Will of John Calvin Burchett
I, J.C. Burchett of Clinton County KY being in my right mind do hereby make my last will and testament I hereby constitute and appoint my wife Polly Burchett executor of this my last will and testament. I also appoint Icil Burchett, W.T. Long and A. Spron (?) trustees of same.
After the payments of my debts and funeral expences I give and bequeath all of my property both personal and real in Kentucky and Tennessee to my wife Polly Burchett for and during the term of her natural life and after her decd I desire that the same be equally divided among my children should my wife hereafter mary and should her husband turn out to be a spendthrift or worthless man he is not to have any think (sic) to do with her property in any manner whatever.
It is my desire that my wife Polly Burchett dispose of a sufficiency of my property to satisfy all debts and legal claimants against me. It is my desire that there be no public sale of my property unless thought expedient by my wife Polly and the above named trustees which I desire that my executors shall advise with and ask the council of before acting in any case of importance. I authorise her to sell lands and make deeds or any transfer that she may think propper after advising with the above named trustees and them signing the deeds of conveyance I desire that no security be required of my executors unless it violates the conditions of this will in which event I want all of my property to pass from her into the hands of the above named trustees they giving her the priviledge of living on the home farm in Kentucky or the farm belong (sic) to me in Tennessee just as she may choose. If in her hands at the time they the above named trustees to see that she is amply provided for it is not my will that my wife Polly Burchett be required to consult the above named trustees in regard of anything only in making sale of real estate. In witness whereof I have herewith set my hand and affixed my seal this [blank] day of Aug 1869. Signed, J.C. Burchett; Robt H. Clifton, John F. Ferguson, witnesses. Brought to probate 20 Aug 1869. (Clinton Co KY Wills, County Court Clerk’s Office, 1863-1937, Volume 1, pp 426-427, FHL #800850)