Rankin Family History Project
Last Will and Testament of
Elisha Belsha
In the Name of God, I Elisha Belsha of the County of Perry, State of Missouri being weak of
body, but of sound mind and memory and understanding, do make and ordain this as my last
will and testament in form following to wit. --
In primis [?] it is my Will and desire that my body be burried [sic] in a decent and Christianlike
manner by my Executor herein after named. --
Item, it is my will and desire that all my just debts be paid. --
Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Polly Belchy all my household furniture of
every description, her choise [sic] of two cows, six head of sheep and one horse colt two years
old, it being a pet colt, and my plantation whereon I now reside for and during her life in case
she should not alter her condition of life by marriage or leave the State of Missouri in which
event she is to forfiet [sic] her right & title to the same.
Item, it is my will and desire that my two Nephews, sons of my Brothers James and Jerry
Belchey, that is to say Elisha Belchey, son of my Brother James Belchey deceased, and Jerry
Belshy, son of my Brother Jeremiah Belchy have an equal share of my plantation, whereon I
now live after the death of my wife Polly or her marriage which shall first happen.
Item, it is my will and desire that the ballance [sic] of my property be equally divided between
my three sisters; Ester, Jane and Delilah, share and share alike.
Lastly, I do constitue [sic] and appoint my trusted friend, John Duvall, Executor of this my last
Will and Testament, revoking all others.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this seventh day of
August in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and twenty-nine.
The crop now growing and my hogs to be the right and estate of my wife.
Elisha Belsha {Seal}
At the request of Elisha Belshy, and in his presence and in the presence of each other we do
subscribe our names as witnesses to this as his last will and Testament.
Joab Waters
Tho's Donnahue
John Logan
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State of Missouri
County of Perry
Be it remembered that we the 14th day of June A. D. 1830, then came Thomas Donnohue,
one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing last Will and Testament of Elisha Belsha
deceased, and made Oath in the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, that he did see Elisha
Belsha sign his name to this Instrument of writing and acknowledge the same to be his
last will & Testament, and that he was at the time of his so doing, to the best of his
Apprehension of sound & disposing mind, memory and understanding & that he
subscribed his name as a witness to this will in the presence of and at the request of the
said Elisha Belsha & in the presence of Joab Waters & John Logan the other subscribing
witnesses.
Tho's Donnohue. --
Sworn & subscribed to on the day & year first written above, written before me.
Fredk C. Hase Clk
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State of Missouri
County of Perry
Be it remembered that on the 16th day of June A. D. 1830, then came John Logan, one of
the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing last will and Testament of Elisha Belsha
deceased, and made Oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, that he id see Elisha
Belsha sign his name to this instrument of writing and acknowledged the same to be his
last will & Testament, and that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of his
apprehension of sound & disposing mind, memory and understanding & that he
subscribed his name as a witness to this Will in the presence of and at the request
of the said Elisha Belsha & in the presence of Joab Waters & Thomas Donnohue the
other subscribing Witnesses: --
John Logan
Sworn & subscribed to on the day & year first written above, written before me.
Frederick C. Hase Clk
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State of Missouri
County of Perry
A Codicil to the within Will
September the 1, 1829.
I, Elisha Belshey of the County of Perry and State of Missouri being weak of body, but of
sound mind, memory and understanding do make this alteration codicil to my within will.
It is my will and desire that my wife Polly Belchey shall have in addition to what I have
her in the within Will, one bay Horse a "plangler" [?} & one set of geers [sic], and one Ax
with "sisinfo trees" [?], and that all the property I gave her except the plantation to be
her right and Estate forever.
It is also my will and desire that my wife Polly Belchy at her Death should give unto my
three sisters named in the within will fifty Dollars out of her share of my Estate.
Item, it is my will and desire that my Brother Jeremiah Belshey have my "Carl" and
apparatus.
Witness my hand & seal.
Elisha Belsha {Seal}
At the request of Elisha Belchey and in his presence and in the presence of each other,
we have hereunto set our hands, as witnesses to the above Codicil. --
Joab Waters
Tho's Donnohue
Samuel C. McDaniel
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State of Missouri
County of Perry
Be it remembered that on the 14th day of June A. D. 1830, then came Thomas Donnohue
one of the subscribing Witnesses to the foregoing Codicil of Elisha Belsha deceased and
made Oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, that he did see Elisha Belsha sign
his name to this instrument of writing and acknowledged the same to be his Codicil to
be attached to and hake part of his last will and Testament, and that at the time of his
so doing, he was to the best of his apprehension of sound & disposing mind, memory &
understanding & that he subscribed his name as a witness to this codicil in the presence
of and at the request of said Elisha Belsha & in the presence of Joab Waters and Samuel
C. McDaniel, the other subscribing witnesses. --
Tho's Donnohue
Sworn & subscribed to on the day & year first written above, written before me.
Fredk C. Hase Clk
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State of Missouri
County of Perry
Be it remembered, that on the 16th day of June A. D. 1830, then came Samuel C.
McDaniel. one of the Subscribing witnesses to the annexed Codicil of Elisha Belsha
deceased and made Oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, that he did see
Elisha Belsha sign his name to this instrument of writing and acknowledged the
same to be his Codicil to be attached to and make part of his last will and Testament,
and that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of his apprehension of sound &
disposing mind memory & understanding & that he subscribed his name as a Witness
to this codicil in the presence of and at the request of said Elisha Belsha & in the presence
of Joab Waters & Thomas Donnohue the other subscribing Witnesses. --
Samuel C. McDaniel
Sworn & subscribed on the day & year first above written before me.
Fredk C. Hase Clk
Recorded June 19th 1830. Fredk C. Hase Clerk, County Court
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State of Missouri
County of Perry
To Wit-, The state of Missouri, To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:
Know Ye, that the last will and Testament of Elisha Belsha of Perry County deceased,
hath in due form of law been exhibited, proved and recorded in the Office of the Clerk
of County Court for the county aforesaid, a copy of which is to those presents annexed,
and administration of all the Goods, chattels and credits of the deceased is hereby
granted and committed unto John Duvall the Executor by the said Will appointed.
Witness Frederick C. Hase, Clerk of our-said Court at Office this 2nd day of July Anno
Domini 1830.
Fredk C. Hase Clk
Recorded July 2nd 1830. Fredk C. Hase Clerk, County Court
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State of Missouri
County of Perry
Bond of Administration
Know all men by these presents:
That we John Duvall, George Killian and James Phillips are held and firmly found to the
State of Missouri, in the sum of five hundred dollars, legal currency, to which payment
well and truly to be made, we jointly and severally bind ourselves, our heirs, Executors
and administrators firmly by these presents, as witness our hands & seals this second
day of July in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty.
This condition of the above Obligation is such that if the above bounden John Duvall,
Executor of all and singular the goods & chattels, rights and credits, which were of
Elisha Belchey the Testator, dec'd, do make or cause to be made a true and perfect
inventory of all and singular the goods, chattels, lands, tenements, rights and credits
of the said Testator, which have come to the hands possession or knowledge of him the
said John Duvall, or into the hands or possession of any person for him, and the same
so made do return and exhibit in the Office of the Clerk of the County Court for the
County of Perry within such times and in such manner as is or may be prescribed by
law; and all and singular the monies goods and chattels, land and tenements, rights
and credits of the Testator, accruing from or arising out of his Estate which shall
come to the hands, possession or knowledge of the said John Duvall shall well and
truly perform the last Will and Testament of the Testator by paying first his Debts
& then the Legacies contained in said will, as far as the assets of the Testator will
extend, or the law charge them; and further, make or cause to be made just and
true accounts of his said Executorship, and make due and proper settlements thereof,
from time to time according to law or the Order, sentence or decree of any Court
having competend [sic] jurisdiction; and shall moreover well and truly do and perform
all other matters and things, touching the said Executorship as are or shall be provided
by law or enjoined on him by the Order, Sentence or decree of any Court having
compentend [sic] jurisdiction then this Obligation to be void and of no effect, otherwise
to remain in full force and effect.
John Duvall {Seal}
George Killian {Seal}
James Phillips {Seal}
Signed & sealed in presence of Fredk C. Hase Clerk, County Court
Recorded July 2nd 1830, Fredk C. Hase Clerk, County Court
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State of Missouri
County of Perry
Know all persons by these presents, that I Polly Belsha, Widow of the late Elisha Belsha
deceased. --
That I have relinquished, and by these presents do relinquish all right and
title which has accrued or may accrue to me under and by virtue of the Will made and
executed by the said Elisha Belsha, my late husband as aforesaid, and that it is my
intention to claim such portion of the Estate of the said Elisha deceased as by law I am
entitled as the Widow of the said Elisha Belsha dec'd. --
As Witness my hand and seal this second day of May A. D. 1831.
Polly X Belsha {Seal}
her mark
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State of Missouri
County of Perry
Be it remembered, that on this second day of May in the year of our Lord,
one thousand eight hundred and thirty-one, before me, one of the Justices of the Peace,
within and for the County aforesaid, appeared Polly Belsha,
who is personally known to me to be the person,
whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instument as having executed the same and
acknowledged the said instrument to be her act an deed for the purposes,
therein mentioned. --
Acknowledged this 2nd May A. D. 1831.
Alvan Cook, J.Peace
Recorded May 2nd 1831, Fredk C. Hase Clerk, County Court
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