I, William McKendree, desiring to dispose before my decease of what estate it has pleased God to give me, do make and ordain the following to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking and annihilating all former wills heretofore made by me.
Item 1. I give and bequeath to my friend, Dr. Henry Wilkins, of Baltimore County, Maryland, my watch.
Item 2. I give my trunks, flannels, and linens to be divided between my two sisters, Dolly Harris and Nancy D. McKendree.
Item 3. The balance of my wearing apparel I give to my brother James, and my brother-in-law, Charles Harris.
Item 4. A twelve acre lot, of ground joining James McKendree I give and bequeath to my sister, Nancy, to aid in keeping old Gray and her saddle horse.
Item 5. I give and bequeath to Joshua Soule all my manuscripts and papers, to be disposed of as he, with the assistance of Thomas L. Douglass, may deem most expedient.
Item 6. I give and bequeath, the land owned by me in the State of Illinois to the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in trust, that they will dispose of it in such a manner as to them shall seem best to aid in the establishment of a literary institution for the benefit of the Illinois and Missouri Conference.
Item 7. I give to my friend, Joseph T. Elliston, Esq., of Davidson County, my portfolio.
Item 8. I give to my friend, H. R. W. Hill, of Nashville, my black cane and my silver seal.
Item 9. I give my portable secretary to my friend, Elijah Boddie, of Sumner County.
Item 10. And it is further my will and desire that the remainder of my estate of every kind whatsoever shall be divided into two equal portions, one of which portions I give and bequeath to Joshua Soule, in trust, to be disposed of to promote the spread of the gospel in such manner as he and the bishops for the time being may judge most for the glory of God and the advancement of his kingdom among men. The other half or portion I wish, equally divided between Dolly Harris, my sister, brother, James McKendree and sister, Nancy D. McKendree.
I in the last place do hereby constitute and appoint Joshua Soule, James McKendree, Joseph T. Elliston, H. R. W. Hill, and Elijah Boddie my executors to this my last will and testament. Done under my hand and seal on the 24th day of January 1833.
| W. McKendree | Seal |