Will Wednesday - Moses Godfrey Will 1741/1742

Moses Godfrey was my 7th great grandfather. He was born Jan 27, 1667 in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. He married Deborah Cooke about 1700. He died on April 16, 1743 in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The will was written in Feb 1741/1742.

In the name of God Amen, I Moses Godfree Senior of Chatham in the County of Barnstable and Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England yeoman being aged and knowing a being appointed for all men do constituted appoint and ordain this to being my last will and testament, first of all I commit and recommend my soul unto almighty God that gave it hoping through the mends of Redeemer and receive the full and free pardon of my sins. My body I commit to the earth to be decently buried after my death believing in the Resurrection thereof and therefor worldly endowments wherewith shall please Almighty God in his providence to endow me with all I hereby dispose of in the manner following

Firstly, I will that all debts and dues lawfully owed by any person or persons together with funeral charges be first paid out of my moveable and real estate

Impormis I give unto Deborah my true and well beloved wife the use and improvement of my whole estate during remainder of life and then

Item I give and bequeath unto my seven sons as namely Samuel, Moses, David, George, Benjamin, Joshua and Richard my housing lands meddows and moveables both within Docy and without they paying and allesing out the whole the legacy hereafter allowed to each person prescribed. Viz.

Item I give and bequeath unto my deceased son Jonathan’s children of namely Caleb, Jonathan and Rebeccah each of them thirty shillings apiece and

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Desire wife of Nathan Rider with what she hath already had twenty five pounds in moveable or they may be acquired –

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary wife of Caleb Nickerson with what she hath already had twenty five pounds moveable or shall be acquired –

Item I give and bequeath unto Deborah the wife of Thomas Bassett what she hath already and twenty five pounds in moveable or acquired.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth wife unto Benjamin Bearse worth of what she hath already had twenty five pounds moveable or acquired.
And Finally I hereby appoint and ordain my son Samuel to be the executors of this my last will and testament declaring and renouncing all others to be null and void
In testimony where of I recounts set my hand and seal this the day of February annoque Domini 1741/2

Signed sealed & pronounced in presence of : Ann Sears, Hannah Buek, Sam Stewart

Moses Godfree

Sentimental Sunday - The Talented Stewart Family of Utica, NY

Elliott Hamilton Stewart arrived in New York City December 21, 1888 at the age of 22.  Almost immediately he headed to Utica, NY.  He had studied law at Queens College in Ireland and quickly found employment as a clerk in the Assessors Office at Utica City Hall.

While competent at his job, his passion was music and singing.

Elliot H. Stewart was born in Belfast, Ireland on May 22, 1866 to James Stewart and Martha Elliott Stewart.  It appears that Elliott was the baby of the family.  His known brother's and sister were:  William C (who moved to Utica), Thomas (who lived and died in Belfast, but spent about 1 or 2 years living in Utica), James T (lived his entire life in Belfast), Bessie (who lived in Londonderry, Ireland).

At an early age he sang as a choir boy at St. Georges's Episcopal Church in Belfast and as a soloist at Dr. Gray's Church at College Square in East Belfast.  His love of music was one reason he decided to come to the US and continue his singing career.  It is likely he came to Utica, NY because his brother, William C. Stewart (1847-1929), already lived there, but probably wouldn't have been the first choice of a immigrant looking to become a professional performer.

In Utica, he was a founding member of the highly celebrated Hatton Quartette.  They toured throughout the Mohawk Valley.  I guess they would be what we would call a "Barbershop Quartet".  Which have become much more popular lately.  Funny how styles of music come back in vogue over time.  Elliott H. Stewart was first tenor, Edwin A Ballou was second tenor, Charles A Winslow was first bass, and Walter Malacrow was second bass.  The Hatton Quartette was formed in 1891 and continued until the late 1890s.  Part of the group, including Elliott H. Stewart then formed the "Oriental Quartettte", so named not because of the ethnic background of any of their members, but because of the fact that they were associated with the Oriental Masonic Lodge.   They continued together through at least the early 1900s.  They performed at many local events and won numerous competitions.

When the quartette eventually broke up, he continued as a celebrated singer.  He was a frequent soloist at wedding, funerals and other events.  Near the end of his life, he was musical director for the Church of the Blessed Sacrament.

On October 15, 1895, he married the love of his life, Caroline "Carrie" Reath.  My wife's great grand aunt.  They had two children together:  Elliott Andrew Stewart and Bessie M Stewart.

Music was a passion Elliott instilled in his two children.

Elliott Andrew Stewart was born June 25, 1898 in Utica, NY.  He pursued the profession as a professional singer.  He made performed on Broadway Operetta productions of "Desert Song", "New Moon", and "Student Prince".  He performed frequently on the radio in the 1920 and 1930 and must have been quite a celebrity.  You have to remember that this is before television and radio was a big deal.  He traveled widely with his musical career touring in Chicago and across Canada.
I don't have the story of how he met his wife Elizabeth Duffy, but they wed in Cleveland Heights, Ohio on August 26, 1939.  He was 41 and his wife 39 years old.  His family must have begun to believe that he was going to be married to his work and be a bachelor for life at the time he eventually married.

Later that year, he and his wife, returned to Utica, NY and he joined the AM Radio station WIBX.  By 1948, he was the station manager.  He and his wife were very active in the Utican community and participated in many charities and civic organizations.  But he never missed a chance to sing when the situations allowed it.

Elizabeth Duffy Stewart passed away on November 6, 1962.  According to her obituary, Elizabeth had worked as a fashion coordinator at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood and an advertising executive in Boston. At a time where most women didn't work outside the home, this was very impressive.

Elliott died on December 26, 1966 on a Christmas time trip to New York City.  He and his wife didn't have any children.
Elliot H. and Caroline Stewart's daughter, Bessie, was also a music lover and accomplished musician.  Bessie was born in Utica on July 31, 1896.  She married George Bannigan on June 21, 1922 at St. Francis de Sales Church in Utica.  Bessie studied music and the Utica Conservatory of Music.

She was an accomplished pianist and started giving lessons to the neighborhood kids when she was only 14.  Also, she furthered her piano studies in New York City with Pierre Luboschultz of the renowned piano team of Luboschultz and Nemenoff.  When she returned to Utica, she made three appearances with the Utica Civic Orchestra.

What she will be most widely remembered for is the impact she had on a wide number of her piano students over the years.  Upon her death on August 31, 1951 a scholarship was created in her honor by the Utica B Sharp Club.  She and her husband didn't have any children.

The Stewarts were an exceptionally talented family.  It is a shame that they don't have any family here to carry on their love of music.  While the Stewart family of Utica does not endure, they live on in the many lives they touched and the people they introduced to a love of music. 

Will Wednesday - Noah Fuller (1712-1774)

Noah Fuller was my 5th great grandfather.  He was born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1712.  He moved from Salem to Lebanon, CT probably between 174-1750.  He was then one of the original "New England Planter" settlers to Horton, Nova Scotia.

Here is a copy of his will which was proved on September 16, 1774.  Oh, and please don't judge me on the lack of punctuation and poor spelling.  The run on sentences are from the original document.

In the name of god, Amen, the ninetieth day of May 1774 being of sound mind and memory thanks be to almighty God therefore and calling to mind the uncertain state of this transitory life and that all flesh must yields unto death when it shall please god to call do make ordain and declare this my last will and testament  in manner and form following: 

First, I give and bequeath my soul to God who gave it and my body to the ground to be decently buried and as to my worldly goods, chattels and estate, I do order and dispose in the manner following, that is to say, first I will that all my just debts should be paid and satisfied ---- 

Item     I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife the use and improvement of the west half of my dwelling house.  The use of a cow and the use & improvement of my breeding mare and one third part of the improvement of all my real estate so long as she continues a widow and the use of all the household goods 

Item     I give to my beloved son Elisha four acres and three quarters of dyke land at the west end of the Grand Pre, joining John Whitney dyke land  --- and to my son Timothy seventy acres of my second division farm lot number six – 

Also, I give to my son Noah my first division dike lot. 

I also will and ordain that my four daughters viz Elishiar, Priscilla, and Sarah and Lucy shall have five pounds each out of my estate to be paid them when Lucy the youngest of them shall arrive to the age of eighteen years and all the household goods, the cow and mare to be equally divided between them when their mother shall come with them ---- 

I also will to my son Noah my working open [lands?] and my sucking goat and three sheep and three swine six suckling pigs  --- 

The remainder of all my estate both real and personal, I will and ordain to be equally divided between Elisha and Noah excepting my last or third division which Timothy is to have his equal proportion it is also my Will that my sons Elisha and Noah shall pay the five pounds a piece to their four sisters equally between them ---- 

I also will an ordain my sons Elisha and Noah shall be executors to this my last will and testament, in witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal 

SignedNoah Fuller 

In the presence of
Joseph WoodworthSamuel Denison 
Amos Rathbun 

Some may wonder why I have been posting so many wills to my blog.  I find them a good source of information and many of them don't seem to exist anywhere else.  

Just another great document to add to your genealogy research that I wanted to share with all my relatives: known and unknown.

Sentimental Sunday - David Godfrey's Will Proved February 24, 1783

David Godfrey of Chatham, Mass and Horton, Nova Scotia is my 6th great grandfather.  I have been looking for David Godfrey's will for some time.  It was not where it was supposed to be.  I reviewed the Will Book of probate records from Kings County, Nova Scotia, which is where he died, but no sign of his will.  I contacted the Kings County Probate Court and they couldn't find a copy, either.

I had nearly given up, but I had found the Genealogical Society of Nova Scotia website. The website didn't have a copy of David Godfrey's, but they did have a section which helped you connect with other people with similar research interests.

It so happens that I connected with Bill Kennedy who had a copy of the will and had used it as a critical document to help him write the article David Godfrey of Chatham, Mass., and Horton, Kings Co., Nova Scotia, which appeared in the October 1991 edition of American Genealogist.

In the article it identified that David Godfrey's will was to be found in the earliest Hants County, NS will book on p. 44.  Since I always want to have a physical copy of the documents, I requested a copy of the will book through my local LDS Family Research Center.

Here is my transcription of the Will of David Godfrey of Horton, NS proved on February 24, 1783

In the name of God Amen, I David Godfrey of Horton in Kings County in the Province of Nova Scotia, being weak in body but perfect soundness of mind and memory (blessed be God) and calling to mind that it is appointed for all men once to die, do this Twenty Second Day of July In the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and seventy four make ordain and publish this my last will and testament in manner following, And first of all I recommend my soul to God that gave it, and my body to the dust to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors herein after named and those worldly goods and estate wherewith it hath pleases God to bless me in this lifeI give and bequeath the same in manner following after paying my just and funeral charges --- 

Imprimis   I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Priscilla the use and improvement of all real and moveable estate and the privilege of comfortable house so long as she shall continue my widow.  Also, I give and will unto my said Wife Priscilla the use and improvement of so much of my real estate as she shall find necessary or requisite for her comfortable support and subsistence so long as she continues to be my widow and in case my said wife during her widowhood shall by from of providence be reduced to necessity and not well supported by the profits of such my real estate of the improvement of such my personal estate, my Will is, that is that case she may and I hereby give unto her good rights to sell some part of my real estate as shall really be needful for her support ---- 

Item   I give unto my son David Godfrey five pounds to be paid out of my real estate by my executors  --- 

Item   I give unto my son Jonathan Godfrey all my real estate that shall remain after payment of said five pounds to my said son David and after the death of my said wife Priscilla or after her marrying another husband, with my dwelling house and barn, to him his heirs and assigns forever and also I give to my said son Jonathan the use and improvement of such part of the dwelling house and barn and all my real estate that shall not be found necessary for the comfortable dwelling and support of my said wife Priscilla, during her widowhood ------ 

Item   I give unto my daughter Anna Allen two third parts of all my personal or movable estate after the decease of my said wife Priscilla, or at here marrying another husband 

Item   I give unto my granddaughter Elizabeth Bishop one third part of my moveable or personal estate after the decease of my said wife
And lastly   I do hereby constitute make and ordain my said beloved wife Priscilla and my said son Jonathan Godfrey sole executor of this my last will and testament and too hereby disallow revoke all and every other and former testament, Wills, Legacies, bequests and executors by me heretofore made ratified and confirming this and no others to be my last Will and testamentIn whereof I have herein to set my hand and seal the day and year written 

Signed
David Godfrey

Witnessed 

Nathan DeWolf     Anna DeWolf     Elijah Crane 

Special thanks to Bill Kennedy to sharing his great research with me and informing me of where I could find a copy of the original will information.

One of the best things about researching family history is the people that you connect with that are willing to help you in your research.  

Black Sheep Sunday - Elizabeth Fuller's Assault on Judah Treche

Sometimes reading some historical documents about my ancestors, I get a feeling like it could be an 18th century version of Jerry Springer.  The record of Elizabeth Fuller's assault on Judah Treche is one of those instances.  

Elizabeth Fuller was the wife of Timothy Fuller, my 4th great grand uncle.  She was charged with beating Judah Treche with a stick.

Here is the disposition of Judah Treche.

Kings County 

The deposition, examination and complaint of Judah Treche of Horton in said county of Kings, who being duly examined and sworn…… 

Saith, that on the second day of March, Elizabeth Fuller,wife of Timothy Fuller of Horton aforesaid did and dishonestly assault this deponent at the door of the house of Noah Fuller in Horton and strike her many blows with a stick or club, saying “I will give you one good licking you damned bitch,” by which assault and blows this deponent says she is much bruised and hurt, and further this deponent saith not…… 

Sworn this day 4^th day of March 1776 before me…..Nathan Dewolf

Signed by Judah Treche 

It is unfortunate that the records of this event don't include any REASON why she beat Judah.  Call my cynical, but I would expect that Elizabeth felt (real or imagined) that Judah had affection for or design on her husband Timothy Fuller.  I can't think of another reason which would have caused her to react so violently without provocation on that day.

It is interesting what you find, when you dig into the family history.

Wedding Wednesday - Reath-Rodgers Wedding 1899

This is my first post about my wife’s mother’s family.  My mother-in-law found this great picture of her grandparent’s (Wallace Patrick Rogers and Margaret Reath) wedding from August 15, 1899.  The photo included a listing of everyone’s names and I thought it would be interesting if I could identify each of the people from the picture and provide a little bio of each.

In attendance, Back row (Left to right): John Rodgers, John Manly, Anna Reath, Bill Reath (boy), Frank Rodgers, Ella Rodgers, Bill Barton, Louie Lanz, Charlie Reath, Elliot Stewart
Middle Row: Ellen Stokes Rodgers (Groom's Mother), Joseph Rodgers (Groom's Father), Margaret Lanz Reath (Bride's Mother), Caroline Reath Stewart, Bessie Stewart, Millie Reath

Front Row: Margaret Reath Rodgers (Bride), Wallace Patrick Rodgers (Groom)

• John Rodgers (1871-1947) – Groom’s brother.  John was a carpenter and worked with their father.  In 1901, he married Catherine Gallagher.  Together, they had 6 children:  John F, Mary, Lulu, Agnes, Helen and Catherine.
• John Manly Jr – Usher.  Friend of groom.
• Anna Reath (1880-1954) – Bridesmaid and sister of bride.  In 1906, Anna married Thomas Smith.  Thomas worked for the government and the IRS.  The family relocated several times across the US.  Together, they had one child:  Mildred.
• Bill Reath – I don’t have any information on him.  The bride had a brother named William Reath, but he would have been 17 at the time of the wedding and this person pictured does not appear to be 17.
• Frank Rodgers (1879-1945) – Best man and groom’s brother.  In 1907, Frank married Emma Graneis.  Frank was the owner of Rodgers Engraving.  Together, they had one child:  Francis P. Rodgers Jr.
• Ella Rodgers (1882-1925) – Groom’s sister.  She married Edward Crowe.  Edward Crowe worked in a manufacturing plant in Utica.  Together, they had two children:  Edward and Roger.
• Bill Barton  - (unknown)
• Louis Lanz – Cousin of the bride. 
• Charlie Reath (1872-1939) – Brother of the bride.  In 1897, he married Amelia Griffiths.  He was a tailor.  They had one child: Andrew Reath.
• Elliot Stewart (1866-unknown) – Brother-in-law of the bride.  Elliot Stewart was from Ireland and had a fantastic singing voice.  He sang at many family weddings and funerals.  In 1895, he married Caroline Reath.  They had two children:  Bessie & Elliot Andrew Stewart.
• Ellen Stokes Rodgers (1844-1917) – Mother of the groom. 
• Joseph Rodgers (1843-1914) – Father of the groom.  He was a carpenter.  In 1868, he married Ellen Stokes.  They had 5 children:  Joseph, John, Wallace, Frank, and Ella.
• Margaret Lanz Reath (1847-1932) – Mother of the bride. Margaret Lanz Reath was born in Bavaria, Germany and arrived with her father, mother and brothers to the US in 1867.   She married Andrew Reath, who was born in Wurzburg, Bavaria.  He died in 1895.  They had 7 children:  Andrew J, Caroline, Charles, Margaret, Joseph, Anna and William.
• Caroline Reath Stewart (1870-unknown) – Sister of the bride.  Married to Elliot Stewart.
• Bessie Stewart (1896 – unknown).  Niece of the bride.  Daughter of Elliot Stewart and Caroline Reath Stewart.  She was about 3 or 4 years old at the time of the wedding.
• Millie Reath – Unknown.  From what I can tell she is not a sister of the bride and not a sister-in-law.  A mystery.
• Margaret Reath Rodgers (1874-1957) – Bride.  Born and raised in Utica.  She and Wallace Patrick Rodgers had two children:  Marguerite Rodgers Williams (1901-1979) and Dorothy Rodgers Purcell (1907-1990).
• Wallace Patrick Rodgers (1876-1947) – Groom.  Wallace worked as a photo engraver for over 50 years.  In the early part of his career he worked for the Utica Saturday Globe newspaper and then worked with his brother Frank at Rodgers Photo Engraving.

One last thing….don’t you love the guys moustaches and the ladies enormous hats in these old photos