Monday, October 9, 2023

Amanuensis Monday -- 1906 Will of Maria Seaver (1826-1909) of Staten Island, New York

  This week's document for transcription is the 1906 will of Maria Seaver, in the Richmond County, New York Surrogate Court records.

*  Richmond County, New York Surrogates Court Records, Wills Vol. 12-13, 1908-1910; Volume 13, Page 207, image 439 of 588:

*  Richmond County, New York Surrogates Court Records, Wills Vol. 12-13, 1908-1910; Volume 13, Page s208-9, image 440 of 588:

The transcription of this three page document is:

                                                                        WILL

I, Maria Seaver, widow of Patrick Seaver, late of the County of Richmond,
deceased, do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament
as follows:

First: I direct my executors hereinafter named to pay all my just debts,
funeral and testamentary expense, as soon after my decease as may be convenient.

Second.  I direct my executors hereinafter named, to erect over my grave,
in St. Peter's Cemetery, a suitable headstone.

Third.  I give and bequeath to my daughter, Mary K. Seaver, all the furni-
ture, goods, chattels and effects, now in or about the homestead in which I now
reside, situate on the Richmond Road, near Garretsons in the Borough of Richmond.

Fourth.  I direct my said executors hereinafter named to permit my daughter,
Mary K. Seaver, during her life to reside in my said homestead rent free, and to
permit her to use the vegetable garden connected therewith, situate in the rear
of the chicken house.  I further direct that my daughter, Mary K. Seaver shall
permit my daughter Julia M. Seaver to reside in my said homestead until her marr-
iage.

Fifth.  All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and
personal, wheresoever situated, I give, devise and bequeath unto my executors and
trustees hereinafter named, in trust, nevertheless, to sell and convert my said
residuary, real and personal estate, into money, either at public auction or by
private sale, at such prices, at such terms times and in such manner as they shall deter-
mine upon, and to pay and apply the proceeds of the sale of my said residuary real 
and personal estate, in manner following:

          First:  To retain and pay to my grandson, Naughton R. Seaver, the
sum of One Thousand Dollars, on his attaining the age of twenty five years.
          Second:  To divide the remainder of said proceeds of sale into
three equal parts or shares, and to pay one of said parts or shares to each of
my children, Mary K. Seaver, Lawrence A. Seaver, and Julia M. Seaver, and in case
either of my said children shall predecease me, leaving issue, then I direct that
such issue shall take the share which his, her or their parent would have taken
if living.

Sixth.  I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my daughters, Mary K. 
Seaver and Julia M. Seaver, and my son Lawrence A. Seaver, the executrices and ex-
ecutor and trustees of this, my will.  In case either of my said executrices, or
my said executor and trustees shall fail to qualify, or shall resign, then and in
that case I direct that the sale hereinbefore directed to be made of my said resi-
duary real and personal estate, may be made by the executor or executrices and
trustee who shall qualify only with the written consent of such of my children,
named herein as an executor and trustee, who shall fail or refuse to qualify, or
who having qualified shall resign before said sale shall have been made.

Seventh.  Until the Sale of my said real estate, I direct that the rents,
issues and profits thereof, after paying thereout all taxes and other charges
thereon, shall be divided equally among my said three children.

Eighth.  I direct that my said executors shall not sell my homestead-dwell-
ing during the lifetime of my daughter Mary K. Seaver, without her consent.  This 
restriction shall apply only to the residence, as now fenced in, and the vege-
table garden used in connection therewith, and is not intended to apply to or
include any land or building beyond the line of the fences which now enclose
and surround the homestead-dwelling, except the vegetable garden aforesaid.

Ninth.  In case my residuary real and personal estate shall be sold
before my said grandson, Naughton R. Seaver shall attain the age of twenty-one
years, then I direct that the sum of One Thousand dollars payable to him as
hereinbefore provided, shall be set apart and invested by my said trustees, in
their discretion, to apply the whole or any part of said principal sum of one
thousand dollars, towards the support, maintenance, education or advancement
of my said grandson, any provision herein contained to the contrary notwith-
standing.

Tenth.  From the share of my daughter, Mary K. Seaver, in the proceeds of
the sale of my said residuary real and personal estate, hereinbefore directed
to be paid to her, I direct my executors and trustees to deduct therefrom the sum
of two hundred and fifty dollars, and to pay the sum so deducted to my daughter 
Julie M. Seaver.  Having bequeathed the whole of my furniture and household
effects to my daughter Mary K. Seaver, which I value at five hundred dollars, I
take this means of equalizing the share of my daughter Julia M. Seaver.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of June,
nineteen hundred and six.
                                                                                Maria Seaver  (L.S.)

Signed, sealed, published and declared by said testatrix as her last Will and
testament, in the presence of us, both being present at the same time, who at
her request, in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto
subscribed our names as witnesses.

John Widdecombe, No. 9 Fourth St.  New Brighton, S.I., N.Y.
Samuel Anderson, Jr.  Ocean Terrace, Stapleton, S.I., N.Y.
                                                    
The source citation for this will is:

New York Surrogates Court, Probate files, Richmond County > "Wills, Vol. 12-13, 1908-1910 (images 439 to 441 of 588)," Volume 13, pages 207-211, Maria Seaver will, written 2 June 1906, proved 6 December 1909, "New York, U.S., Wills and Probates, 1659-1999," digital images,   Ancestry.com   (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 October 2023); Original data is from New York County, District and Probate Courts filmed by FamilySearch.

Maria Naughton (1826-1909 was born 26 March 1826 in Queen's County, Ireland, the daughter of John and Kate (Delaney) Naughton.  She died 10 November 1909 in Dongan Hills, Richmond County, New York.  She married 
Patrick Seaver (1813-1877) on 31 March 1851 in Staten Island, Richmond County, New York.  They had nine children:

*  John Seaver (1852-1860).
*  Richard Seaver (1853-1874).
*  Edward Seaver (1855-1875).
*  James Seaver (1857-1884).
*  Stephen L. Seaver (1859-1877).
*  John Seaver (1860-1881).
*  Mary Katherine Seaver (1862-1948).
*  Julia M. Seaver (1864-1946).
*  Lawrence A. Seaver (1868-1937), married 1899 Mary J. Delaney (1871-1908).

Only three children survived Maria's death in 1909.  

I am not related to Patrick or Maria (Naughton) Seaver or their descendants since Patrick and Maria and their ancestors were born in Ireland.  

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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.

Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

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