The imported bull

In the name of God, amen! I Henry Clay of Ashland do make, ordain and publish the following as and for my last will and testament,…

I give and devise to my wife, during her life, the use and occupation of Ashland, with the exception of the piece thereof hereinafter devised to my son John, and also, during her life, all my slaves except those heretofore or herein after otherwise disposed of,…

Upon the death of my wife, or if she shall determine to remove from Ashland, I will and direct that the sale of that estate and of all my slaves bequeathed to her, except such as she may choose to retain during her life,…

I give and devise to my son Thomas, Mansfield, where he at present resides, In trust however that it shall be retained, free from all debts or incumbrances,…

And upon the death of my said son Thomas, I give and devise Mansfield to such of his children or their descendents as he may by his last will and testament direct and appoint…

With the concurrence of that Court, Mansfield may be sold and the proceeds of sale invested in other real estate, to be subject to the same trust as Mansfield is above made subject to.

I also give to my son John the slaves Harvey, Milton, Henry and Bob.

My will is, and I accordingly direct that the issue of all my female slaves, which may be born after the first day of January 1850 shall be free at the respective ages of the males at twenty eight, and of the females at twenty five; and that the three years next preceeding their arrival at the age of freedom, they shall be entitled to their hire or wages for those years, or the fair value of their services, to defray the expense of transporting them to one of the African Colonies, and of furnishing them with an outfit on their arrival there.

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Please note that there is a fine selection of hats, postcards, recipe books, an Ashland Christmas tree ornament, a Henry Clay silhouette print suitable for framing and hanging in your bedroom, Henry Clay coffee mugs, lapel pins, a 3-piece refrigerator magnet set of the “Women of Ashland” (note: so that purchasers will not have their kitchens disturbed, none of the three include the dozens and dozens of enslaved women purchased, worked, beaten, raped, and sold), and a wide assortment of gewgaws, bric-a-brac, and commemorative items suitable for Christmas gift giving.