This week's document for transcription is the will for Relief Seaver of Westminster, Massachusetts, in Worcester County estate file 52918, filed in 1795.
Worcester County, Massachusetts Probate Court Records - Case File 52918 image 3 of 5:
Worcester County, Massachusetts Probate Court Records - Case File 52918 image 2 of 5:
The transcription of this will is:
In the Name of God Amen This Eleventh Day of August
in the year of our Lord Seventeen Hundred and ninety five.
I Relief Seaver of Westminster in the County of Worcester
and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Seamstress being weak
and low as to bodily Health but of perfect mind and Memory
Caling to my mind the Mortality of my Body and know-
ing that all Mankind must return to their original Dust
do make and ordain this my last will and Testament
that is to say previously and first of all I give and recommend
my Soul to the God who gave it when God shall see fit to re-
move out of this troublesome World and my Body I recom-
mend to the Dust in a Decent and becoming Manner when ever
it shall please God to take me out of this World not doubting
but I shall receive the same again at the General Res-
urrection by the Mighty power of God and as touching
such Worldly Estate as it has pleased God to bestow upon me.
I would Dispose of the same in the following Manner Viz
1. To my ^Hon'd^ Mother I would give my Dark coloured Calico Gown
and when she has done with it I would have her give
it to ^my Sister^ Faithy.
2. I would give my purple sash to my Sister Lucinda.
Furthermore, I constitute my Brother Heman Seaver
my sole Executor to this my last will and Testament
and Order him to pay all my past and just Debts and
funeral Charges as far as my Estate will allow of it and if
any thing remains I would give it to my Sister Faithy
and I do utterly disallow and revoke any other will or Testa-
ment made or said to be made by me ratifying and Confirming
this and this only to my last will and Testament in witness
whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the Day and
Year above Mentioned signed sealed and --- Turn Over
Delivered published pronounced and Declared by the said Relief
Seaver To be her last will and Testament in presents of us --
Jesse Spaulding Relief Seaver
Amos Gates Sworn }
Elisabeth Gates Sworn } Oct'r 20th 1795
proved & approved and ordered
to be recorded
Jos. Dorr J. Prob.
The source citation for this probate file is:
Worcester County, Massachusetts, Probate case files, Case file 52918 (5 images), Relief Seaver of Westminster, 1795, "Worcester County (Massachusetts) Probate File Papers, 1731-1881," digital images, New England Historical and Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (https://www.americanancestors.org: accessed 27 November 2022).
Relief Seaver (1774-1795) was born on 25 September 1774 in Westminster, the daughter of Norman and Sarah (Read) Seaver. She was the 10th child of Norman (1734-1787) and Sarah (Read) Seaver. She died on 20 August 1795 at the age of 20. Her two younger sisters were Faitha Seaver (1776-1864) and Lucinda Seaver (1780-1844. She did not marry.
Relief must have had some physical problems to cause her to write her will, including statements about her faith and trust in God. However, there is no cause of death in the available records. Her father, Norman Seaver (1734-1787) died in 1787 and Relief received a portion of his estate (£11 6d) from Norman's executor.
Her brother Heman Seaver (1769-1835) was named executor of the estate. Her two younger sisters were bequeathed clothing, and sister Faithy was to receive the balance of the estate. There is a bond petition in the estate file, but no inventory or list of real and personal estate, and no division of the estate.
Relief Seaver (1774-1795) is my 4th great-grandaunt. Our common Seaver ancestor is my 5th great-grandfather Norman Seaver (1734-1787).
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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) 2022, Randall J. Seaver
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