1876 Will - Elijah Reeves
Hancock County, Indiana
Circuit Probate - Wills #2, p. 25-28
Family Search Film 1314610, part 3
8 May 1876
Transcription
I Elijah Reeves of Indiana, Hancock County, Brown Township, do feel it my duty under the circumstances that now surround me to make the following disposition of my property and effects. And I would make a few statements first. George W. Reeves has recieved two thousand Dollars. Louisa L. Kennedy has recieved to the amount of two thousand dollars in land property and money. Melvina J. Johnson has recieved to the amount of two thousand dollars in land and property. Cyrus N. and William R Reeves have recieved jointly to the amount of four thousand dollars in house and lot goods and money.Section 1st. I hereby appoint and authorize my wife Jane to be principal administratrix and her to counsel with the children and in difficult cases and where contracts are to be taken in writing get William L Garriott or Benjamin F Reeves to do it and pay them for their services.
Section 2nd. I hereby order and direct that the three places along Brandywine be let out for cash rent the one renting to give note with security or mortgage for payment of the same.
Section 3rd. I hereby give and bequeath to my wife Jane the home farm comprising two hundred and eighty acres as long as she lives together with the stock, grain, implements &c. subject to provisions hereinafter named.
4th. Let the outstanding notes surplus grain and stock together with the rents and profits of all the places be kept in safe hands, so that if it should be needed by any who have not yet recieved their portion they can have it in good time.
5th. I hereby order and direct that as soon as the youngest living becomes of lawful age the three places along Brandywine be sold to the best advantage and payment to be made to the heirs who have not recieved their portion.
6th. It is my will that if the three younger boys stay at home till they are twenty one years old shall be entitled to fifty dollars each besides their regular portion which they can expend in schooling or otherwise.
7th. If it should happen that any of the younger children is not provided with a good bed of at least thirty pounds of live geese feathers with a suitable amount of bed clothing & bed stead shall be entitled to forth dollars extra.
8th. If in case any of the heirs should not receive their portion against they are twenty three years old, they shall be entitled to six per cent interest until paid (that is from the time they are 23 years old)
9th. I would here suggest to my wife Jane that I think she had better run the home farm herself: hire a good hand for most of the year and let the little boys work in summer and busy times but in winter especialy, let them go to school. Move the affairs on this way till the youngest child living is of lawful age and then you can either sell or hold the same.
10th. And now children if your mother should die before the provisions of this will are carried out, I hope you will act in harmony and with discretion. Don’t let the setting up of this estate come into the Courts by any means.
In testimony hereunto I have subscribed my name and set my seal in the presence of William L. Garriott 9th day of May in the year of Lord one thousand Eight hundred & seventy six.
Elijah Reeves SEAL
Attest William L. Garriott
Whereas, I Elijah Reeves on the 9th day of May in the year 1876, made my last Will and testament of that day I do hereby declare the following to be a codicil to the same. I will and request that my Executor sell either at public or private Sale as he may think best all the following named personal property that may be on hand at the time of my death towit: All my growing corn on the two Brandywine farms; all except seventy five bushels of Wheat; Five certain sows and all said sows pigs; Some twelve or fifteen head of Stock Cattle and one two horse wagon, and that he take charge of all notes that I hold on other persons and when collected to loan the money to good responsible persons with approved freehold surity and my Executor is hereby appointed and authorized to to rent out and collect the rents of my three Brandywine farm for Cash if possible if (not for grain rent) The one renting to give security by mortgage on the growing crop; and said Executor to exercise some protecting care over said three Farms. if any in the aforesaid will shall conflict with this codicil of said will that much of said will is hereby revoked.
I do hereby nominate and appoint Benjamin F. Reeves Executor of this my last will codicil hereby authorizing and empowering him to compromise adjust release and discharge in such manner as he may deem proper all debts and claims do me. In testimony hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 19th day of August 1876.
Elijah Reeves SEAL
Signed and acknowledged by said Elijah Reeves as Codicil to his last will and testament in our presence and signed by us in his presence
Lewis Copeland
Benjamin F. Reeves
Probate of Will
The State of Indiana
Hancock County S.S.
Be it remembered That on the 23rd day of October 1876, Benjamin F. Reeves and Lewis Copeland the subscribing witnesses to the within and foregoing last Will and Testament of Elijah Reeves late of said County, deceased, personaly appeared before Ephraim Marsh, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Hancock County in the State of Indiana, and being duly sworn by the Clerk of said Court upon their oaths declared and testified as follows that is to say that on the 19th day of August 1876, they saw the said Elijah Reeves sign his name to said instrument in writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that deponents at the same time heard the said Elijah Reeves declare the said instriment in writing to be his last Will and Testament, and that the said instrument in writing was at the same time at the requst of the said Elijah Reeves, and with consent attested and subscribed by the said Benjamin F Reeves and Lewis Copeland in the presence of the said Testator, and in the presence of each other as subscribing witnesses thereto, and that the said Elijah Reeves was at the time of signing and subscribing of the said instrument in writing as aforesaid of full age (that is more than twenty-one years of age, and of sound and disposing mind and memory, and not under any coercion or restraint, as the said deponents verily believes, and further deponents say not.
Benjamin F Reeves
Lewis Copeland
Sworn to and Subscribed by the said Benjamin F Reeves and Lewis Copeland before me Ephraim Marsh, Clerk of said Court, at Greenfield, the 23rd day of October 1876.
In attestation whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of said Court
Ephraim Marsh Clerk
Transcribed by Lois Downey.