I constitute Edward Brooks, Druggist of the City of Saint Louis my sole Executor, and request that he will dispose of what I leave as herein after directed. The principal part of what I possess consists of money and notes as follows: I have due to me on the books of said Brooks seven thousand five hundred and eight 38/100 dollars bearing an interest of Ten per centum per annum; (he having this day charged me on settlement of my account, with his note for Four Thousand four hundred and ninety five dollars and seventy nine cents, which charge is only to be valid in the event of said not being paid) and also the note of Colonel Thomas H. Benton for Three thousand eight hundred dollars dated the first of the present month, and payable twelve months after date. These means I wish Mr. Brooks to dispose of as follows: -

First - Should I die on my tour to the South, whither I am going fo the benefit of my health, Mr. Brooks will enclose Colonel Benton’s note to him without delay, which amount with all interest that may accrue thereon, I give and bequeath to his youngest daughter (Susan); the interest to cease so soon as Colonel Benton receives the note, and the money to be held by him until Susan becomes of a suitable age to receive it, - of this, he will be the judge.

Second - Out of the money remaining in the hands of Mr. Brooks, he will pay to my sister Mrs. Margaret Shaw of Lexington, Kentucky, Two thousand dollars, five hundred of which, he will remit to either of her sons Nathaniel or Hiram Shaw of that place immediately after my death, and the residue in twelve months thereafter with Ten per centum interest from the date of the first payment.

Third - So soon as may be convenient during the year succeeding the last payment to my sister, Mr. Brooks will pay to my faithfull friend John Havery of this City Five hundred dollars in American eagles (Benton money) which I give and bequeath to him as a mark of my regard and respect, and in consideration of his eminent serves to me while exercising the duties of Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

Fourth - After the foregoing payments are made, (there being no just debts against) and all the expenses for executing this will are settled, Mr. Brooks will ascertain the nett balance remaining in his hands, and be the same more or less pay it over to his mother in law Mrs. Eliza M. Riddick wife of the late Colonel Th. F. Riddick, which I give and bequeath to her in consideration of many acts of kindness received from Col. Riddick in his life time, and the continuation of the same on her part since his death; and I desire that this bequest be accepted by her as a pledge of my gratitude for such treatment, and a memento of the respect and esteem with which such treatment and her many excellent qualities have inspired me - But in order that Mr. Edward Brooks may experience no embarrassment in his business in paying over this bequest, he is at liberty to pay it in three annual installments, the first payment to be made one year after the last payment to my sister - But should Mrs. Riddick die in the meantime, then Mr. Brooks will hold said money or any part thereof remaining in his hands, for the use and benefit of the two daughters of Charles P. Billon by his present wife, the same to be divided equally between them and disposed of in such way as their Mother may direct.

Fifth - My large travelling trunk (should the same ever come to hand,) I wish to be sent to my sister Margaret aforesaid through either of her sons, together with all my wearing apparel that may be worth sending, and some bed linen now in Mr. Brooks’ store in one of my old trunks.

Sixth - In the enumeration of my effects I omitted to mention a lot of ground which I hold in the Episcopal Cemetery, the deed for which is among my papers. This lot I give and bequeath to my executor Edward Brooks aforesaid, as a family burying ground - I also omitted to mention a case of pistols now in Mr. Brooks’ store - this case I give to John Randolph Benton the only son of Colonel Thomas H. Benton herein before mentioned, and request that Mr. Brooks will take special care of the same and deliver them whenever he the said Randolph comes to Saint Louis, or have them sent to him by some safe conveyance.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my named this eighteenth day of November A.D. One thousand eight hundred and forty two.

JOSHUA PILCHER

Declared and published by
Joshua Pilcher as his last will
in presence of

H.F. Christy
D. D. Mitchell

JOSHUA PILCHER

Delivered and published by Joshua Pilcher as a codicil, to be added to, and considered a part of his last will and testament in presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in his presence.

P. Walsh
John Ennis?

I wish the most conspicuous part selected in Lot No. 10 in St. Luke Square belonging to me in the Episcopal Cemetery to be buried in after my death. A solid wall one foot thick and fifteen feet square to be place around the same and sunk in the ground level with the surface, a course of caping stone, Ten inches thick, sixteen inches broad, and bevilled from the centre to the edges down to six inches thick on the edge, to be placed on the wall. A heavy Iron railing three feet in heighth to be placed on top of the wall around the enclosure, the lower rail to be very large and heavy, the [upper] rail to be in proportion, four set of braces to be place in the centre of each side, and a gate to the same wall secured, the tops of the railing above the upper cross rail to be painted white. Over the grave I wish placed a thick stone level with the ground, the top and sides to be neatly polished, six pedestals of Italian marble of proper size and heighth to be placed on the same. A slab of Italian Marble four inches thick and of suitable length and width to be placed on the pedestals and to be well polished, on which is to be cut the following inscription: In Memory of Joshua Pilcher who was born in Culpepper County State of Virginia on the 15th day of March 1790. Died at St. Louis &c. Aged & c.

I wish my Body to be placed in a Zinc coffin, and the same to be enclosed in a coffin of solid Mahogany plainly made, and when the coffin is placed in the wood case in the ground, I wish the same to be covered with heave stone flagging before the grave is filled.

St. Louis May 29th, 1843.

Updated 31 Jan 2009
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