MISCELANY

AN OLD TIME WILL

Pg. 151

     The following will, emancipating a slave, is perhaps the only instrument of the kind ever drawn in Jackson county.  Hugh POOR, mentioned as executor, was one of the leading men of the county for a generation.  He settled in what is now Jackson county, in 1811.  In 1816, when the county was organized, he became one of the three Associate Judges, and served in that capacity for several years.  He was one of the first merchants of Jackson, and in many other ways assisted in its development.  He died in 1827.  Edward POOR, living in this city, is one of his grandsons.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF HANNAH THOMPSON.

     In the name of God, Amen.
     I, Hannah THOMPSON, of the County of Jackson and State of Ohio, being far advanced in years and aware of the uncertainty of life and certainty of death, and being in my right mind and understanding, blessed be God for the same, do make, constitute and ordain this, my last will and testament, in manner and form following:
     In the first place, commit my body to the grave and my soul to God, who gave it.
     And as to what property I may be in possession of at the time of my decease, it is my will and desire that all my just debts be speedily and punctually paid, and
     That my Negro man, Stephen, as a just reward for his faithful service to me and his ate master, be emancipated, and
     All the balance of my property, both real and personal, I will to my said Negro, Stephen, except only so much as will pay my funeral expenses and physicians, if any, and it is my desire and will that my executors dispose of it to the best advantage, and appropriate the proceeds thereof to my Negro man, Stephen.
     I do hereby appoint Hugh POOR my sole executor of this, my last will and testament.
     In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, revoking all former will and testaments by me made, and declare this to be my last will and testament, this 9th day of July, 1827.

     IMPORTING CARDS - Ohio had her Blue Laws in early days and one of the most singular trials in the history of this county was that of John McGHEE, indicted for violating one of them.  The grand jury of the July term, 1817, indicted him because he "did import and bring into the county of Jackson aforesaid, and township of Lick aforesaid, a pack of playing cards."  McGHEE pleaded not guilty, but the jury found otherwise, and he was fined five dollars and the costs.  The jurors were: Grand, David MITCHELL, foreman; John GRAHAM, John BACKUS, John BENNETT, Peter BROWN, Moses HALE, Joseph GRAY, Jacob WESTFALL, William BURRIS, James WINKS, Allen RICE, James LACKEY, Joseph CROUCH, George CAMPBELL and Jeremiah BROWN; petit, John McBRIDE, Theophilis BLAKE, Daniel HARRIS, John DELAY, John FRAZEE, Edward STORY, James Stephenson, Levi HOWELL, Reuben LONG, Asa LAKE, Patrick SHEARER, Drury BONDURANT.  With such men all agreeing, it must be conceded that it seems very probable that McGHEE did import the cards.  Perhaps, the losses of some of the jurors at gaming may have had something to do with this conviction.  This is the first pack of cards mentioned in the records, but after that, indictments for gaming followed in quick succession.  It appears that John GEORGE was one of the settlers that permitted gaming in his house.  At least, the record shows that some very prominent men played at his house, although their own mentioned goes to show that the pioneers were not any better, and perhaps no worse, than the people of today.  The laws seem to have been better enforced, however.  Even two women, living in Jefferson township, who had settled a little difference by fighting, were indicted and found guilty, and a young men arrested in a bastardy case pleaded guilty and was mulcted?.