Will of Barnabas Eldredge


Schoharie County NYGenWeb Site

submitted by Mary Eldridge

WILL OF BARNABAS ELDREDGE � 1840

I, Barnabas Eldredge, of the town of Sharon in the county of Schoharie and state of New York, taking into consideration the uncertainty of life, but being of sound mind and retaining perfect memory and enjoying a good state of bodily health, for which I render sincere thanks to the author of my existence, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following: (That is to say) �

First: I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Sarah Eldredge, a certain house and lot situate in the town of Sharon, in the county of Schoharie aforesaid, which said house with the appurtenances is now in an unfinished condition, and is situated on the south side of the turnpike road leading from Albany to Cherry Valley, and adjoining lands now in possession of David J. Best being in a triangle form and supposed to be one acre of land, be the same more or less; the house above to be finished in a good substantial manner by my executors, if the same be not completed before my death, and I also direct my executors, if the same is not completed during my life; and the said Sarah Eldredge outlive me, to build a barn on the above described premises of the following dimensions: twenty feet by twenty-five feet on the ground�the poets of said barn not to be less than fourteen feet in length, a good stable to be taken from one end of said barn, and to be finished with a good rack and manger and sealed inside with at least inch and half plank-five feet high, the same to be finished for the accommodation of a horse and cow; there is also to be taken a bay on the opposite end for hay, leaving a barn floor as near the center as may be, not less than seven feet wide, the said barn to be sided up with clapboards, planed, and the roof wall shingled and the whole of the work to be done in a good and substantial manner. I also further direct my executors to erect a backhouse or necessary, on said lot, at least six feet by five to be covered with shingles and sided up with clapboard, and the seats to be made of good pine plank and all well planed, the barn to be painted red and trimmed with white paint; the house and necessary to be painted white, with at least two good coats of paint on the outside, and the inside of the house to be painted and papered, and if the same is not done before my death, my said wife may choose the paper and direct the colors for the inside.

I further give to my wife the following piece of land:

commencing at the hickory pole now standing In front of the aforesaid house, and running in line from said pole south and parallel with the house until you reach the stone wall, on the line of the Tineham (or Tincham?) lot to the bridge, then from the bridge along the public highway at or near the place of beginning, containing About one acre and .one-half of land be the same more or less, the above described lands and appurtenances are to be held by my said wife as long as she lives if she remains my widow, but If she should marry again, then her right to said premises shall cease. I further give and bequeath to my said wife, one thousand dollars In good current money of the United States, one half of said sum of one thousand dollars to be paid in six months after my decease and the other half in one year after my death. I further give my said wife one cow, and she to take her choice out of the cows that I may own at my decease. I further give to my said wife, one horse, worth eighty dollars, one carriage worth one hundred dollars, one harness worth twenty-five dollars. I also further direct that my executors furnish the aforesaid house with a cooking stove worth twenty dollars, the necessary pipe and a small parlor stove worth fifteen dollars and necessary pipe for the same, I further direct my executors to deliver her all the furniture she brought with her. I also direct that my said wife be permitted to cut fire wood for her own use from off the lands hereinafter devised to my son Clinton Eldredge. I further give to my wife six chairs worth one dollar and twenty-five cents each, one table worth four dollars, one looking glass to be purchased by my executors, worth four dollars, all which personal property is to be and remain the property of said Sarah Eldredge (my wife) as long as she remains my widow, and no longer, .but whatever may remain of the said personal property, or money (If she remains single) at her decease is to revert to my heirs hereinafter named.

Secondly: I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Sally Eldredge, the house and lot on the north side of the turnpike road, and on the east side of the road leading from said turnpike to the Sharon springs, being one acre of land, and being the lot heretofore owned by Daniel Borden and occupied as a dwelling and a store, and I direct that my executors, if the same isn�t done by me before my death, to new clapboard and shingle the same, and to finish off the Inside in a good and workmanlike manner, and to paint the same and paper it and to build on the said lot a, barn and a backhouse or necessary, the same size and finished in the same manner as I have above directed the barn and backhouse to be finished for my wife, Sarah Eldredge. I also give my daughter, Sally Eldredge, a wood lot, which I purchased of James Legrange, known as the Borden lot, containing about fifteen acres of land, be the same more or less, to have and to possess the above described lot of land as long as she lives if she remains single, but if she marries then her right of possession shall cease. I give to my said daughter, Sally Eldredge, two thousand dollars good and lawful money of the

United States, one half of said sum to be paid to her by my executors in one year after my death., and the remaining one thousand in two years, but if from sickness she should need any part of said two thousand dollars sooner than -above specified, I direct my executors to advance the same according to their judgment to supply such necessity. I also direct that my executors purchase two stoves of the same quality as above directed for my wife with the necessary pipe. 1 further give to my said daughter, Sally Eldredge, the one half of all my household furniture (excepting that which I have devised to my wife, Sarah Eldredge and my said daughter, Sally Eldredge is to have her choice of the sideboards which I now have or may have at my decease.

Thirdly: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Betsy Moyer, wife of Henry Moyer, fifteen hundred dollars, to be paid by executors to Robert Eldredge, Esquire and Sarah Eldredge, my wife, as trustees, and the said trustees are hereby directed to loan out said sum of fifteen hundred dollars and pay the interest annually to the said Betsy Moyer, as long as she lives, and after her death to be equally divided among her children, if she should have any, but if she should die without a child of her own, then the said sum of fifteen hundred dollars to be equally divided among my six sons, their heirs, executors, or administrators, share and share alike, (to wit) Robert Eldredge, David Eldredge, Franklin Eldredge, Seth Eldredge, LeRay Eldredge and Clinton Eldredge. I further give to my said daughter Betsy Moyer, one half of my household furniture of the first wife, taking there from that part of the furniture given to my wife, Sarah Eldredge.

Fourthly I give and bequeath to David and Seth Eldredge, as trustees for Franklin Eldredge, and for the use and benefit of the said Franklin and his wife Eliza, and the children of the said Franklin Eldredge one hundred and twelve acres of land situate, lying and being in the town of Munsion In the county of Granger in the state of Ohio, being the same farm now occupied by the said Franklin Eldredge and his family, and the said trustees are to apply the rents and the profits of said farm to the support of the said Franklin Eldredge, his wife and children and if the said Franklin die, leaving his wife Eliza, then she is to be supported as long as she remains the widow of the said Franklin Eldredge, and after the death of the said Franklin and Eliza or her remarriage, the said farm to be divided among the sons of said Franklin, share and share alike. I further give and bequeath to the said trustees David and Seth Eldredge five hundred dollars for the benefit of said Franklin Eldredge, that is to say, that the same be put to interest and the interest thereof yearly paid out for the support of the said Franklin Eldredge and family, and after the death of the said Franklin Eldredge, the said trustees are to pay over the same to the daughters of the said Franklin, share and share alike. I also give to the said trustees, David and Seth Eldredge, all the personal property that l may have on the farm, which the said Franklin occupies at my decease, and the said property is to be kept on the farm by the said trustees for the use of the said Franklin and Eliza as long as they live, or if his wife survives him, as long as she may live if she remains his widow, and after the death of said Franklin and Eliza, or her remarriage the said personal property on the farm is to be divided, share and share alike, among the sons of said Franklin Eldredge.

Fifthly: I give and bequeath to my son, Le Ray five hundred dollars, good and lawful1 money of the United States, to be paid to the said Le Ray Eldredge one year after my decease, his heirs or assigns.

Sixth: I give and bequeath to my son Clinton Eldredge the lot on which 1 now live, being the same lot I purchased of the heirs of Isaac Tineham, deceased, being thirty-four acres, be the same more or less, to have and to hold the same to him, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, reserving out of said thirty~four acres or thereabouts two and one-half acres which my wife, Sarah Eldredge, is to as long as she remains my widow, but in case of her remarriage or death, the said twoacres and one-half with the appurtenances is to revert to said Clinton Eldredge, his heirs , and assigns which said rights and priviledges to the said Sarah is above set forth, and I do further give to the said Clinton Eldredge after the marriage or death of Sally Eldredge, the house and lot on the north side of the turnpike road and on the east side of the road leading from said turnpike to the Sharon Springs, being one acre of land heretofore owned by Daniel Borden and occupied as a dwelling and store and also that other wood lot, which I purchased of James Legrange known as the Borden lot containing about fourteen acres of land, be the same more or less, to the said Clinton Eldredge,his heirs and assigns. I further give and bequeath unto the said Clinton Eldredge. his heirs and assigns, all that other lot of land, being about fourteen acres, known as the Male lot, bounded by Daniel Moyer's land on the west and being the same lot deeded by Thomas Male to me. I further give and bequeath onto my son, Clinton Eldredge, his heirs and assigns, a lot known as the wood lot which is bounded westerly by lands owned by David, Ottman, northerly by lands owned by Omer C. La Grange, easterly by my mill lot and southererly by lands of Adams and others, which said lot was conveyed to me by John and Barnabas LeGrange, nevertheless reserving a right to cut firewood for Sarah Eldredge as long as she lives or remains my widow, which she may want for her own use, and I do further order and direct, that my executors pay to my son Clinton Eldredge, his heirs and assigns one thousand dollars, good and lawful money of the United States in three years after my decease.

Seventh; I give and bequeath to my grandson, Seth Swift, five hundred dollars in good and lawful money of the United States to be paid in three years after my decease.

Eighth: I give and bequeath to my grandson Chauncey Moyer, the same, to be invested in land by my executors in three years after my decease, or if ay executors prefer paying the same in money to the said Chauncey, they are hereby authorized to pay the same in money instead of investing the same in land.

Nineth: I give and bequeath to my grandson, Philip Moyer, three hundred dollars to be paid in three years after my decease.

Tenth: . I give and bequeath to my grandaughters Decia (Theodocia) Moyer, Ann Moyer and Amanda Moyer each one hundred dollars to be paid to them severally and if they are married at the time of my death, their husbands shall have no right to exact a payment from my executors but I enjoin it upon my executors if they or either of them be living that they give to them that are living each one hundred dollars within three years after my decease.

Eleventh: Whereas I am the owner of fifty five acres of land, situate in the town and county of Cortland and now occupied by Caleb Eldredge, which fifty-five acres of land I give and bequeath to my said brother Caleb Eldredge and Hannah, his "wife during their natural lives, and after the death of the said Caleb Eldredge and Hannah, his wife, the said lot is to be sold by my executors or the survivor and the money arising from such a sale to be paid to Le Ray and Franklin Eldredge, their heirs, administrators, executors or assigns.

Twelfth: I do hereby authorize my executors to sell the lot now occupied by Launcelott J. Swift being about seventy-eight acres, with the appurtenances, being the same lot formerly owned by Murray and purchased by me from his representatives also the fifty acre lot now occupied by my son, Clinton Eldredge. and also to sell the mill lot, so commonly called being about sixty acres and being the same lot heretofore sold to Stephen Crocker with a saw and grist mill thereon and to convey the same as such executors by Warranty Deed or deeds and from the monies arising from such sales or sale together with my bank stock, notes, bonds and mortgages and all other goods and chattels that may belong to me at my decease, after paying my debts, funeral expenses and several bequests and legacies mentioned in this my last will and testament to the several persons mentioned, that the over plus monies which may be received by my executors after complying with all and every condition, let the same be divided between my children hereinafter named as residuary legatees share and share alike, (to wit) Robert Eldredge, David Eldredge, Franklin Eldredge, Seth Eldredge, Le Ray Eldredge, Clinton Eldredge, and Betsy Eldredge, provided she has a child or children, the wife of Henry Moyer and now properly Betsy Moyer, if she has such issue; after all the foregoing legacies and bequests made are paid and the executors make distribution of whatever may remain to the residuary legatees above named, their heirs or assigns.

And lastly I do hereby appoint and constitute Robert Eldredge, David Eldredge executors and Sarah Eldredge, my wife, executrix, of this my last will and testament,, hereby revoking all former made by me.

In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty.

(Signed) Barnabas Eldredge, L.S.

Signed, sealed and published and declared by the above named Barnabas Eldredge to be his last will and testament in the presence of us, who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator.

William Beekman Jr. Town of Sharon, County of Schoharie.

Borden Wilber of the Town of Sharon, County of Schoharie.


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