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 Nellie M. Seaver (1861-1933) of Leominster, Massachusetts. Nellie was the daughter of Isaac and Lucretia (Smith) Seaver, and never married. Nellie Seaver died 26 June 1933 in Leominster, and her will was filed on 30 June 1933 and allowed 18 July 1933.
The typewritten and signed will reads (Worcester County [Massachusetts] Probate Records, Probate Packet 109,635 B, accessed at Worcester County Courthouse in Worcester, Massachusetts):
"BE IT REMEMBERED that I, Nellie M. Seaver, of Leominster, Massachusetts, being of sound mind and memory, but knowing the uncertainty of this life, do make this my LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT, hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time heretofore made.
"After the payment of my just debts and funeral charges, I bequeath and devise as follows:
"Item 1: I give, devise, and bequeath to my nephew, Frederic T. Blanchard, of Los Angeles, California, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1000), to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
"Item 2: I give, devise, and bequeath to my nephew, Laurence C. Blanchard, of National City, California, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1000), to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
"Item 3: I give, devise, and bequeath to my nephew, Frederick W. Seaver, of Leominster, Massachusetts, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1000), to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
"Item 4: I give, devise, and bequeath to my nephew, Harry C. Seaver, of Leominster, Massachusetts, the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($250), to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
"Item 5: I give, devise, and bequeath to my niece, Edith J. Russell, of Orlando, Florida, the sum of Two Hundred and fifty Dollars ($250), to her, her heirs and assigns forever.
Item 6: I give, devise, and bequeath to Cathryn Morse, wife of Harry B. Morse, of South Acton, Massachusetts, all household furniture of every name and nature owned by me at the time of my decease, also all jewelry and wearing apparel owned by me at the time of my decease, to her, her heirs and assigns forever.
Item 7: All of the rest and residue of my real and personal estate of every name and nature wherever situated, or to which I may be in any way entitled at the time of my decease, I give, devise, and bequeath to Emma E. Seaver, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, said Cathryn Morse, Ida W. Preble of Somerville, Massachusetts, Alice P. Carpenter, of said Leominster, Irene I. Taylor of said Leominster, Nellie M. Emerton of said Leominster, and Lillian A. Emerton, of said Leominster, to be divided among them equally, share and share alike, to them, their heirs and assigns forever.
Item 8: I hereby nominate and appoint my said nephew, Frederick W. Seaver, executor of this my last will and testament, and I request that he may be exempt from the giving of any surety or sureties upon his official bond.
"In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and in the presence of three witnesses declare this to be my last will this fifteenth day of August in the year one thousand nine hundred and twenty-three.
......................................................... Nellie M. Seaver
"On this fifteenth day of August A.D. 1923, Nellie M. Seaver, of Leominster, 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.
...................................................... Lillian G. Barron
...................................................... ?????????????? [not on copy]
...................................................... ?????????????? [not on copy]"
Unfortunately, the copy made by the Probate Court for me back in 1991 cut off the last two witness names.
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The great thing about wills of unmarried persons is that they often name their siblings and/or the children of their siblings. This is the case with Nellie Seaver's will - she names her five nephews and nieces, the children of her siblings. It also names a number of seemingly unrelated persons, who are probably school teacher colleagues of Nellie Seaver.
My grandfather, Frederick W. Seaver, was the executor of Nellie M. Seaver's estate. I also have the inventory of her estate, and will publish that in a future Amanuensis Monday post.
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/06/amanuensis-monday-will-of-nellie-m.html
Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
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