This data in the form presented here is ©1998-1999 by Jack Coffee, and Coffey Cousins' Clearinghouse. It may not be copied or reproduced for presentation in any other form intended for sale, profit or for display at any location on the World Wide Web, except by Sallee Garner, who provided the extract.

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Will of Lewis Coffey
Source: LDS Family History Center microfilm #0591542:
Wayne County KY Wills 1835 - 1909, pages 112 - 115

Transcribed by Sallee Garner
November 3, 1991

Transcriber's note: Punctuation, spelling, and capitalization attempt
to follow the original record. [Sic] in brackets indicates that the
preceding word clearly appears as written, though misspelled or
otherwise apparently wrong. [illegible] in brackets indicates a wholly
illegible word or words. (word?) in brackets indicates a guess on my
part as to what the word seems to be.

In the name of God amen I Lewis Coffey of the County of Wayne being
sick and weak in boddy [sic] but of sound mind and disposing memory
(for which I thank God) and calling to mind the uncertainty of human
life and being desirous to dispose of all such worldly Estate as it
has pleased God to bless me with I give and bequeath the same in
manner following that is to say after the payment of all my just debts
and funeral expenses

First
I give to my beloved wife Biddy Coffey the the [sic] following slaves
(to wit) Agnes and all her children now with her Sarah and her
children and Nancy subject to her own controll [sic], disposal, sale
or devise in any such way and manner as may be most agreeable to her
own feelings

Secondly
I give to my beloved wife Biddy Coffey my black man Charles my
slave Jane & Bill during her natural life

Thirdly
I give to my beloved wife Biddy Coffey the farm I now live upon
and all adjoining lands during her natural life

Fourthly
I give six hundred Dollars out of my Estate to each one of the
following named of my children Betsy Rachel Polly James Henderson
Shelby Benjamin F. and Thomas to make them equal in amount with what
my son E.N.C. Coffey has heretofore received

Fifthly
I give unto the possession of Benjamin F. Coffey my house and lot
in the town of Monticello for the support of my grand daughter
Sophronia Coffey only child of J.M. Coffey deceased said Benjamin F.
Coffey may lease said house and lot or permit my said grand daughter
to occupy the same after five years from this date also rents of said
house & lot is receives for the term of five years from this date.
after five years said Benjamin F. Coffey may manage and let said house
and lot as he may think most suitable to her future interest as no
power is herein given my said grand daughter to dispose of said house
and lot against the consent of him the said Benjamin F. and at the
death of my said grand daughter if without children said house & lot
belongs to my heirs--if she shall have issue and they shall dye [sic]
without children said House and lot shall be vest in my heirs

Sixthly
I give unto the possession of Benjamin F. Coffey after five years
three hundred and fifty Dollars for the support of my grand Daughter
Sophronia Coffey to be paid to her use and (benefit?] at such times
and in such maner [sic] as he may think most suitable to her interest

Seventhly
I give unto the possession of Shelby Coffey after five years
Eleven Hundred Dollars for the joint support of my grand son and
Daughter Lewis Coffey and Mary Coffey the only children of C.L. Coffey
deceased to be paid to them equally and severally at such time and in
such manner as he may think most suitable to their interest

Eighthly
I leave in the hands of my executors one horse mare or filly or
fifty Dollars to each of my grand children whose names [illegible]
follow (to wit) Sophronia Coffey Lewis Coffey and Mary Coffey to be
delivered or paid to their use and support at such times and in such
manner as my executors may think best

Ninethly
My desire is that should my grand Children from any Cause not
receive the devise herein made to them in that event said devise
shall belong to my heirs

Tenthly
my desire is that if my grand children Lewis and Mary Coffey
should dye [sic] without children the devise herein given to them
(revest?] and belong to my heirs

Eleventhly

The devises and Bequests herein made to my grand Children may be
put at interest at the option and will of their said Trustee as such
devise or Bequest is not subject to the Control or responsibilities of
my grand Children but to be Controled [sic] by their said Trustee

Twelfthly
My Black woman Cass is to remain in the possession of my wife
during the natural life of my wife should said black woman live as
long at the death of my wife to be by my executors taken care of and
ample provisions out of my estate by them made for her support whilst
she may live provided she may not be able comfortably to support
herself
Thirteenthly
My desire is that after the devises and Bequests herein made are
set apart and provided that the remainder of my estate both person
[sic] and real to remain in possession of my wife to be disposed of by
her as she may think right

Fourteenthly
My will and desire is that after the death of my wife that all
the rest of my estate undisposed of by her both real and personal of
whatever nature or kind soever it may be by [my?] executors sold the
personal property on such credits as they may think best and the
landed estate on a credit of three years from and after the date of
said sale and the proceeds when collected and expenses paid equally
divided among the following of my children (to wit) Betsy, Rachel,
Polly, James, Henderson, Shelby Benjamin F. and Thomas C.
I do hereby constitute and appoint Henderson B.F. Coffey and
Shelby Coffey executors of this my last will and testament and the
County Court upon their taking the Oath as executors are not required
to bind them to security for the execution of this my last will
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this
13th Day of April 1850.

Witness Lewis Coffey *seal*

Joshua Buster
William Simpson

I Lewis Coffey this day publish and declare the following as a Codicil
to my will bearing date the 13th Day of April 1850 viz the proceeds of
the five years rent of the house and lot mentioned in and Reserved in
the 5th item of my said will I desire and direct my son B.F. Coffey to
use and apply as he may deem most Condusive [sic] to the interest of
my said Grand Daughter Sophronia Coffey named in the 5th item of my
said will provided however he the said Benjamin F. may apply out of
the proceeds of said five years rent to his own use and benefit (if he
sees proper to do so) an amount equal to the expenses which he has and
may incur in the suits between James W. Griffin & wife and himself
concerning said house and lot.
Witness my hand and seal this 17th Day of September
1850 signed sealed and acknowledged in the presence of

Witness Lewis Coffey *seal*
Joshua Buster
William Simpson

State of Kentucky Wayne County [Jct?]
I J.A. Shepperd Deputy Clerk for Wm Simpson Clerk of the Wayne
County Court do Certify that the last will and testament of Lewis
Coffey was on the 25 Day of Nov 1850 produced in open Court and proven
by the Oath of William Simpson one of the subscribing witnesses
thereunto in his proper person and Joshua Buster the other subscribing
witness not being present his hand writing was proven by said Simpson
to have been done in the presence of the testator which was ordered to
be Recorded and is accordingly done

Given under my hand this 29th Day
of August 1853

{ J.A. Shepperd [D?]
{
{
{ Wm Simpson Clk

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