(This will was copied by Estelle Harrington from the records of the probate clerk in Belleville, Ill. and published in Harrington's book "Genealogy of the Messinger Family."  Also included in the book, but not included here, was a partial listing of John's personal properties and his appraised value of each.  I do not not yet have an actual copy of his will or the inventory.)

In the name of God, Amen!

I, John Messenger, of St. Clair County, State of Illinois, being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament:

FIRST:  It is my Will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid, as I do not know of owing any debts other than the public taxes at this time, and believing that one of my executors hereinafter named or appointed will have ample means in his possession to meet the first item above, therefore,

SECONDLY:  It is my Will that there should not be any public sale of any property, personal or real, that I may be possessed of at the time of my decease, and

THIRDLY:  Having met the demands of a mortgage deed for thirty acres of land situate on the Eastern end of Survey No. 371 of Claim No. 577 signed by Julius Kiefhaber and wife as will fully appear by reference to the said deed, and the endorsement on the back thereof, it is my WIll that the record thereof should be cancelled by Executors, if not done by myself before my deacease, and that eleven acres of said thirty acres should be conveyed in fee simple to Ida Amelia Kiefhaber (daughter of my daughter, Minerva Olivia) if she should live past minority, said eleven acres being about the amount of money advanced out of my own funds to meet the sum due to Jacob Badgley, the mortgagee, at the purchase cost per acre, and

FOURTHLY:  It is my Will that the following described piece or parce of Land should be vested in fee simple to Daniel I. M. Phillips, if he should live past minority, or to his mother if she survive him.  The description of said piece follows:

Beginning at the South West corner of a piece of land formerly conveyed by me to a Baptist Church, on which there is now a cemetery, Thence North to another corner of the same, thence East to another corner of the same, Also thence North to the stone quarry rivulet, Thence north to G. P. Lienisch's line, Thence West to a line of Abraham Badgeley's land, Thence along the same Southward to a line of my daughter Amanda's land, thence with the several lines thereof East, South East, and South to a point due West of the place of beginning.  Thence to the same including an area not yet ascertained be the same more or less.

The names of my surviving children are as follows:  Amanda, B. Franklin, Charles Holt, Elon Lee, Minerva Olivia, Matthew Lyon and Pamelia Anne, to each of whome (previous to this date) I have made such a dividend by deed of conveyances, and as I considered a reasonable and equitable divident during my life time.  Therefore,

FIFTHLY:  It is my Will that all the property in my right at the time of my decease (except such as is herein enumerated and marked in the accompanying schedule) to be delivered to the care and keeping of my son Elon Lee Messenger, as guardian of the same, to be by him divided in an equitable manner (from time to time) among the several families of grand children that are now born and survive their minority, and having prepared triplicate schedules of the principal part of my remaining property, bearing date herewith, one copy to be delivered to each of my Executors herein appointed (if any survive) and one copy to be filed in the office of the Recorder of Will on which schedules several items are marked by me, to those grandchildren to whom I want them delivered by the above named guardian, at such periods of time, as they may have arisen to a proper age to take care of the same, and

It is my Will and wish that the Book Case, Books and paper therein contained should remain stationary in possession of my guardian (or his assigns) as a Library for each and every one of my children and grandchildren that they may want to call at the deposit and examine them, unless they are purchased at or near their marked value and the money deposited with my guardian for further dividend, and having full confidence in the rectitude of my son, Elon Lee Messenger as Guardian and protector of the property made over into his care and keeping, under the inspection ofhis assistant Executor (if he survives) I am willing to trust his judgment in the divident of all articles not marked by me on the Schedule and

LASTLY:  I hereby constitute and appoint my son Elon Lee Messenger and William McClintock to the Executors of this last Will and Testament revoking and annulling all former Wills made by me, and ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my seal

 (SEAL)  JOHN MESSENGER

the seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One Thousand and Eight Hundred and Forty-Six

Signed, sealed and published and declared by the above John Messinger to be his last Will and Testament in presence of us who have hereunto subscribed out names as witnesses in the presence of the testator.
 Abraham Badgeley
 John Pate, XX (His mark)
 
 

My main Messenger Genealogy webpage

More Biographical information on John Messinger

John Messinger Markers and Memorial Signs in St. Clair County

Headstone Photos

Scans of the Pamelia Anne (Messinger) Lienesch Family Bible (John Messinger purchased this Bible in 1816 and inscribed many of the family records before giving it to Pamelia and her husband, George Phillip Lienesch) 
 
 

Last Updated:  6 June 2002