Transcript of the Will of William Blackwell
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In the Name of God Amen I William Blackwell of the County of Dent and
State of Missouri being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and
publish and declare this my last will and Testament. Item First I will and
bequeath  that all my just debts be first paid and after the payment of
all my just debts are paid Item Second I give and bequeath to my wife
Mary Ann Blackwell five slaves as follows the names are Buck, Sam, one
woman named Leah, one girl named Serdonia, one girl named Ann, to have and
to hold during her life time then to remain in the family. I also give and
bequeath to her, the said Mary Ann Blackwell my wife, the house and farm
where I now live and all  the household and kitchen furniture and all the
farming implements and wagons that belong to me and two yoke of oxen and
her choice of two mares and one colt, four milk cows and calves and all
the sheep and hogs that is on my farm at my decease, to have and to hold
the same and all the crop that is on my land. Item Third I give and
bequeath to my seven children John S. Blackwell, Harriet E. England, James
H. Blackwell, Jesse A. Blackwell, William H. Blackwell, Frances Ann
Fisher, Mary Ann Watson, heirs of William and Mary Ann Blackwell seven
slaves to be divided by drawing lots and the said slaves be made equal in
cash after the drawing by lots the names of the negroes are as follows one
man named Henry valued at a thousand dollars, one man named Adrom at one
thousand dollars, one woman named Sharlot at eight hundred dollars, one
girl named Catherine at five hundred dollars, and boy Peter at five
hundred dollars, one small girl named Clementine at two hundred and fifty
dollars they are slaves for life which of the above negroes that Harriet
England may draw I give and bequeath to her-her lifetime and then to her
children. I give and bequeath to Frances Ann Fisher whichever negro she
may draw out of the above named slaves to have and to hold her lifetime
then to belong to her children. I give and bequeath to Mary Ann Watson the
negro that she may draw to have and to hold her life time and then to
belong to her children. Now if the sale of horses and cattle after my
decease is not sufficient to make the seven slaves equal among the several
heirs it must be done at the final division of the property left to my
wife both real and personal which is to be sold and equal divided among
the several heirs according to the several rights after the death of my
wife. It is further my will and wish the negros that is willed to my wife
should not be sold out of the family and if either of the negroes that is
left to my wife should fall to either of my three daughters my executor
must make the title to them in accordance  with the other negroes willed
them in the main will and I hereby constitutue and appoint John S.
Blackwell executor of this my last will and testament. In testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty fifth day of
July, 1856. /s/ William Blackwell (seal) Signed seal published and decared
by the William Blackwell to be his last will and testament in our
presence. Witnesses John Holt George W. McNeal