Reference: Deed Book “F”, pp. 366-367, Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana – 6 Nov 1837;

“I, James Allen, of Greencastle, in the State of Indiana, do make this my last will and testament. --First, I direct that all my body be decently interred, and that my funeral be conducted in a manner corresponding with my estate and situation in life, and as to such worldly estate, as it has pleased God to entrust me with, I dispose of, in the follow manner, to wit:

I direct, first, that a fair valuation or appraisement be made by three judicious neighbours of all my said estate, including my household furniture, and after being signed with their names, that a copy of the same be given by them to my Executor.

I bequeath to my beloved wife Delila Allen my house and orchard including four acre lot of ground adjoining said house, with all the household and kitchen furniture, and one grey mare, and one cow, that she may choose out of my stock, and four hogs, fit for fattening, and one brood sow that she claims to be her absolute property forever. Also, one acre lot fronting my house to her during her life time, also as much of the field of ground commonly called the barn field as she chooses to tend during my son Hiram’s minority. Also, one hundred bushels of corn out of my present crop.

I also bequeath to my son Hiram P. Allen all that part of my farm that lays East of the lane beginning at the corner stone that Wm Thealds planted for the South East of Greencastle, running with the lane South, to be his only portion of my real estate.

The amount that my sons John G. and Harrison Allen has already received before this date is not to be brought up.

I direct that all of the West part of my farm be sold by my Executor to the best advantage as is usual in such cases. Also, the balance of my land that lies in what is commonly called the flat woods, with the exception of one forty acre piece, and if Josiah Simpson comes and pays according to his contract, and if not it is to be sold with the balance, and all the balance of my personal property.—The money to be collected and equally divided by my Executor between my sons John G. & Harrison Allen and all my daughters, after deducting out what the daughters have received, share and share alike. I also direct that my beloved son John G. Allen be my Executor of this last will and testament.

Given under my hand an d seal this 6th day of November, 1837.

James Allen (seal)

Signed sealed published and declared by the above named James Allen as his last will and testament in the presence of us who have who have hereunto inscribed out names as Witnesses in the presence of the said testator and in the presence of each other.

P.W. Aplegate (signature)

Samuel Taylor (signature)

State of Indiana
Putnam County

Be it known that on the second day of December A.D. 1837 personally appeared before me, Arthur McGaughey, Clerk of the probate Court in and for the County of Putnam and State aforesaid, Peter W. Aplegate and Samuel Taylor, and after being by me first duly sworn, state an oath that James Allen the testator was, at the time of making and signing the within Will and testament of sound mind, memory, and discretion, that the said testator signed and executed the within Will and testament in the presence of the depositioners on the day which the said Will bears, and declared that the same should be his last will and testament, that the same was read over to him correctly as the same now appears—that the said testator signed the same will knowing the disposition that it made of his property and that he declared that the said will disposed of his property, both real and personal, according to his wish and further said not.

[Signed] Samuel Taylor

Peter W. Aplegate

Subscribed and sworn to before me in my office, the date above written,

A. McGaughey, C&R”