Monday, July 9, 2012

Amanuensis Monday - the Will of Alvina Seaver (1848-1923)

Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme many months ago called Amanuensis Monday. What does "amanuensis" mean? John offers this definition:

"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

The subject today is the will of Alvina Matilda (Bradley) (Lewis) Seaver, the third wife and widow of Isaac Seaver (1823-1901).  


Alvina (Bradley) (Lewis) Seaver died in Clinton, Massachusetts on 20 April 1923, testate, and her probate papers are in Worcester County Probate Records, Probate Packet B-80132 (accessed and copied at Worcester County, Massachusetts Court House in 1991).  Her typewritten and signed will reads (handwritten portions in italics):

I, Alvina M. Seaver of Clinton, Massachusetts, make this my last will, thereby revoking all wills heretofore made by me.

I give the sum of two hundred dollars ($200) to the Town of Sterling, Massachusetts, for the perpetual care of the Joseph P. Lewis lot in the town cemetery.

I give the sum of two hundred dollars ($200) to the City of Leominster, Massachusetts for the perpetual care of the Isaac Seaver lot in the city cemetery.

I give the sum of two hundred dollars ($200) to the Town of Dickinson Center, Franklin County, New York, for the perpetual care of the Harvey Bradley lot in the town cemetery.

I give the sum of one thousand dollars ($1000) to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Clinton, Massachusetts.

I give the sum of one thousand dollars ($1000) to the Methodist Episcopal Church of Dickinson Center, New York.

I give the sum of one thousand dollars ($1000) to the Clinton Home for Aged People, Clinton, Massachusetts.

I give the sum of one thousand dollars ($1000) to the Clinton Hospital, Clinton, Massachusetts.

I give the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000) to my nephew, Leland H. Bradley, of Madrid, Iowa.  If he shall not survive me then I give one-third thereof to his widow and two-thirds thereof to his children in equal shares; and if neither he nor his widow survive me, then I give the whole of said sum to his children in equal shares.

I give the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) to Bessie Kelly, of Leominster, Massachusetts, wife of Frank Kelly.  If she does not survive me, I give one-third thereof to her husband, and two-thirds thereof to her children in equal shares;  and if neither she nor her husband survive me, then I give the whole sum to her children in equal shares.

I give the sum of one thousand dollars ($1000) to my brother, Frank Bradley, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts.  If he shall not survive me, I give said sum to his widow, and if neither he nor his wife survive me, I give the said sum to his children in equal shares.

I give the sum of one thousand dollars ($1000) to Rex Myers, of Newark, New Jersey. If he shall not survive me, I give one-third thereof to his widow, and two-thirds thereof to his children in equal shares;  and if neither he nor his wife survive me, then I give the whole sum to her children in equal shares.

I give the sum of one hundred dollars ($100) each to Katie Derling of Westminster, Massachusetts, Lizzie Baker, of said Westminster, Susie Derling, of Sterling, Massachusetts, and Eve Cochraine, of said Sterling.

I give the sum of one thousand dollars ($1000) to Bessie Nodding, of Leominster, Massachusetts.

I give my watch and two chains to my grandniece, Rose Bina Bradley, and I direct my executor to distribute the rest of my jewelry, clothing, furniture, and other household effects to any of the persons or institutions mentioned in this will with all in his entire discretion except so far as I may provide for the same by memoranda which I may leave among my papers.

All the rest and residue of my property I give in equal shares to my nephews, Harvey Bradley, of Madrid, Iowa, Frank Bradley, son of the above mentioned Frank Bradley, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and Elmer Wood, of Boston, Massachusetts.

I have made no bequests to my sisters, Jennie Brigham, of Clinton, Massachusetts, and Ida Belcher, of Boston, Massachusetts, inasmuch as they are amply provided for.

I appoint Harold L. French, of Clinton, Massachusetts, executor of this will and I direct that no sureties be required on his bond as such executor.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set me hand and in the presence of three witnesses declare this to be my last will this Third day of of December 1922. January 1923.

................................................................. Alvina M. Seaver


On this Third day of December 1922 January 1923, Alvina M. Seaver of Clinton, Massachusetts, signed the foregoing instrument in our presence, declaring it to be her last will, and as witnesses thereof, we three do now at her request, in her presence, and in the presence of each other hereto subscribe our names.

........................................................... Alice S. Pool
........................................................... Severine J. Pedersen
........................................................... Anna B. Lyman

There is a handwritten codicil to this will, which I will transcribe next week.  There is also a letter of appraisal, a schedule of the personal estate, and the required list of heirs-at-law.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/07/amanuensis-monday-will-of-alvina-seaver.html

Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver

1 comment:

Robyn said...

Wow! That was alot of money in 1923, I started to do the math, but it to be too much. Was Isaac a businessowner, or some other occupation which left him with such a sizeable estate?