Will of Joseph Campsey (1800 - 1856)

The following is the transcribed will of Joseph Campsey, recorded in Morgan County, Ohio on 21 July 1855. I also received this transcription from Ms. Regina Gray. She sent this via email on 18 April 2000.

In the name of the Benevolent Father of all I Joseph Campsey of Morgan County and State of Ohio do make and publish this my last Will and Testament.

Item first I give and devise to my beloved wife Mary Campsey in lieu of her dower the farm on which we now reside situated in County of Morgan and State of Ohio containing two hundred and ¾ acres of land also the farm ought from Edington containing one hundred and twenty five acres set apart for her use and her children those that are minors also two horses and rigging those milks cows such as she may select out of my stock and such farming utensils as she may need to be set off by appraisers to her and all the household contents to be left to her during her natural life and for the use of the minor children if any of the children should marry my wife may if it be convenient give them outfit as the other by the consent of my Executor all the above described properly real and personal and to be under control and management of my Executor.

2nd Item it is my will after my deceased for my Executor to sell all my personal property that may remain after the above is set off also as soon as convenient to sell my farm lying on Sunday Creek Containing one hundred and sixty five acres of land And also seventy acres near Portersville forty acres of land being in Perry County, Ohio and of the proceeds there of to pay my just debts and of the remainder to pay my five heirs next named to the amount of five hundred and fifty dollars including what they have already received.

3 Item to my son John Campsey I have given one horse at fifty five dollars and hone cow at twelve dollars seven sheep at eight dollars and feathers and bedding to the amount of twenty two dollars and fifty cents total $77.50

4th item To my daughter Elizabeth Nelson I have given one mare at fifty five dollars household furniture and bedding to the amount of fifty four dollars one cow at twelve sheep to the amount of eight dollars Total $129.00 all the remaining part of the legacy to my daughter Elizabeth Nelson of my estate real and personal I do hereby authorize my Executor to buy wild land for her the title to be made to her during her life and after her decease to her surving children if she should _____ any other real estate property in lieu of the above my Executor may buy it for her but the title to made or above described

5th item To my son Johnson Campsey I have given one mare at fifty-five dollars one cow at twelve dollars Total $67.00

6th item To my daughter Rebecca Deaver I have given one cow and sheep household furniture bedding in all amounting Sixty two dollars Total $62.00

7th item To my son Joseph Campsey he received no _____ of his legacy _____ the five heirs to which my Executor to pay as soon as convenient five hundred and fifty dollars including what each has received

8th To my son James Campsey I have given one mare at five dollars one saddle at six dollars one cow at twelve bedding to the amount of eleven dollar and fifty-four hundred and eighty six dollars collected of Thomas Hutchinson for land sold to him in Washington County State of Pennsylvania which belong to me also collected twenty dollars from John Anderson and collected thirty three dollars from Hellway owner and twenty seven dollar sent by letters at different times to him amounting $670.00 having paid the above in advance I consider it to be his in full of all my estate real and personal

8th item It is my will that my executor pay the other heirs as they arrive at proper age and after Oliver P. Campsey and William S. Campsey are of age my executor is to sell my home farm as soon as convenient and to pay each of my heirs five hundred and fifty dollars after the home farm is sold my wife and children that may remain at home with her are to move to the Edinton farm and after my wife moves my Executor is to _____ her fifty dollars a year for four years in succession to insure her to repair the house and farm the clause about education to be omitted. It is further my will that those minor children have education in case my wife should die before they _____ such education my Executor is to furnish such means as they may need.

9th Item After the decease of my wife Mary Campsey my Executor is to sell the remainder of my estate real and personal as soon as convenient and of the proceeds pay to each of Mary E. Campsey, Margaret Malinda Campsey, Harriet M. Campsey, Hulda M. Campsey, Chester F. Campsey to give each of the above named heirs five hundred and fifty dollars.

10th item If there is any money left in the executors hands after the aforesaid bequests are paid it is my will that the male heir survivors the death of my wife have each one hundred Except my son James Campsey and if there be any remaining it is to be equally divided among all my heirs except my son James Campsey. All moneys that may come in the executors hands not needed at the time to be put at interest if at any time my said wife shall have more stock than she needed my executor shall sell the same and apply the proceeds as in other cases.

Lastly I do herby nominate and appoint David Finley son of John my executor of this my last will and testment in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 21st day July A.D. 1855.

In presents of signed and acknowledge Joseph Campsey (seal)

William Hollenshead

Joseph Hollinshead

The State of Ohio Morgan County

I William Hollenshead being duly sworn in open court this 25 day of March AD 1856 ___ and say that I was present at the execution of the last will and testament of Joseph Campsey hereunto annexed that I saw the said testor subscribe said will and heard him publish and claim the same to be his last will and testimony and that the said testor at the time of executing the same was of full age and of sound mind and memory and not under any restraint and that I signed the same as witness at his request and in his presence And in the presence of Joseph Hollenshead and that Joseph Hollenshead signed the same in my presence and the Joseph Hollenshead is in parts unknown.

William Hollenshead

The State of Ohio Morgan County. We Josiah Wright and John Finley, Jr. being duly sworn in open court this 25th of March AD 1856 depose and say that we were acquainted with Joseph Campsey for a number of years and about the time of that the last will and testament of the said Joseph Campsey we signed and sealed and that he was of full age and of sound mind and memory and that the said Joseph Campsey is now deceased.

Josiah Wright

John Finley, Jr.