Jesse Hurst will, 1853, Putnam Co., Indiana
  
State of Indiana Putnam County.  In the name of God amen, 
being in my right mind and memory and knowing that I am a 
dying man and wishing to settle my earthly concerns, I do 
in the following manner and first committing my soul to God
who gave it and my body to the earth whence it came, 
wishing to be buried in a decent manner and after all 
burial expenses are discharged and all just debts are paid 
I also direct that my real and personal property shall be 
sold by my executors for its reasonable value in cash or on
such credit and the amount secured in such manner as is 
usual in like cases
  
To insure the full and punctual payment thereof, and to
effutuate this my intention, I herby vest my executors with
full power and authority to dispose of my real estate in 
fee simple in as full and ample a manner in every respect 
as I could myself if living.  I also direct that the nett
produce of my real and personal estate herein before 
ordered by me to be disposed of be equally divided between
George Hurst, David Hurst deceased heirs, Elizabeth Hibbs, 
Burton Hurst, Catharine Staley, Lucy Dobbs, Pernita Hurst 
and Harmon Hurst, the heirs or representatives of any of my 
children who shall have died are to be entitled to such 
share or shares as their respective ancestor would have 
been etitled to receive if living. 

  
I wish Burton Hurst and Hugh N. Dobbs to act as my
executors.  In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand 
and seal this the eighth day of July in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty three. 
Jesse Hurst (Seal)

  
Attest:  
Elijah McCarty
Isaac Cotton
  
State of Indiana Putnam County
Before me Jacob McGinnis clerk of the court of Common
Pleas of said county on this 17th day of December 1853
personally appeared Elijah McCarty and Isaac Cotton the
subscribing witnesses to the within last will of Jesse
Hurst deceased who being by me duly sworn upon their oaths
depose and say that the within last will was duly executed
by said testator that at the time of executing the same the
said testator was of full age to devise his property & of 
sound mind and memory and not under any coercion or 
restraint whereon, that said testator subscribed the same
in the presence of these deponents and that these deponents
subscribed the same as witnesses in the presence of and at
the request of said testator and in the presence of each 
other, Elijah McCarty Isaac Cotton.  Subscribed and sworn
to before me the date above.  Witness my hand and seal of
said and hereby affixed at Greencastle.  Jacob McGinnis 
Clerk
  
State of Indiana Putnam County
I Jacob McGinnis clerk of the court of common pleas of said
county, certify that the foregoing is a full true and 
complete record of the last will of Jesse Hurst, late of
said county, deceased, and of the proofs and examinations
of Elijah McCarty and Isaac Cotton, the subscribing 
witnesses thereto, by whom the same was proven.  Witness my
hand this December 17th 1853.  Jacob McGinnis Clk.
  
(Putnam County, Indiana Wills I:113-114).