Putnam County Will Book 1844-1868 Page 233-234 John Wilkinson's will In the name of our Heavenly Father I John Wilkinson of Putnam County Indiana do make a publish this my last will and testament. First I will and devise to my beloved wife Betsy Ann the farm on which we now reside-in lieu of her interest in said land described as follows to wit: Section 29 in Township Fifteen North of Range three west in the county and state aforesaid. So much of the north east quarter of the northeast quarter of said section as is described as follows to wit: commencing at the southeast corner of said quarter of a quarter and running hence north to the northeast corner thence east upon the line less 6 chains…(illegible) … all one hundred and one acres more or less during…lifetime provided she remain my widow for her…all the stock, household and …furniture…other chattles that may belong to me at the time of my decease except so much of said property as may be necessary for my executors to sell at public sale to pay my debts so soon as practicable--with the exception of so much of said property as John Wall is to have the use of according to an article between the said Wall and the said John Wilkinson which property my executors shall dispose of to the best advantage after the said Wall is done with said property as specified I said article. The wheat to be sold for cash in the grainery (?). I also devise that if Henry Shepherd should continute to stay with my widow until he is 21 years of age that the said Henry Shepherd have a good horse, bridle and saddle and a freedom (?) suit of clothes. At the death of my wife the Real estate aforesaid I bequeath to my son Elijah W. Wilkinson and his heirs if any there be. If however, my son should die before my said wife leaving no heirs then I bequeath all my property as follows. One third of all the proceeds of my property both real and personal after being sold by my executors shall be given to my widwon and one hundred dollars I bequeath Josephine Wilkinson daughter of David Wilkinson and the remainder of my estate I bequeath equally between my brothers and sisters and their legal heirs. But should my widow marry during the lifetime of my son then in that case also all my property both real and personal shall be sold and my widown have one- third of the money and my son Elijah and his heirs the remainder. I do hereby nominate and appoint William Timmerman and John Wilkinson executors of this my last will and testament, hereby authorize they compromise, adjust, release and discharge in such manner as they deem proper the debts and claims due me. I also authorize them if it should become necessary in order to pay my debts to sell by private sale or otherwise as they may think best part or all of the following real eastate in Putnam County Indiana to wit: 25 acres off of the south east half of the south east quarter of Section number 21 (?) Township 15 North of range three west and also 10 acres off of the north end of the south east quarter of the south west quarter of section 21 in township 15 north of range 3 west and to make and execute deeds for the same and after selling the above ________ lands or any part thereof and after paying all my debts as aforesaid there should remain any money on hand I bequeath it to my wife but should any of the executors think best not to sell the last above described lands or any part thereof then the residue or the whole as the case may be shall be for the use of my wife in the same manner as aforesaid in the foregoing will. I also authorize my executors to dispose of any or all of the clover (?) or other pasture on either of the aforementioned tracts or parcels of land and also what cash may be raised the ensuing season over and above what may be necessary for the use of the stock that my widow keeps. In testament whereof I have _______ set my hand and seal this _______ 1863. Witnessed by James Shoemaker and John Wall Be it remembered that on the 23rd day of February 1863 John S. Wall one of the subscribing witnesses to the _______ and foregoing last will and testament of John Wilkinson late of said county deceased personally appeared before Mel McKee Cler of the court of Common Pleas of Putnam County in the State of Indiana and being duly sworn by the Clerk of said court upon his oath declared and testified as follows: Said John Wilkinson signed his name to said insturment in writing as his last will and testament and that the deponent at the same time heard the said John Wilkinson declare the said instrument in writing to be his last will and testament and that the said insturment in writing was at the same time as the request of John Wilkinson and with his consent attested and subscribed by the said John S. Wall and James Shoemaker in the presence of said testator and that the said John Wilkinson was at the time of the signing and subscribing of the said instrument in writing as aforesaid of age (that is more than 21 years of age) and of sound mind and memory and not under any coercion or restraint as the said deponent verily believes and futher deponent says not. John Wall. Subscribed and sworn to by the said John S. Wall before me Melvin McKee Clerk of said court at Greencastle the 23rd day of February 1863.