In the name of God amen I Richard Davis of the county of Knox and State of Kentucky being afflicted by the hands of providence but retaining at presence my perfect mind and memory and calling to mind the mortality of the body and that it is appointed unto all men once to die do make and appoint this my last will and testament.

                In the first place I command my body to the ground to be buried in a Christian like manner at the direction of my executors and love to God who gave it not doubting but I shall receive the same again at the general resurrection, secondly my worldly affairs I dispose of in the following manner:

                First to my wife Elizabeth I will and bequeath all my real and personal estate during her natural life, to enjoy the same free from controls not putting in her power at the same time to dispose of the land and Negroes. But she is to remain on the plantation and in the house where I now live and exercise full power and controls the same as she may think proper after paying all my just debts out of the same if the debts due to me is not sufficient to pay the same when collected. 

               Secondly to Joseph Belew and the children of my daughter Polly after she became his wife I give and bequeath $ 1.00, thirdly to Dillian Asher and my daughter Nancy his wife I will and bequeath $1.00, fourthly to John W. Neill and my daughter Patsy his wife I will and bequeath $1.00, fifthly to my daughter Sarah I will and bequeath $1.00, sixth I will and bequeath William Simms and my daughter Betsy and heirs $1.00, seventh I give and bequeath to James Simms and my daughter Susan his wife an equal half of all my estate real and personal as soon as a decision can be made after the death of my wife Elizabeth davis and after last of the aforementioned legatees receive their several parts as above stipulated,  eighthly I five and bequeath to my only son the other half of my estate which I wish to be equal to that of James Simms and Susan his wife which decision I wish not to be made until my son Preston arrives to the age of twenty one years and then if said Simms and wife and my son Preston should not agree to the division of said estate I wish it to be divided four disinterested persons which they may choose for that purpose. 

Richard X Davis (his Mark)

Witnessed on april 19^th 1815

Andrew Craig

George W. Craig  

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