The following is a transcription of the will of John Randall filed at
Muskingum County, OH probate court in 1850. It is the missing link I have been searching for between Jared
Brush Randall (1813-1898) of
Vinton Co., OH and the
Randalls in Conneaut,
Erie Co., PA. In addition to the will itself, the 13-page probate package contains receipts that John Randall's executor obtained from the heirs. In one of those receipts, Jared
Brush Randall states that the deceased was his father. The widow
Abigail Randall was John's second spouse. His first spouse was the mother of his four older children. I speculate that her name was Taphath
Brush, but have no firm proof of that. The probate package contains a detailed appraisal of John Randall's worldly goods, a list of what was sold at auction, and an account of John's bill at the General Store during the year of his death. A medical bill indicates that John underwent an amputation shortly before his death.
[First Page]
“In the name of the benevolent Father of all, I John Randall of Township of Richhill,
Muskingum County, O, State of
Ohio, do make & publish this my last will and testament: Item 1st. I will my soul to God: - 2nd, I wish all my just debts paid; 3rd, I give and bequeath to my wife,
Abigail Randle, all my real estate, during her natural life; And at her death I give and bequeath the farm estates to my youngest son
Maxson Randle; 4th, and should
Maxson Randle not survive his mother, I give and bequeath said estate to my son, John
Randle.
5th, I give and bequeath to my son John my rifle gun
6, I give and bequeath to Elizabeth
Harris my daughter twenty dollars in two [ILLEGIBLE] from my decease;
7, I give and bequeath, James
Milholland ten dollars after my decease;
8, I give and bequeathe to Jerod B. Randle a note of hand calling for four or five dollars which I paid off for him and one dollar in cash;
9, I give and bequeathe to Lydia
Randle, my daughter, one dollar;
10, I give and bequeathe all my personal property after paying my just debts to my wife
Abigail Randle when the above mentioned legacys are paid.
[Second Page]
I do hereby nominate and appoint Henry Tom executor of this my last will and testament hereby authorizing him to compromise, adjust, release, and discharge in such manner as he may deem proper, any debts and claims due to me. I do also authorize and empower him if it shall become necessary by private sale or in such manner upon such terms of credit or [illegible], [illegible] as he may think proper enough of my personal estate as shall be sufficient to [illegible] my just debts and legacies. I do hereby revoke all former wills made by me. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of October A.D. 1850.
Signed xxx [John Randall’s shaky signature and a seal]
And acknowledged
By said John
Randle on his
Last will and
Testament
In our presence
And signed by us
In his presence
[James Alesaey
Lee
HumphreySignatures]