Know all men by these presents that I Thomas Lewis, being of Sound mind but of advanced age and Considering the instability of human's life, Do think it proper to make and Ordain this my last Will and testament, to wit:
1st I consign and direct that my body be decently interred,
2nd To my wife Judith, I give and bequeath the plantation whereon I now live together with all the improvements on the Same and one third part of my farming tools, together with one third part of my household and Kitchen furniture for and during her natural life. I further give and bequeath to my wife Judith one third part of any negroe slaves for and during her natural life She having her choice at a price fixed by appraisers.
3rd On the Decease of my wife Judith it is my will will (sic)that my plantation and land be Sold, and the proceeds of the Sale to be equally divided between my Six children: John Lewis, Sarah Weller, Elizabeth Tonge, Catharine Sprotsman, Juilet Ramey and Fanny Jones.
4th To the children of Moses Harrold dec'd by my daughter Ann I give and bequeath one Eighth part of my personal estate and the Same proportion of my negroes not heretofore disposed of, and at the decease of my wife the same proportion of the negroes and effects she may leave.
5th I give and bequeath unto Butler Ramey of Nelson County in trust for the benefit and use of the children of William McAhron by my Daughter Jane now deceased named Felix, Elisha, James, William, Julia Ann and Laura the one equal part of all my personal property and negroes, not heretofore disposed of and at the decease of my wife Judith the Same proportion of the negroes and effects She may leave to be paid them as they respectively become of age or are married deducting therefrom the vallue of a negro man Daniel heretofore delivered their Father to their use under contract which has never been complied with.
6th It is my will that my old negro slave Rebecca after the decease of my wife or sooner if she choose, may choose which of my children she will live with.
7th I give and bequeath unto William McAhron the former husband of my decease'd Daughter Jane the Sum of five Dollars to be paid out of the Sale of my effects. I Do further ordain and appoint my Son in Law Butler Ramey to be executor and my wife Judith to be executrix to this my last Will and Testament.In Testimony I have hereunto Set my hand and affixed my Seal
this 25th day of March 1820.
(s)Thomas Lewis.
Witnesses Present: Cyrus
Talbot, Oliver Howard, Wilson L. Ferguson.
On 19 August 1822, the Nelson County Court accepted Thomas Lewis' will into probate. Judith relinquished her right to administer the estate, which was granted to Joseph F. Tong, her son-in-law.
The appraisal of the personal estate of Thomas Lewis (Will Book D, pp. 441-445) amounted to $4,437.17 1/2. The appraisers were Cyrus Talbot, Samuel Humphrey, Thomas Howard and Henry Cotton, who appraised the estate on 4 October 1822. Among the long list of items included "1 Lott Japanware, 1 pr. of Brass candlesticks, 1 Rifle Gun and shot pouch, 1 Old weaving Loom." Among the crops named were flax, tobacco, hay, corn. Thomas Lewis' slaves were named as well: Negro Steven, Negro Isaac, Negro Woman Hannah and child, Negro Woman Selah and child, Negro Boy Alfred, Negro boy Lewis, Negro Girl Elnore(?), Negro Child Lucinda, Negro child Burges and Negro child Mary. [Rebecca was not listed in appraisement.]
A list of the sale of the personal estate of Thomas Lewis was made on 7 and 8 October 1822 by Joseph F. Tong, administrator (Will Book D, pp. 486-491), amounting to $4,545.37 1/4. Butler Remey [Lewis' son-in-law] purchased "negro man Stephen . . . negro Boy Lewis"; Thomas Dugan "negro man Isaac"; Joseph F. Tong "negro Woman Hannah & child . . . negro Girl Lucinda . . . negro Boy Burges . . .negro Girl Mary"; James Bourrows "negro Woman Sale & child"; John Lewis [Lewis' son] "negro Boy Alfred"; Daniel Jones [Lewis' son-in-law] "negro Girl Etney."
The estate was the subject of a lawsuit in Nelson Circuit Court, Chancery, May 1831, William Lowe and others vs. Joseph F. Tong, administrator of Thomas Lewis' estate, and others. The plaintiffs, "Juliann McAhron, Laura-ann Lowe (who was Laura-ann McAhron), William Lowe her husband," filed a suit on 13 March 1830 against Tong, asking the court to require Tong to financially account for $3,000 worth of personal and perishable property and $5,000 worth of twenty slaves. In the petition it was stated that Judith Lewis was dead. At the May term of court 1831 the matter was dismissed.