Isaac Lucas was born 6 Jan 1759 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, the second child and second son of Benjamin and Lydia (Crocker) Lucas. Benjamin was the fourth generation of Lucas to live in Plymouth, and via his father's maternal ancestry he was a direct descendant of five of the original 102 passengers on the 1620 voyage of the Mayflower. His mother, Lydia, was in turn also the fourth generation of the Crocker family to live in Massachusetts, and by way of her grandmother was directly descended from another four of the first pilgrims. Isaac's forbears thus included nine pilgrims - Stephen Hopkins and his wife Elizabeth Fisher, Francis Cooke, Edward Doty, Richard Warren, and the Howland family (which included John and wife Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland, plus Elizabeth's parents John and Joan (Hurst) Tilley).

Isaac's pilgrim ancestry (as it is for most families), was thus derived not directly via the paternal line of his father, but more peripherally via the ancestries of the women his paternal ancestry married - the result of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather each finding themself in the right town at the right time, and of then being able to associate themselves with the daughters of the other notable people of the town.

Indeed, all ancestry can be seen as built upon the accidents of fortune, since none of us had any choice about the set of parents thrust upon us when first brought into the world. But of course it was and is a mutual forced association, since our parents in turn had little alternative but to accept us regardless of whether they, in their more contemplative moments, might have wished for something different.

To his credit (as indeed it was for his Lucas siblings and relatives), Isaac's life was not built upon his ancestry; rather, it was clearly built upon a strong set of family values and a love of adventure. Perhaps because his heritage was already so thoroughly full of the pioneering spirit and its related sense of personal independence, he early on also became very involved in the American fight for governmental independence. His Massachusetts military record indicates he first joined a unit in Dec 1776 when but 17 years of age, and he is then noted to have been part of some military unit until finally mustered out after 7 long years of service. Among the locations noted in his Continental Army record are both Valley Forge and West Point, while tradition also has placed him at Bunker Hill, Stony Point and elsewhere:

Lucas, Isaac, Plympton (also given Abington and Plymouth).Private, Lieut. Francis Shurtleff's co., Col. Lothrop's regt.; service, 14 days; company marched to Bristol, R. I., Dec. 11, 1776, on an alarm; also, list of men raised to serve in the Continental Army from 2d Plympton co., 1st Plymouth Co. regt., as returned by Lieut. Francis Shurtleff; residence, Plympton; engaged for town of Plympton; joined Col. Balcy's regt.; term, 3 years; also, return of men mustered by James Hatch, Muster Master for Plymouth Co., to serve until Jan. 10, 1778; Capt. Drew's co., Col. Bailey's regt.; also, Private, 7th co., Col. John Bailey's regt.; Continental Army pay accounts for service from Feb. 1, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1779; residence, Abington; credited to town of Abington; also, Capt. Judah Alden's (7th) co., Col. Bailey's regt.; return of men who were in camp on or before Aug. 15, 1777, and who had not been absent subsequently except on furlough, etc.; also, Capt. Seth Drew's co., Col. Bailey's regt.; company return dated Camp Valley Forge, Jan. 24, 1778; engaged May 15, 1777; term, 8 months; also, Capt. Luther Bailey's co., Col. Bailey's regt.; Continental Army pay accounts for service from Jan. 1, 1780, to Dec. 31, 1780; also, descriptive list dated West Point, Jan. 28, 1781; Capt. Luther Bailey's co., 2d Mass. regt.; stature, 5 ft. 11 in.; complexion, dark; hair, black; residence, Plympton (also given Plymouth); enlisted Feb.-, 1778, by Ensign Torrey, at Valley Forge; enlistment, during war. [from Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution (17 Vols.); Vol 10, P. 5]

A biography of Daniel Lucas, son of Isaac's 2nd son Ezra, contains some further notes regarding Isaac and his family's patriotism:

. . Isaac Lucas, . . was born near Boston, Mass., and at the age of seventeen enlisted in Revolutionary war, participating at the battle of Bunker Hill, Cowpens and Stony Point, at the last named battle was one among the number to volunteer to charge the British in a hand to hand fight, when Gen. Wayne told them, "If any man feared to go to hell let him retire from the ranks." Married a Miss Smith with whom he attempted to settle in Ohio, near where Marietta now stands, where the father of this sketch [i.e. Ezra Lucas] was born in 1788, being the second white child born in the State, found the Indians so troublesome that they returned to Washington County, Pa.. . . [Daniel's] father [Ezra] was soon after drafted and served under Gen. Harrison [in the War of 1812] . . . [Daniel's] sons participated in the late [Civil] war, one of which was killed at Vicksburg. [from 'The History of Peoria County, Illinois'; 1880; page 719.]

Further regarding the 15 Jul 1779 Battle of Stony Point, the AmericanRevolution.com website notes General Washington's involvement in its planning :

By 1778 . . Washington was encamped around British-occupied New York. The British were unable to attack Washington, and New York was too strongly defended for Washington to attack. In the meantime, a war of plunder took place, with frequent British troop attacks on civilians that began to turn even many of the royalist supporters against them. . . In May 1779, General Clinton led his troops up the Hudson River, capturing the fort at Stony Point . . In response, Washington personally prepared an assault to retake Stony Point. . . 1200 men, converged on the fort. The fort was swiftly overwhelmed. Fifteen American soldiers were killed and 83 were wounded . . 63 redcoats were killed, 74 were wounded and 543 taken prisoner.

The Lower Hudson River Authority has these further comments about Stony Point:

Stony Point is a peninsula on the Hudson River of NY State, approx 25 miles north of Manhattan. The Battle of Stony Point was fought on July 15-16, 1779 by Continental troops armed only with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets to avoid detection and preserve the key element of surprise. Using a plan devised by General Washington and modified by General Wayne, the Americans marched south from Sandy Beach near West Point, and arrived at Springsteel's farm, about a mile and a half from Stony Point, some eight hours later. As they approached the peninsula from the west, they formed two attack columns, and wore pieces of white paper in their hats to avoid confusion in the darkness. They were also directed, in General Wayne's battle orders, to shout a watchword - "The Fort's Our Own" - when the defenses were "forced and not before. . . to drive the Enemy from their Works and Guns which will favor the pass of the whole troops." One column would proceed around the peninsula on the south, the other on the north, while a third column positioned in the center fired shots to divert the British defenders. General Wayne commanded the south column comprised of 700 men from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. These troops waded through the shallow waters of Haverstraw bay, around the outer abatis, cutting though a second, or inner abatis, closer to the river. The abatis - walls made of trees that had been cut down and placed side by side, with sharpened, entangled branches oriented toward the direction of a possible attack - spanned the peninsula from north to south. The southern end of the first, or Outer, abatis extended some 50 yards into the waters of Haverstraw Bay. Colonel Richard Butler commanded the north column consisting of 300 soldiers from Pennsylvania and Maryland, while the diversionary force in the center - 150 men in two North Carolina companies - were led by Major Hardy Murpree. The two attack columns were preceded by twenty picked men - the "forlorn hope" - whose mission was to secure the British sentries and "remove obstructions." All were members of the Corps of Light Infantry, an elite force whose duties included gathering intelligence, scouting enemy lines, fighting running skirmishes, and surprising enemy posts. Within about a half-hour, the heaviest fighting had ended; by 1 A.M. the fort and garrison were in American hands. [from the Lower Hudson River Authority website].

The National Archives in Washington DC have 25 pages of documents relating to Isaac's pension application and file (many pages being copies of mail requests for information from Isaac's descendants, some dating to WWI). The file also has Isaac's handwritten request for a pension pursuant to the recently passed (15 May 1828) pension act :

For the purposes of obtaining the benefits of the act entitled an act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the army of the revolution approved in the 15th of May 1828, I Isaac Lucas of Finley Township in the county of Washington in the Sate of Pennsylvania Do hereby Declare that I was engaged in the continental line of the Revolution for and During the war, and continued in its Service until its Termination, at which time or period I was a Private. In I think about the time in Captain Auldin's[sic] Company in Colonel Bailey's regiment of the Massachusetts line. And if I have received a certificate applicable to this can I have [no] Distinct recollection thereof. But that I did Receive, sometime shortly after the revolutionary war about Eighty Dollars in either a certificate or my Discharge I am not able to recollect which [a Bounty Land Warrant for 100 acres was found in the Veterans' Administration Archives, issued in Jan. 1790 to Isaac Lucas, Private, Warrant # 4603. One suspects this was the source of the $80, presuming he sold it]. And I further Declare, that I was not, on the fifteenth of May 1828 on the Pension list of the United States. Witness my hand this twenty fourth Day of July 1828 Isaac Lucas

By far the most interesting family story about Isaac is that sometime during his involvement in the War he became an 'aide de camps' and personal cook for George Washington. Although the story is nowhere officially documented, it is credible for several solid inter-related reasons. Firstly, Isaac served the full duration of the campaign, and he has been independently placed at numerous locations where Washington campaigned or had headquarters (including Valley Forge, West Point and Stony Point). Most persuasively - and as one of his most prized possessions - Isaac's discharge from the Continental Army was personally signed by George Washington. As noted in his short newspaper obituary (from the Washington Co. PA obituary file) :

"[Sat April 29 1848] Died on Wednesday the 8th inst at his residence in W. Finley Twp., Isaac Lucas in the 90th year of his age. The deceased was a soldier in our Revolutionary Army and down to the day of his death he carefully preserved his discharge from the regular service, made out in the hand of Gen. Washington. He died in the enjoyment of a sound mind and the respect of all with whom he was acquainted, leaving a large number of relatives to deplore his death."

That George Washington signed Isaac's discharge is confirmed by another page found in his pension file records :

Discharge by Washington in favor of Isaac Lucas dated 13 June 1783

The story that Isaac was a cook is clearly a long held family belief and story as well, confirmed by a near century old request in Isaac's pension file that not only relates to being a cook, but also adds to other suggestions that he was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill :

Clarinda Iowa, July 7 1918 . . My family had it that he was at Bunker Hill [17 Jun 1775, when Isaac was but 16], though not yet enlisted. It seemed that he was a cook and was in Drew's Co., 2nd Mass. Reg afterwards commanded by Judah Alden and John Bailey. There were a number of enlistments. . . .[I wish] to have my son [Kirk Burnett, later Dr. Kirk Burnett] connect his little military career with his great ancestor 5 generations back. Son is already serving his 7th year, at present in 19th Division. Sincerely, Eva (Erskine) Burnett.

Isaac was not content to return to the Plymouth area for long. Soon after he had married Janet Louise Smith (23 Nov 1786 in Brookline, Norfolk Co., MA) and had his first son John (baptized 19 Aug 1787 in Brookline), he and his wife ventured to start a pioneer life in the then still truly wilderness area of the Northwest Territory. Traveling by wagon and raft, they first settled near Marietta Ohio in 1789 :

The Ohio Company . . was formed in Boston, Mass. 1 Mar 1786, by the Congress of the Confederation 27 October 1787 [granting it] 1,781,760 acres for $1,000,000. A group of men from Massachusetts and Connecticut, started for the Ohio Purchase in the winter of 1787-88. They arrived at the mouth of the Muskingum River 7 April 1788, founded what is now the city of Marietta. [they included] General Rufus Putnam, superintendent of the settlement and surveys Colonel Ebenezer Sproat Colonel R.J. Meigs (Arrived April 24, 1788) Major Anselm Tupper, and Mr. John Mathews, surveyors Major Haffield White, steward and quarter master . . . The remainder of the emigrants arrived in 1788, 1789, and 1790 [listed by year] 1789 Isaac Lucas James Smith & family John Smith Jonathan Smith Stephen Smith Benjamin Smith [and numerous others] [W.P.A. Historical Records Survey: Inventory of the County Archives of Ohio, No. 5, Athens County, Columbus, Ohio, May, 1939. See Special Collections, Ohio University Alden Library.

Isaac's second son Ezra was born in Marietta, reportedly the second white person born in Ohio. But Marietta was not safe because of hostilities with the Indians who were being displaced. The Marietta situation is among the topics in a notable 1790 letter from Isaac to his parents back in Plymouth : 

Marietta, Muskingum [OH], August 16th 1790 DEAR PARENTS: We take this opportunity to Inform you of our welfare. Our family are yet in good health the Boys our son grow [John and Ezra] and would be remembered to their grandparents. But the youngest [age 1] cant say much yet. But John [age 3] has got all his letters or nearly. No doubt but we set too much by them. We have had the finest season since the first of April I ever saw our corn looks finely and there is an abundance on the ground, not withstanding the corn worm destroyed much of our first plantin so that we had to plant again in June. When the worms had done their work is now or nearly fit for rest. Notwithstanding it is the great (verfine) corn. As for health their is a fevr among us as was last summer of which some are sick but it has not proved any ways mortal yet we have abundant reason of thankfulness fro the meashur of health which we enjoy while some of our neibors have been confined on beds of sickness and pain. Last fall and the first part of winter the measals was hard on the children in the settlement but we ascaped them the last winter and spring the smallpox went throu the setilment and was sore on many familyes. Many died but we had our youngest to have them and it was favourable with him. The Setteling of the Country is rapid since our first arrival at this, but the country is not as I did expect this part of it shuid have seen, tho on the river are sharp riges and are very pore but as for the climate it is such winter - is so favouribel - snows lyte - that will not be a hard country to live in. The lands that we have been clearin is timbered with Maple and Beach the brouse of which is so green that our Catil will almost live on that. As for the fair with us we have no reason to complaine - we are not on lands of our own yet for in many parts of this river the Indians continue troublesome, and this seems to be the safest place at present we think better - work the best we can here tell times may alter as to that. Here we have all we can rais, of some Lands ten years fro improvin. Others we take and are allowed to Improve until the owners call for and pay for clearin which is valued at 15 to 21 dollars per acre. this you may think is a very great prise but were you to see what groath of beach timber there is on it would lytle enuf. But the encourigment the land is good and if improvd. Never so long the pay is same when the land is called for, but all this is not like makin a farm to ones self that is ones Land. but hear the land is divided among so many we or whoever will mark themselves farms must go where they are more protected from the raviges and Depredashuns of the Savage of the wilderness - which has been you no very cruel and contineus - in many parts on these waters, so to be, but they seem to vent most of their spite on the Virginia line of the river. we have lost a number of horses from this Setilment the Spring and Summer but not much other los at present. We seem quiet as to any alarm from them. We expect Congres will soon take meachurs for the Better defence of the Inhabitants on this water so that the Country will open for Sittlin more safe. For the present we have no reason to complain we came to this country but have great reason to be thankful tho as to the gospel we are almost without society. We hope to see it other ways. God we believe is still the same and that his word treu - also that he hath been a very present help in time of trouble. Conclude - would be remembered to granmother [Lydia Eddy did not die until 1792], brothers and sisters - with all friends pray that should we meet no more in time that we may all meet in that world of glory to which we may all be prepared for Christ sake - Your Son, ISAAC LUCAS I received yours by Isaac Robins in five weeks from the time he left Plymouth. It is all I have from you since I left you but a line from Lydia that was handed by Conrad Sprout [Sprowl?] - pray - with when time shall aford opportunity and as many particulars of the family. DEAR PARENTS, If Lydia remain single and hath a mind for this country and you can comfort yourselves to spare her and if Mr. Taft comes for this country I think it a good chance for her to come with them [Lydia remained in Plymouth and m. there in 1797] as they have a small famely and may be glad of help if she come with any other famely that may be comin on I would endeavor to satisfi them - come some trials in the weavin way would be of great servis at least a reel or two for it is dificult to get them nearer. I should think it pleashur to help her all I can for sake of her company. 1790 For Bennian Lucas - .att Plymouth Favored by Mr. Doroner. [transcribed from the original, then in the possession of Mrs. Preston B Arnold (nee Lenna Markey) of Fort Wayne IN, in turn reproduced in the 'History of Lucas and Simison Families' pages 5-7.]

Apparently the situation in Marietta continued difficult, for census records show that Isaac and his family had moved back East by 1800 to a more settled area in Straban Township, Washington Co., Pennsylvania. His family had increased to 6 sons, but narry a daughter. By 1810 the census shows him in Finley Township, also in Washington Co., PA, with his wife and an additional son (but still no daughters). The 1820 census also records him in Finley, but now only with 3 sons remaining in the household while 3 of the older sons have identifiable households of their own - John and Benjamin are also in Finley, and Ezra is found in Ross Co., OH. By 1830 the township was subdivided into an East and West, so in that census he is shown in West Finley Township although on the same farm. In 1840 he is living with his son John in West Finley township. This is consistent with the separate 1840 Census of Revolutionary War Pensioners, which specifically notes that Isaac was living with his son John in West Finley.

Little is presently known about Isaac's wife Janet Louise Smith beyond her name and the dates and places of her birth, death and marriage. Given the many men surnamed Smith that accompanied her and Isaac to Marietta Ohio in 1789, perhaps there is at least a brother if not a father among them that further research might identify. But we do know a fair amount about Isaac's children based upon his will, the following local biography, and other sources that have been located that are cited in the genealogy :

Isaac Lucas was a Revolutionary soldier and an aide-de-camp to General Washington. His property in this [West Finley] section was a four-hundred-acre tract called "Tragical", situated on Robinson Run. He bought it of Thomas Shields 23 April 1806, to whom it had been patented 20 June 1798. The farm is now in the possession of Samuel McNay. Isaac Lucas had six sons - John, William, Daniel, David, Abijah and Benjamin [NOTE: Crumrine is in error, as Isaac's will notes 7 sons with none named Abijah, and with sons Ezra and Berridge overlooked by Crumrine]. John's wife was Jane Templeton [NOTE - this was his 1st wife, but he had a 2nd wife named Mary and a 3rd wife named Elizabeth who John mentions in his will]; William married Miss Bushfield, and went to Ohio; Daniel and David both went to Ohio, the former marrying and having a large family; Abijah [in truth it was Berridge] and his wife, Jane Lee, emigrated to Illinois; and Benjamin, who married Mary Lee, lived and died in this county. Thomas B. Lucas was a grandson of Isaac Lucas. He married Malinda Rockafellow. He entered the Union army and was killed at Gettysburg, 3 July 1863. His only living son is John P. Lucas of Burnsville. He too, was in the army, a member of the Eighty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. [from Boyd Crumrine's 1882 'History of Washington County, Pennsylvania', the chapter on West Finley Twp. (pp. 979-986)].

Not much more is known about Isaac's time in Pennsylvania except for a few land deeds, the above biography, and his will. Because of its importance, a transcript of that will is attached hereto as an addendum.

Isaac also left an oftentimes unrecognized 'living legacy', for his will bequeathed 5 acres of land to be used as a cemetery. Isaac, his wife and several sons were not only buried there, but many other West Finley residents, which perhaps explains why the cemetery remains well tended to this day. Locally known as West Finley Cemetery, Washington Co., PA volunteers have transcribed its gravestones and placed them online at the West Finley Cemetery website (Note: While the dates are from the gravestones and are valid, some of the attributions of wives by well meaning helpers is mistaken).

As noted in his obituary, Isaac died 8 April 1848 in West Finley. His son John had preceded him in death, and Isaac's will indicates that his son Berridge cared for Isaac in his later years. Berridge was apparently the most financially reliable and successful of Isaac's sons as well, for he purchased the remaining 324 acres of Isaac's farm for $3,000 in an 1841 agreement with Isaac. Part of the agreement was that Berridge would be responsible for Isaac's care, in return for which neither principal nor interest would be due for the next five years or until Isaac's death. Berridge was responsible for paying off the principle only after Isaac's death, with the $3,000 to be equally divided among Isaac's sons as a 'dividend' from his estate.

Isaac's wife preceded him in death by almost 20 years, and he is noted in several places as being infirm in his later years. Yet he lived to be just 9 months shy of 90 years, in which time he had witnessed not only the birth of a nation, but actively participated in it, helped further its causes, and raised a healthy family whose offspring were equally responsible citizens with descendants now found throughout the country.

It is upon the backs of such hard working and conscientious patriots and pioneers that this country has been carried, and it is their hands that have nurtured and shaped us. While neither famous nor a truly wealthy man, such worldly considerations pale when mortality and the passage of time intercede. For when one departs this life, the most important legacy becomes that which continues to be found in the values and strength of character that one's posterity have adopted based on your example.

Isaac's legacy continues even today, since his descendants still emulate his values.

Isaac Lucas' Importance to His Descendants

While Isaac Lucas' story is interesting in its own right, his descendants have several additional genealogical reasons for finding him of interest.

His Revolutionary War record, clearly recognized by the National Archives, the 17 Volume listing of Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, and the DAR's 3 Volume Patriot Index, makes all of his descendants eligible for membership in the DAR provided they can prove a direct descent. A review of the public portion of the DAR's files indicates that there are many of his 4th, 5th and 6th generation descendants who previously joined their organization based on Isaac's history. They note, for instance, that the Mary Penrose Lane chapter of the DAR (located in Fort Wayne IN) has had many members over the years who were descended from Isaac, all via Isaac's son Ezra

More importantly - because it is so rare - is his link to an ancestry that includes at least 9 of the original 102 Mayflower Passengers. Of even greater import, 7 of those pilgrims (everyone except John Tilley and his wife Joan) survived the harsh winter of 1620 during which roughly half of the original group died. So by the time of the first Thanksgiving (an event which did not become a memorialized institution until centuries later), almost a sixth of the surviving 1620 participants in that first Thanksgiving celebration were Isaac's direct ancestors. The proof of Isaac's Pilgrim ancestry is not even conjectural, for the Mayflower Society has in recent decades issued a series of books which identify and document the first five generations of pilgrim descendants it considers to have a proven 1620 Mayflower ancestry. To the extent any later descendant can prove their link to a member of a first five generation family, they can expect to be granted membership in the Mayflower Society upon completion of the paperwork.

In Isaac's case, his name can be found on page 178 of Volume 18, Part 3 of the Society's Mayflower Families series (which lists the descendants of Mayflower Passenger Richard Warren). Isaac's father Benjamin Lucas is shown as a fifth generation descendant (#993), his marriage to Lydia Crocker is shown and documented, and all of their 7 children are listed by name including "ii. ISAAC b. 6 Jan. 1759."

Of even more extraordinary interest, one of the Pilgrim ancestors of Isaac is Stephen Hopkins. His history, found elsewhere in this genealogy, is noteable in that he was the only one of the 1620 pilgrims to have arrived in the Americas before 1620. Indeed, he was also a resident of the earlier English Colony of Jamestown, arriving there in 1609 after having been delayed by a severe ocean storm that many believe inspired Shakespeare to write 'The Tempest'.

This biography and genealogy may hopefully provide the necessary links and suggestions for documentation for those identified herein interested in joining any of the organizations noted above.

But of course the most important legacy Isaac provides his descendants goes far beyond the papers and certificates that any ultimately impersonal organization can provide. For his values, pioneering spirit and sense of patriotism embody a transcendent dream that can be shared by anyone who takes the time to learn more of the person (and his earlier family) who first imagined and pursued it. To link onself to Isaac Lucas and his family is to indelibly link one's own hopes and dreams to those upon which Isaac's country was built.

The Will of Isaac Lucas Decd. In the name of God amen. I Isaac Lucas of West Finley township in the county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania being in common and usual health of the body and sound in mind, memory and understanding (thanks be to Almighty God for the same) calling to mind the shortness of time and the uncertainty thereof, do make and constitute this my last Will and Testament in the following manner : First and principally I recommend my immortal Soul to God my Savior who gave it to me in hopes of a perfected resurection at the resurrection of the just, and my body to the earth (when it shall please the Almighty God to separate my Soul and body) to be buried decently at the direction of my after named executors. And as to such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased the Most High to bless me with, I give and disperse thereof as follows. It is my will that after my decease all of my just debts and funeral expenses be paid out of my personal property (except judgements on my Real Estate). It is further my will that my sons John, Ezra, Daniel, Benjamin, Berridge, William and David be equal sharers in my real and personal estate not otherwise disposed of, the judgements held by my sons to be first satisfied and then an equal dividend into seven shares. Any of my sons having paid or bound by law to pay money for my son Benjamin is to have it refunded first and foremost out of my son Benjamin's dividend of this my real estate sold to my son Berridge on the 20th of March 1841. Further it is my will that the following articles be appraised and disposed of at appraisement, viz. my Windmill, loom and tacklings, One horse (if living), bridle and saddle, two cows, broad axe and crosscut saws, my library (Burkett on the New Testament) except this I bequeath to my grandson Isaac Lucas son of John Lucas. any other articles not otherwise disposed of I wish an equal distribution among my sons. Further it is my will that after my decease my household & kitchen furniture or utensils beds and bedding, my chest and contents, my land papers my linens & owing to my present comfortable situation and care taken of me I bequeath to my son Berridge and his wife and to their heirs forever. Further it is my will that my boots shoes and wearing apparel such as woolens be given at discretion of my sons John and Berridge to those most needful free of no financial return. It is further my will that the lot of ground laid off for a burying ground and school house and the stove therein I leave for a public and Sabbath school and for the preaching of the gospel of the Savior or for any school or religious meeting forever & containing by survey five acres sixty seven perches beginning at a stone thence by lands of John Lucas south 86 1/2 degrees, west 36 perches 5 tenth to a post near a red oak, thence north 9 1/4 degrees east 29 perches 4 tenths to a stone pile - thence north 85 degrees East 21 perches to a stone, thence south by lands of James Hill 18 1/2 degrees East to the place of beginning. And further it is my will that should any difficulty or misunderstanding arise that cannot be adjusted by my heirs respecting this my last Will the said difficulty shall be decided by three disinterested persons chosen by them for that purpose whose decision shall be final. I do nominate my son William Lucas John Pollack & David Stuart of West Finley as my Executors of this my last Will and Testament. I publish and deliver this my last Will and Testament in witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty fifth day of March one thousand eight hundred and forty one. Isaac Lucas Witness John McCoy James Sproule John Burns  [Following the will is the below item, dated five days earlier.] Article of agreement made and concluded this twentieth day of March eight hundred and forty one between Isaac Lucas and Berridge Lucas his son both of West Finley township in the county of Washington Pa. The aforementioned Isaac Lucas doth sell his farm he lives on containing three hundred and twenty four acres be the same more or less to his son Berridge Lucas for the sum of three thousand dollars to be equally divided among his sons John, Ezra, Daniel, Benjamin, Berridge, William and David or their legal representatives those of my sons having judgements against my estate is first to have them satisfied with lawful interest from said estate. Those of my sons having paid or lawfully bound to pay any debt of my son Benjamin is to have the full amount out of his (my son Benjamin) dividend of my real or personal estate. My son Berridge by this contract shall not be bound to pay interest or more principle to his brothers or their legal representatives for five years from this date and should I then be living not until five years after my decease He Berridge shall be at liberty at any time to discharge any or all of the foregoing debts to his brothers or their legal representatives at any time. To my son Berridge, his interest on Judgements shall cease in consequence of his having five years free of interest to the other Legatees from this date and the said Berridge shall not be compelled to pay more than fifty dollars annually to each lawful heir or their legal representatives. Given under our hands and seal the day and year above written. Isaac Lucas (Seal) Berridge Lucas (Seal) Attest John McCoy for Isaac Lucas William Lucas and Berridge James Sprowls [following the above are the several related items noted below] Received debt and interest the sum of five hundred and seventy dollars and twenty five cents up to the twentieth day of March 1841. Judgements held against the estate of Isaac Lucas Is received by Isaac Lucas Attest James Sprouls N.B. The above described farm is bound to take care of the said Isaac Lucas during his natural life. Witness John M Coy William Lucas James Sproules Washington Co. Pennsylvania, Recorded in Book K, Vol. 3rd, p. 45a Ac August 20th 1846 Received in the written article of Berridge Lucas one hundred and thirty one dollars it being part of a Judgement note held by William Lucas against my real estate of the date of April 1st 1834 the balance of which I renew this day. Isaac Lucas Washington County PA - Be it remembered that on the 19th day of April AD 1848 before me William Workman Register for the probate of Wills and granting of letters of Administration in and for said county came John M Coy and James Sproule two of the testating witnesses to the written Last Will and Testament of Isaac Lucas deceased, who being duly sworn as the law directs do depose and say that they were personally present and did see that Testator within named execute the said Will and heard him publicly pronounce and declare the same as and for the Last Will and Testament. And that they subscribed their name as witnesses thereto at the request of the Testator in his presence and in the presence of each other. And at the time of his signing he was of sound mind and disposing memory and understanding to the best of their hearing observation and belief. And signed and subscribed before me John McCoy James Sproule. April 19th 1848. Letter Testamentary in the copy of will and probate annexed issued to William Lucas and John Pollock two of the executors within named. David Stewart having declined who on the same day were sworn before me Wm Workman Register April 19th 1848 NOTE : The above Lucas Will transcription copyright Dec 1 2005 by Terry J Booth. It was transcribed from a copy of the original will found in the will book of Washington Co., PA, lookup courtesy of Jennifer France of Washington Co., email address "Jenn France" . The transcription was then compared to one found in the McNay papers in the Greenfield Public Library, Greenfield Iowa.