In his will, James Samuels identified his wife and children, allotting to each their shares of his estate. A transcription of his will is provided below.
Bullitt County Will Book D, Pages 39-42
In the name of God, amen. I James Samuels of the county of Bullitt and state of Kentucky do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows, towit. I devised to my beloved wife Diana during her natural life, the improvement and farm on which I reside from the south side of said improvement and running up the ridge until it comes in 50 yards of the long or middle field, thence to run down a hollow to my corner standing in Mays' line on a branch, known by the name of Cow Branch, thence from 50 yards of the middle field aforesaid down another hollow to my lane near Weavers Run running in the middle of said Hollow.
Item. I also devise to my said wife Diana during her natural life the following slaves, one negro man called Phill, one mulatto woman called Jane with all her increase, and Jane's two children, one called Dick and the other called Edmund. I also devise to my said wife one mulatto girl called Sally. I also devise to my said wife three head of horses, four cows and calves which she may select out of all my stock as she pleases. I also devise to my said wife during her natural life my wagon and geer of every description, my wheat fan and my farming utensils of every description consisting of plows, hoes, axes, mattexs(?), one loom and fixing for making cloth. I also devise to my said wife during her natural life all my household and kitchen furniture and cooking utensils of every description. I also devise to my said wife during her natural life all my stock of hogs and sheep, and also all the grain of every description that may be growing or otherwise on my farm at the time of my death. And also all the bees, turkeys, other fowls of every description. I also devise to my said wife $100 forever.
Item. I have advanced to my son James W. Samuels some years since one horse beast and one slave called Caroline, and one bed and bedstead with sufficient bedding. I also devise to my said son one negro man called Phill which he is to get at my wife's death. I also devise to my said son one lott of land in the town of West Point in Hardin County, No. 46 and deeded to me by the trustees of said town some years past.
Item. I devise to my daughter Thursey Samuels, during her natural life, one negro woman called Mariah and her youngest child called Carline with all their increase, said slaves is not to be under the control of my said daughter's husband in case she marries, so as to be sold by him or taken for the payments of any debts he may be owing. And at the death of my said daughter Thursey, the said Mariah and her daughter Carline with all their increase forever, I devise to my daughter Diana Francis and her heirs, but in case my said daughter Thursey should marry and leave children living, said child or children the said child or children is to have the said Maria and Caroline with all their increase during their natural lives and then my daughter Diana Francis is to have the said slaves and all their increase forever. I also devise to my said daughter Thursey $500 in money, that is to say $100 at the end of each year for five years. I also devise to my said daughter one bed, bedstead and beddding forever.
Item. I have advanced to my son Hiram R. Samuels some years since one horse and I devise to my said son and his heirs forever all my land on the north side of the division line mentioned and adjoining immediately my wife's allotment of land. I also devise to my said son and his heirs forever one negro boy called Jack. I also devise to my said son and his heirs forever one negro girl called Drousilla with all her increase forever. I also devise to my said son one bed, bedstead and bedding.
Item. I devise to my son William H. Samuels and his heirs forever one negro man call George and his wife called Carline with all the said Carline's increase forever. I also devise to my said son Carline's two youngest children, one called Bob and the other called Dave, and my said son is not to have any power or to sell or take out of the state of Kentucky either of the slaves devised to him, nor is any of said slaves to be subject in any way whatever for the payment of any debts he may be owing. I also devise to my said son one bed, bedstead and bedding forever.
Item. I devisee to my son Lewis W. Samuels and his heirs forever the improvement and farm in which I reside, being the same boundary and given to my wife during her natural life. And my said son is to have full possession of the same at her death. I also devise to my said son one negro boy called George (Carline's oldest child) which boy my said son is to have at the death of my wife. I also devise to my said son and his heirs forever one negro girl called Mariah (Carline's youngest daughter). I also devise to my said son my rifle gun. I also devise to my said son one bureau and cupboard and two cherry tables that stands in my wife's room. It is my wish that my said son remain with my wife and manage and take care of my said wife during her life.
Item. I devise to my son Caleb W. Samuels and his heirs forever one negro girl called Eliza, and one negro boy called Bill. I also devise to my said son $300 in money to be paid in three payments of $100 each at the end of the first year after my death and one at the second year and so on till the whole of said money is paid, and my said son is not to have any power or authority over either of said slaves to sell or otherwise dispose of them or either of them in any whatever. Neither is said slaves or either of them to be subject to the payment of any of his debts. I also devise to my said son one bed, bedstead and beddding.
Item. I devise to my daughter Diana Francis Samuels and her heirs forever one mulatto alve called Jane with all her increase forever. I also devise to my said daughter the said Jane's two children forever, one called Dick and the other called Edmund. I also devise to my said daughter one mulatto slave called Sally with all her increase forever, all of which slaves my said daughter is to receive at the death of my wife. I also devise to my said daughter one negro girl called Celia with all her increase forever, which slave my daughter is to have immediately after my death, and in case my said daughter Diana Francis marries, her husband is not to have any power over any of the slaves devised to her and her heirs, so as to sell or otherwise dispose of any of them, and I also devise that none of the slaves hereby devised to my said daughter and her heirs shall be subject in any way whatever to the payment of any of his debts. I also devise to my said daughter $150 in money. I also devise to my said daughter one bed, bedstead and bedding, and her choice out of the beds in my house. I also devise to my said daughter a choice cow and calf. I also devise to my said daughter all my Universalist books forever. I also devise to my said daughter one large looking glass.
I have an interest in near 2000 acres of land in the Green River country, and if the title to said land be found worth any money, I wish the same to be disposed of by my executors to be hereafter named, when my brother and sisters dispose of their portions in the same, and the proceeds to be equally divided amongst all my children, male and female, share and share alike.
The personal property that may be left after my wife gets her allotment I wish sold on a credit of twelve months and the proceeds to be paid to such of my children as I have devised money to, which money is tobe receipted for by them as a part of their several portions of money allotted them by me; and all the personal property that may be on hand at the death of my wife, not otherwise disposed of is to be sold in like manner and the proceeds to be used in the same manner unless there is more than enough for that purpose, in which case the proceeds are to be equally divided amongst all my said children, share and share alike.
Item. I devise to my son Hiram R. Samuels my bookcase and all my books not otherwise devised forever.
Item. I devise to my son Lewis W. Samuels forever my wagon and all the geer allotted my wife, two cows and calves, two of the horses given my wife, two plows, two hoes, one axe, one set streatchers, set double trees, three clives besides one to each plow. This divises to my said son for his taking care of his mother so long as she lives.
Item. I appoint my sons James W. Samuels, Hiram R. Samuels and Lewis W. Samuels executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other or former wills or testament by here heretofore made. I witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 22nd day of May in the year of our Lord 1847.
[Signed by James Samuels in presence of James C. Pendleton, William McNutt, Charles Foster and James Foster; and recorded in Bullitt County on 19 Jul 1847.]
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