In the Name of God. Amen.
I, Benjamin Ogden of Groton, Tompkins county and State of New York being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life, do therefore make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament, that is to say:
First _ After all my lawful debts are paid and discharged, I give and bequeath to my Sister Isabell Morgan the furnature that is or may be in my parlor at the time of my death & six cain seat chairs from my setting room & also the sum of one hundred & fifty dollars in money if my said sister shall survive me. If she shall die before I do, I give and bequeath the said furnature to my niece the daughter of the said sister.
2d I give & bequeath to my daughter Sarah Brown wife of Jacob Brown the sum of Twenty five dollars, the reason why I make this difference between my daughters is that I consider that I have given Sarah & her husband her full share of my property when I sold them the farm stock &c on which they now live.
3d I give & bequeath the one equal half of the balance of my property of every kind both real & personal to my daughter Mary Brown wife of Ebeneazer Brown.
4th The remaining half of the balance of my property I give & bequeath to my Executor herein after mentioned in trust to invest the same receive the interest & profits thereof and apply the same to the benefit of my daughter Phebe Buck wife of Eli Buck during the term of the natural life of my said daughter, after her death I give and bequeath the said property so bequeathed to my Executor in trust to the children or child of my said daughter Phebe Buck to share and share alike if any of her children [s]hall have then died leaving a child or children then surviving, the child or children of any that may be dead to leave the same share as their parent would have had if living.
5th It is my desire that my Executor convert all my real estate into personal property as soon after my death as he may thing it advisable
6th In case any of my heirs or next of kin shall contest or attempt to contest the validity of this my last will & testament, there in that case any legacy or bequest which I have herein made to them or either of them is to revert back to my estate & to be disposed of as by the remaining terms of this will.
Likewise, I make, constitute and appoint my son in law Ebenezer Brown to be executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me made.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal the 12th day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy six.
Benjamin Ogden L.S.
The above written instrument was subscribed by the said Benjamin Ogden in our presence, and acknowledged by him to each of us: and he at the same time declared the above instrument so subscribed to be his last Will and Testament: and we, at his request, have signed our names as witnesses hereto, in his presence and in the presence of each other, and written opposite our names our respective places of residence.
Wm. B. Johnson Groton Tompkins Co. N.Y.
W. W. Hare Groton Tompkins Co. N.Y.
Surrogate Court proceeding 11 December 1897
Elizabeth J. Crittenden, deceased, 16 November 1897
Bradford Almy, Surrogate
James L. Baker, witness
Elizabeth Snyder, witness
J. L. Baker, Esq., attorney
Eugene Terry, clerk
Last Will and Testament
I, Elizabeth J. Crittenden of the Town of Dryden, County of Tompkins and State of New York being of sound mind and memory, do make, ordain, publish and declare this to by my last Will and Testament, that is to say:
First. After all my lawful debts are paid and discharged, I give, devise and bequeath the use of one equal half of all the property real and personal of which I die seized (except a china set of dishes) to my son Ira S. Grover, the same to be used and enjoyed by him for and during the term of his natural life, and after his death the said one half of all my real and personal property is hereby willed, devised and bequeathed to all the living heirs of my said son Ira S. Grover equally, the same however is subject to the use for life of my said son Ira S. Grover.
It is my further will that in case said Ira S. Grover dies without heirs, that in that event the property willed to said Ira's heirs shall go to and the same is, in the event aforesaid, willed, devised and bequeathed to the heirs of Pliny Grover.
Second. I give, devise and bequeath to my daughter-in-law Alice M.Grover (who was formerly Alice M. Smith) the use of one half of all that real and personal property of which I die seized, (except said set of china dishes) for the life time of my son Pliny Grover, the same to be used and enjoyed by said Alice M. Grover for and during the term of the natural life of said Pliny Grover, and at the death of said Pliny the said one half of all my real and personal property is hereby given, devised, and bequeathed to all the living heirs of said Pliny Grover, equally, subject however to the use of said Alice M. Grover for the life of Pliny Grover as aforesaid. And it is my further will that if said Pliny Grover dies without heirs, that in that event the said one half of the property, real and personal, willed to said heirs of said Pliny Grover shall go to, and in the event aforesaid, the same is hereby devised and bequeathed to the heirs of said Ira S. Grover.
Third. I do give and bequeath to my granddaughter, the oldest of said Ira S. Grover, (Who is not yet named)* all my one set of china dishes or china tea set.
Fourth. It is my further will, that in case my said sons Ira & Pliny die without heirs that in that event the property, real, and personal herein before mentioned as willed to their heirs shall go to, and the same is, in the event aforesaid, hereby willed, devised and bequeathed to my brothers and sisters equally. This last clause of this will is only to take effect in case said Ira Grover & Pliny Grover die without heirs.
Likewise, I make, constitute and appoint my son Ira S. Grover to be executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me made.
In witness Whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal, the nineteenth (19) day of December in the year of our Lord nine thousand eight hundred and seventy seven.
[signed] Elizabeth J. Crittenden
The above instrument, consisting of one sheet was at the date thereof subscribed by Elizabeth J. Crittenden in the presence of us and each of us. She at the time of making said subscription, acknowledged that she executed the same and declared the said instrument so subscribed by her to be her last Will and Testament. Whereupon we then and there, at her request, and in her presence and the presence of each other, subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
J. L. Baker residing at Ithaca, N.Y.
Elizabeth Snyder residing at Dryden N.Y.
[*Pearl E. Grover]
Will of Alice M. Grover
At a Surrogate's Court, held at the Surrogate's Office, in the City of Auburn, in and for the County of Cayuga, on the 26 day of Nov 1901.
Present, Hon.George B. Turner, Surrogate.
In the Matter of the Proof and Probate of the Last Will and Testament of Alice M. Grover, Deceased.
Satisfactory proof of the due service, personally, of the citation heretofore issued in this matter upon Pliney Grover & Clara E. Grover having been filed, requiring the above named persons to appear in this court, on the 26th day of Nov last past, and attend the proof and probate of an instrument in writing, hereinafter set forth (Exhibit A), propounded as the Last Will and Testament of Alice M. Grover late of the town of Moravia in said county of Cayuga, N.Y., deceased, bearing date the 5th day of Sept. A.D., 1901 and Wm J H Parker the petitioner in this matter, having appeared in open court, in person and by Hull Greenfield Esq his counsel, in support of said instrument and Harry T. Dayton Esq., (Attorney, &c.) of Auburn Special Guardian, duly appointed by this court, having appeared for the following named infant: Clara E. Grover and the proofs of the subscribing witnesses to said Will (and other witnesses produced and sworn), having been heard and taken as hereafter set forth, and it appearing therefrom that the said instrument was duly executed as and for a Last Will and Testament; that the testator, at the time of the execution of the same, was in all respects competent to make and publish a Last Will and Testament and to devise real estate, and not under restraint; the probate of said Will was not contested.
It is hereby ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the said instrument in writing, (Exhibit A), was duly executed as a Last Will and Testament; that the testator at the time of executing the same was of sound an disposing mind and memory, in all respects competent to make and publish a last Will and Testament and to devise real estate, and not under restraint; and that the said Last Will and Testament together with the proofs and examinations taken in respect of the same, be recorded; and that the said Last Will and Testament be admitted to probate; and that the same be, and hereby are, established as a valid Will of real and personal estate. And it is further ordered, that Letters Testamentary upon the said Last Will and Testament be issued to William J H Parker the Executor in the said Will named, he having first taken the oath prescribed by law.
Geo B Turner Surrogate.
Last Will and testament.
I, Alice M. Grover of the town of Moravia county of Cayuga and state of New York, do make, ordain, publish and declare [i]t is to be my last will and testament, in manner and form following, that is to say:
First. I direct the payment of my just debts, if any.
Second. I give and bequeath to my daughter Clara Grover my wearing apparel personal ornaments and jewelry, all of which may be delivered to her at my death, except my diamonds which my executor shall keep and deliver to her when she is 21 years of age. All the rest and residue of my personal property I give and bequeath to my husband Pliny Grover.
Third. I give and devise all of my real estate to my husband Pliny Grover and to my daughter Clara Grover, share and share alike.
Fourth. I give to executor hereinafter named full power and authority, with the consent of my husband Pliny Grover to sell and convey any and all real estate of which I may die the owner, at any time during the minority of my said daughter. My daughter's share of the proceeds of any such sale to be kept and invested for her until she is of full age, but the interest thereon may be applied to her education and support in the meantime, by my said executor.
Likewise, I make, constitute and appoint William J. H. Parker of Moravia, N.Y. to be executor of this, my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof, I have herunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal the 5th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and one.
Alice M. Grover L.S.
We, whose names are hereto subscribed, do certify that Alice M. Grover, the testator, subscribed her name to this instrument in our presence, and in the presence of each of us, and at the same time she declared in our presence and hearing that the same was her last will and testament, and requested us, and each of us, to sign our names thereto as witnesses to the execution thereof, and which we hereby do in the presence of the testator and of each other, the day of the date of the said will and have written opposite our names our respective places of residence.
Mrs. L. Hand, residing at Owego N Y
Edward Sheehy residing at Moravia N.Y.
In the Matter of the Proof and Probate of the Last Will and Testament of Alice M. Grover Deceased
Deposition of Witnesses sworn and examined in the above entitled matter.
Cayuga County, ss: Ursula Hand of the town of Owego in Tioga County, being duly sworn says: I was well acquainted with Alice M. Grover late of the town of Moravia in the county of Cayuga, aforesaid, deceased. I was present when a certain instrument in writing, now here shown to me, bearing date the 5th day of Sept. A.D. 1901 (marked Exhibit A), and purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of said deceased, was executed. I saw the deceased execute the same by signing her name at the end thereof. I heard her publish and declare the same to be her Last Will and Testament. The deceased requested me to become a subscribing witness to the execution thereof. I did so, and signed my name thereto, as such witness in her presence. The said deceased, was, in my opinion, at the time of the execution of said instrument, of a sound and disposing mind and memory, and in all respects competent to make and publish a Last will and Testament, and to devise real estate; she was of full age, and under no restraint to my knowledge.
Mrs Ursula Hand
Subscribed and sworn to this 26th day of Nov. A.D., 1901, before me.
Geo. B. Turner Surrogate.
Cayuga County, ss: Edward Sheehy of the town of Moravia in Cayuga County, being duly sworn says: I was well acquainted with Alice M. Grover late of the town of Moravia in the county of Cayuga, aforesaid, deceased. I was present when a certain instrument in writing, now here shown to me, bearing date the 5th day of September A.D. 1901 (marked Exhibit A), and purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of said deceased, was executed. I saw the deceased execute the same by signing her name at the end thereof. I heard her publish and declare the same to be her Last Will and Testament. The deceased requested me to become a subscribing witness to the execution thereof. I did so, and signed my name thereto, as such witness in her presence. The said deceased, was, in my opinion, at the time of the execution of said instrument, of a sound and disposing mind and memory, and in all respects competent to make and publish a Last will and Testament, and to devise real estate; she was of full age, and under no restraint to my knowledge.
Edward Sheehy
Subscribed and sworn to this 26th day of Nov. A.D., 1901, before me.
Geo. B. Turner Surrogate.
The will (Exhibit A) was read in evidence.
Surrogate Court proceeding 19 October 1903
Bradford Almy, Surrogate
George E. Underwood, witness
Philip S. Snyder, witness
M. M. Sweetland, Esq., attorney
Sally Grover, deceased, 26 August, 1903
Last Will and Testament
I, Sally Grover of the Town of Dryden in the county of Tompkins and State of New York, being of sound mind and memory, do make, publish and declare this my last Will and Testament, in manner following, that is to say:
First. I direct that all my just debts, and funeral expenses be paid.
Second. I give and bequeath to my brother Jacob E.Brown and Sarah A. Brown his wife my house and lot in Varna, N.Y.
Third. I give and bequeath to the aforesaid Sarah A. Brown, Three Hundred Dollars.
Fourth. I give to the three children of my brother Daniel Brown, or their heirs, One Hundred Dollars, each.
Fifth. I give to the three children of my brother John Brown or their heirs, Fifty Dollars each.
Sixth. I give to the two children of my brother William W. Brown or their heirs Fifty Dollars each.
Seventh. I give to the three children of my brother Jacob E. Brown or their heirs One Hundred Dollars each.
Eighth. I give the residue and remainder of my estate to my brother Jacob E. Brown and Sarah A. Brown his wife, share and share alike.
Lastly, I hereby appoint my brother Jacob E. Brown of the Town of Groton, Tomp. Co., N.Y. executor of this, my last Will and Testament: hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name the Twenty-Fifth day of October, in the year one thousand nine hundred and one.
[signed] Sally Grover
We, whose names are hereto subscribed, Do Certify, that on the 25th day of October 1901 Sally Grover of the Town of Dryden, Tomp. Co., N.Y. the testator, subscribed her name to this instrument in our presence and in the presence of each of us, and at the same time, in our presence and hearing, declared the same to be her last Will and Testament, and requested us, and each of us to sign our names thereto as witnesses to the execution thereof, which we hereby do in the presence of the testator and of each other on the said date, and write opposite our names our respective places of residence.
G. E. Underwood residing at the Town of Dryden, N.Y.
P. S. Snyder residing at the Town of Dryden, N.Y.