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mcc-jrr_652-010
Clark Cemetery, 65-2 Summary Report, page 10

was obviously the one in control of the circumstances of her intended remarriage, as the agreement stipulates that John H. Hundley would administer her lands while she was married to James, allowing James to “live off of the proceeds” of her estate, but not to dispose of the land or other holdings. In her last will and testament, Lucy wrote that James would inherit only a small portion of her lands and slaves if he outlived her. However, his inheritance from Lucy would apply only for his lifetime and if he remained single and stayed on the land to cultivate it. After his death or remarriage or removal from the area, her land and perishable property would pass to the children of John Henderson Hundley by his wife Melinda. In fact, the vast majority of her holdings would pass to John Hundley and his children by Melinda / Malinda even during the lifetime of James Clark if he survived Lucy. Lucy made out her will on July 27, 1840, and she added a codicil on April 26, 1841, more than 3-1/2 years before her death. The terms of the will pretty much tracked to the "pre-nup" agreement, and the codicil charged the executors to erect a stone fence around the graves of her husband, herself, and her daughter. No surviving children were mentioned in the will, so it appears that the deceased daughter must have been the child of John Ives and must have died before Lucy married James E. Clark. This deduction is confirmed by the 1830 census of Madison County, page 145, that shows John Ives as age 40-50, his wife (Lucy) as age 30-40, and a daughter as age 5-10. 10 - (2394)