Will:  John B. Cundiff, November 19, 1853, Bullitt Co., KY

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Date:  Saturday, April 12, 2003, 15:17:24 EDT
From:  Pat Settle (psettle@yahoo.com)
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WILL OF JOHN B. CUNDIFF
Bullitt County Courthouse
Shepherdsville, KY

I John B. Cundiff of the County of Bullitt and State of Kentucky 
do make, publish and declare this writing to be my last will and 
testament hereby revoking any and all former wills by me at any time hereto 
of this one made.

 First, I give to my wife, Elizabeth (Younger) Cundiff, the tract 
of land upon which I now live being the same conveyed to me by John 
Swank and wife.  Said tract of land is described in said Swank deed 
as containing 482 acres.  Out of which I have since sold to Wilford
Lee one hundred acres leaving 382 acres to my said wife, to have and
to hold said tract of 382 acres of land for and during her natural life
and at her death to pass and descend as herein often directed.  Also I 
give her to be held in the same way the land bought of Henry Younger.
I also give and bequeth to my said wife for and during her natural 
life one third of my slaves.  Also after giving to such of my children
as shall hereafter name certain specified property to make equal with 
other children to whom I have advanced such articles of property my 
will and desire is that my said wife shall have all the remainder of
my personal property for and during her natural life and what remains
of the same at her death, I desire shall be equally divided among my 
children.  Also I give to my said wife $100 a year during her life.

Second, I give and bequeth to my son, Jas. Cundiff, the tract of 
land where he now lives supposed to be 150 acres.  And is all the land 
purchased by me of William Lee that remains unsold and for said land in 
the division of my estate.  I desire my said son shall be charged the 
sum of seven hundred dollars.

Third, I give and bequeath to my two sons William and Perry, the 
tract of land conveyed to me by John Swank and wife supposed to 
contain and in Swank’s deed to me described as containing 287
acres to be equally divided between them by a line running from 
Crunsbaugh’s land to the house(?).  William to have the part next 
to the brick house where I now live and Perry to have the part next
to Miles Lee’s.  For this tract my will is that each of my said sons, 
William and Perry shall in the division of my estate be charged the 
sum of seven hundred dollars.

Forth.  To my sons John and Wesley I give and bequeth the home 
place here before willed to their mother for life.  This bequest
to take effect at their said mother’s death.  I also will to them
all the land purchased by me of Henry Younger adjoining the house 
tract to be held by them after their mother’s death, to be equally 
divided according to quantity and quality and same each of my said 
sons John and Wesley are to be charged the sum of eight hundred dollars.

Fifth.  To my sons William and Perry I give each one bed and 
bedding, stead, one cow and calf and a saddle worth twenty dollars
unless furnished them by me before my death.

Sixth.  To my daughter Elizabeth I give a horse worth sixty 
dollars and a saddle worth twenty dollars, cow and calf, one bed, 
bedding and stead.

Seventh.  To my daughter Rebecca I give a saddle of the value of 
twenty dollars.  To my daughter Jane, wife of Isaac Howlett, I give one 
bed, bedding, and also one horse of the value of sixty dollars to be 
held by her for her own especial use and benefit, free from the control 
of her husband and at her death the same I desire shall pass and descend 
to her two children, William Henry and Catherine.

Eighth.  To my son Wesley I give and bequeth one horse of the 
value of sixty dollars, one saddle of the value of twenty dollars, one 
cow and calf, and bed, bedding, and bedstead.  I likewise desire my said 
son Wesley to be sent to school and the costs of the same to be paid for 
out of my estate.

Ninth.  After my death I desire all my Negroes not allotted to my 
wife shall be kept hired out and all money and debts due me after 
paying my just debts, loaned out till the death of my wife then I 
desire that my daughters Sarah, wife of Miles Lee, Mary, wife of 
Orleans Lee, Amanda, wife of Robinson Mumford, Jane, wife of Isaac 
Howlett, Rebecca, wife of William Boots, and my daughter Elizabeth, 
shall each receive my Negroes enough to make them equal to the land 
devised to my sons.  Said Negroes and their increase to be held by 
each of them for and during their natural lives, and at their deaths 
to pass and descent to their children except as to my daughter, Jane.  
As to my said daughter Jane my will is that at her death the negroe or 
Negroes that she may receive with their increase shall pass and descend 
to her two present living children, William Henry and Catharine, and in 
the case of the death of either of them to the survivor.

Tenth.  After my wife’s death and my daughters have out of my 
Negroes been made equal with my sons, my will and desire is that all the 
remainder of my estate whatever description it may be shall be equally 
divided among all my children, namely; James Cundiff, William Cundiff, 
Perry Cundiff, John Cundiff, Wesley Cundiff, Eliabeth Cundiff, Sarah Lee, 
wife of Miles Lee, Mary Lee, wife of Orleans Lee, Amanda Mumford, wife of 
Robinson Mumford, Jane Howlett, wife of Isaac Howlett, and Rebecca Boots, 
wife of William Boots.  In case of the death of any of my said children 
without living children it is my will that property here devised to them 
shall pass to their brothers and sisters before named or their descendents.

Eleventh.  My will and desire further is that my grandson, John 
Lee, son of my deceased daughter, Zerilda Lee, and Wilford Lee, shall 
receive of my estate the sum of one dollar and no more.

Twelfth.  I constitute and appoint my two sons, James and John 
Cundiff, executors of this my last will and testament.

Thirteenth.  All the property of every description that I have 
devised to my daughter, Jane Howlett, is to be held by her for her own 
especial use and benefit as long as she lives and at her death is to go 
to her two children now living, William Henry and Catharine, or the 
survivor of them.

Fourteenth.  The hundred dollars per annum given to my wife is to 
be paid her by my executors of the proceeds of hires of my Negroes and 
out of money on interest.

Dated:  November 19, 1853


(Note:  This is a transcript of a transcript.  I have double-checked 
the spelling, and any errors are exactly as they were in the original 
transcript.)