Amanuensis Monday - The Will of John Early (1854)

                                                                 Will of John Early

  In the name of the Benevolent Father of all, I John Earley of Miami Township in the County of Montgomery and State of Ohio, do make and publish this my last will and testament.

  Item 1st  I give and beqeath to my beloved wife Magdalena Early, all the property of any kind that I may be posessed of at the time of my decease, to use and possess as long she does remain a widow, out of which she shall pay all my just debts, and in case she should again remarry, then what shall remain of said property after deducting her lawful share of the same to be equally divided amongst my seven children with this exception that my said wife shall pay to my son Isaac Early forty dollars on his arriving to the age of twenty one years. Which is intended to make him equal with his brothers each of them having recieved a horse from me heretofore.

  Item 2nd  I do nominate and appoint my said wife, Magdalena and my son, John Early Excutor of this my last will and testament.

  In testimoney whereof I have herunto set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of December in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Fifty.     /s /John Early

  Signed and Acknowledged by said John Early as his last will and testament in our presence and signed by us in his presence.

 /s/ Daniel Askins

/s/  William Gowdy

 [Will typed exactly as shown in original, no corrections in spelling or grammar have been made.]

John Early was born 7 Jul 1776 in Pennsylvania and died 15 JUL 1854 in Miami Township, Montgomery County, Ohio.  He was married 1 Aug 1820 Rockingham County, Virginia to Magdalena Byerly.  They were the parents of 7 children - John T., David, Lydia, Joseph, Sarah, Jacob and Isaac Early.  

John & Magdalena were my fourth great grandparents.

Amanuensis Monday - Will & Codicil of Henry Reusch (1897)

[This will is handwritten and in places has over writes and misspellings, none of which have been corrected.  All typed here as presented in will]

  In the name of the benevolent Father of all, I Henry C. Reusch of Liverpool, Ohio, do hereby make and publish this my last will and testament.

  Item 1. I give and bequeath all of my personal property of every description including household goods, furniture, grain, hay and provisions, fuel, wearing apparel, beds and bed clothing, and all other articles in the household including all cash on hand and all credits due me, and all stock on the farm, farming tools and wagons, buggies and all other personal estate to my beloved wife Elizabeth, hereby authorizing and enpowering her to sell the same at public or private sale, and from the proceeds to pay all bills contracted by me during my last illness, as doctors bill, funeral expenses and so forth. and the balance of said personal property ___  or proceeds of the same is to be then property of my said wife Elizabeth to do with the same as she may see fitting and proper..

  Item 2nd.  I hereby give and bequeath to my said wife, Elizabeth in liu of her Dower the farm on which I now reside and consisting of about one hundred and Thirteen (113) acres and the Fifty Five (55) acres lying on the center road in Liverpool township to Have the use of only the same during her natural life giving her the right to rent the same if she sees fitting and proper to do so.

  Item 3d.  I give and bequeth to my son Henry A. Four hundred dollars ($400.) and to my daughter Caroline Weidner Two hundred ($200.) dollars and to my daughter Lydia Urias Two hundred Dollars ($200.) to be paid to them out of my estate after the death of my said wife, Elizabeth.

  Item 4.  After the death of my said wife, I desire that the balance or residue of my estae after the bequests named in Item 3 of this instrument shall have been paid to be divided equally among my sons Henry A., Frederick G., Andrew C., and John C.,and my daughters Caroline Weidner, hannah Etzel, Louisa Mack and Elmina S., excepting however that my daughter Louisa Mack shall have one hundred and thirty dollars less than her equal share, as I have paid them the said amounts heretofore.

  Item 5th. I hereby nominate and appoint my said Wife, Elizabeth executrix of this my lst will and testament, without bonds and I desire that no inventory or appraisement be made of my personal property, and I desire that the court of Probate to omit the same pursuant to the statutee made and provided.   I hereby revoke all former wills made by me.

  In testmony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of November A.D. 1896.

                                    /s/ Henry C. Reusch               

Amanuensis Monday

I Casper DUTE', of the village of North Amherst, County of Lorain and state of Ohio, being about seventy two years of age, and being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make, publish and  declare this my last will and testament. Hereby revoking and making null and void all other last wills and testaments made heretofor:

  First-My will is that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall be paid out of my estate as soon after my decease as shall be (next two words not legible).

  Second-I give and devise and bequeath to my beloved wife May DUTE, all my property both real and personal to have and to hold, absolutely for ever.

   And I hereby appoint my said wife, executrix of this my last will and testament, and I request the judge of the probate court to appoint her without requiring bond.

   I desire that no appraisement, and no sale of my personal property be made, and request that the court of probate direct the omission of the same.

   In testimony whereof, I have set my hand to this my last will and testament at North Amherst, Ohio this 12th day of January in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and ninety nine.

                                          /s/   Casper Dute' 

[Wills & other documents are typed as found, no grammatical or spelling errors are corrected.]

Amanuensis Monday - Will of Richard Ligon (1815)

The following images are not what I would call great. They weren't good when I got them, and no matter what,  they are what they are. The will is that of Richard Ligon, son of Richard Ligon and his wife, Olive Jeter. He married Fanny McGehee, daughter of Abram McGehee in Prince Edward County, Virginia on July 26, 1809. Together Richard & Fanny were the parents of one son, Green Ligon.

Richard's will is signed 19 Mar 1815 in Wake County, North Carolina and is proven in court November session of 1815.

All wills, deeds etc on this blog are presented with no corrections in punctuation, grammar or spelling. Remember that clicking on the image will open in a new window. Using your browsers back button will return you here.

      Know all men by these presents that I Richard Ligan being of great bodily pain but of sound mind and judgement do make this my last will and testament and request that Mayor Joshua Tugg Major John T.C. Wiatt and Lewis Muse administor and see that my wordly affects are disposed of in the following manner Viz To my loving wife Fanny Ligon I give and bequeathe during her natural life and after her death to my son Green the following property two negroes named Cate and Tempy and one half of all my perrishable property and one half of the lot on which I now live and after her death to my son Green and his heirs forever also the following property Viz three negroes, Isham, Patsey and Benton and all of my remaining worldly property to my son Green Ligon.
     I do request that in case my wife should marry and move out of the state that the negroes which I give to her be hired out and that she recive the hire of the two above mentioned negroes Cate and Tempy. I do futher request that my son Green may have a good english education and be put out to learn good trade which I leave partly to my son and charge my executor or executors to take the same care of him that they do of their own given under my hand and seal this 19th March 1815.
Richard X Ligon

Amanuensis Monday - Will of John Acree (1825)

  This is the will of John Acree.  Last week (10/10) I did a will for his father, John Acree. Since I have never in this line seen the terms Jr. or Sr. associated with them I am not going to use those terms.  John Acree wrote this will  28 FEB 1825 and it was proven in the May Term of 1825.

  John was married to Milly, whose surname remains unknown at this time.  They were the parents of at least eight children - Elizabeth, Jacob/Joab, Hardin, Patience, Arilly/Milly, John, Nancy and Sarah.

   The transcription is shown as it is in the original with no grammar or spelling corrections.  Clicking on the image will open a larger view, using your browsers back button will return you here.

   The final page of this will really makes this will a standout in my files.  Never before have I seen this sort of "doodling".  I've seen lots of squiggles and wiggles but never faces on the pages of wills and other legal documents from this time frame.  I've included it in hopes you'll enjoy looking as much as I did. Don't know who the faces are supposed to represent but they are here.  Enjoy!

Bertie County In the Name of God Amen, I John Acre, being in perfect mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner & form following (viz)
1st - I give and bequeath unto my wife Milly, my grey mare side saddle and bridle, four cows and valves, one four year old steer, one feather bed and furniture, two sows and ten shoats One house pig, three hudnred pounds of bacon, thirty pounds of lard twelve barrels corn, all the fodder at Luke Parkers, one pine chest, one trunk all the earthen and crockery ware, one Iton pot, five bee hives, all the spun cotton, flax and glare (?) all the cotten that is not picked four chairs one pine table all of this I give and bequeath unto her and her heirs forever.
2nd - I give unto my daughter Elizabeth Pierce the sum of one dollar to her and her heirs forever.
3rd - I wish the residue of my estate after my just debts are all paid to be sold and equally divded between John B. Acre, Nancy Cooper, Sarah ACre, Joab C. Acre, Hardy H. Acre, Patience Acre, Marmaduke Harrell and Amilly Harrell to them and their heirs forever.
4th - I will appoint my wife Milly and Jn. B. Acre as Executrix and Executor to this my last will and testament, in testimony of all which I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the 28 day of FEB A.D. 1825.
/s/ John Acre (Seal)
Signed and Acknowledged in presence of us Johnston Higgs, Abner Jenkins

Amanuensis Monday - The Death of a Son - The Military Explains

 After many months of striving to obtain reliable and authentic information relative to the time, place and occasion of the death of their son, Private Lyle C. Ott,  Mr. and Mrs. Clint Ott of 801 East State Boulevard, Fort Wayne, formerly of Kimmell, have received communications from the office of the Quartermaster General, Washington, which outline the facts as they have been obtained by the division of our war department.
  Regarding the burial of their son, Mr. and Mrs. Ott have been advised:
"The official report of burial discloses that the remains of your son were interred in Plot J. Row 33, Grave 1251, in the U.S. Military Cemetery Carano, located approximately 30 miles northwest of Naples, Italy."  (The burial took place "on the 28th of Dec 1944.")
   Another letter from the same office conveys this information:
  "Your desire to be fully informed regarding the death of your son, Private Lyle C. Ott, is most understandable.  Information now available shows that on 16 February 1944 your son and other members of his organization were engaged in an attack on enemy positions near Cairo, Italy.  During this engagement the third platoon, of which he was a member, was surrounded by the enemy, thereby cutting them off from the rest of the company.  Every attempt was made to reach the stranded men but without success, due to the superior force of the enemy.  Subsequently he was reported missing in action.  Later a casualty message received from the Commanding General on the Mediterranean Area stated that he was killed 16 February 1944 in Italy, the same day he was previously reported missing. I regret that no further details regarding his death were given, but I am sure you will understand how extremely difficult it was under actual battle conditions to record all information regarding casualties."
    
    This letter also explains why Mr. & Mrs. Ott had received no word from Lyle's commanding officer or chaplain.  It states that "this procedure of reporting casualties was not in effect at this time."
    The letter also explains why Lyle was not granted a furlough following the completion of his basic training and before being sent overseas.  It states: "Generally it was possible to grant leave after completion of basic training, but cases did occur where this was not possible due to the urgent need for  personnel with specific qualifications and training.  You may be assured, however, that this did not result from discrimination nor callousness on the part of the military authorities, but was one of the sacrifices necessitated by the magnitude of the war."
   Lyle's parents have not yet received his personal affects, but the letters they have received infer everything possible will be done to return these to them.
   Explanation of the great difference in the date of death as compared to that of burial it is assumed that the interment on December 28, 1944 was the second or final burial.  That is the body was in a temporary grave from February to December.

Amanuensis Monday - Will of Jacob Langston (1784)

The images below are for the will of Jacob Langston, my 8th great grandfather. Jacob's will is signed Dec. 25, 1794 in Wayne County, North Carolina. The copies are from the North Carolina State Archives, May 2011. The will has been transcribed exactly as it appears on the paper copies. No corrections are made in grammer, spelling or punctuation. Clicking on the image will open a larger image in a new window. Use your browswers back button to return to GFOM.

The Last Will & Testament of Jacob Langston

Wayne   County , North Carolina
December 25, 1784

Jacob  Langston, of the state of North Carolina and county of Wayne being in a tolerably state of health and of a sound perfect mind and memory thanks be given to Almighty God for perfect mind and memory thanks be given to the same but calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die do constitute make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following.  and first of all I  commend my soul into the hands of the Lord that gave it me and my body I recommend to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate as God of his mercy hath blessed me within this life I do give and dispose of the same in the following manner viz
 
first my will and desire is that all my just debts and funeral charges be cleared and discharged 

Item I give and bequeath to my son George Langston five shilling spacy and all the lands where dwell belonging to me to him and the heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever

 Item I give and bequeath to my son Absalom Langston one featherbed and furniture and my (?Working clothes)

Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Martha (Daughtrey)five shillings spacie

 Item I give and  bequeath to my daughter Lydda Ginn five shillings spacie

Item I do give and bequeath to my daughter Mary  Langston five shillings spacie

Item I do give and bequeath to my grandson Levi  Langston 50 acres of land lying between John Thompson and John Herrings on Stoney Creek

Item I also lend to my son Masey  Langston the labour of my two negroes ten years if kept as they have been and then to his two children  and all the rest of my estate as I have not given away befour to my son a man.  

Item I do appoint my friend David Jernigan & my son Masey  Langston executors of this my last will and testament and do hereby utterly revoke disannul and make void all and every other former will or wills heretofore by me made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and fixt my seal this 25th day of December in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four

Sealed ? ?   the testator as his last will and testament in presence of us who in   presence of each other hath hereuntofore subscribed our names               Jacob X  Langston
Thompson X Boyle
Isack X  Hutson      

Amanuensis Monday - Will of William Ward (1835)

   The image below is very faint, but its the best I could get.  If you find you are related and want a copy I can make you a copy off the one I found at the North Carolina State Archives.
   This William Ward is my 6th great grandfather.  He was born 1753, died 1836 in Sampson County, North Carolina.  He was married to Mary Bell, daughter of Robert Bell & Katherine Yarbrow.  They were the parents of 8 children:
   Alfred, William, Robert, Nancy, Sophia, Samuel, Nancy J. and Eliza.
William & Mary are buried in the Oak Plains Baptist Church Cemetery, Sampson County, North Carolina.

  In the name of God Amen.  I William Ward of the County of Sampson and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that is is _________  ______ unto all men to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament. That is to say First I give and bequeath unto my two sons, Alfred Ward and Robert Ward two negroes viz Suckey and Dick to be equally divided between them.
  2nd I give and bequeath unto the heirs of my daughter Sophia White, wife of Mathew White a negro woman called Haannah and her child called Wright which negroes they now have in possession.
  3rd I give and bequeath unto my daughter Nancy Carlton wife of Thomas Carlton a negro woman called Grace which she has in possession.
  4th I give and bequeath unto my son William Ward a negro man called Prister of which he has in possession.
  5th I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel Ward the lands whereon I now live indcluding my houses and plantation, thousehold and kitchen furniture, also my stock of all kinds consisting of hogs, cattle, horses and sheep also all moneys, notes, bords or _______  of which may be __________  at the time of my decease.  I further give to my son Samuel the following negroes viz: Sam, Charles, Joc and __________ out of which I request him to pay my debts and legacies.
   6th I give and bequeath unto Nancy Jane Evans, wife of William Evans the sum of fifty dollars.
  7th I give and bequeath unto Elizal Matilda Merritt one bed and furniture.
   And hereby make and ordain my sons Alfred and Robert Executors of this my last will and Testament. In witness hereof I the said William Ward have hereunto set my hand and seal the 26th day of July A.D. 1835.

                                            HIS
                               William   X    Ward
                                          MARK
  Signed, Sealed & published  declared by said William Ward the testator to be his last will and testament in the presence of us.
    /s/ Robert Harley
   /s/ Asahel Johnson

   STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA  Sampson County  Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions November Term 1836  Then _________  the foregoing Willl duly proven in Open Court by the Oaths of Robert Morley and Asahel Johnson the said subscribing witness and order to be recorded.
    Thomas I. Faisun,  Clerk

Amanuensis Monday - Bloss Miltenberger Letter (1849)

      I bought this letter off Ebay a few years ago. I've decided to put alot of the old wills ect that I have up on my blog in hopes that it will help other researchers. This letter is from Wm. R.Bloss who was living in Preble County, Ohio to his cousin Miss E.M. Miltenberger who was living in Warren County, Ohio. The letter is in excellant condition with no rips or stains and is gently folded. You can still see the marks where it was sealed with a wax seal.
     If you click on the image of the letter it will open a larger image in a new window. Use your browsers back button to return to GFOM. I've offered MY translation of the letter below the letter image. I've typed it exactly as I see it, no corrections to grammar, spelling or punctuation. If you are a Bloss or Miltenberger descendant I'd love to hear from you!

                                                                   Preble County  August 14, 1849
Dear Cousin
     I take my pen in heart to drop you a few lines to let you know that we are numberd among the living and part of us enjoy a tolerable degree of health at present part of us not so well we have all had measles that lasted some five or eight weeks but we have all got over them. some of have bin sick since we have bin over the measels  I have bin sick for some time But am getting about again
  Franklin has bin quite sick ever since last wednesday nite but is some beter to day he has bin siting up most of the time so I think we will all get along again I think if the Lord be wiling, he is the only true physician.
    The health is jeneraly tolerable good in the neighbohood to what it has bin the cholery has abated to a conderable degree  Buisness is reviving again in our town we are going to have a two days meeting at Antioch commencing next Saturday a week  I want to see some of you over here then  I have bin looking for you over all summer you wrote that you was a going to come over and stay with us part of the summer  I kept looking But all in vain     Cousin Matida I want to see you over here soon if you cant come I want you to write me a word or two and let me know you all are  I haven't heard from you since you wrote that leter to Clarissa and tell me if you are married or not no more at present hoping whe thiss comes to hand that it may find you enjoying good health
   Give our best respects to all the friends write as soon as this comes to hand if you arnt coming rite away  I remain your most afectionate cousin until death
   /s/  Wm R. Bloss                       E.M. Miltenberger

Amanuensis Monday - Valentine Gebhart

GEBHART - At his residence on Canal street, 15th ins. of apoplexy, Valentine Gebhart, aged 65 years, 9 months, and 18 days.

Funeral services in the Lutheran church, 17th inst., by Rev. C. Albrecht.

Interment in Miamisburg cemetery.

Mr. Gebhart was born in Miami township, August 28th, 1809, his father being one of the pioneer settlers of this valley. On Monday, whilst unloading corn at the warehouse of Weiser & Hubler, he was struck with palsy, and died on the following day. Being born, reared, and having resided here to the end of life, he was widely and well known by all of our citizens. May he rest in peace.