In the name of God amen. I Simon Birdsley of the town of Dixon County of Lee and state of Illinois, knowing the uncertainty of life and being in my right mind and having possession of my faculties, do hereby make this my last will and testament, to wit: First, my beloved wife Clara Birdsley to have her good and sufficiently living out of my property the same as I have heretofore provided.

Second. The rest and remainder of my property I desire to have equally divided between my beloved son Hiram Birdsley, John Birdsley and Obadiah Birdsley. Except the property, to wit: two (2) colts given said John and Obadiah Birdsley.

And I do hereby appoint my good friends John Hamill of Dixon and Nathan Burdick of Dixon, Executors of this my last will and testament.

Simon Birdsley Testator

We, the undersigned, witnesses of the within written will and testament do hereby certify that the testator Simon Birdsley was of sound mind and of full faculties at the recording of the within instrument

Albert F. Brooks Marion Ill.
Nathan Burdick Dixon Ill.
John Hamill Dixon Ill.

Dated Dixon December 28th 1863

Codicil

And I further desire that all my personal property except as herein, before excepted and one colt sold to my son Obadiah Birdsley shall descend to my wife Clara Birdsley on condition that she pay each of my daughters to wit Mary Cleghorn, Nancy Manners, and Eliza Tucker the sum of fifty dollars (50.00) Provided that when Clara Birdsley shall have finished her use of said property it shall revert to my sons John Birdsley and Obadiah Birdsley

Simon Birdsley Testator

Dated Dixon December 28th 1863

Witnesses
of Marion Albert F. Brooks
of Dixon Nathan Burdick
of Dixon John Hamill

****Last Will of Simon Birdsley, Deceased, was filed 30 Dec 1863, in Lee County, Illinois, by James A. Hawley, clerk (Order book H page 310, Record book B of wills page 136).

Contributed by Jeff Birdsley