A Peek in the Windows of David Bell's Home

David Bell died in 1818, and here 199 years later is a listing of his personal belongings for all to see on the internet.  Both Family Search and Ancestry have these digital images of "Appraisals & Inventories" from the 1800's for Wayne County, Kentucky.  David died at 24 years old with a wife and four small children. I posted his Will earlier this year. Fortunately for his wife Polly, he wrote in his will that she was to have all his estate. 

Three men signed this Valuation, dated December 18, 1818. Only one of those three men also signed the statement below in 1828 - ten years later. I read somewhere that the first person listed who appraised the estate was the person the deceased owed the most money to, as he would benefit the most from the items being sold at the highest price. David's estate, though, was not sold. The second appraiser would likely be someone related to the widow to represent her interests. The third appraiser was someone with no interest in the estate but knowledge of the value of things. I don't think that's the case here, the name David Dunkin/Duncan comes last on the valuation and first on the statement. I'm interested in the name Isaac Burnett because of some other documents I have with that name on them. I'm looking for the maiden name of Polly Bell's mother, and I'm wondering if there's a connection there.

From this valuation list, I get a total of $402.19, a difference of $99.86 from the total in the statement with no explanation for that. There isn't much family information here, but it is interesting. The handwriting is a little hard to read and I'm not familiar with some of the terms, so I may have some transcription errors (it looks like "fan heat" to me, but after the "Great Coat and Leggings" "Fur Hat" makes more sense). I don't know what the marks mean at the beginning of the lines that start under "one small pot", or why it mentions shillings when the dollar was the currency at that time. And there is no mention of the 100 acres of land David Bell bought in 1815 in Wayne County. So, for what it's worth, here it is.

Kentucky Probate Records, Appraisals, Inventories 1816-1838 Vol A. at Familysearch.org

A valuation of the Estate of David Bell dec'd

Value made the 18th December 1818 by the undersigned

One Sorrel Mare & Colt appraised to ..................................50.00 current money

One Young Sorrel horse appraised to ..................................50.00

One Sorrel horse appraised to .............................................60.00

Value of cattle twelve head of cattle .....................................78.00

One Saw, drawing knife, auger & Chisel value ......................4.00

One Shovel plow, axe shoe & Iron wedge .............................5.75

One log chain four dollars ......................................................4.00

One pr drawing chains ..........................................................2.00

One Shovel plow & collar .......................................................3.12

One little wheel  ......................................................................2.50

One Check Reel .........................................................................75

One Big wheel .........................................................................1.25

One Man Saddle appraised to ...............................................15.00

1 Great Coat & leggings ........................................................10.50

1 Fur Hat appraised to  ............................................................3.00

1 Bed of furniture   .................................................................24.00

1 Bed Bed appraised to ..........................................................11.25

Dresser furniture   .....................................................................7.75

One small pot  ...........................................................................2.00

(?) some bed clothing thirty one shilings  .................................5.16 2/3

(?) 1 chest  ................................................................................2.00

(?) five chairs ten shillings   ......................................................1.66 2/3

(?) Geese & ducks thirty three shillings  ...................................5.50

1 cow & steer   .........................................................................11.00

Beef hide   .................................................................................2.00

(?) 13 hogs   ............................................................................21.00

(?) 14 hogs   ............................................................................19.00

Isaac Burnet

John Kogan

David Dunkin

Appraisers appointed by Court

Kentucky Probate Records, Appraisals, Inventories 1816-1838 Vol A. at Familysearch.org

"Kentucky Wayne County Sct

The undersigned having been appointed by an order of the Wayne County Court, made at their last August term Commissioners to settle with the Executor of the Estate of David Bell decd. have discharged the duty assigned us & make the following report, to wit, we find that the Estate of the said decedent in the hands of John Adair and Robert Parmley, his Executors after deducting the amount paid by Sd Executors of Moneys & property due and Owing from Sd Estate is worth the Sum of $502.05. Give under our hands this 22nd Sept 1828.

David Duncan

Joseph Hurt

Moses Sallee"

My Relationship to:

David Bell: Fourth Great Grandfather

The lineage:
1. My Fourth Great Grandfather David Bell
2. My Third Great Grandfather John Silas Bell
3. My Great Great Grandmother Martha Bell
4. My Great Grandpa Cicero Bell
5. My Grandpa
6. My Mom
7. Me

Amanuensis Monday - Will of David Bell

Ancestry.com, Kentucky Wills and Probate Records, 1774-1989

"In the name of God Amen I David Bell of the County of Wayne and State of Kentucky, being in a low State of health but sound in mind thanks(?) be to God for his mercies and knowing that man is mortal, I make my last will and testament as followeth first I will that all my lawful debts shall be paid I further will that all my estate shall remain in the hands of my beloved wife Polly during her widowhood.  I further will that my sister Patsey shall have one cow and money to by a bed and if my wife Polly shall marry she shall have her lawful estate and as the children come of age to have their portion, and I certify this to be my last will and testament, in presence of us and that Robert Parmley and John Adair to be Executors in witness where of I have set my hand and seal this 28th day of August in the year of our Lord 1818. 

David Bell (his mark)
witnesses present teste

Moses Anderson (his mark)Fleming Gregory (his mark)"

My last post showed the marriage record of David Bell & Polly Adair.  This Will was written just over six years later.  David owned 100 acres of land surveyed on October 15, 1815 on the waters of the Little South Fork.  In 1848, that land was sold to Robert Parmley for $233.  John Adair was David's father-in-law and Robert Parmley's brother Garner became the step-father of David's children.  Such a nice brother to give his sister a cow and money for a bed!

Amanuensis Monday - Oren Bell's Recorded History

Following is a transcription of an audio recording of the history of the Bell Family, or a portion of it.  That portion is mostly Cicero Bell and his family starting about 1890.  Cicero is my Great Grandfather, the audio recording is the voice of his second son, Oren Bell.  Oren was probably in his 80’s when he taped this, his memory still very good.  Mary Ann, who is the daughter of Ben, another of Cicero’s sons, had asked Oren to do this.  Virgil, Cicero's youngest son, gave me a copy of the tape several years ago and it is a treasured addition to the old trunk in the attic.  My Grandpa is Stan, another son, born 109 years ago today, August 1, 1907 on the "old Dutton farm".

It was this history that lead me to search for the deeds to the different properties Cicero & Allie bought and sold in a 10-15 year span in Wayne and Pulaski counties of southern Kentucky.  In Oren's words...

"Mary Ann, I’m going to attempt to give you the story of the Bell Family as I sit here beside my desk.  I’ll just give it to you as it comes to my mind.
 I want to begin the story by telling you about the marriage of my father and mother.  Cicero Bell married Mittie Ramsey in 1900.  The first thing that my father did after their marriage was to build a new home for them.  He built a log cabin on Pea Ridge in 1890, soon after their marriage.  My father built this log cabin out of poplar logs which were rather valuable, and they built it on Pea Ridge not far from his mother’s home.  The cabin was so constructed as to have two rooms.  While we lived in this cabin, my brother and I were born.  Frank was born February 7, 1892 and George Oren was born January 14^th, 1894.  Father was a kind of a restless man.  He was never satisfied to stay anywhere too long.  He never stayed too long in any place we lived.  He had an uncle who lived in Smith County, Texas and in 1895, he decided that he would go to Texas.  And so he gathered the family and off we went to Texas.  

When we arrived in Texas, we visited his uncle known as “Lishe” Bell.  We spent a little time with them, then my father rented a farm and began to do the kind of farming that they did in that part of Texas.  As I remember, the things that they grew were a little different than we were used to.  Now the crops that they had was cotton, goober peas and other small crops such as sweet  potatoes and things of that kind.  He continued to farm until 1900.  In the mean time, my little sister was born.  She was given the name of Leavey.  In September of 1900 tragedy came to our home.  My mother was again pregnant,  and on the 10^th of September my mother gave birth to a little boy.  But she was at the same time ill with malaria.  And the baby’s birth and the malaria was too much for her and she died.  Then the next day, the baby also died.  They were both buried in the same casket and buried in a little rural cemetery outside Flint, Texas.   Just a month after the burial of my mother, my little sister Leavey also died.  She had taken sick and was sick long enough that she could not survive.  They were all 3 buried in a country graveyard that was called the Rather Cemetery.
 My father was very discouraged after the death of the family and he decided to go back to the old home in Kentucky.  At that time, Grandma Bell and my Great Grandmother were living on Pea Ridge in their home and we returned to their home and for a time we lived with them.  We lived with them until my father married again.  In the fall, my father married a young widow by the name of Allie Vickrey.  She had a son that was born in 1899, Bill Vickrey.
 Living with a Great Grandma gave me an opportunity to find out some things about the eariler life of the Bells.  My Great Grandma was a very interesting person.  She was in her 90’s, but was very active and alert.  She loved to tell us about the early days of her girlhood days in Virginia and of the early days in Kentucky.  She and her family moved from Virginia to Kentucky in a real early day.  They moved into Kentucky by way of the Cumberland Gap into Southeastern Kentucky.  They moved westward along the south border of Kentucky through the Blue Ridge Mountains and along the southern border until they came to Wayne County, Kentucky.  In Wayne County they settled on a strip of land known as Pea Ridge.
 At the early day, this area of Kentucky was covered with forest.  The settlers had to clear the land before they could grow any crops.  The timber country was also filled with a great many wild animals.  The animals that were present in that part of Kentucky were bear, fox, wolves, panthers and other smaller animals.  These animals made it very difficult for the pioneers to have any domestic animals such as chickens, sheep, hogs or cattle.  The settlers had to devise some means of killing off the wild animals.  The plan they used was rather unique.  They would select a good size tree, climb up the tree about 15 feet, and saw it off.  And on top of the stump, they would build a platform.  The platform was so built that no one could go up the tree and get on the platform.  To get on the platform they had to use a ladder.  They would use the ladder and go on the platform, and take with them onto the platform their guns and some fresh meat.  The guns they used in those days were single loading, muzzle loading rifles.  They did not have the kind of modern rifles that we have.  The frest meat that they took up on the platform was smelled by the animals and caused them to gather around the platform.  The pioneers could shoot the animals without fear.  By this means, they were able to thin out the wild animals so that they could grow domestic animals and could care for them.  I was about 7 years old when we lived with Grandma.  She was a good story teller and I was an eager listener.  

Cumberland River at Mill Springs, July 6, 2016

After my father’s second marriage, we moved to my step-mother’s acreage, which was located on Otter Creek about 5 or 6 miles from my Grandma’s home.  The acreage was too small to sustain a family, so the folks sold the acreage and we moved to a new farm which was located on the turnpike between Monticello and Burnside.  It was sold and we moved to this new home on the turnpike and settled near Mill Springs.  They bought an old farm that had a big house on it that had been used as a hospital during the Civil War.  This new farm was known as the Rogers farm.  Here we lived for a period of about 4 years.  During that period, Ben and Ed were born.  We lived there for sometime and we were on the move again.  The farm was sold and we moved to Somerset.  Here father bought a general merchandise store.  After about a year in the store, my father was dissatisfied with that and wanted to go back to the farm.  So the store was sold.
 Now mother had a sister that lived in Tallulah, Illinois and they had been corresponding and her sister had been telling her about the opportunities in the state of Illinois.  So off we went to Illinois.  After a visit with the Bryant’s we settled in a little town by the name of Farmers City.  We didn’t find much work there, only a few odd jobs.  So after a short time, my father decided to move again.  We moved to the town of Champaign.  Now Champaign and Urbana are twin cities.  My father rented a home in-between the two towns, and found work in a railroad shop near Urbana.  We rented a home and lived there for a few months.  My father worked in the railroad shop and earned a fair salary for those days.  He earned $2.00 a day.
 After a few months, his earnings were sufficient to take us back to Kentucky.  So off we went, back to Kentucky.  The folks settled in a little village south of Somerset known as Ferguson.  I didn’t stay with the family that time, I went on down to my mother’s sister in Wayne county and went to school for one term.  While I was away, my father worked in the railroad shop and in his spare time, built a new home in Ferguson.  But after a while, my father preferred the farm rather than the shop, so he sold his new home and bought another farm.  This time north of Somerset, about a mile and a half out of town.  It was known as the old Dutton farm.  Here we lived for some time.  I was now 15 years of age.  I got a job with a store in Somerset, and for a year or two I delivered groceries for a company by the name of Carter and Ham.  The folks sold the Dutton farm , however it was here that Virgil and Stanley were born.  After about 4 years, they sold the Dutton farm and bought another one not far away.  The farm was known as the old Tom Meese place.  At this farm, the boys attended school and we continued to work in the town of Somerset. 

 In the summer of 1910, the folks were on the move again.  They rented their farm, the old Tom Meese place, and I joined them and we moved to Oklahoma.  The Bryant’s, whom we had visited in Illinois, in the meantime had moved from Illinois to Oklahoma and they had settled near Wellston, a town about halfway between Tulsa and Oklahoma City.  We stayed with the Bryant’s for a while and picked cotton.  However, I found that my skill as a cotton picker wasn’t very good.  So, we decided to move on.  My father had a sister and her husband who lived in Kansas (now this was Carson Alcorn and Aunt Laura) and so we made the trip from Oklahoma to Kansas.  We went by train and arrived in Oberlin, Kansas and was met there by Uncle Carson who took us to his home and we lived with them for a short time.
 We then moved to a home that my father rented from Clum Rose north of Ionia.  We began to pay rent on various farms and searched around for a place to live.  Finally, my father rented a farm from a man by the name of John Stevens.  He farmed this farm for a year.  While he was farming the Stevens farm, I worked for a man by the name of Alvey Rose.  I started to work for him by cutting a half a mile of  hedge, getting posts out of the hedge rows.  After a year, my father was ready to go back to Kentucky.  So, they moved from Ionia back to Kentucky.  Frank and I stayed in Kansas.  I continued to work for Alvey Rose and Frank worked for Wiley Alcorn.  Alvey Rose’s wife was an M. D. but was no longer practicing.   She saw that I needed additional education and encouraged me to get back to school.  And in the spring of 1913, I went to a Teacher’s Normal in Mankato Kansas.  Under the tuterage of Mrs. Rose I had covered the material for the 7^th and 8^th grade during the winter of 1912.  In the summer of 1913, I attended this Normal school in Mankato and took a teacher’s examination.  I passed everything in the examination except Kansas history.  In the fall I took my grades from the teachers exam, presented them to the superintendent of  the high school of Mankato, a man by the name of J. J. Haney(?)  He looked over the list of grades and permitted me to enter high school.  I was then 19 years old.
 To provide my living while attending school, I worked in a store.  I clerked for S C Smith & Co.  out of the school hours and on the weekends.  I graduated from Mankato High school in the spring of 1917.  The folks, in the meantime, had to come back to Kansas and were living on a farm that belonged to Clum Rose.  In the fall of 1917, and the spring of 1918, I taught school.  Taught the harmony school,  which was right near the Rose family  stayed with the Roses.  I went to Camp Funston soon after my school was out, and joined the Army YMCA, and was made camp supply secretary.  There was a great stir about that time because the war was over.  War was over on November 11, 1918.  But I continued in Funston and helped to salvage the YMCA materials and to sell the Y building.  I came home from the war service September 1, 1919.  Then on September 7, Viola Noon and I were married.  The folks were in Kansas and a farm was rented to the folks by the Roses.  Frank and I were more or less independent.  Frank and Chloe wer married and their children were being born.
 All of the family moved to Nebraska.  First the Alcorns, then came the Bells.  They moved into an area known as Giltner.  I graduated from Cottner College in 1924.  Soon after, we moved to Norfolk.  As Pastor of the Park Avenue Christian Church.  Ben and Marie came to Norfolk and I married them.  By this time all of the family, the folks, Frank & Chloe, Ben & Marie, lived in Giltner.  Franks’s family were about all grown.  The boys had been in the war service, but were back at home in and around Giltner.  My father died in 1944 and was buried in Giltner.  Just 10 years late, Frank died of cancer and was also buried in the Giltner Cemetery.
 Mary Ann, from this time on, I’m sure know as much about the Bell family as I do.  So I’m going to close this at this point.  I hope that you get some good out of what I have said.  Thanks for asking me.  I’m glad to do it.  Oren Bell"

 Thank you, Mary Ann!

Read about the deeds from Wayne County - "On the waters of Meadow Creek"
Read about the deeds from Pulaski County - "On the waters of Pitman Creek"

Amanuensis Monday - Red Carpet, 1890's Style

Yesterday was the Hollywood Event of the Season, the "Oscars".  Today is Leap Year Day.  I thought this article was appropriate for today.  From The Plattsmouth (Nebraska) Weekly Herald, January 21, 1892 Page 3.  Yes, January - this is just the "first" leap year party of the season!  Rockwood Hall is now a part of Plattsmouth's Main Street Historic District.  The Young Ladies Reading Room Association rented the second floor of the building in 1886 and established the first city library.


 EVENT OF THE SEASON

The Leap Year Party Given by the Young Ladies

THE DANCE WAS A SUCCESS

The Young Ladies Prove Their Ability as Leap Year Entertainers
A Pleasant Time Had by Those Present

The young ladies of the O. D. C. gave the first leap year party of the season last night at Rockwood hall, and to say that it was a success would be stating it very mildly.  The grand march started at 9 o'clock, with forty-seven couple.  The floor was in first-class shape and the music fine.
The young ladies furnished hacks for the conveyance of their company to the hall.  The party will be remembered by those present as the most enjoyable one this winter.
When it comes to giving an enjoyable and highly entertaining party, the young ladies are the ones that can do it.  THE HERALD makes special mention of some of the costumes worn, but could not obtain all of them.  The music was furnished by the celebrated Italian orchestra of Omaha.
Miss Nellie Taylor, of Central City, was dressed in a full dress of pink surrah, and slippers to match.
Mrs. Sam Patterson wore a beautiful black silk dress.
Miss Nettie Ballance was dressed in black silk and lace.
Miss Eva Verigg, of Central City, dressed in brown silk.
Miss Gering in pink silk with white lace.
Margaret Oliver in black silk.

Janet Livingston wore Nile green, with white kid slippers and gloves.
Georgia Oliver was dressed in lavender silk, with cream roses.
Bertha Wise dressed in white silk.
Julia Herrmann wore yellow surrah and looked very stately.
Frankie Stiles, pink silk with black lace over dress.
Hattie Latham, Nile green with black lace over dress.
Delia Tartsch, white satin, with La France roses.
May Grant, cream silk, entraine.
Tressa Hempel dressed in cream brocaded satin.
Following are those present:
Bertha Nitka                Ed Schulhoff
Delia Tartsch              John Schulhoff
Mamie Stiles               Mr Jovenille
Bertha Wise                Henry Tartsch
Frankie Stiles              A. V. Burke
May Grant                   J. K. Pollock
Ella Clark                    Al Perrine
Edith Patterson           Frank White
Nettie Ballance            Harry Green
Lillian Hanna              Elmer Eikenbary
Nellie Taylor              Will Stadelman
Maggie Oliver            A. E. Reinhackel
Katie Neville                   Emil Wurl
Maud Moon                    Paul Wurl
Mrs. Ed Barker               Ed Barker
Fannie M'Dougal            Frank M'Coy
Eva Verigg                     Cliff Shepherd
Miss Helps                     Mr Helps
Janet Livingston            Will Clements
Dora Fricke                    Chas. Murphy
Mamie Coffey                Pat Egan
Tressa Hempel               Rob't Crozier
Georgia Oliver               Chas. Spencer
Edith White                   Fred Fitch
Nannie Moore               Chas. Sherman
Carrie Greusel               John Langston
Etta Kew                       Will Ruffner
Emma Coursey             Frank Coursey
Mrs. Schmidtman         Wm. Schmidtman
Rose Patterson              Sam Patterson
Dora Herold                  A. E. Barrett
Julia Herrman               Geo. Lehnhoff
Flora Donovan             Will Streight
Mia Gering                   Will Verigg
Hattie Latham               J. F. Wellington
Minnie Guthman           Mr. Bigger
Kate Hempel                 Chas. Weckbach
Bird Houseworth          Geo. Palmer
Miss Wharton               Burt Wheeler
Mary Skiles                  W. Ailen
Manota Eikenb'ry         Chas. Vallery
Alice Eikenbary           Arch Coleman
Ella Wright                   Frank Johnson

Amanuensis Monday - Photo Developing, Printing and Enlarging 1915

Some of my ancestors owned their own camera, I'm almost sure of it.  So I'm always looking for information on the history of personal photography and developing and printing those photos.  This advertisement from 1915 is one possible place where my family might have sent their film to have it developed.

Omaha Daily Bee, August 15, 1915

After the Pictures Are Taken --

Leave Your Film With Us for Correct

Developing,
Printing and Enlarging

For the past fifteen years we have assumed that there were enough discriminating kodak users in Omaha who would appreciate superior results and who would not be satisfied to have their efforts handicapped by ordinary methods of amateur developing and printing, to give us a steady growth year by year.  The generous patronage bestowed upon us has simply proven that our assumption was correct.  We have steadily maintained our original policy, permitting nothing short of the best to be delivered by our Finishing Department, which is only a part of our large wholesale and retail photographic supply store located for the past twenty-five years on Farnam Street.  We have at all times, and still insist that correct developing is most important.  Prints are made from negatives, consequently the properly developed negative produces the best print.  All our prints are made on Velox paper - the paper with kodak reputation; they are printed with kodak masks which means even white margins, and they lay flat without being mounted on cards.

Our Special Service  By this we mean that all Roll Films, Film Packs and Dry Plates left with us for developing are carefully examined by our "Special Service" department and where possible, printed suggestions that we think will help improve your next exposures are returned with the order; but we suggest that you talk to our expert, there being no charge and you may receive information that will greatly improve your work.   We want you to get the best possible results, which will mean more work for us.

Enlargements  Many pictures are much more effective in an enlargement than in the original size.  We make beautiful enlargements in Sepia, Buff, and Black and White.  We have several original styles that are made up with broad margins, suitable for framing.  We also furnish Colored Enlargements, either in water colors or in oil.  The oil process is new, giving you a finished picture with all the rich lustre of an oil painting.

Prices  Our volume has increased until it has now reached a point where we enjoy a decreased cost of production, maintaining our high standard of workmanship; therefore we have revised our prices, workmanship as before and the "Special Service" an added feature.

Developing  Film  . . . . .  per roll, 10c  Any size up to
Film Packs, per pack, 25c  and including 4x5

Time of Delivery - Work always ready when promised.  You will not be asked to "call later."  We make good on our promise or make no charge for the work.

Kodaks and Supplies   Our stock is complete, our prices right, and most important, our out right.  If you have an instrument and are looking for information, come in and ask; we will be pleased to help you to the full extent of our knowledge and experience.

The Robert Dempster Co.
Eastman Kodak Co.
1813 Farnam Street  Branch - 308 So. 15th St.

Amanuensis Monday - Guardianship Petition

Petition of Thadeus Nott in the matter of the estate of
Cyrus R. Webb deceased, for Letters of Guardianship.

TO THE HON. J. M. Lewis, JUDGE OF THE COUNTY 
COURT OF Fulton COUNTY:

The Petition of the undersigned, Thadeus Nott, respectfully represents

that Milburn U. Webb is a minor aged 8 years on the 31 day of December A. D. 1864

that Jesse C. Webb is a minor aged 6 years on the " day of " A. D. 1864

that Sarah Webb is a minor aged 4 years on the " day of " A. D. 1864

that Franklin S. Webb is a minor aged 2 years on the 11 day of Oct. A. D. 1864

and that said minors resident of this County; that they have no father living,
or other legal guardian residing it this State; that said minors

they are the Children and Heirs at law of Cyrus R. Webb

and that your petitioner is requestor of and desires Thadeus Nott
to be appointed guardian of said minors
December 31, 1864. 
                                                        Thadeus Nott

State of Illinois
COUNTY OF
being duly sworn, deposes and says that the facts averred in the above petition are true according to the best of [?] knoweledge, information and belief.

Sworn to and subscribed before me, Joseph Dycker, Clerk 

of the County Court of 
County, this 31 day of December A. D. 1864.

 Joseph Dycker, Clerk.



Cyrus Webb, the father of these children, was married to Ruth Smith Simmons.  Cyrus mustered into Camp Butler in January of 1864 and died there in February of disease.  I ordered this document from IRAD hoping it would mention Ruth.  I know that appointing a guardian doesn't necessarily mean the mother is deceased.  Ruth Webb died sometime before 1866 and assuming she is the mother of all 4 children listed, she was alive in October of 1864.  Maybe she died giving birth to Franklin.  I cannot find a death date or place of burial for Ruth Webb. 

Thadeus Nott was a physician there in Fulton County 1850 through 1880.  The children did not live with him in 1870.  In 1871, he resigned as guardian of the children after a petition was filed stating he did not properly provide for the children.  In this petition, it states that Milburn is dead.

Amanuensis Monday - Will of Mary Smith 1863

Mary Smith

In the name of God Amen

I Mary Smith of Burrillville in the County of Providence and

State of Rhode Island, Widow being weak in body but of sane

mind, in view of my of my approaching dissolution do make this

my last will and Testament in manner following that is to say:

First I give & bequeath to my Nephew Daniel S Sayles son of

Pitts Sayles, my large Silver spoons marked D. S.

Second I give and bequeath to Mary D. Stokes, Daughter of Daniel

S. Shumway twenty five dollars in money.

Third I give & bequeath to James S. Shumway Son of Daniel S.

twenty five Dollars.

Fourth I give and bequeath to Sarah S. Coggswell, Henry H.

Shumway & Louisa R. Shumway, Children of Daniel S. Shumway

Ten dollars each, all the above named legaries are to be paid out of

my personal estate by my executors herein named within one year

after my deceased.

Fifth I give devise & bequeath unto my Nephews Daniel S. Shumway

& unto my Niece Lucy Sayles wife of Pitt Sayles all the rest and

residue of my estate of every kind and wheresoever situate or lying 

equally between them share and share alike to them & their heirs

and assigns forever, they paying out of the same all my just debts 

funeral charges and expenses of settling my estate.

Lastly, I hereby nominate and appoint Daniel S. Shumway and

Lucy Sayles aforenamed sole Executors of this my last Will & Testa-

ment and do hereby revoke all other and former wills by me made

and publish and establish this and this only as my last Will

and Testament.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Burrill-

ville this fifth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand

eight Hundred & Sixty two.

Signed published and and declared by Mary Smith as and for her last 

Will and Testament in our presence who have at her request and in

her presence and in presence of each other hereunto set our names

as Witnesses.

Whipple Walling                          Mary Smith

John A. Field

John Walling

I Mary Smith of Burrillville in the County of Providence &

State of Rhode Island do this 20^th day of May A. D. 1863 make

& publish this codicle to my last Will and testament in manner 

following that is to say.

Whereas in my said Will I have given to my Nephew Daniel S. Shum-

way and Lucy Sayles wife of Pitts Sayles the remainder of my estate

of every kind which I have not named above & given away.  I do hereby 

order and declare and my Will is that portion of my estate which I

give to my Nephew Daniel S. Shumway.  I give devise & bequeath to 

Thomas D. Sayles & his heirs & assigns forever.  I do hereby nominate 

and appoint the said Thomas D. Sayles in connection with Lucy

Sayles to be Executors in lieu of Daniel S. Shumway.

And I hereby order this my codicil to be ammened to and make a

part of my last Will and Testament to all intents and purposes. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Burrillville

this 20^th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun-

dred & Sixty three.

Signed published & declared by Mary Smith as & for her last Will &

 Testament in our presence who have at her request in her presence

& in presence of each other hereunto set our names as Witnesses.

Charles Moore                                                Mary Smith

John Walling

Martha S. Walling

I ordered this Will from SAMPUBCO from a list of Massachusetts Will Testators Index.  It turned out to be the wrong Mary Smith for me.  If this Mary Smith is in your tree, let me know!

Amanuensis Monday - Bell Deed 1887

126 years ago...

"Whereas John S. Bell, of Wayne County, Ky, departed this life leaving certain lands to his children and heirs at law, and whereas the said children and heirs have divided the said lands among themselves by mutual consent and agreement, and whereon there has not been any deeds made to the several heirs conveying to them the title to them severally to the parts laid off as aforesaid.  Now therefore in consideration of the foregoing promises and to further establish and confirm the aforesaid division of the lands of the said John S. Bell, dec'd, Ira Garner Bell & Martha E. Bell, Martha E. Bell, Henry Reynolds & Ursula J. Reynolds, Elisha Bell & Rebecca A. Bell, Emily E. Bell, Elizabeth Stringer and Rutha Bell do hereby convey unto James Hutchinson & Lean Hutchinson his wife all our right, title and interest in and to a certain tract or parcel of land lying in the County of Wayne and State of Ky, it being the part that was laid off to the said Hutchinson & wife in the division of the lands of John S. Bell, dec'd, as above stated on the waters of Beaver Creek, and is bounded as follows viz:  Beginning at a White and Black Oak, Garner Bells beginning corner, running with his line N 48 E, 108 poles to a Red Oak, Maple & Gum, N 15 W with John Haynes line 20 poles to a Hickory S 63 W 165 poles to two White Oaks S 58 E 24 poles to two Black Oaks S 87 E 51 poles to the Beginning, containing 40 acres more or less.  All our right, title and interest in and to the above described tract or parcel of land conveyed as aforesaid, we will warrant and defend unto the said James Hutchinson and wife and their assigns forever, against the claim or claims of our selves, our heirs, and the claims of all other persons whatsoever.  In testimony whereof we have set our seals and signed our names this the 15th day of November 1887.

Attest:  Gemima E. Blankenship
J. W. Wright

Garner Bell

Martha E. Bell

Elisha Bell

R. A. Bell

Rutha Bell

Martha E. Bell

Emily E. Bell

Elizabeth Stringer

Henry Reynolds

Ursula J. Reynolds

State of Kentucky
County County of Wayne
      I Jas. H. McConnaghy, Clerk of the Wayne County Court for the County aforesaid, certify that the foregoing deed from Garner Bell and Martha E. Bell his wife, and Elisha Bell and R. A. Bell his wife, and Rutha Bell and Martha E. Bell and Emily E. Bell, and Elizabeth Stringer and Henry Reynolds and Martha J. Reynolds his wife, to James Hutchinson and Lean Hutchinson his wife was on the 15th day of November 1887, produced to me in said County and acknowledged before me by Garner Bell and Martha E. Bell his wife, and Elisha Bell and R. A. Bell his wife and Rutha Bell and Martha E. Bell and Emily E. Bell and Elizabeth Stringer and Henry Reynolds, and Ursula J. Reynolds to be their act and deed, this the 15th day of November 1887.

Jas. H. McConnaghy, Clerk

By J. W. Wright D. C.

State of Kentucky

County of Wayne

     I A. Fairchild Clerk of the Wayne County Court do certify that on the 22nd day of August 1898, the foregoing Deed was lodged in my office for record.  Whereupon the same together with this and the foregoing certificate have been duly recorded in my office.  Given under my hand this 24th day of August 1898.

A. Fairchild, Clerk"

Martha Eveline Bell's parents were John Silas and Rutha (Simpson) Bell, and her siblings were Ira Garner, Mary Elizabeth, Elisha S, Saphronia, Emily, and Ursula Jane.  From this Deed, it looks like Saphronia may have died before 1887.  Ira Garner married Martha E. Simpson in October, 1868, her father was Thomas Simpson, brother of Rutha.  Elisha married Rebecca A. McFarland in September, 1875.  Mary Elizabeth married John Stringer in February, 1870. I have not found that Emily ever married, and Ursula married Henry Reynolds in about 1878 and died in 1890.  

Why is there no mention of how much the 40 acres were sold for?