. WILLI'M GRANT. (SEAL)