WILL OF JOHN LEE 

In the name of the benevolent Father of all I John Lee of Lawrence County do make a publish this my last will ~ 

1^st my will is that all my just debts + contracts shall be paid out of my Estate in the following manner my will is that my Executor of this my last will who I shall herein appoint shall have my farm terrace this year + at my decease to take the charge of the farm and my personal property + to keep it all without sale + appraisement until the first of August next when the property is to be appraised + sold agreeable to law + he is to sell the oats + wheat + corn as soon as it is gathered + a good market offers and if said crop + my personal Estate should not pay my just debts I hereby authorize my executor to rent my farm year by year until my debts are paid 

2^nd I give + bequeath unto my oldest daughter Sally Henry the following real estate beginning at the line between the land of Samuel Henry + my land in the center of the creek + running down the creek to the mouth of a small branch across which is a bridge now in use thence up the branch to within one rod of a rock lying in the mouth of a small cut thence North four rods to a corner thence running to a small walnut tree standing near Samuel Henry’s farm at the aforesaid line between the land of Samuel Henry + myself with the privilege of altering said line either way so as to leave a different road thence with said line to the beginning + what the above described boundery shall lack of making twenty acres shall be run off to her at back end of Samuel Henry’s line on the top of the hill between the branch of the said Samuel Henry lies on + the Yellow Branch said lot to be laid off to the best advantage for both parties 

3^rd I give and bequeath unto my second daughter Elizabeth Henry the following real estate beginning at the Southeast corner of my land between the land of Joseph Brammer + the land of the heirs of James Henry + running Northwest for quantity to contain fifty acres to be laid off to her by three disinterested men taking into consideration the advantage of both parties 

4^th I give and bequeath the residue of my farm to my three youngest daughters Patsy Yingling, Mary Kelley, + Penina Smith to be equally divided between them share + share alike to be divided by themselves if they can agree + if not they are to chose three judicious disinterested men to divide it for them + my will further is that there shall no division of my farm take place before the first day of January AD 1841 

5^th my will is that there be a road of one rod + one half wide laid out from the bridge at the foot of the hill to interest a road I own through Samuel Henry’s lands at a branch running through his field 

6^th + lastly I do hereby nominate + appoint John K. Smith my Executor of this my last will and testament Authorizing and empowering him to compromise adjust release and to discharge in such manner as he may think proper the debts and claims due me. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand + seal this 16^th day of January AD 1840. 

Signed and acknowledged by the said John Lee as his last will and testament in our presence.   John Lee 

Signed by us in his presence

                              Peter Lionberger

                              Rolen Hankins 

Filed in Lawrence Common Pleas    17^th day of March AD 1840. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

*NOTE--According to a biography for Christian Yingling and wife, Martha (Lee) Yingling, in the 1882 Hardesty Book for Lawrence County Ohio, John Lee’s date of death was listed as January 20, 1840.