Will
of
Elijah
Smith
Dutchess County Court Records
Courtesy of Don and Rich Howard
In the name of God Amen I Elijah Smith of the Town of Amenia in Dutchess County and State of New York being of a sound mind and memory do this seventh day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen make publish ordain and declare this my last Will and Testament in the form & manner following to wit: 1st It is my will that as soon as conveniently may be after my decease that all my funeral expenses and other just debts should be paid with promptings 2nd To my beloved wife Lydia I give and bequeath the use of one equal third part of all my household furniture, farming utensils, cattle, horses, sheep and hogs for and during her natural life and after her decease to be disposed of as is herein after directed - 3rd To my son Elijah I give and bequeath the sum of Two hundred dollars. And to my son Munson I do give the sum of one hundred dollars (which said sums) I give to Elijah and Munson to make them equal with my other sons (Viz) Jesse Enoch and Platt they having been advanced by me heretofore- 4th To the lawful heirs of my daughter, Anna and the children of my daughter Abigail and to my daughters Sarah, Lydia and Huldah I do hereby give the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars each. The heirs of my daughter Anna and the children of my said daughter Abigail being only considered as entitled to one share each. that is to say the heirs of my said daughter Anna one hundred and fifty dollars- and the children of my said daughter Abigail one hundred and fifty dollars- And to my daughter Chloe I do give and bequeathe the sum of of two hundred dollars – 5th I do hereby give and bequeathe all my estate not herein before devised to my sons Elijah, Munson, Jesse, and Platt and to the said heirs of my daughter Anna- And the children of my said daughter Abigail and to my daughters Sarah, Lydia, Huldah and Chloe in the following manner to wit my sons Elijah, Munson, Jesse, Enoch and Platt and my daughter Chloe to have twice as much each as my said daughters Sarah, Huldah or the heirs of my said daughter Anna or children of my daughter Abigail- who are only to have the share that would otherwise have gone to their mothers respectively- 6th I do hereby appoint my friends Douglas Clark and Enos Hopkins to be the Executors of this my last Will and Testament to see that my intent and meaning is truly performed according to the true intent and meaning hereof- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the same day and year first above written.
Elijah Smith LS