Thursday, December 7, 2023

Using the AncestryDNA Match Table Maker Spreadsheet on WikiTree

I last wrote about Greg Clarke's "AncestryDNA Match Table Maker List" tool on 22 October 2022 - in Rabbit Holes With Randy - Updating My AncestryDNA Match Table List When I tried this again several months ago, I was unable to make it work and it fell off my "attention screen."  I don't know if it is worknig again through the Family Tree Fanatic's process.

 1)  I watched the San Diego Genealogical Society DNA Special Interest Group meeting last Saturday. The meeting featured presentations of "DNA AutoClustering" methods by Colin Whitney and "A New Tool for Analyzing Ancestry DNA Data" by David Nowotnik.  David shared a link with the group for the Greg Clarke tool on WikiTree that is simpler than the earlier tool.  

2)  A user can access the WikiTree version at https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1362851/ancestry-dna-match-table-maker-spreadsheet.  

This tool enables the user to select and copy their AncestryDNA Match list (there may be a line limit - I don't know) and paste it into the Google Sheets spreadsheet and see a list of their DNA matches, and manipulate the list as desired as a spreadsheet.  It works best on the Google Chrome browser, according to Greg Clarke. 

3)  By clicking the "Google Spreadsheet" link on the screen above, the Google Sheets spreadsheet opens and the user can read the directions to select, copy and paste the AncestryDNA  information:

There are three sheets on this spreadsheet - "Instructions," "Raw Data" and "WhatsNew."  The user needs to make a copy of the spreadsheet and store it in their own Google Drive account.  You click on the "File" menu and then "Make A Copy."  

By clicking "Make a copy" I now have the spreadsheet in my own Google Drive account and can work with it.  

4)  For this exercise, I used the "Common Ancestors" selection on my AncestryDNA Match list.  Ancestry presents only some of the matches, starting with the highest cM values.  The user can add more matches by going to the "End" of the list on the page, and more will matches appear.   I have over 500 "Common Ancestor" matches, so this takes some time.

Having read the instructions, the user can go to the "Raw Data" sheet of the spreadsheet and note that after selecting and copying the AncestryDNA Match list from their AncestryDNA account, the user can past all of that information into Cell A6 of the "Raw Data" sheet.  With a lot of lines, it may take several seconds to populate the spreadsheet with the macros (this is how the "magic" occurs) embedded into the spreadsheet.  

Columns A through S on the spreadsheet are used to populate the rest of the columns.  The useful columns are T through AE.  The screen above shows column T which is where the results of all of the above starts.

5)  Here is the top of my AncestryDNA Match list in the spreadsheet showing columns T through AE (note that I reduced the width of some columns for privacy purposes):

The columns shown are:

* T - Category
* U - Name
* V - Manager
* W - Relationship
* X - Which side?
* Y - DNA Amount
* Z - cM
* AA - % shared
* AB - Tree
* AC - People in Rree
* AD - Found?
* AE - Note

6)  I use this AncestryDNA Match Table Make spreadsheet for several reasons:

a) To see which matches I have that I don't have a Note for.  I can click on the link for "Common Ancestors" for a specific match line and go to the AncestryDNA match on AncestryDNA and write a Note.

b)  To see which matches I don't have a "Relationship" for.  I can click on the link for "Common Ancestors" for a specific match line and go to the AncestryDNA match on AncestryDNA and identify a known relationship.

c)  To see how many matches I have for a category - e.g., for "Common Ancestors" or "Matches above 15 cM."  

d)  To see how many matches I have that are Wrong.  I add "XX" or "XXX" or "Wrong" to the Notes for those Matches that I think have a faulty ThruLine (usually because the Common Ancestor is wrong, or when a relationship in a ThruLine obviously has a wrong date, place, etc.).

e)  To document my AncestryDNA matches at a specific time, since AncestryDNA constantly adds or eliminates DNA matches.

f)  Other reasons - what do you use it for?

As an example of c) above, I can see that on the screen above, my matches start on line 3 of the spreadsheet.  By going to the end of the data on the spreadsheet, I can see that my last match is on line 585.  So there are 583 "Common Ancestors" matches on my spreadsheet saved on 5 December 2023.  Here is a view of the last lines of the spreadsheet:

Note that there are four extra lines at the bottom of the screen above.  For some reason, there are four lines on this spreadsheet that have the words "Filter shared matches" in the AE - Notes column.  The Notes for all successive matches are displaced one line down.  If the "Filter shared matches" are in the Notes at Row 200, the Note for the Row 200 Match are shown on Row 201, and so on.  So the Note shown on Row 589 is for Row 585.  I will try to correct this in the spreadsheet so the Note for a Row is in the correct Row.

6)  I also search for "XX" and "wrong" in my Notes using the Windows "Find" feature.  I found 37 Matches have been judged "Wrong" by me over the years.  I should go back and evaluate those in case the DNA Match, or the Ancestry BIG Tree has changed the faulty relationship.

7)  The user can Rename this DNA Match Table file using "File > Rename."

8)  Lastly, the user can save this DNA Match Table to their desktop or laptop computer files so as to perform additional work with it.  The user can save the file using "File > Download" in *.xlsx, *.ods, *.pdf, *.html, *.csv, or *.tsv format.

My thanks to Greg Clarke for creating this Google Sheets method to track AncestryDNA Matches and to David Nowotnik for "finding" the WikiTree page to use it.   This is a relatively simple tool to perform a very useful procedure.  I can make my AncestryDNA Match table within 10 minutes of starting to do it.

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Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

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Treasure Chest Thursday - 1740 Marriage Record for John Marshman and Jane Crook in Melksham, Wiltshire

It's Treasure Chest Thursday - an opportunity to look in my digital image files to see what treasures I can find for my family history research and genealogy musings.

The treasure today is the 1740 marriage entry for John Marshman and Jane Crook in the Melksham, Wiltshire parish records:

The marriage entry is the first entry at the top of the page in the list for "Married 1740:"

The transcription of this record is::

"2. John Marshman & Jane Crook, both of this parish  April 13 [1740]"

The source citation for this record is:

"Wiltshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812," indexed database with record images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), Melksham > Parish Registers > 1733-1753, image 44 of 84, Marriages, 1740, John Marshman and Jane Crook marriage entry, 13 April 1740. Original data: Wiltshire Church of England Parish Registers, Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Chippenham, Wiltshire, England.

This is an entry in the Melksham, Wiltshire parish register.  It is an Original Source with Primary Information and Direct Evidence of the marriage of John Marshman of Melksham and Jane Crook of Melksham on 13 April 1740 in Melksham.  

John Marshman (1713-1761) was christened 25 August 1713 in Melksham, the son of William and Millicent (Hawkins) Marshman.  Jane Crook was christened 27 November 1720 in Urchfont, Wiltshire, the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Simes) Crooke.
   
John and Jane (Crook) Marshman are my 5th great-grandparents; they had at least 8 children, including my 4th great-grandfather John Marshman (1747-????) who married Anne Angel (1749-1785) in 1767 in Lacock, Wiltshire.

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Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Genealogy Education Bytes - Week of 30 November to 6 December 2023

 Welcome to Genealogy Education Bytes, posted on Wednesday afternoon for the past week, where we try to highlight the most important genealogy and family history education items that came across our desktop since the last issue.


1) Upcoming Conferences, Institutes and Seminars

Conference Keeper Calendar




2 ) Upcoming Seminars, Webinars and Online Classes (times are US Pacific):

Conference Keeper Calendar

Legacy Family Tree Webinar Series

 FamilySearch Library Classes and Webinars 

*  Family Tree Webinars - Tuesday, 12 December, 11 a.m.:  The Latest Developments in Searching Historical Records on MyHeritage by Maya Geier.

*   Family Tree Webinars - Wednesday, 13 December, 5 p.m.:  Where Did Your U.S. Ancestors Go to Church? 5 Ways to Find Out by Sunny Morton.

3) Recent Podcasts/Radio Shows:


*  Research Like a Pro:  RLP 282: Finding William Keaton’s Land

4) Recent YouTube Videos:

*  Aimee Cross - Genealogy Hints:  Amazing FREE Map Collections for Family History





*  Dallas Genealogical Society:  Genealogy Research at the Texas General Land Office





*  Genealogy With Amy Johnson Crow:  Breaking: Exciting Updates in Genealogy News!


*  Legacy Tree Genealogists:  Real Stories: Finding Japanese Ancestors



*  Professional Genealogist Reacts:  Answering more Genealogy and DNA Test Questions





5) Did you miss the last post in this series - Genealogy Education Bytes -  23 to 29 November 2023?

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The URL for this post is:  
https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/12/genealogy-education-bytes-week-of-30.html

Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

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Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share your comment on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at   randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Aunt Gerry and Grandma Bessie in About 1930 -- Post 797 of (Not So) Wordless Wednesday

 I can't help it, I can't do a wordless post! This is one of my favorite photographs: 

This photograph is from about 1930, and is probably taken in Leominster, Massachusetts.  It shows my aunt Geraldine Seaver (1917-2007) and her mother, Alma Bessie (Richmond) Seaver (1882-1962).  Bessie is my paternal grandmother and is about 48 years old in this photo, and Gerry, my father's youngest sister, is about 13 years old.  They sure do look alike, don't they?

I seem to recall that this photograph was in Geraldine (Seaver) Remley's photo albums.

I colorized a black and white photo using the MyHeritage tools. 

This photograph is all part of our family history.  

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Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

I moderate all comments and they may not appear immediately - please write only one comment.

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.   

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

My 8th Cousin, Charles Thomas "Charlie" Munger (1924-2023) Died

I like to determine if I am related to a famous person who recently passed away.  Today, it's Charles Thomas "Charlie" Munger (1924-2023) who died on 28 November 2023.  

Charlie was Warren Buffett's right-hand man and confidante at Berkshire Hathaway, and an investment genius (see here and here).

Cousin Charlie (I never met him...) was my 8th cousin, according to the FamilySearch Family Tree.  Here is the relationship chart:


Our closest common ancestors are Jonathan Thurston (1659-1740) and Sarah --?-- (1659-c1711), my 7th great-grandparents.  Another set of common ancestors are my 8th great-grandparents, Edward Richmond (1658-1743) and Sarah --?-- (1664-????).

Apparently, I'm not related to Henry Kissinger, who also died in the last week.

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Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

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Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Genealogy News Bytes - Week of 29 November to 5 December 2023

 Welcome to Genealogy News Bytes, posted on Tuesday afternoon for the past week, where we try to highlight the most important genealogy and family history news  items that came across our desktop since the last issue.    


1)  News Articles:







2)  DNA Research Stories













5)  Did you miss the last post in this series?  See Genealogy News Bytes - Week of 22 to 28 November 2023.

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Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Seavers in the News -- Alexandrina T. Seaver Dies in 1976 in Boston, Massachusetts

 Here is this week's edition of "Seavers in the News" - a weekly feature from the historical newspapers about persons with the surname Seaver that are interesting, useful, mysterious, fun, macabre, or add information to my family tree database.

This week's entry is from the The Boston [Mass.] Globe newspaper dated 22 January 1976, page 60:

The transcription of the article is:

"SEAVER, Alexandrina T. (Wishart), pf Boston, Jan. 20, 1976.  Beloved wife of the late William H. Seaver, mother of William F. Seaver of West Roxbury.  Also survived by 2 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.  Private graveside services will be held Thursday, Jan. 22, 1976.  Donations in her memory may be made to the Jimmy Fund, Brookline Ave."

The source citation is:

"Seaver, Alexandrina T. (Wishart)" The Boston [Mass.] Globe newspaper, Thursday, 22 January 1976, page 60, column 8, Alexandrina T. (Wishart) Seaver death notice,   Newspapers.com   (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 4 December 2023).

This obituary provides only the name, death date, death place, late husband's name, son's name, number of descendants, services and donations.

Alexandrina T. Wishart (1881-1976) was born 15 January 1881 in South Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland.  She died 20 January 1976 in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts at age 95.  She married William Harrison Seaver (1873-1949) in 1922 in Wellesley, Massachusetts.  They had one child:

*  William Freeman Seaver (1923-2021), married 1948 Emilie Sophia Tradd (1923-2011).

I am a 4th cousin three times removed to William Harrison Seaver (1873-1949).  Our common Seaver ancestor is my 6th great-grandfather Robert Seaver (1702-1752).

There are over 10,000 Seaver "stories" in my family tree - and this is one of them.   Life happens, accidentally and intentionally, and sometimes a person has only a sparse death notice.  I am glad that I can honor Alexandrina T. (Wishart) Seaver today.  

You never know when a descendant or relative will find this blog post and learn something about their ancestors or relatives, or will provide more information about them to me.

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Disclosure:  I have a complimentary subscription to Newspapers.com and have used it extensively to find articles about my ancestral and one-name families.


Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

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Monday, December 4, 2023

Genealogy Pot-Pourri - Week Ending 3 December 2023

 Here are the highlights of my family history and genealogy related activities over the past week.  

1)  Attended the San Diego Genealogical society DNA Interest Group meeting on Saturday.  David Nowotnik described his app to automate the Leeds Method for AncestryDNA and Colin Whitney discussed the available clustering tools, including Greg Clarke's and Genetic Affairs.

2)  Wrote a genealogical sketch for my maternal grandfather Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1976).  I started the 52 Ancestors theme with my great-grandparents, and need to write sketches for my grandparents also.

3)  Transcribed the 1914 Will of John Seaver (1857-1932) of Richmond County, New York for the Amanuensis Monday theme.  

4)  Tried out the Tiermaker website to rank the websites that I use for genealogical research. 

5)  Read the book and wrote a book review for Book Review: "Leaving a Legacy, Turn Your Family Tree Into a Family Book" by Rebecca Shamblin.

6)  Finished Nathan Dylan Goodwin's most recent book, The Deserters Tale.

7)  AncestryDNA now has 44,441 DNA matches (up 23 from 26 November) for me today, with one new ThruLines (which was incorrect IMHO).  I added Notes to 1 match.  MyHeritageDNA now has 11,966 DNA matches (up 6 from 26 November) for me, with no new Theories.  Reviewed the new DNA matches on AncestryDNA, MyHeritageDNA, FamilyTreeDNA and 23andMe.  

8)  Occasionally matched RootsMagic 9 profiles to FamilySearch Family Tree.  I have matched 50,059 of my RootsMagic persons with FamilySearch Family Tree profiles (up 2).  

9) Used Web Hints and Record Matches from Ancestry, MyHeritage, Findmypast and FamilySearch to add content and source citations to my RootsMagic profiles. I now have 71,663 persons in my RootsMagic family tree (up 0), and 146,381 source citations (up 8).  Resolved 157 Ancestry Hints. TreeShared no new and updated profiles with my Ancestry tree.  My Ancestry Member Tree has Ancestry Record Hints with 14,011 to be resolved, but I work on them several times a week.  

10) Wrote 17 Genea-Musings blog posts last week (Sunday through Saturday), of which one was a press release. The most viewed post last week was ChatGPT 3.5 Offers Genealogy Book Recommendations
 with over 151 views.  Genea-Musings had about 19,800 page views last week.  

11)  Real life:  This is week 195 since COVID restrictions started.   I stayed home except for visiting Linda almost every day at the skilled nursing/memory care facility. Went shopping on Monday and Friday.  Linda fell and broke her upper right arm on Wednesday, and we spent 6 hours in the ER.  She is back in her facility with a sling.  Went to the church men's group breakfast on Saturday.  Lori came on Thursday to help celebrate Linda's birthday on Sunday.     Walked almost every day on the block and talked to several neighbors.  Finished reading Nathan Dylan Goodwin's The Deserter's Tale (excellent!) and started the James Patterson book The Shadow.   My SDSU basketball Aztecs won two games, and the Chargers wont on Sunday over the Patriots 6-0 (so now 5-7).  Watched some college football on Saturday and NFL football on Sunday.  

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/12/genealogy-pot-pourri-week-ending-3.html

Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

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Amanuensis Monday -- 1914 Will of John Seaver (1857-1932) of Richmond County, New York

 This week's document for transcription is the 1914 will of John Seaver (1857-1932), in the Richmond County, New York Surrogate Court records.

*  Richmond County, New York Surrogates Court Records, Wills Vol. 0032, Page 210-211, image 139 of 294:

*  Richmond County, New York Surrogates Court Records, Wills Vol. 0032, Pages 212-213, image 140 of 294:

The transcription of this document is:

IN THE NANE OF GOD, AMEN.

I, JOHN SEAVER, of the Borough and County of Richmond, City and 
State of New York, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, and considering
the uncertainty of this life, do make, publish and declare this to be my last Will
and Testament, viz.: 
                       First: - I direct my Executrix, hereinafter named, to pay all my
just debts and funeral expenses as soon after my decease as practicable.
                       Second: - I order and direct my Executrix, hereinafter named, to
purchase a burial plot in the St. Peters Cemetery, or such other cemetery as my said
Executrix may chose suitable, for the interment of my body, the body of my wife and
the body of my deceased father, at an expense of not exceeding five hundred Dollars.
                        I also order and direct my said executrix to erect a suitable monu-
ment in said plot, with proper inscription, at a cost of not exceeding One thousand
Dollars.
                       I also order and direct my said Executrix to pay over the sum of
One thousand dollars to the Trustees of such Cemetery where she may purchase the
aforesaid Cemetery plot; said sum of One thousand dollars to be invested and re-
invested and kept invested, and all net income and profit therefrom to be applied
and used for the care and keeping of the aforesaid Cemetery Plot and the monument
erected therein.
                      I also direct my said Executrix to cause the remains of my deceased
father, Thomas Seaver, to be removed from the present resting place to the afore-
said plot.
                     Third. I order and direct my said Executrix to pay the sum of One
hundred dollars for Masses to be said for me.
                     Fourth.  I give and bequeath to my wife, Margaret M. Seaver, all my
household goods and furniture.
                     Fifth.  I give and bequeath to my sister, Julia Toner, the sum of
Two thousand dollars.
                    I also give and bequeath to my niece Catherine Toner and my nephew
Frank Toner (children of my said sister Julia Toner) each the sum of Two hundred
Dollars.
                   I also give and bequeath to my Uncle Laurence Seaver, the sum of Four
hundred dollars.  If my said Uncle should not survive me, then I give and bequeath
to his daughters Julia Seaver and Ellen Seaver, each the sum of Two hundred dollars.
                  I also give and bequeath to my niece, Julia A. Curry, the sum of Five
hundred dollars.
                 I also give and bequeath to my nieces Mary E. Bauer, Ellen J. Mehnert and
Elizabeth A. Gaillard, and my nephew John Seaver, each the sum of Two hundred
dollars.
                I also give and bequeath to Helen Seaver, daughter of by cousin Laurence A.
Seaver, the Sum of One hundred dollars.
                I also give and bequeath to Helen Seaver, daughter of by cousin Laurence A.
Seaver, the Sum of One hundred dollars.
               I  also give and bequeath to my brother-in-law Henry E. Pfaff, the sum of One
hundred dollars.
               I also give and bequeath to Loretta M. Pfaff, daughter of said Henry E.
Pfaff, the sum of One hundred dollars.
               I also give and bequeath to Agnes Curry (daughter of my brother-in-law
William Curry the sum of One hundred dollars.
               I also give and bequeath to my brother-in-law Fred W. Pfaff, the sum of 
One hundred dollars.
              I also give and bequeath to Catherine Curry (daughter of my brother-in-law
Patrick Curry) the sum of One hundred dollars.
             Sixth:  If no monument shall have been erected at the time of my decease
at the grave of my deceased brother Laurence Seaver, then I order and direct that
my said Executrix cause a monument to be erected thereat with suitable inscription,
at a cost not exceeding Two hundred dollars.
             Seventh: I direct my said Executrix to divide all the rest, residue and
remainder of all my estate, both real and personal, and wherever situated, into two equal parts, shares and portions, and one of said equal parts, shares and portions, I give, devise and bequeath to my wife, Margaret M. Seaver, absolutely
and forever; and the remaining equal share, part and portion, I give, devise and
bequeath to my executrix hereinafter named, and her successor or successors In
Trust to invest, re-invest and keep invested, and after payment of all necessary
charges, expenses, taxes and assessments to apply and pay over unto my said wife,
Margaret M. Seaver, semi-annually or oftener, all net income and profit therefrom,
during the term of her natural life.
            If my said sister Julia Toner shall survive my said wife, I give, devise
and bequeath to said Julia Toner, absolutely and forever, one-half of the share
or portion devised In Trust for the benefit of my said wife; and I give and devise
the remaining part thereof to my said nieces Julia A. Curry, Mary E. Bauer, Ellen
G. Mehnert and Elizabeth A. Gaillard and my nephew John Seaver, absolutely and
forever, in equal shares, share and share alike.
               If my said sister Julia Toner shall not survive my said wife, then I give,
devise and bequeath the said share or portion devised in Trust for the benefit of
my said wife to my nieces Catherine Toner, Julia A. Curry, Mary E. Bauer, Ellen G.
Mehnert, and Elizabeth A. Gaillard, and my nephews Frank Toner and John Seaver, in
equal parts, share and share alike.
                 In case either of my aforesaid nieces and nephews shall die leaving issue,
such issue to take the share or portion which the parent would have taken if
living; and in case either of the aforesaid nieces and nephews shall die leaving
no issue, then the survivors shall take the whole to be divided equally between
them, share and share alike.
                Eighth: I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my said wife, Margaret M.
Seaver, Executrix of this my last Will and Testament, with full power and authority
to sell and convey all real estate that I may own at the time of my decease, and
to give good and sufficient deeds of conveyance for the same.
               Ninth:  I hereby cancel and revoke any and all other wills by me at any time
heretofore made.
               Tenth:  The foregoing provisions herein for the benefit of my said wife, are to
be taken and accepted by her in lieu of dower.
               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty seventh
day of August, nineteen hundred and fourteen.

Wittnesses:                                                                      JOHN SEAVER   L.S.
M.L. Decker
James I. Fagan
                 Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named JOHN SEAVER,
on the day and year last above written as and for his last Will and Testament, in
our presence; and we, at his request, in his presence, and in the presence of
each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.
MELVIN L. DECKER   Residing at 52 Van Name Ave.  Mariners Harbor, N.Y.
JAMES I. FAGAN        Residing at No. 362 Tompkins Avenue, Tompkinsville, N.Y.

County of Richmond, ss:
                    Recorded the preceding last Will and Testament of JOHN SEAVER,
late of the County of Richmond, deceased, together with an order admitting the same.
                     Which said record is signed and certified by me pursuant to the
provisions of the Revised Statutes this 23rd day of August, in the year of our Lord
one thousand nine hundred and thirty two.  
                                                              Frank I. Smith
                                                              Surrogate

The source citation for this will is:

New York Surrogates Court, Probate files, Richmond County > "Wills, Vol. 0032, 1932," Vol. 0032, pages 209-213,  (images 138-140 of 294), John Seaver will, written 27 August 1914, proved 23 August 1932; "New York, U.S., Wills and Probates, 1659-1999," indexed records with digital images, Ancestry.com   (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 November 2023); Original data is from New York County, District and Probate Courts filmed by FamilySearch.

John Seaver (1857-1932) was born 14 August 1857 in Richmond County, New York, the son of Thomas and Bridget (Gaffney) Seaver.  He died 21 July 1932 in Richmond County, New York.  He married Margaret M. Pfaff (1866-1953) on 27 October 1907 in Richmond County, New York.  They had no children.

The pages above are a Richmond County, New York Surrogates Court clerk's copy of a handwritten copy of the original will, transcribed to the court record book and therefore a Derivative Source.  It is Primary Information and Direct Evidence of the relationships, dates and places noted therein.   

Most of the heirs, with the exception of his wife, are related to John Seaver through his siblings, or to Margaret's family.  John's father, Thomas Seaver, died in 1907, his brother Laurence Seaver died in 1912, his nephew John J. Seaver died in 1933, and his sister Julia (Seaver) Toner died in 1933.  The probate of this estate may have been very complicated because of these deaths, and the state of the economy over the 18 years between the writing (27 August 1914) and proving of the will on 23 August 1932.

There may be other records for this probate file, perhaps an inventory, bond, account and distribution in Richmond County Surrogates Court records.  There may be a Probate record for Margaret M. (Pfaff) Seaver in 1953  also. 

To my knowledge, I am not related to John or Margaret (Pfaff) Seaver because their Seaver line came from Ireland in the 19th century.

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NOTE: Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme years ago called "Amanuensis Monday." John offers this definition for "amanuensis:"

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

Read other transcriptions of records of my ancestors at Amanuensis Monday Posts.

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