Will
of
John Clow
Compiled and submitted by James Brady from the records located at the Vedder Museum and the County Court House in Catskill
The Last Will and Testament of John Clow
Copied from Greene County Will Liber P, pg. 260
Probated at Catskill, May 4, 1896
The Last Will and Testament of John Clow, whose present residence is situate on the North side Of Thomson Street in the village and town of Catskill, within the County of Greene and State of New York.
I, John Clow of Catskill, Greene County, New York, being of sound mind and memory, aware of the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death and desirous of making and[sic] equitable and proper disposition of my property at my decease, I do make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following, viz:
First. I hereby direct my executor hereinafter named to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses and to provide a suit-able stone for my grave, equal in character and workmanship to that which marks the grave of my deceased wife.
Second. I give and bequeath all my wearing apparel to my sons Charles Clow and Albert Clow, share and share alike.
Third. I give and bequeath my gold watch to my son Albert Clow.
Fourth. I give, devise and bequeath to my wife Mary Clow; 1, the sum of five hundred dollars to be paid to her by my executor out of the proceeds of the sale of the westerly one of my two houses and lots, situate on the Northerly side of Thompson Street in Catskill, N. Y. said lot being about sixty five feet front on said street and continuing uniformly of that width Northerly for about ninety three feet, to the point where the Easterly line thereof intersects the Cemetary[sic] line and includes all the territory in the rear between the Cemetary[sic] line and the lands of Wm McKenna. 2. The sum of six dollars per month as long as she remains my widow, which payment will cease upon her marriage, to be paid to her by my executor from the one thousand dollars now on deposit in the Catskill Savings Bank in my name and to her credit. 3. The net income from the rent of my undivided one half of the building situate on Main Street in the Village of Catskill and now occupied by H. J. Jones as a place of business, so long as the same remains a part of my estate and she remains my widow; if the same should be sold then I direct my executor to invest the net proceeds of such sale and pay the net income thereof to my said wife so long as she remains my widow. 4. The use, occupation and income, so long as she remains my widow, of my easterly house and lot on Thompson Street, in said Catskill, N. Y. bounded northerly and easterly by the Cemetery, southerly by Thompson Street and Westerly by my other lot, said lot being about seventy six feet front, about one hundred and eighteen feet along the line of the Cemetery and about ninety three feet along its’ westerly line being a three cornered piece of land.
And I hereby declare that the said gifts and devises to my said wife are intended to be and are so given to her, in full satisfaction and recompense of, and for her dower and thirds, which she may, or can in anywise claim or demand out of my estate.
Fifth, I give devise and bequeath to my infant daughter
Emma Mary Clow the sum of five hundred dollars to be paid to her by my executor
from the proceeds of the sale of the said Westerly on eof my two lots situate on
Thompson Street and described in the “Fourth” provision of this my will;
also, all that certain house and lot on the Northerly side of Thompson street,
being the easterly one of my two lots, bounded Northerly and easterly by the
Cemetery, southerly by Thompson Street and westerly by my other lot being about
one hundred and eighteen feet along the line of said Cemetery, and about
seventy six feet front on said Thompson Street and about ninety three feet along
the line of my westerly lot: subject, however to the estate therein hereinbefore
devised to my wife.
Sixth. I give and bequeath to my sons Charles W. Clow and Albert Clow to be equally divided between them and their heirs share and share alike the child or children of a deceased child taking the share which his, her or their parent would have taken if living, the net proceeds of the sale of my real estate situate on the West side of Water Street in the Village of Catskill used by me as and for a carpenter shop, and the balance of the proceeds of the sale of the Westerly one of my two houses and lots on Thompson street after paying the two five hundred dollar legacies therefrom hereinbefore bequeathed to my wife and to my daughter.
Seventh. I give, devise and bequeath to my daughter Emma Mary Clow all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate of whatsoever character the same may consist , real, personal and mixed.
I will and ordain, that the executor of this my last will and Testament, for and towards the performance of said testament, shall with all convenient speed after my decease, bargain sell alien in fee simple all my lands, excepting the homestead devised to my daughter by the “Fifth” provision of this my will, for the doing, executing and perfect finishing whereof, I do by these presents give to my said executor full power and authority to grant, alien, bargain, sell and convey all the said lands to any person or persons, and their heirs forever, in fee simple, by all and every such lawful ways and means in the law as to my said executor shall deem fit or necessary.
I make constitute and appoint P. Gardner Coffin of Catskill, N. Y. to be my executor of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
If any of the beneficiaries named herein shall contest this will or any of its provisions such beneficiary shall receive no benefits under this my last will and testament and the provisions hereof providing for such a contestant shall not go into force and effect.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal, the eleventh day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and ninety two.
John (his X mark) Clow (legal signature)
The foregoing instrument was at the date thereof subscribed by John Clow the testator therein named, in the presence of us and each of us, he at the time of making such subscription acknowledged that he executed the same, and declared the said instrument so subscribed by him to be his last will and testament. Whereupon we, at his request, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, do hereby subscribe our names as witnesses thereto.
Wilbur Brown Residing at Catskill, N. Y.
Herbert K. Hill Residing at Catskill, N. Y.