Nelly S. Pitman
Will
Submitted by Rick Giirtman
April 29,
2002
Source: Will Book 4, page 22, 23 & 24
I Nelly S. Pitman being of Sound mind and disposing memory being now in bad health and wishing to dispose of my worldly affairs I hereby make and publish this my last will and testament.
First, I will that all my Just debts and funeral expenses be paid.
Second. I will to my Two daughters Catharine Pitman and Mary Elizabeth Pitman all my personal property consisting of house hold and Kitchen furniture and some farming utensils to be Equally divided between them T**n al** One Cash note on William Chesnut for fifty dollars One note on John Pitman for about One Hundred and forty or fifty five Dollars. All the above is to be equally divided between the said Catherine and Mary Elizabeth and they are to be vested absolutely with a full and perfect title to the same. I will to my son Christopher absolutely all my interest in and to any annuity which was granted me by a decree by Court in the State of Illinois in of my dower in and to some lands which was owned by my husbandLot Pitman at his death in said State the amount decreed to me being about Twenty Dollars per year for several years back and same as a greater portion of said Money I suppose in the hands of Lawson Pitman it is my intention that Christopher have the same be in whose hands it may.
In testimony of which I have hereunto Subscribed my name this the 22 day of February 1853 in the presence of
Mary E. Smith
Granville Pearl
Nelly S. Pitman
The deposition of Granville Pearl taken at the Court house in London on the 19th day of March 1853 to be read as evidence before the County Court on the second Monday in April in the probate of the Will of Nelly S. Pitman deceased the deponet being of lawfull age first duly sworn deposeth and saith:
That on the 22nd day of February 1853 having previously been sent for I attend at the dwelling house of Nelly S. Pitman in Laurel County she requested me to write a will for her which I did. And the same is now before me signed by her and Mary S. Smith and I witnesseth the same she was of sound mind at the time and disposeing memory. I knew her well and have no hesitation in saying that she was perfectly capable of making said will all the devises in the same was dictated by her & Committed to writing by me as she dictated and the same was read to after writing the same and approved by her she signed her own name to the will in my presence and in the presence of Mary E. Smith and we signed our names as witness in her presence we three alone being in the room at the time of her signing the same and our Witnessing the same she having requested us to witness it as her will and oweing to my being Commonwealth Attorney I Cannot be at the County Court and further the deponent saith not.
Granville Pearl
State of Kentucky
Laurel County Sct.
The foregoing deposition of Granville Pearl was this day
taken and subscribed and Sworn to before me agreeable to the foregoing Caption.
Given under my hand this 19th of March 1853.
S. Jackson P. J. S. C. C.
A paper purporting to be the last will and Testament of Nelly S. Pitman was this day produced in Court and proven by the Deposition of Granville Pearl and Mary S. Smith which is ordered to be filed and received and the same is hereby done accordingly.
W. H. _________ Clerk