NELSON CO. KY
ESTATE RECORDS
 

Nelson Co. KY Wills (index 1786-1961 on FHL film 481,452)
      1-675: Robert Slaughter, 22 Feb. 1803; pay debts; estate equally divided between wife Peggy and all my children; my brother James Thomas Slaughter exec. Wit. James Rogers Senr, William Rogers, Thomas H. Bissret/Bifrett. Memorandum: my estate kept together on plantation to support my children, as they come of age or marry they to have their equal share. Same wit. proved 9 May 1803. (FHL film 481,453; see Livingston Co. KY)
      D-507: 16 May 1822, Coleman Duncan; son Thomas Duncan; heirs of son Henry Duncan decd $1; son George Duncan land; 3 daus Rebeckah Duncan now Rebeckah Stone, Polly Duncan now Polly Lyne, and Fanny Duncan now Fanny Russel; grandson Coleman Stone and his sisters Fanny, Lucinda and Eliza Stone; ... that Sanford Duncan had, equally divided as follows: Charles Duncan, Coleman Duncan, Sandford Duncan, heirs of James Duncan. Exec. sons Thos. and George. Wit. Edmd. Cotton, John D. Cotton, John Cownolly? (Connelly), Francis Hargand? (Hagan). Prob. 21 April 1823. (FHL film 481,455; p.52 in "Record of Wills in Nelson Co. KY 1780-1851" by Annie Walker Burns, from Georgia Helderlein 3/1993; this extract gives date of will as 30 May 1822 and includes a sister Frances Farrant?)
      F-438: 21 July 1829, John Duncan of Nelson Co. KY; to my wife Mary Duncan all my estate during her lifetime, both real and personal, or whatever part she chooses to keep; if she doesn't keep part, that part to be equally divided between children; at her death to all my children an equal portion of all my money, goods and chattels, both real and personal. At the death of wife, to son Charles Duncan a negro woman Eliza about 19 years of age now in my daughter Rebecca Dye's possession, her husband John Dye has her hired and her time is not yet out. To son Charles Duncan the said negro woman Eliza for use of daughter Rebecca Dye during her life and then her children. (MAD: Apparently Eliza is left in the care of John's son Charles for the benefit of John's daughter Rebecca.) The land to be equally divided as there is a great difference in the value of the land; the remainder to each and every one of my children an equal portion. To daughter Elizabeth Coursey, now living near Gibson's Port, her part shall be in money or something else to suit her as I do not wish for any of the Negroes to go down to that country.
            Appoint wife Mary Duncan and two sons Robert and Charles Duncan execs.; dated 21 July 1829; wit. John Sanders, Thomas Dawson, Searles Lewis. Proved in court 12 April 1830 by oaths of all three witnesses; Charles Duncan appointed executor, the other two having refused to act, securities Robert Duncan, John Duncan, Robert Smithers, Thomas Huston, James Tyler, Alexander McMakin and James Thomas. Proved 12 April 1830. (MAD's extract from pg.148-9 in "KY Misc. Records, 1969-1970" KY DAR Vol.1; FHL film 854,860 item 4) (MAD: see Port Gibson, Claiborne Co. MS)
      2-80: 21 May 1836, estate of Jack Duncan, William H. Duncan administrator. (FHL film 481,457)
      4-194: George Duncan, will dated 23 Aug. 1841; prob. 8 April 1844. Estate to wife Nancy, 2 youngest sons Charles and James, son John S. Duncan, and 3 daus. Mary, Fanny, and Sarah. Exec. Wife, William Bodine & son Charles. Wit. Coleman T. Brown, William Bodine, Newell B. McClaskey, Henry Russell. Jan. 14, 1843. (p.48 in "Record of Wills in Nelson Co. KY 1780-1851" by Annie Burns, from Georgia Helderlein 3/1993)

Nelson Co. KY Probate Documents (copies from Jeannine Wright 12/1991)
      E (or C) pt. 2, pg.25: Will of Henry Duncan, weak in body, 8 April 1829; whereas my son Thomas Duncan some years ago advanced me $500 and I agreed to convey to him 100 acres, part of tract I now live on adj. Nielson Coomes line and to include the cabbin where my son William formerly lived, to be laid off in proper form, conforming to that promise I hereby bequeath to my son Thomas the 100 acres as described. To my wife Milly the 1/3 of the remainder of the tract on which I now live, to be laid off in suitable form on the north side of the tract to include the two most northward rooms of my dwelling house, for life, then to my son Thomas. The remaining two thirds of my land including the rest of my dwelling house and barn, to my son Thomas. To my daughter Rebekah first choice of my Beaurreaus(?), to my daughter Polly one beaurreau? and to my daughter Sidney one beaureau?, and each beaureau to remain in the possession of my wife for life. To my said son my corner cupboard & clock after the death of my wife Milly. Thomas to pay at the death of my wife, to my daughters Becky, Fanney, Sidney & Peggy, each $100, and retain $150 as my trustee to use for the benefit of my daughter Polly by paying her the interest, but if Polly should outlive her husband John Cooper, then my son is to pay her the $150. Remainder to wife Milly for life, then equally divided between my five daughters except Polly's portion to be retained in the hands of my trustee Thomas Duncan in the same manner as the $150. My negro man Webb after the death of my wife Milly (should he live so long) shall be at liberty to choose which of my children to live with, and to that one of my children, I bequeath Webb. Appoint my son Thomas Duncan executor. Wit. Thomas Duncan, John Sutcliffe. Prob. 13 July 1829. Bondsman Zachariah Green and Green Duncan. (Jeannine Wright: Henry was son of Henry Duncan & Rebecca Read)
      Will Book 8, pg.338: Will of Thomas Duncan, 16 Jan. 1856, of Nelson Co. KY, advanced age; To my daughter Fanney for special reasons my boy Edmund which bequest shall not be estimated or accounted for in the general division of my estate hereinafter mentioned. To my wife Nancy all my household furniture & kitchen furniture, and to her for life my landed estate, all my slaves not otherwise disposed of, and the residue of every kind, allowing her to surrender to my executor at her will any part of my estate that she does not desire to retain or may be inclined to relinquish her right & interest to. To my son Coleman $500; to my daughter Fanny $500; to my daughter Rebecca $500; to the children of my decd. daughter Nancy, being five in number, $100 each; to the children of my decd. (does not say daughter) Moriah, being three in number, viz, Mary, Abner and Thomas D., each the sum of $166.67, the sum bequeathed to Thomas D. Gore to be placed in the hands of his respected father Jona. Gore in trust; the sums to be paid at the death of my wife or her surrender of property. To my executor the power on the death of my wife Nancy to sell the farm where I now live provided my son Coleman does not wish to become the purchaser of it at $20 an acre; my slaves be sold at private sale and to legatees if possible excepting the one mentioned earlier, and to sell my personal estate. The money is to be approximated as follows: After the above bequests, the residue to Green Duncan, the children of Moriah Gore decd, Ellis Duncan, the children of my decd. daughter Nancy, Rebecca Duncan, Fanny Moore and Coleman Duncan, in seven unequal shares arranged to make them equal when added to amounts following: Green Duncan to receive one share of the residuary amount, considering he has heretofore received $300, his share to be the largest; children of Moriah Gore decd. receive one share, their earlier part estimated at $600; Ellis Duncan to receive one share, his earlier part $600; children of decd. daughter Nancy receive one share to be divided among them equally, have earlier received $800, their share to be the smallest; Rebecca Duncan receive one share, her earlier part $500; Fanny Moore one share, earlier part $700; Coleman Duncan receive one share, earlier part was $600. A small tract of land heretofore given my son Coleman is not included in my estimates and it is not to be accounted for in making up the bequests of this will. The sum that Thomas D. Gore will be entitled to shall be placed in the hands of his father Jona. Gore in trust, and to be paid him if he recovers, and if he never recovers, at his death the principal to be given to his brother Abner and sister Mary. Appoint my son Green Duncan executor, no security required. Wit. Thomas Duncan Russill, D.B. Wigginton. Proved 10 March 1856, no bond. (Jeannine Wright: Thomas J. was son of Coleman Duncan & Mary Lyne)
      Will Book 12, pg.157: will of Nancy Duncan, widow of George Duncan decd, 4 June 1863; to my son John S. Duncan and daughters Mary Haywood and Fanny Russell all my interest in the slaves my deceased husband and from my son Charles, and the slave John received from my father's estate, to be equally divided between said John S. Duncan and his sisters Mary and Fanny, 1/3 to each, the commissioners who divide them shall do so in a manner to prevent the sale of them for money. To my son John S. Duncan my new table spoons, and to my daughters Mary and Fanny my old tea spoons ... To my son John S. Duncan and my daughters Mary and Fanny all my household & kitchen furniture to be equally divided between them; to my daughter Fanny Russell my carriage and harness; to my daughter Mary Haywood my new side saddle and bridle. All my interest in my father's estate not distributed to me before my death, to my son John and my daughters Mary and Fanny to be equally divided between them. To my son John S. Duncan and my daughters Mary Haywood and Fanny Russell all my stock of every kind, grain on land and the growing crop and my wagon and harness, to be equally divided. To my son James C. Duncan the bed and furniture and the new tea spoons which he has in possession, also all my old table spoons which came from my father and all my farming utensils not before devised. Appoint Coleman Duncan and Bedford Russell executors. Wit. Charles B. May, E.S. Bodine, George C. Russell. Prob. Monday, 8 Feb. 1864 on oaths of Charles B. May and E.S. Bodine. (Jeannine Wright: Nancy the wife of George, mother of John S. of Shelby Co. MO and James Connelly D. of San Antonio.)
            Settlement Papers of Nancy Duncan d. 1864. Three receipts by John S. Duncan, received of John B. Russell, executor of Nancy Duncan, for $369.31 dated 10 May 1865, for $237.29 dated 25 March 1864, and $18.67 and one lot of silver table spoons dated 26 March 1864. Three receipts by Mary Haywood, for her full share of slaves dated 26 March 1864 signed by Mary Haywood, the saddle & bridle & tea spoons etc. dated 19 Feb. 1864 signed by Mary Haywood, and $318.61 dated 8 June 1865 signed W.R. Haywood & Mary Haywood. Receipt of Jas. C. Duncan for old table spoons and farming utensils dated 19 Feb. 1864. Receipt of John S. Duncan for full share of slaves dated 26 March 1864. Bill by A.J. Davis to Mrs. Nancy Duncan, Feb. 5, 1864, for one coffin $40, vault for same $7.50, and hearse hire $5.
            Bond, (#65 in upper right corner), 10 Oct. 1842, by William P. Haywood and George Duncan for marriage of William P. Haywood to Mary Duncan.
      Will Book 13, pg.146: Will of Nancy Duncan, widow of Thomas Duncan decd, 6 Sept. 1858; my deceased daughter Fanny was entitled to a child's part of the estate of her husband Wm. Moore, and after her husband died she acquired during her widowhood some property worth $1000 more or less, all of which is in MO in process of administration, now I give to my executor in trust of the foregoing upon the following trust: that out of the real and personal property in Missouri that belonged to Wm. Moores estate and that portion that I inherited from Fanny, my executor shall purchase a lot of table spoons, desert spoons and tea spoons and salt spoons and soup spoons, all of silver, for the use of Louisa West and Mattie P. Moore, to be equally divided between them when Mattie shall marry, and the residue of the fund to be derived from Moores estate in Missouri to be equally divided between Theresa West and Mattie P. Moore; and to hold the fund to be derived from Fanny's undivided estate in Missouri above described, in trust for the benefit of Thomas Duncan Moore and Crittenden Moore, and applied toward their education; and if one of the heirs dies under age, then the fund to be divided equally between Theresa and Mattie. That my daughter Fanny was entitied to one seventh of her father's farm or the proceeds thereof at my death, and I am one of her heirs included? 2/11 thereof, all of which together with 2/11 of Fanny's interest in her father's slaves and other property, I give to my son Coleman. All the residue of my estate to my son Coleman and my daughter Rebecca equally. Appoint my son Coleman my executor without security. Wit. Garnett Duncan, Green Duncan. Proved 12 Feb. 1866.
       (Jeannine Wright: Nancy Grundy Duncan; Crittenden Moore was Henry Crittenden Moore; Thomas J. Duncan & wife Nancy Duncan had dau. Nancy who mar. 1st 3 Sept. 1829 to Sylvester Hagan in Nelson Co. KY, he died 20 Sept. 1836 in Paris, Monroe Co. MO per Thomas' Bible record, Nancy Hagan mar. 2nd 9 Jan. 1837 in Monroe Co. MO to William G. Moore (IGI), and died 27 April 1851 per Thomas' Bible record; William G. Moore mar. 2nd on 7 Oct. 1852 Fanny Duncan, sister of Nancy; Fanny d. 6 May 1852 and is bur. with her par. in family cemetery on Leven Green farm. It is probable that Rebecca Hagan, age 18 b. MO, in 1850 Nelson Co. KY census p.291 with Thomas J. & Nancy Duncan, was 5th child of Nancy (Duncan) Hagan Moore, and this Rebecca Hagan is the one who mar. on 19 Aug. 1856 to R.A. Weedin, b. 15 Dec. 1830; not Rebecca Duncan dau. of Thomas & Nancy who was still Rebecca Duncan on 7 Jan. 1867 when she received her share of the estate.)
            Settlement papers of Nancy Duncan d. 1866. Receipt 21 Jan. 1867 by Saml. A. Rawlings from Coleman Duncan executor of Nancy Duncan decd, $160.33, the amount less one percent Federal tax willed by Nancy Duncan to her grand daughter Mattie P. Moor (sic) since married to me, the above includes silverware. Receipt 21 Jan. 1867 by H.C. Moore, $106.89, willed to her grandson Henry C. Moore, /s/ R.F. West guardian? of H.C. Moore. Receipt 7 Jan. 1867 by Rebecca Duncan for $559.63. Receipt by R.F. West administrator of Thomas F?. Moore for $106.89 willed to her grandson Thomas F? Moore. (unsigned) I hereby consent for Coleman Duncan to setle the estate of our mother when it may suit him. Dec. 5th, 1867.
      Will Book 14, pg.568: Will of Green Duncan of Nelson Co., now 72 years of age and poor health, 1st day of Sept. 1869. To my wife Martha M. Duncan about $3950 left her by her father Joseph G. Wilson during her life, and then to be equally divided between her children Joseph W. Duncan, Annie E. Hinkle and Mary G. Duncan; I had entered as guardian for the children conditioned that it should go to their hands at the death of their mother according to her father's will before the executor would pay it. Half acre of ground be set apart for a grave yard to which all my children and their desendants shall have free access. The residue of my estate be divided into six equal parts, and that my wife Martha M. Duncan, my children Henry Clay Duncan, Green C. Duncan, Joseph W. Duncan, Annie G. Hinkle and Mary Green Duncan shall each have one share, it being my intention that my wife shall have a child's share in lieu of her dower; but in the division my son Henry Clay Duncan shall be allotted the tract of land on which he now resides known as the Mason Farm and about 12 acres of adj. land, making in all about 189 acres; I have paid to and for my son Henry all the estate I received from his grandfather Gore's estate and he is not to be charged with it in the division. In dividing the land, the portion allotted my wife Martha M. Duncan, my son Joseph W. Duncan, my daughter Annie E. Hinkle, and my daughter Mary Green Duncan all live together unless any of them wish their portion laid off to themselves in which case it is to be allotted to them, my wife to have anything about the house at the appraisement she may want. I have advanced the following sums to some of my chidren which shall be charged to each; to my son Henry Clay Duncan $1250, to my son Green C. Duncan $900. Appoint my wife my executrix without security. No wit. given. Produced 30 Dec. 1869, by J.H. Duncan who swore it was wholely in the handwriting of Green Duncan. (Jeannine Wright: Green was son of Thomas J. Duncan & 1st wife Nancy Green) (also FHL film 481,463)
      Will Book 14, pg.569: Will of James Duncan of Nelson Co. KY, 25 April 1866; to my wife Susan Duncan all personal and real estate for life or widowhood, then equally divided among my children with the following reservations; I have already given my son William Duncan $352 and my son Samuel C. Duncan $147 and my son Enoch M. Duncan $200, these sums be charged respectively to each one. Wit. Joshua Gore, B.A. Wilson. Produced 3 Jan. 1870, on oath of B.A. Wilson. (no mention of who was appointed administrator) (also FHL film 481,463)

Nelson Co. KY Will Benjamin Duncan, son of Samuel (from Robert P. Moore to Carlene Leatherwood to MAD; MAD's extract)
      14-244: Will of Benjamin Duncan, of Nelson Co. KY, dated 30 March 1868; the Property I now possess has nearly all been accumulated since my Oldest Son Peter Duncan left me to do for himself, I bequeath to him the sum of $300 and no more; my other children (viz) Winnie Ann Fields decd Joseph E. Duncan Benj L. Duncan Jno. H. Duncan Sarah E. Murphey William H. Duncan, and S.L. Addie Duncan, Shall share the balance of my property equally between them, with the following exceptions - Winnie Ann Fields portion is to be charged $180 heretofore paid her, the balance of her portion to be divided equally among her Children, to be paid to each as they come of age, by my Executor; In addition to the amount coming to my Daughter S.L.A. Duncan by equal division, She is to have $164, being the amount for which I sold her mare, Six Sheep and Calf, at my public Sale and of which I recvd the benefit; My Certificate of two fifty years Schollarship in the Millersburg College I give and bequeath to my son John H. Duncan; appoint my son John H. Duncan My Executor; /s/ Benjamin Duncan; witness C.S. Brewer, F.C. Marshall. Proved 23 June 1868 by oath of C.S. Brewer who proved the signature of F.C. Marshall.

Nelson Co. KY Will (from Robert P. Moore 11/2000)
      Will Book 8, pg. 388, will of Mary W. Mason, wr. 9 July 1855, pr. 12 May 1856. Stones to be put at graves of husband and my brother Amos Fox, my niece Olivia L. Fox, and sister-in-law Rebecca Fox. All real and personal property to niece Mary Ivy Duncan and her children; $1000 to niece Lucy Ann Storts. To nieces and nephews: Amos Fox, Decoursey Fox, Henry V. Storts, Mary Bane, wife of John Bain, Lucy Jones, Ann Osborn, $300 each. To Thos Storts and Joseph Weaver $200 each. To Mary Bane, dau. of John and Mary Bane, $100. To William Mason Duncan, son of Charles Y. Duncan and Mary Ivy Duncan - negro man Daniel and negro Prescovy Maria. Witn. Joshua Gore and Hugh Buckley.
      Will Book 8, pg.416, appr. of est. of Mary W. Mason at request of C.Y. Duncan, June 1856. To be done by John A. Terrell, James Duncan, and Charles Constantine. $10655, recorded 11 Aug. 1856.
      Will Book 8, pg. 452, 10 Sept. 1856, sale of Mary W. Mason. Total $1370.65, recorded 13 Oct. 1856. C.Y. Duncan was greatest purchaser.
      Will Book 9, pg. 510, 31 Jan. 1858, division of slaves of Mary W. Mason, rec. 14 Feb. 1859. Assignment of lots: 1. Mary Ivy Duncan; 2. Wm. M. Duncan; 3. Julie Ann Duncan; 4. Lucy F. Duncan, 5. Amos R. Duncan, 6. Eliza L. Duncan; 7. Mary W. Duncan; 8. Sally D. Duncan.
 

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