1833 Will - Silas Reeve
Introduction
Marlboro, Windham County, VermontProbate Book 13, p469
16 Dec 1833
Transcript
I Silas Reeve, of Brattleborough in the County of Windham and State of Vermont, being now weak in body, but in the full exercise of my reason, and of sound disposing mind and memory, thanks be to God therefore:- And calling to mind the mortality of my body, and that it is appointed unto all men once to die - do make ordain and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner & form following - That is to say - Principally, and first of all I recommend my soul unto Almighty God, the Father of Spirits - and my body to the Earth, to be buried in a decent Christian manner at the discretion of my friends - fully believing in the doctrine of the resurrection of the body, at the second and glorious appearing of the Son of God - for whose sake alone I hope for pardon of all transgressions, and an inheritance among the Saints of light -And touching the worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me, I dispose of in the following manner - viz -
I order my executor (hereafter to be named) promptly and speedily to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses out of my estate.
To my beloved wife Rhoda Reeve I give and bequeath the use and improvement, during her natural life, of one half of my real estate in Brattleboro - wherever situated and all my household furniture - also one half of my other personal property to be at her own disposal use or improvement as she shall think best -
To Rhoda Adams my daughter I give and bequeath one hundred dollars, to be paid to her by my executor herein after to be named, in one year from my decease, which sums with what I have heretofore advanced to her, will be her full proportion of my estate.
To my daughter Sally Lazell I give and bequeath one hundred dollars, to be paid her by said Executor in one year from my decease, which sum, with what I have heretofore advanced to her, will be her full proportion of my estate - Provided however - that the said Sally shall have an home with her mother or my son John, in my dwelling, so long as she shall remain an unmarried woman, if she shall so choose.
To my daughter Harriet Corning, I give & bequeath one hundred dollars, to be paid her by my said Executor in one year from my decease - which sum with what I have heretofore advanced to her will be her fully proportion of my Estate.
To my daughter Electa Carroll I give and bequeath one hundred dollars, to be paid her by my said Executor in one year from my decease, which sum, with what I have heretofore advanced her, will be her full proportion of my estate.
To my son John Reeve I give and bequeath to him and his heirs and assigns, the whole of my real estate, wherever situated, excepting only the use and improvement of one half thereof already bequeathed to my beloved wife Rhoda Reeve during her life time - He being holden for the payment of all my just debts and funeral expenses, and also for the legacies bequeathed in this my last Will and Testament as herein expressed.
To my son Abner Reeve I give and bequeath the sum of two hundred dollars to be paid him by my said executor in one year from my decease.
To my daughter Eliza Reeve I give and bequeath one hundred Dollars to be paid her by my said executor in one year from my decease. And further, that the said Eliza shall have an home with her mother or my son John in my dwelling, so long as she shall remain a single woman - And shall at all times be furnished with suitable cloathing wholesome food and medicine in sickness and in health by my said son John and at his expense.
To my son Marcus Reeve I give one Dollar. That sum, with what I have heretofore advanced to him, will be his full proportion of my estate - said sum to be paid him by my said executor on demand.
As to the rest residue and remainder of my estate either real or personal, of what kind or nature soever, I give & bequeath the same to my son John Reeve.
And I do hereby appoint my son John Reeve sole executor to this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this sixteenth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
Signed Sealed published and declared bySilas Reeve [L. S.]
the above named Silas Reeve to be his
Last Will and Testament in presence of us,
who have hereunto subscribed our hands
as witnesses in presence of the testator and
each other.
Lemuel Whitney
Josiah Putnam
Samuel Field