JOSEPH HANKS'S WILL "In the name of God, Amen, I Joseph Hanks of Nelson County State of Kentucky being of sound Mind and Memory, but weak in body and calling to Mind the frailty of all Human Nature do make and Devise this my last Will and Testament in the Manner and Form following To Wit Item I Give and bequeath unto my Son Thomas one Sorrel Horse called Major. Item I Give and bequeath unto my son Joshua one Grey Mare called Bonney. Item I Give and bequeath unto my son William one Grey Horse called Gilbert. Item I Give and bequeath unto my son Charles one Roan Horse called Dove. Item I Give and bequeath unto my son Joseph one Sorrel Horse called Bald. Also the Land whereon I now live containing one hundred and fifty Acres. Item I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth one Heifer Yearling called Gentle. Item I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Polly one Heifer Yearling called Lady. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Nancy one Heifer Yearling called Peidy. Item I Give and bequeath unto my Wife Nanny all and Singular my whole Estate during her life, afterwards to be equally divided between all my Children. It is my Will and Desire that the whole of the Property above bequeathed should be the property of my Wife during her life. And lastly I constitute ordain and appoint my wife Nanny and my Son William as Executrix and Executor to this my last Will and Testament. At a Court begun and held for Nelson County on Tuesday the fourteenth day of May 1793. This last Will and Testament of Joseph Hanks dcd was produced in Court and sworn to by William Hanks one of the Executors therein named and was proved by the Oaths of Isaac Lansdale and John Davis subscribing witnesses thereto and Ordered to be Recorded. Teste Ben Grayson Co. CK." THE MARRIAGE RETURN OF THOMAS LINCOLN AND NANCY HANKS The following is the return of marriages including that of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, by Rev. Jesse Head. It was copied from the original in the office of the County Clerk in Springfield, Washington County, Kentucky. I do hereby certify that the following is a true list of the Marriages Solemnized by me the subsciber from the 28th of April 1806 untill the date hereof. June 26th Joined together in the Holy Estate of Matrimony agreeable to the rules of the M. E. C. Morris Berry & Peggy Simms Nov 27th 1806 David Mige (?) & Hannah Xten (?) March 5th 1807 Charles Ridge & Anna Davis Jesse Head, D. M. E. C. MARRIAGE BOND OF THOMAS LINCOLN AND NANCY HANKS The following is a copy of the marriage bond of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks taken from the original at Springfield, Washington County, Kentucky. Know all men by these presents that we Thomas Lincoln and Richard Berry are held and firmly bound unto his Excellency the governor of Kentucky for the Just and full sum of fifty pounds current money to the payment of which well and truly to be made to the said governor and his successors we bind ourselves and our heirs &c Jointly and severally firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this 10th day of June, 1806. The Condition of the above Obligation is such that whereas there is a marriage shortly intended between the above bound Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks for which a license has issued now if there be no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage then this obligation to be Void or else to remain in full force & virtue in law. Thomas Lincoln (Seal) Witness, John H. Parrott. AFFIDAVIT OF DR. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS GRAHAM The following affidavit was made by a physician and scientist, Dr. Christopher Columbus Graham at Evansville, Indiana, when he was visiting there in the home of J. W. Wartmann, Deputy Clerk of the United States Circuit Court. "I, Christopher C. Graham, now of Louisville, Kentucky, aged ninety-eight years, on my oath say: That I was present at the marriage of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks in Washington County, near the town of Springfield, Kentucky; that one Jesse Head, a Methodist preacher of Springfield, Kentucky, performed the ceremony. I knew the said Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks well, and know the said Nancy Hanks to have been virtuous and respectable, and of good parentage. I do not remember the exact date of the marriage, but was present at the marriage aforesaid; and I make this affidavit freely, and at the request of J. W. Wartmann to whom, for the first time, I have this day incidentally stated the fact of my presence at the said wedding of Presi |