Monday, February 19, 2024

Amanuensis Monday -- 1879 Will of Alexander T. Seaver (1833-1879) of Jefferson County, Wisconsin

 This week's document for transcription is the 1891 will of George Seaver (1813-1893) in the Milwaukee County, Wisconsin probate case files.

*  Jefferson County, Wisconsin Probate Court Records, Box 274, Alex T. Seaver estate, image 398 of 3089:

*  Jefferson County, Wisconsin Probate Court Records, Box 274, Alex T. Seaver estate, image 399 of 3089:

*  Jefferson County, Wisconsin Probate Court Records, Box 274, Alex T. Seaver estate, image 400 of 3089:

The transcription of this document is:

I, Alexander T. Seaver, being of sound and disposing
mind and Memory, Although feeble in health,
And being mindful of the uncertainties of human
life, do make publish and declare this my last
Will and testament, in the manner following
that is to say.

First.  It is my will, that all my just debts
and funeral expenses be paid out of my said
estate.

Second.  After my said debts and funeral
expenses shall have been paid, and also the
expenses of administration upon my said estate
having ^also^ been paid, it is my will that the rest and
residue of my said estate shall be divided into
three equal parts.

Third.  I give devise and bequeath to my
beloved wife, Mary K. Seaver one of said parts
or one third part of All My said estate of which I
may die seized, both real and personal.

Fourth.  I give devise and bequeath to my
beloved daughter Elisabeth I. Seaver, one of said
arts, or one third part of All My estate of which I may
die seized, both real and personal.

Fifth.  I give devise and bequeath to my beloved
daughter Sarah H. Seaver one of said parts or
one third part of All my Estate of which I may
die seized, both real and personal.

Sixth.  Should either of the Above named
legatees die without issue, or before My said
daughters shall become of the age of twenty one
years, and before they come in possession of said
legacy, the survivor shall take such portion in
equal shares share and shae alike.

Seventh.  In case my said daughters shall
have arrived at the full age of twenty one years
at or before the time of My decease, or either of them,
then said portions shall be assigned to them or the
one so of full age, as soon as may be after my decease,
without injury or sacrifice to My said Estate.

Eighth.  It is my will that My Wife Mary K.
Seaver shall have the interest rents and profits
of all my said Estate ^both real and personal^ Until my said daughter Elisa-
beth I. Seaver shall have attained the full age
of twenty one years, at which time she shall receve
the legacy hereinbefore granted her.  And after
said assignment, My said Wife shall have and
receve the interest rents and profits of all the residue
of My said estate, both real and personal, Until my
said daughter Sarah H. Seaver shall have attained
the full age of twenty one years, At which time there
shall be assigned to My said wife and my said 
daughter Sarah H. their respective legacies as
hereinbefore set forth.

Ninth.  In case the real estate of which I may
die seized cannot be divided, so that each can
receive the one third portion without lessening the
value of said estate ^or any portion thereof^ in the Judgment of My executor
hereinafter named, the legatees herein named shall
each hold and own an undivided one third in-
terest in the same.

Tenth.  If, in the judgment of My executor
hereinafter named it shall be for the best interest
for my said estate and the legatees hereinbefore
named, that any or all of my property of which
I may die seized, both real and personal, be sold
I hereby authorize and empower them to dispose of
the same, as best they can, and that the avails
thereof shall be held and distributed as hereinbefore
provided for.

Finally - Reposing full faith and confidence in
My beloved Wife Mary K. Seaver And her father
O.S. Brandon that they will carry out to the fullest
extent my wishes in the distribution of My Estate
as hereinbefore set forth, And Carring for and the 
Education of My beloved daughters, I hereby nominate
and appoint My said Wife Mary K. Seaver as ex-
ecutrix And her said father O.S. Brandon executor
of this my last will and testament and hereby em-
power them, the said Mary K. Seaver and O.S. Brandon
to Compound compromise and settle any claim
or demand which may be against or in favor
of My said Estate, and to do all other acts herein re-
quired of them to perform.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal this seventh day of March A.D. 1879.
                                             A. T. Seaver  {seal}

The above instrument consisting of one sheet of legal
Case paper was signed, published and declared by the said
testator to be his Will and testament in the presence of us
who have signed our names at his request as witnesses
in his presence and in the presence of each other.
                 W H Porter   of Jefferson Wiscon
                 T J Brandon of Jefferson Wiscon

The source citation for this will is:

Wisconsin, County Court (Jefferson County), "Jefferson County > Probate Files, Box 274, 1873 - Box 277, Segelbarth, 1883," Box 274, Alex T. Seaver estate, images 3839 to 446 of 3089, Alexander T. Seaver will, written 7 March 1879,  proved 3 June 1879; "Wisconsin, U.S., Wills and Probates, 1800-1987," indexed records with digital images, Ancestry.com   (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 February 2024; Original data is from Wisconsin County, District and Probate Courts filmed by FamilySearch.

This will is a Derivative Source (because it is a court clerk's handwritten record), Primary Information and Direct Evidence of the last will and testament, wife's name, daughters names and father-in-law's name, of Alexander T. Seaver.

Alexander T. Seaver (1833-1879) was born in 1833 in Franklin County, Massachusetts, the son of Samuel Ross and Diantha (Thompson) Seaver.  He died 15 May 1879 in Jefferson, Jefferson County, Wisconsin.  Alexander married Mary Catherine Brandon (1841-1926) on 8 December 1857 in Jefferson County, Wisconsin.  She was he daughter of Othello Stanford and Elizabeth (Reed) Brandon.  Alexander and Mary had three children:

*  Horace W. Seaver (1859-1859). 
*  Isabella Elizabeth Seaver (1862-1937), married 1883 Mark Anthony Head (1862-1940).
*  Helene Sarah Seaver (1866-1938), married 1885 Albert Greenwood (1864-1949).

This probate file contains 63 pages, including an inventory of the estate ($4,628), debts and expenses paid ($1,368), an appointment of Mary K. Seaver guardian of her two minor daughters, etc.

I am a 4th cousin 4 times removed to Alexander T. Seaver (1833-1879), with the common Seaver ancestor being my 7th great-grandfather Joseph Seaver (1673-1754).

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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) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

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