Our cousin Steve Hofer provided this verbatim transcription of the will of James Dunn, which he obtained from the Clerk's Office in Jessamine county, KY. The comments in italics are Steve's.
We certainly won't change a "jot or tittle" of the text which Steve transcribed so painstakingly from the original document, but will break this document down into smaller paragraphs, highlight any familiar names we see, and provide links to pages which contain additional information.
The Last Will and Testament of James Dunn, dated November 6, 1806, reads as follows [all spellings, capitalizations, punctuations and grammatical constructions are taken directly from the original document]:
I James Dunn of Jessamine County and state of Kentucky, being sick and weak in body, being fully possessed of reason and memory and the uncertainty of life do constitute and order this my last will and testament in form and manner following.
Towit, 1st All my lawfull debts and funeral expences to be discharged.
Item I do give and bequath my beloved wife Martha Dunn the household furniture and what stock of Creatures that I may be in possession of at my discease and rent of the plantation I sold to James Doak agreeable to the article I made with him
Item I allow her to keep one horse her lifetime & those remaining to be sold & Divided amongst my legatees as will hereafter be specified, and if said horse creature should die she is to be furnished with another of my Estate.
Item and it is my Desire and intention to set my Negro Girl Charlotte free in twelve years from this date. Nevertheless it is be understood that my wife shall keep her her lifetime & if she should decease before that time sd. negro is to go to the use of my Daughter Jean Spear, and if sd. Negro girl should have any increase before she is free, it is my desire she shall be liberated at the age of twenty three years
Item I do Give and Bequeath unto Alexander Carson and Jenny Carson my Grand children each twenty Dollars and one dollar to Richard Carson my soninlaw.
Item I do give and bequeath to Elenor Dunn my Daughter in Law a childs part to be equally divided amongst her children the Heirs of Samuel Dunn deceased as soon as she receives it or the come of age
Item and I give and bequeath the balance of my Estate to be Equally divided amongst my children and grandson (towit) James Dunn, Nathaniel Dunn, Allexander Dunn, my Grand son John Carson, Jenny Doak, Martha Woods and Jean Spears and at the Disease of of my wife, the creatures and household furniture to be sold and an equal division made of the money arising from sd. sale amongst my children above mentioned and do also constitute and ordain my son Nathaniel Dunn and Joseph Woods the sole Executors of this my last will and testament and I hereby revoke all former wills and Testaments, ratifying this to be my last will and Testament in witness I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of November one thousand Eight hundred and six.
(interlined before signed)
James Dunn (seal)
Testes
William Sallie
William Garnett
James H. Garnett
Jessamine County, Towit, February court 1808This last will and testament of James Dunn deceased was produced in court by the Executors herein named and proven by the subscribing witnesses herein named and ordered to record.
Atteste Saml H. Woodson
The Last Will and Testament of James Dunn was signed November 6, 1806, produced in Jessamine County, Kentucky, Court in February 1808 and ordered to be recorded. The document is recorded in Jessamine County, Kentucky, Will Book A, Pages 195 196.