Where would I find a record of a will bequest payment?

MarysueVidro

My principal, David Carson, lived in Washington County, VA. He died before 3 Dec 1803 (estate appraisal appeared in Will book). Per an unsourced entry in an Ancestry.com tree: "On 16 Aug 1809 in Knox County, Kentucky: Estate settlement for late David Carson (1741-1803) land in Washington County, VA, paid $1500 by David Craig to heirs including daughter Mary (Carson) Craig and husband William Craig Knox County, KY." I searched both the Washington and Knox County Will Books -- nothing (although a "final" estate distribution dated 21 Aug 1811 in the Washington County Will book, mentions his sons, it omits Mary). I tried the Washington County Minute Books -- missing for 1788-1818. On a long-shot, I checked the Knox County, KY Order book -- again nothing. I even messaged the Ancestry tree administrator 6 weeks ago and received no response. Where else might I look for this information?

SerraNola

@MarysueVidro Because it is a land transaction, you would find it in a deed book, not a will book. Go to the FamilySearch Catalog and search for Knox County, Ky. In the results click on Land and Property, then Record of Deeds:

You would then look up David Craig (to William Craig) in the index to find the Deed Book and page number. Then locate that Deed Book and page #. (If you have any problem finding him in the index, it is Deed Book B, page 68.)

Shannon Potter Wilcox

@MarysueVidro

World cat is an online resource that will give you places where you can obtain a book or information from a library. I went in and typed early wills and deeds for Kentucky. The following in the website and different libraries (10 pages) that have a copy of this book and perhaps there will be one close to you.

https://www.worldcat.org/title/3573463 Kentucky records, early wills and marriages copied from court house records by regents, historians and the state historian; old Bible records, tombstone inscriptions; records from Barren, Bath, Bourbon, Clark, Daviess, Fayette, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mason, Montgomery, Nelson, Nicholas, Ohio, Scott and Shelby counties.

I hope this will give you another avenue to help you with your research. Also, sorry about the above in bold, the formatting did that and I can't unbold it.

Kind Regards,

Shannon

MarysueVidro

Thank you!! Yesterday, I found a hint of this in a historical journal (citation: Schrader, William. "David Carson of Washington County, Virginia," Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia Bulletin, Series 2, No. 45 (2008):33-36.). Footnote 12 said it appeared in the Knox County Kentucky Deed Book A, pp. 63-64. I was discouraged that Book A ended in 1807. I've located the image based on your reference and downloaded it. Greatly appreciate all who helped resolve this long-standing brick wall!