WILLS: Given, Dickson, Will-1816, Probate-1833 - Livingston Co Submitted by: Happy Greer <braimer@kiwi.dep.anl.gov> Will of Dickson Given, Livingston Co, Ky 1816, probated 1833 Livingston County, Kentucky Will Book A, pp.130-132 DICKSON GIVEN'S Will Frankfort 12th July 1816 In the name of God Amen I DICKSON GIVEN of the County of Livingston and State of Kentucky now on a lengthy journey and sound in mind memory & best knowing the uncertainty of human life. If I never should return from sd journey to Philadelphia make this my last will and testament. 1st. I wish all my just debts to be paid and the partner- ship I am now in with my ever beloved Brother I wish to be closd. as soon as would be convenient 2nd. I wish my ever beloved wife NANCY GIVEN after all the Just debts are paid to have the one third part of my estate during her natural life both personal and real and at her decease to go equally to my children except the sum of five hundred dollars which I allow my wife to dispose of as she may please 3rd. I wish the remaining two thirds of my estate to be equally divided Between FAYETTE HENRY GIVEN, MARY LUCINDA GIVEN and AUGUSTUS NEY? GIVEN and if DOCTOR JAMES A. WHITE who now has my other child EASTHER ARAMINTA GIVEN in his possession should not immediately on my decease settle on her as much or more than I have to give my other children agreeable to his promise--In case of his failure a thing I think there is no doubt to be entertained but what he will comply as I always had and doe view him as a man of the strict- est honour and integrity I say in case of his failure as above I wish my daughter as above mentioned EASTHER ARAMINTA GIVEN to have an equal part with the balance of my children and I wish if he should comply as promised I wish to give my daughter in remembrance that she may not think after I am dead and cold in the grave that because she did not live with me I had forgot her--I say I wish her to have a present out of any part of my property to the amt. of two Hundred dollars or to that amt. in anything she may fancy. I wish my execu- tor which will be hereafter mentioned to get and purchase any thing she may want to that amt. above stated because she is absent? perhaps she may see those lines I wish to here observe to her that my affection is as strong as ever is (sic) was for any of my children for her 4th. wish my ever beloved Brother JOSEPH R. GIVEN my present partner and only brother to be my executor to take charge of all my earthly efects and I wish him not to be bound in any security I further wish him in case my beloved wife should ever marry again a thing I think likely as she is yet young to take charge of my children and put them out to school and not suffer them to live with a step father as step fathers are so apt to abuse children I wish here to observe for fear my ever dear wife may think this hard as she has suffered many pains and fatigues in raising those children that I have the utmost confidence in her and if I should never see her more I will here observe that I believe I have been blessed with one of the most affectionate and beloved companions that ever man was blessed with but if her 2nd Husband was to go to abuse my children what could a woman's arm do to hinder such abuse and my blood runs cold now in my Veighens to think of my little darling Babes receiving the stripes from a step father, - I should be glad if my wife could reconcile it to herself to never marry and raise our little darlings and her and my dear Brother conduct their education both male & female but this from the common corse of things I could hardly expect as she is young. She may now think she will never marry but I fear will get out of that notion. 5th. I wish my child- ren to have a complete education if it should take the chief part of their patrimony to doe it - I doe not wish them to la- bour under the same disadvantages that I doe my mind being as good as many others that is calld men of tallent, yet language is denyd. me to convey my Eides for the lack of education. both male & female I wish completely educated - this I will leave particularly with my brother for him to conduct their education with the advice &c. of my dear wife so long as she remains a widow -- I wish my dear wife to have and keep my portrait remembering at same time that is the resemblance of a man who was dearly attached to her and if the other world we should ever meet and be known to each other it would be gratifying to me in the extreme to see the partner of all my pleasures and griefs and know at same time she had well done her part below with our dear babes which lies heaviest on my mind, that and parting with my friends here below. And at her decease for my portrait to be given to some one of my children that appears the most anxious for to keep my resemblance. this will be judged off by my executor 6th. I wish here to observe that one principle reason for making my will at this time is that if I never should return I do not wish the County Court of Livingston to have any management of my children as I have always thought it was universely done by them. I do not wish to hurt their feelings of said Court many and indeed the most of them I venerate as men of a great deal of goodness of heart not surpassed by any but merely? the difference of opinion be- tween them and me 7- I wish my negros and real estate to be divided and indeed all of my estate that can be done without selling I wish the whole management to be in my executor to sell or keep the pers- onal estate as he may think would be best And I wish my negro boy NERO to live with my wife during her widowhood to manage and take care for her and when she marry I wish him to be sett free or I will leave it with my executor to sett him free or treat him as well as if he was free he has been a faithful servant to me and I would note he should not be abused but will leave this entirely with my executor to do as he pleases - In testamony whereof I have hereunto set my hand date above - I certify to the world this is my hand writing for above purpose - Dickson Given Commonwealth of Kentucky Livingston County Towit I JESSE PATTERSON Clerk of the County Court for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that this the last will and testament of Dickson Given decd. was this day produced in open court and proven by the oaths of JOSEPH WATTS, ROBERT A. PATTERSON & JESSE PATTERSON who testafied that the whole of said will and the name thereto subscribed is in the hand writing of said Dickson Given and the said will was thereupon ordered to be recorded In testamoney whereof and that I have recorded the same and this certificate I hereunto set my hand this 1st day of April 1833. Jesse Patterson c.l.c.c. ======================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation.