John R. S. Hill Nuncupative Will Knox County Indiana

John [R.S.] Hill ‘s Nuncupative Will

Knox County Indiana

John Hill’s nuncupative [not written - oral] will is found in the Knox County Probate Records, Box 25, Lewis Library, Vincennes University, Vincennes, Indiana.

It reads as follows:

"On 4th June 1825 George Clarke and John Ockiltree swore an oath according to the law:

that on the 29th day of May¹ last-past, they were at the house of John Hill (now deceased) where said Hill had been for some days confined by sickness, that while there, said John Hill called them to his bed side and in few words told them what his Will was as to his worldly concerns and property; which was as follows to wit; That his funeral expenses and all his just debts be first paid and then funeral expenses and all his just debts be first paid and then that his widow Polly have full possession of all both real and personal estate during her widowhood, and should she marry again, the property both real and personal to be equally divided among the children and herself she having a child's portion; but if she should die without marrying, then the property to be equally divided among the children.

Personally appeared before me A. Johnson clerk of the Circuit Court of Knox County this 27th day of July 1825, Polly Hill, and desired that the within nuncupative Will of her deceased husband might be proven and admitted to record. Sealed and subscribed to before me the date above written.

signed X

with her mark Polly Hill"

John and Mary "Polly" are buried in the Ockiltree Cemetery, just west of U.S. Rt. 41, about 12 miles north of Vincennes, Indiana. His farm was down the hill east of Rt. 41 less than two miles as the crow flies.

Copied by Christie (Hill) Russell from the original, 1995.

1. Due to the fact that this date appears in a sworn statement it is assumed that this is the correct date of John’s death - May 29, 1825. However, the date on his tombstone is May 9, 1825. An error in either case could account for the discrepancy. My records are based on the sworn statement of May 29, 1825.