Ohio County, Indiana Will Record 1, pages 49-55

Will of George Carpenter

I George Carpenter of the County of Ohio in the State of Indiana, being sick and feeble in body, but of sound mind and disposing memory do make ordain and publish this my last will and Testament,hereby revoking all former wills by me ever made or published. And first I will order and direct that my body be buried decently in a plain, unostentatious manner.

Second.
That all my just debts be paid out of my personal estate as soon after my decease as the same can conveniently be done without material injury to my said estate.

3d.
I further will, order and direct that all of my personal estate after the payment of my debts be given to my beloved wife Susannah Carpenter. And I further give, will and devise to my said wife Susannah Carpenter the houses and lot on which I now reside, being parts of lots Numbers fifteen and sixteen in the City of Rising Sun, Ohio County Indiana, to have and to hold the same and all the appurtenances thereto belonging for and during her natural life.

4.
I further will give and devise the same lot Number fifteen so devised to my said wife during her lifetime with all the appurtenances thereto belonging to my youngest daughter Eliza Jane Carpenter and to her heirs in fee simple forever and free from incumbrance to come to her peaceable possession at the death of her said mother.

5.
I further will give and devise one hundred and forty-six and 3/4 acres of the Southeast quarter of Section Eleven, Township four of Range three west, also the North half of the East half of the Southwest quarter of the same Section, Township and Range, containing thirty-four and « acres, to Jonathan Carpenter (my son) and to his heirs in fee simple forever free from incumbrance; it being the land deeded to me by John Tice and wife, by deed dated June eleventh, 1836.

6.
I further give, will and devise the Southwest quarter of Section Twelve, in Township four, of Range three west; also a part of the East half of the Northeast quarter of Section eleven in Township four of Range three west, beginning at the Southwest corner of the East half, running North with the line until it strikes the road leading from James' Mills to Long Branch and meandering with the same until it strikes the East line thence South with the line to the Southeast corner, thence west with the line to the place of beginning, to my son Cornelius Carpenter and to his heirs in fee simple forever free from incumbrance, it being the same land deeded to me by John Gastin by deed dated August fifteenth 1838.

7.
I further give, will and devise the Northwest quarter of Section Six, in Township three of Range two west, containing one hundred and sixty-two and 94/100 acres to Lydia Pate (my daughter) and to her heirs in fee simple forever free from incumbrance, it land deeded to me by David Fisher and wife by deed dated October third 1840.

8.
I further give will and devise the North end of the Northwest quarter of Section fourteen, Township four, Range three west, containing Seventy-one acres and twelve hundredths of an acre be the same more or less, to my granddaughter Maria Catharine Terwilager, and to her heirs in fee simple forever free from incumbrance, it being the same land deeded to me by W.H.H. Plummer and wife, Thomas J.Plummer and wife, dated 3rd day of October 1846.

9.
I further give, will and devise the undivided west half of the Southwest quarter of Section twenty-six, Township four,Range three west, in Switzerland County and State of Indiana to Mary Ellen Groves my daughter, and to her heirs in fee simple forever, free from incumbrance, it being the same land deeded to me by deed from Nicholas Longworth and wife, said deed bearing date 26 March 1839.Also the Northeast quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section twenty-seven, Township four, Range three west in the County of Dearborn and State of Indiana, it being the same land deeded to me by William Peck and wife by Deed dated 13th day September 1839.

10.
I further give will and devise the undivided East half of the Southwest quarter of Section twenty-six, Town four, Range three west to my granddaughter Eliza Jane Groves and to her heirs in fee simple forever free from incumbrance, it being the same piece of land deeded to me by Nicholas Longworth and wife by Deed dated 26th day of March 1839.

11.
I further give, will and devise the Southwest quarter of Section thirty-one, Township four, Range two west, containing one hundred and fifty-eight acres and 78/100 of an acre, it being the same land deeded to me by David Fisher and wife by deed dated 3rd October 1840 to my daugher Eliza Jane Carpenter and to her heirs in fee simple forever free from incumbrance.

12.
I further will order and direct that my Executor proceed immediately after my decease to sell the following piece of land to pay what outstanding claims may be against my estate, To wit, Twenty acres of land to be taken in a square from the Northeast corner of the Northeast quarter of Section thirty-four, Town four, Range three west in Switzerland County, Indiana. Also to wit, the south half of the southwest quarter of Section Number thirty-six, Township Number five of Range number three west,containing 81 acres and 40/100 of an acre. The said twenty acres as above described being deeded to me by deed from William Ellis and wife, dated July 1, 1839 and the last Eight-one acres and 40/10 as described, being the same piece of land deeded to me by deed from Wm. S. Pate and wife dated 5thAugust 1846 and all and any sum or sums money that may be left after the payment of my debts and demands, that I will, order and direct my Executor hereafter mentioned to pay and give over to my granddaughter Mary Margaret Snyder when she arrives at the age of Twenty-one years.

13.
I also do hereby further will, give and devise my son Jonathan Carpenter and to his heirs in fee simple forever free and clear from all incumbrance the following pieces or tracts of land, To wit,South half of the East half of the Southwest quarter of Section Eleven, Town four, Range three west,containing thirty-four acres and one half of land, it being the same piece of land sold to me by Henry Plummer by title bond. Also, the part of the North east quarter of Section fourteen, Township four, Range three west, beginning the Northwest corner of said quarter Section and running thence East forty rods to a corner, thence South sixteen rods to a corner, thence west forty rods to a corner, thence North sixteen rods to the place of beginning, containing four acres of land. Said last piece of land was deeded to me by Timothy Graham and wife by deed dated the 24th August 1844.

14.
And I further order will and direct that my Executor do pay to Maria Margaretta Morris my daughter out of the first moneys that may come into his hands the sum of Ten dollars in addition to the Lands that I have heretofore deeded to her as her full share of my estate.
15.
And lastly I do appoint my son Jonathan Carpenter sole Executor of this my last will and Testament, wishing and requesting that he shall carry out and execute the same as hereby intended by me in all things. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of February Eighteen Hundred & fifty.

George Carpenter [his mark]

Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the above named George Carpenter to be his last will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence have hereunto subscribed our names as witness to the same. James S. Jelley John H. Oneal

(© 1997 Jill Robinson)