The Mysterious JOHN ADAMS - 1757-1830

Years before I began doing genealogy, I always heard the name Adams and figured it was important in some way to my family. Why? My father and sister both had the name Adams as their middle name. When I  first began researching, I started with my grandparents and then discovered my grandmother was Marjorie Anderson Adams, and her father Yates Adams committed suicide, I was hooked on genealogy. His father had a sad life but a very patriotic name, Liberty Adams.

One thing I want to do before I put this to rest after 30 years is to connect with an archivist at the Lexington Historical Society who can do a little research on his Revolutionary War service because he enlisted in my old town where I lived for 8 years. I am sharing all that I have for any of the descendants of the 11 grandchildren John Adams had. A four-page list of the descendants is at the bottom.

What do I know about John Adams? Based on reliable information, I have:

John was born abt. 1757, Wintonbury Parish, (now Bloomfield), Hartford Co., Connecticut

Married 15 Aug. 1790 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut  to Hannah Smith

While residing in Lexington, Massachusetts, he enlisted on March 4, 1782, and served as a private in Captain James Tisdale's company in Colonel Greeton's Third Massachusetts regiment, he was discharged in January 1784."

He had three children:

      John was born January 18, 1792 (my ancestor)

      Horace was born September 25, 1794

      Mary Ann was born September 29, 1811

Died 30 Sep. 1830 in Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

Buried in Pine Hill Cemetery, Elba, Genesee Co., New York, and also with his wife at Tyler Cemetery, Stafford Co., New York.

His wife Hannah Smith has Smith, Drake, Moore, Cone, Gillett, Benton, Brown, Buell, and Mills in her lineage.

I have found a fair amount of information on him, as shown below, but no mention of his parents. Some copies are poor as are the cemetery photos. I wish it wasn't the case. 

__________First Will, doesn't mention wife.

The will.

"In the Name of God Amen

I John Adams of the Town of Elba in the County of Genesee being of sound mind and under the full exercise of my natural reason do make and ordain
This to be my last will and Testament.

Viz

First  I command my Soul to God who gave --

Second  I give devise and bequeath after paying my Funeral Charges and expenses of sickness all my personal property to Roxana Dabgins and to her Heir's families.

Third  I give devise and bequeath all my Real estate which I now have or may have hereafter possess to Roxana Dabgins to have and to hold the same forever

Fourth  I do hereby nominate and appoint Asa Sawtell and Roxanna Dabgins of the Town of Elba the sole Executor of this my last will and Testament in witness where after I have hereunto set to my hand and Seal this 31st day of August 1830.

Signed Sealed Published and Delivered in presence of the Testators and in presence of each other this 31st of his August 1830

John X Adams (His Mark)

E. D. Davis of Elba

Nathaniel Ford     Elba

(The Will documents copied below and typed by me are showing that his lady friend, Roxana / Roxanna Dabgins was to receive most of the estate, and there was no mention of his wife Hannah or their three children. In less than a month, a new document by a new lawyer and wife Hannah is mentioned, and no mention of lady friend Roxanna. The will was prepared a month before he died.)

__________Another legal-sized document is divided into three parts:

Part 1

"We ___ accept services on the within? the estate:

John Adams Jr.

Hannah Adams  X (Her Mark)

Mary Ann King"

Part 2

"Citation to Hannah Adams and Others

John Adams 1----957 (pencil)"

Part 3

"Notice to Hannah Adams

John Adams (pencil)

Filed October 11, 1830"

__________Another document, alerting Surrogate of the widow

To Ebenezer Mix Esquire Surrogate of the County of Genesee

The Petition of Asa Sawtell Herewith that John Adams late of the Town of Elba in the County of Genesee deceased died on or about the twenty-fifth day of September instant in the Town of Elba aforesaid, where he had resided several years that he left assets in said County of Genesee. That he made executed and left a certain instrument in writing purporting to be his last Will and Testament in which he named your petitioner and Roxana Doogin Executor, that Ebenezer D. Davis and Nathaniel Ford were the subscribing witnesses said Will. That he left a Widow___ and three children to wit, John Adams, Horace Adams and Mary Ann King residing in the Town of Stafford in the County of Genesee, the said children being all of full age, they being all the heirs at law of the said deceased known to your petitioner. Now Therefore your petitioner requests that such proceedings may be had as to prove said Will as a Will dividing Real Estate and bequeathing personal property according to the Laws of the State.

Asa Sawtell

Genesee County.

Asa Sawtell being duly sworn saith that he verily believes the facts set forth in the above petition are true.

Subscribed by and Sworn to

this 29 day of September 1830                              Asa Sawtell

Before me

Ebenezer Mix   Surrogate 

__________Discussion of the Will

THE PEOPLE of the State of New York, by the Grace of God free and Independent: To all to whom these presents shall come or may concern, and especially to Hannah Adams Widow John Adams, Junr, Horace Adams and Mary Ann King wife of Leonard King next of kin of John Adams late of the Town of Elba in the County of Genesee deceased send Greeting.

You and each of you are hereby cited and required, personally to be and appear before Ebenezer Mix, Esquire, Surrogate of our said county of Genesee at his office in Batavia on the Nineteenth day of October, next at Ten o'clock, in the forenoon of that day, then and there to oppose or support as you may see fit, the probate of a certain instrument in writing, purporting to be the last will and testament, of the said John Adams which has been left with our said Surrogate, by Asa Sawtell who claims to be an executor thereof, and which will be at the time and place, aforesaid offered for probate.

In Testimony whereof, we have caused the seal of office, of our said Surrogate, to be hereunto affixed.  Witness Ebenezer Mix Esquire, Surrogate of our said county, at Batavia this twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty.

Ebenezer Mix   Surrogate

Hannah Adams, Widow, John Adams, Junr. Horace Adams and Mary Ann King wife of Leonard King heirs at Law of John Adams late of the Town of Elba in the County of Genesee deceased.

You are hereby notified that it is the intention of the Subscribers, an Executor named in the last Will and Testament of John Adams deceased to apply to Ebenezer Mix Esquire Surrogate of the County of Genesee at his office in Batavia in said County of Genesee in the nineteenth day of October, meet at ten o'clock in the forenoon to have the said Will proved at that time and place.

September, 29th 1830.
                                                       Asa Sawtell"

__________Below was found at the New England Historic Genealogical Society's Library.

White, Virgil D., Genealogical Abstracts of Rev. War Pension Files, Vol. 1  A-E,  (Waynesboro, TN: National Historical Pub. Co., 1990-92).  Vol. 1: 12. I typed it up and the original page is below, see the last paragraph.

"ADAMS, John, Hannah  W23415, MA Line appl 13 Apr 1818 Genesee Cty NY aged 55, enl Lexington MA, sol d 30 Sep 1830, in 1820 wife Hannah was 50 & daughter Mary was 10, wid appl 25 Nov 1843 Genesee Cty NY aged 73, her maiden name was Hannah Smith, m 15 Aug 1790 Hartford Cty CT, wid mentions sister Eunice Wilcox aged 70 in 1843 & living Oswego Cty NY, wid d 22 Aug 1850 leaving 2 children John & Horace Adams, family records; John b Jan 1792, Horace or Horris b Sep 1794 & Mary Ann b 29 Sep 1811, there was a note on the file jacket, "see N.A. Acc. #874, #050000 - John Adams, Not Half Pay"

__________Information from actual records was viewed by me at the NARA in Waltham, Massachusetts (Aug. 12, 2008)

Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty Land Application Files, Revolutionary War Pension Records.  Series: M804  Roll: 12.  File: W23415   John Adams, Wife: Hannah   Service: Mass.  Res. at enl. Lexington, Mass. - in 1820 aged 57 yrs. & res. Stafford, Genesee Co., NY. D. Sept. 30, 1830.

In 1820 John Adams aged 57 yrs. & res. Stafford, Genesee Co., NY.

Deposition of Hannah Adams (wife) on Nov. 25, 1843, of Stafford, aged 73.  Stated her husband died on September 30, 1830.

Deposition of Horace Adams (son) on Nov. 25, 1843, of Stafford, aged 49.  Stated he was a son of John Adams and Hannah and that his father died Sept. 30, 1830, in Stafford.

Deposition of John Adams (son) on Oct. 23, 1843, aged 51.  Stated he was born Jan. 18, 1792, and his father died Sept. 30, 1830.  Their parents moved from the Parish of Wintonbury, Ct when he was about 4 years old.

The deposition of Nathan Smith stated John Adams resided at Lexington for several years.

Enlisted March 4, 1782, for 3 years  Co. commanded by Capt. James Tisdale in the 3rd Massachusetts Regiment.  He enlisted in the Continental Service on the 4th day of March A.D. 1782 in a company Commanded by Col. Mansfield.  Discharged at West Point Jan. 1784 by Gen. Knox.

      He was allowed pension on his application executed on April 13, 1818, at which time he was living in Genesee County, New York, and was about fifty-five years of age.

      In 1820 he was living in Stafford, New York, and he died, on September 30, 1830, in Elba, New York.

      He married on August 15, 1790, in the Parish of Wintonbury, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, Hannah Smith, who was born in January 1771.

      The widow, Hannah, was allowed pension on her application [sic] application executed November 25, 1843, then a resident of Stafford, New York.

      She died on August 22, 1850, in Stafford, New York.

      The following are the names of their children as found in the claim:

      John was born January 18, 1792

      Horace was born September 25, 1794

      Mary Ann was born September 29, 1811

Eunice Wilcox, a sister of the widow, Hannah Adams, was living in 1843 in Palermo, New York.

There are no data as to family.

__________I have no recollection as to where the below information came from, but probably the NARA as above, it is very similar to what was written.

May 4, 1932

BA-JAWF  John Adams  W23415

Letter to Miss Loura L. Brooks of 82 Chestnut Street, Gardner, Massachusetts.

Dear Madam:

      Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to John Adams, a soldier of the War of the Revolution, from Lexington, Massachusetts.

      The data contained herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, W. 23415, based upon the Revolutionary War service of John Adams.

      While residing in Lexington, Massachusetts, he enlisted March 4, 1782 and served as a private in Captain James Tisdale's company in Colonel Greeton's Third Massachusetts regiment, he was discharged in January, 1784.

      He was allowed pension on his application executed April 13, 1818, at which time he was living in Genesee County, New York, and was about fifty-five years of age.

      In 1820 he was living in Stafford, New York, and he died, September 30, 1830 in Elba, New York.

      He married August 15, 1790 in the Parish of Winterbury, Wndsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, Hannah Smith, who was born in January, 1771.

      The widow, Hannah, was allowed pension on her application [sic] application executed November 25, 1843, then a resident of Stafford, New York.

      She died August 22, 1850 in Stafford, New York.

      The following are the names of their children as found in the claim:

      John  born January 18, 1792

      Horace  born September 25, 1794

      Mary Ann born September 29, 1811

      The following children survived their mother:  John, who in 1850 was living in Stafford, New York; and Horace.

      Eunice Wilcox, a sister of the widow, Hannah Adams, was living in 1843 in Palermo, New York.

      There are no further data as to family.

                              Very truly yours,

                              A. D. Hiller

                              Assistant to Administrator

__________See the original letter to Miss Loura L. Brooks I typed above.

__________Additional Information:

From Pine Hill Cemetery, Elba, Genesee Co., New York "John, d. 9-25-1830, 73y, Rev. War soldier. Photos taken by my 5th cousin, Claire A.

Above photos were taken at Pine Hill Cemetery, Elba, New York.

John Adams was buried behind his wife Hannah at Tyler Cemetery in Stafford, New York.

Six generations of John Adams

George Anderson's 101 Page Will / Probate and a Twist to this Story

In March 2015, I contacted Dane County, Wisconsin for copies of a will and probate records pertaining to George Anderson (he died Jan. 10, 1879 at the age of 94). He was my third great-grandfather, born in New Jersey. Months later, I learned that the entire probate packet was 101 pages long. I just read those pages this past week, his will is below, transcribed by me, followed by the actual copy, and the correspondence to the courthouse. There is no need to read it until you get to September. (I included it for my documentation.)

It took almost a month to get the exact copies I needed from the courthouse. There is a big twist to this story because six months after I initially wrote, I made a discovery. If I had waited until September, I could have saved some money and a whole lot of time and no confusion.

The Will and Codicil

Page 1717 

I George Anderson of the town of Sun Prairie-Dane County, Wisconsin being of sound mind and memory and mindful of the uncertainty of human life do make publish and declare this my last will and testament.

First—That all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid.

Second—I give grant devise and bequest unto my well-beloved wife Euphemia B. all my property and estate real and personal for and during her natural life for her comfort and support. It is my will and intention that she use and dispose of the personal property for her own support as she may find necessary or convenient and that she has the use occupation and income of the real estate but it is not my will or intention that she should sell or incubus the real estate.

Third--As a token of my affection and remembrance I give to each of my sons who may be living at the time of my death, the sum of seventy dollars To Wit-Simone Anderson—George W. Anderson—Richard L. Anderson—Cornelius Anderson and Jeremiah T. Anderson to be claimed and paid within one year after my decease and if not claimed within that time to go to the body of my estate.

Page 1718

Fourth—It is my will that all my property and estate real and personal remaining at the death of my said wife Euphemia B. shall be equally divided between my two daughters. To wit Martha Maria Adams wife of Liberty Adams of Genesee County and State of New York and Jane Maria Peckham wife of Benjamin Peckham of Sun Prairie Dane County Wisconsin and I hereby give grant devise and bequest all my estate real and personal which shall remain at the time of the death of my said wife to my said daughters to be divided equally between them and share and share alike—And in case my said daughters or either of them shall not be living at the time of the death of my said wife then the share of such daughter so deceased shall descend and go to the child or children of such deceased daughter or the lineal descendant of any deceased child or children of such deceased daughter in the same proportion as they would inherit by law. It is my intention that this will shall embrace and include all property of which I may (unfortunately, I can't determine the words underlined in red, if you know, please let me know. Thank you.) or in any manner by entitled to either by inheritance or otherwise at the time of my death. It is my will and intention that my said wife

Page 1719

shall use only so much of the personal property as may be necessary for her own support first using the income of the real estate and from real property and in case that shall be found insufficient for her support then she may use so much of the principal of the personal estate as may be necessary for her suitable and comfortable support the reminder and residue to go to my said daughters or their descendant as hereinbefore mentioned Fifth— I hereby appoint my said wife Euphemia B. Anderson executrix of this my last Will and Testament and authorize her to compromise and settle any claims or demands which may be against or in favor of my estate. I hereby exclude My said executrix from giving the residual bonds requested of executors and administrators and are willing to entrust the keeping and management of the estate to her, as I have full confidence in discussions and integrity. In witnesses whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 27th day of January in this year AD one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five. George Anderson      SEAL

Page 1720

The above and foregoing instrument consisting of one sheet was signed published and declared by the said testator George Anderson to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have signed our names at his request as witnesses in his presence and in presence of each other this 27th day of January 1865.

Chauncy Abbott

B. E. Hutchinson

Page 1721

Codicil

I George Anderson now residing in the city of Madison Dane County and State of Wisconsin. Do hereby make and declare this to be a codicil to my last Will and Testament hereto annexed executed by me January 27, 1865. To wit

1st Whereas since the making of said will I have advanced to my daughter Martha Maria Adams of Genesee County State of New York what I devise her fair portion of my estate and what I intended for her portion.* Now therefore I do hereby revoke and amend any and all provisions in said will for her benefit and any and all devises and bequests therein to her are withdrawn.

2nd. My son Richard L. Anderson having died since the making of such will all provisions in the same for his benefit is hereby revoked and amended.

3rd. Since the making of said will I have become convinced that my son Cornelius Anderson is dead do hereby revoke and amend any and all

(* Martha Maria Adams was my great-great-grandmother. Her husband had recently died. She possibly asked for some help with her three children under 15.)

Page 1722

provisions in said will for his benefit. It being my wish and intention that said original will shall stand and be in force. The name as if it contained no provisions for the previous herein named. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of June 1869 George Anderson SEAL The forgoing codicil to the will of George Anderson of late of January 27, 1865, and being hereby attached to the will before the will was signed was by this said George Anderson who is personally known to each of us designated in our presence and was made by him at the same time published and declared to be a codicil This said Last Will and Testament, __?__ at the same time as his new request and in his presence and in the presence of each three hereto subscribe our names as attesting witnesses on the day of the date of said codicil.

C. Gregory Madison, Wis.

T. A. Phinney Madison, Wis.

Correspondence with the Dane, Wisconsin Courthouse

I initially called the Dane County courthouse in Wisconsin on March 6, 2015 to 608-266-4311 or 608-266-4142? and was told to send an email request.

to: dane.courtrecords@wicourts.gov

date: Fri, Mar 6, 2015 at 11:01 AM

subject: George Anderson probate records

Greetings,

I am requesting copies you have pertaining to George Anderson, aka General George Anderson. He was my 3rd great-grandfather. Below is pertinent information.

Date of death: 10 Jan. 1879, Madison

Lived in Madison, Baraboo and Sun Prairie from abt. 1839 to 1879.

Date of birth: 1784 Thank you.

(I received an automated reply stating they received my email and I should hear from them.)

-----

My Reply

Records Request

ADAMS & ANDERSON

Karen Meier <Karen.Meier@wicourts.gov>

Mar 23, 2015

Hello Barbara,

This email is in response to your request regarding probate records for your great-grandfather.  I have found the probate record on microfilm.  There is a $4.00 fee for the search and copies are $1.00 per page.  Are you looking for anything specific to be copied?  For such an old case, there are a lot of documents on microfilm.

 When I've determined the total cost due, I'll email you an invoice.  Upon payment of the invoice, I will email the copies to you.

 Please let me know if you have any questions.

 Karen B. Meier

Deputy Clerk

Dane County Circuit Court

Record Center

215 S. Hamilton Street

Room 1002

Madison, WI  53703

608-283-4865

-----

Mar 23, 2015

Dear Karen,

Yes, please let me know the cost for all the pages.

Thank you so much.

Barbara Poole

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Karen Meier

Mar 26, 2015

Hi Barbara,

Things haven't slowed down here in the record center.  After I got off of the phone with you the other day, I realized that I had already copied some of the documents from the microfilm.  I want to go back to the film to see what more was on there, but since I'm out of the office starting tomorrow until 4-6...what I'm going to do is send you what I've already copied...it's attached to this email.  Take a look at it and when I get back, we can touch base and see if you need anything further and determine the cost.

 Karen

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Barbara Poole

Mar 27, 2015

Hi Karen,

It's now Friday evening, and I want to thank you for going over and above in getting the documents to me so I can see them. A brief count shows 14 (but 2 are repeats), I need to do it again when I'm not rushed.

Yes, we will touch base when you return. I am pleased and they provided a few clues.

When you get the chance, I'm here. Enjoy your week, and Happy Easter as well.

Barbara Poole

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Karen Meier

Apr 8, 2015

Hi Barbara,

Thanks for your patience.  I do sometimes make duplicate copies, just to make sure if you can't read something on one of the copies, you will be able to on another.  Of course, you'll only be charged one copy fee.

I've attached a copy of the court docket entries to this email to help you determine what additional documents you would like copied.  I don't know why I didn't think of doing that before I went on vacation...but there it is.

I did also take a quick look at the microfilm again...most of the documents are 1 or 2 pages long...just a reminder that our copy fee is $1.00 per page and there will be a $4.00 search fee as well.

I'll wait to hear back from you which additional documents you would like copied.  I did notice if I blow up the size of the page, it's a little easier to read.

Karen

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Apr 9, 2015

Hi Karen,

I'm gone for the day, but will write tomorrow. OR, may I call you tomorrow?

Barbara

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Karen Meier

Apr 9, 2015

I'm on the main phone lines all day today...so today would not be a good time to call me and tomorrow I have to be in the mailroom for part of the day...why don't you start by writing me and we'll take it from there.

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Apr 10, 2015

Karen,

I see you wear many hats on your job! I'm glad you aren't spending all your time looking at film.

I think we can end this project, the last document you sent didn't seem to have much that I needed, so I'll pass on that. From my count, there are 12 pages. I do have a few questions:

Could you tell me the title of the film and 1st-page number? (I'd like the source.)

My pages are the electronic ones or do you send hard copies?

Lastly, my bill is? (12 + 4, or is it more because you mentioned that some pages were longer.)

Sincerely,

Barbara Poole

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Karen Meier

Apr 14, 2015

Barbara, your comments are funny, as my first job with Dane County Clerk of Courts some 30 years ago was preparing files to be microfilmed and then checking the films once they were developed to make sure everything was legible.  I do have much more variety now : )

This case is on Dane County Circuit Court Probate Film 171-A-98 and is the first case on Index #4 which is Box 268.

I'm coming up with 11 pages for the number of copies...the last page is just one of those covers that used to get filed with documents indicating what was being filed...so I won't charge you for that.  I have attached our invoice to this email for the search and copy fees.  Payment instructions are on the invoice.  If you choose to mail a check please enclose a copy of the invoice with it.  I just saved the documents from the microfilm right to a PDF, so I didn't print out any hard copies.

I'm glad you were able to get some useful information from these records.  Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Karen

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Apr 14, 2015

Hi Karen,

Thank you very much. The check and envelope are written and they will be in the mail tomorrow.

It was very nice doing business with you.

Sincerely,

Barbara Poole

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Karen Meier

Apr 14, 2015

I enjoyed working on your request.  Take care.

Karen

-----------------------

Sep 2, 2015

Dear Karen,

I must share this with you. Back in April, I requested a will of George Anderson's, and you provided it. Since there were a lot of pages in his packet, it took some time, but you did it.

Just today, I discovered that Ancestry.com just released millions of wills and probate records to subscribers. (I think it is free for this weekend.) Anyway, I found my George Anderson...all pages are crystal clear and clean, all 101 pages! I thought you would be interested in this, and maybe get a chuckle.

Sincerely,

Barbara

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Karen Meier

Sep 3, 2015

Hi Barbara,

I do find this interesting...especially the fact that the copies were so clear.  I wonder where they obtained the copies...maybe they have better equipment to print from microfilm than we do.  Plus the fact that you got all of these additional documents for free is awesome!

This is information I'll pass on to other people requesting records from us...as I just had someone requesting some old probate records that were difficult to copy.

 Thanks for taking the time to email me...I enjoy hearing "the rest of the story". 

Take care and happy researching.

----------------------------------------------------------

Below is what Ancestry dot com listed, and you can see it was a huge packet of legal papers, including the will. 

 

I never got around to printing out the 101 pages or even reading it until this week. I used the below link as my source: From Ancestry.com (Sept. 2015). Unfortunately, six years later, the link doesn't take me to these records.

http://interactive.ancestry.com/9088/007711116_01714?pid=1202698&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv%3D1%26db%3Dusprobatewi%26gsfn%3Dgeorge%26gsln%3Danderson%26msddy%3D1879%26msdpn__ftp%3DWisconsin%252c%2BUSA%26msdpn%3D52%26submit%3DSearch%26rank%3D1%26msdpn__ftp_x%3DXO%26msddy_x%3D1%26msddp%3D_x%26gsln_x%3DXO%26gsfn_x%3DXO%26gss%3Dangs-d%26pcat%3DUS_WILLSPROBATE%26fh%3D0%26h%3D1202698%26recoff%3D%26ml_rpos%3D1&usePUB=true#?imageId=007711116_01709

However, when I did the link today, to compare, it takes you right to the packet.

Wisconsin, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1800-1987

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9088/images/007711116_01713?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=1202698

Grandfather's Will and My Birthday Celebration on the Day of His Funeral

I am in the process of going through old family documents and deciding which ones might be of use to a small number of relatives, none of whom are into genealogy, but they might want to read online. After many years I've accumulated quite a number of boxes, binders, and notebooks. The binders went to a genealogy friend, Judy Sylvia, who shared them with her genealogy club.

Most people don't prepare 14 wills or codicils in their lifetime, but my grandfather did. Earle Kilborn Bishop, died at the age of 89, on August 23, 1981. Within a few days after his death, the family was invited to choose various items of his. I clearly remember seeing the pile of wills/or codicils and hearing there were 14. Unfortunately, I wasn't into genealogy, so I didn't take any...I wish I had because about 10 years later, I ordered the one shown below.

When I looked over the will and probate, I can understand why so many were prepared. First, his first wife died, he moved to different towns in Connecticut, two of his children remarried, his cousin's husband died. (All these relatives were named in the will.) I believe he was always updating them. I believe his assets increased and because he was an architect, he was extremely careful with his business finances.

I debated whether I should post this, but because I've got seven cousins with Texas roots and thanks to Ancestry, I know one of them is into genealogy, although she doesn't have a tree nor answers my messages. So before throwing these documents out, perhaps family member will find these interesting. Below are some family photos celebrating a small reunion, Earle's life and my birthday.

LIBER 503 PAGE 057

The First part mentions that funeral expenses should be paid by the executrix. I remember all of us who traveled to Connecticut could submit our travel expenses (my expenses were airfare from Virginia to Hartford, room, meals and miscellaneous expenses).

LIBER 503 PAGE 058

On this page, he mentions a memorandum listing certain articles to distribute to family members. Unfortunately, I did not get a copy of that. His three children, step-son, his wife, and cousin are named on this page.

LIBER 503 PAGE 059

Five in-law children were named on this page.

LIBER 503 PAGE 060

I believe, because of the complexity of his will, that my step-grandmother probably had the New Britain National Bank perform much of the work as executor right after his death.

LIBER 503 PAGE 062

LIBER 503 PAGE 061

LIBER 503 PAGE 063

LIBER 507 PAGE 1053

LIBER 515 PAGE 023

LIBER 525 PAGE 001

LIBER 525 PAGE 002

LIBER 525 PAGE 003

Funeral expenses are on this page, as well as payment to the Internal Revenue Service - Federal Estate Tax, Wow, and payment to the New Britain National Bank for their services as Executor. The names of nine family members who received $1,000. I can't figure out much was in his estate. Some pages are missing. However, I know that my mother gave my two sisters and me, $10,000 that my grandfather wanted us to have. Since I didn't need it at that time, I put it into a CD, and a year later it was worth $13,000.

LIBER 522 PAGE 267

After my grandfather's funeral, the family got together in a hotel room. I am shown with my two uncles above. My mother, cousins, aunts, and sister are below. The birthday cake was a total surprise.

My Perfect Research Project

This post describes everything I enjoy doing with my genealogy research and it combines several of my other interests. Among them are two library visits, getting help from two librarians, a surname I knew, a very interesting will to transcribe, two honor rolls to transcribe, solved transcription problems, a fun search for the burial place, I was able to take all the photos I wanted. Based on all my information, I was able to place Aaron in my tree, thanks to great records in NH, MA and CT. And if all this wasn't enough, I discovered that Aaron and his wife married in my city of Lowell, Massachusetts, about 18 miles away from his New Hampshire home. I'll never know why they came here because only their names were on the register, none of the regular bits of information were listed. My story begins when I passed by a library in the dead of winter.

Who was this Aaron Cutler who had a Library named after him? Soon I was searching online for information, because I was positive he and I were related, but I didn't find very much. I decided to wait until spring to go back to the library and speak with the librarian in Litchfield, New Hampshire. Neither she nor the town historian, whom I spoke with on the phone,  knew where he was buried. Recently, I discovered his death certificate online and it stated he died in Hudson, NH and was buried in Londonderry, NH, the town where he was born. His wife was buried with her former husband. Londonderry is next to Litchfield and when blogger friend, Heather Wilkinson Rojo mentioned to me that the library had cemetery books showing where the plots were and some had photos, I called Leach Library immediately. Yes, Aaron was buried there, as were some family members and these had photos! I was at the library within two hours after that phone call.

Below are several interesting things I want share in this blog post:

First, a nice photograph of Aaron Cutler hug prominently on a wall in the Library

Second, two Honor Roll plaques located in the porch of the library, both transcribed.

Third, a small screen shot of the will, showing that I had an easy time transcribing his long will, with 17 items (it lists many people, many who are receiving a share or more of American Woolen stock).

Fourth, a photo of Aaron's resting spot with brother George in the Valley Cemetery in Londonderry.

Aaron is my 4th cousin, 4 times removed. Normally, I don't spend much time researching distant family members. However, in this case, I wondered why this Cutler was in New Hampshire, since all mine were in Cambridge Farms (Lexington), MA, then in Killingly, Connecticut and my most recent, Manasseh Cutler was in Hamilton, MA. When I discovered Aaron's father was born in Killingly, I knew I had a family member.

A small tip. if you are having difficulty in getting all your information to make sense, you might be doing what I did. My problem was with the transcribers, some had Cutler spelled at Cutter, and several had Lemuel as Samuel (his father). But, I pretty much blame myself because I tend to use the exact search on Ancestry. Don't use the exact search, but select Exact and; similar for first and last names. For birth date, use +/- two years.

Aaron Cutler, Donor of the Cutler Library Fund

HONOR ROLL

1941   --   1945

TOWN OF LITCHFIELD

ARTHUR L. ADAMS JR.

WILLARD G. BILODEAU

JOHN C. BOURDON

CHARLES G. BRETTELL

HERBERT S. BRETTELL

ARTHUR G. CHIMIKLIS

PERLEY D. COLBY

WALTER A. CROWELL

FREDERICK C. GOFFE

LEWIS C. GOFFE

CHARLES GOTT

HAROLD J. HILL

RAYMOND H. JACKSON

MICHAEL JANKOWSKI

ROBERT G. JERRY

ADRIEN A. LABRIE

PHILIPPE R. LABRIE

ALPHEGE LAFRENTERE

CHESLEY L. LAMPER JR.

DANIEL LAPIN

ERNEST LAPIANTE

JOHN P. LAVOIE

LEONARD D. LAVOIE

LIONEL E. LAVOIE

CLESSON W. LEACH

GLENN S. LEACH

LUCIEN R. LEMAY

*  JOSEPH R. MARTINEAU

CHRISTINE S. MORRILL

FRANK MORTON

JOHN E. NELSON

CHARLES M. PARKER

ARTHUR N. PELKEY

CAMILLE E. ST. AMAND

FERNAND L. ST. ARMAND

ANDREW M. SEVIGNY

DONALD M. SHERK

WALDO E. SMALL

WALTER J. STOCKLEY

AUGUSTUS YANUSZEWSKI

* DIED IN SERVICE

IN MEMORY AND HONOR OF THE

MEN OF LITCHFIELD

WHO SERVED THEIR

COUNTRY IN THE

1917     WORLD WAR     1919

U. S. A.

* CORP. WM. HENRY HOLLAND

PVT. CLARENCE W. HAIGHT

WILLIAM R. HOPWOOD

CLAUDE J. HOPWOOD

HENRY MOREAU

CLIFFORD SAUNDERS

U.S. N.

BENTON C. MORGAN

EARLE J. HOPWOOD

Will and Codicil of Aaron Cutler located on Ancestry.com.

505

Will and Codicil.

Aaron Cutler

Know all men by these presents, That I, Aaron Cutler of Hudson, in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, being of sound mind and memory, but knowing the uncertainty of life, do make and public this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time heretofore made.

FIRST:  I direct my executor hereinafter named to pay all of my just debts and funeral charges as soon after my decease as the same may be found convenient.

SECOND:  I give and bequeath to Lottie Cutler, wife of William B. Cutler, of Tekamah, Nebraska, ten shares of American Woolen stock.

THIRD:  I give and bequeath to my nephew William B. Cutler of Tekamah, Nebraska, my gold watch and chain, and also my silver table knives and forks and spoons.

FOURTH:  I give and bequeath to Charles H. Baldwin of Nashua, New Hampshire five shares of American Woolen stock.

FIFTH:  I give and bequeath to the Baptist Church of Hudson, New Hampshire, its successors and assigns, one share of American Woolen stock, the income from the same to be used for the following purpose, to wit;- for prizes to be awarded children attending the Sabbath School, between the ages of five and fifteen years, the preference to be given to those showing the most proficiency in recitation and in general deportment.

SIXTH:  I give and bequeath to Frank A. Lovejoy of Hollis, New Hampshire, five shares of American Woolen stock.

SEVENTH:  I give and bequeath to Grace T. Pierce of Scranton, Pa., ten shares of American Woolen stock.

EIGHTH:  I give and bequeath to William W. Baker of Hudson, New Hampshire, one share of American Woolen stock.

NINTH:  I give and bequeath to Maud S. Andrews of Hudson, New Hampshire, one share of American Woolen stock.

TENTH:  I give and bequeath to Lillian S. Winn, now in the employ of Proctor bros. and Co., in said Nashua, one share of American Woolen stock.

ELEVENTH:  I give and bequeath to Jessie Buffum, formerly wife of Leo Buffum, of said Nashua, who is now keeping house for me in said Hudson, five shares of Pressed Steel Car Stock, provided and on the condition that she shall continue to remain with me as my housekeeper as aforesaid, until my decease. But if she should neglect and refuse to so remain with me then this gift if to be null and void.

TWELFTH:  I give and bequeath to Fred E. Todd of Boston, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, three shares of American Woolen Stock.

THIRTEENTH:  I give and bequeath to Millie Cutler of Culdesac, in the State of Idaho, eleven shares of Pennsylvania Railroad Stock.

FOURTEENTH:  I give, bequeath and devise to the town of Litchfield, in the State of New Hampshire, all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, to be

506

same personal, real or mixed, wherever located and wherever found, unto the said town, its successors and assigns, for the purpose of the erection, furnishing and maintenance of a Public Library, upon the express condition that the citizens of said town give land upon which to erect the same. Said land to be located within one-quarter of a mile of the town hall. Said Library to be of brick and slate. And to be known as “The Aaron Cutler Memorial Library.”

FIFTEENTH:  Should said town of Litchfield decline to accept the gift of said rest, residue and remainder of my estate as herein set forth, then the same is to be distributed pro rate among the other beneficiaries herein named.

SIXTEENTH:  It is my will further, and I so declare it that should any legatee or devisee, or both, in this will named, contest the same, then the legacy or devise, or both, to the said legatee or devise, or both, so contesting, shall be null and void and of no effect.

SEVENTEENTH:  I nominate and appoint Charles G. Pillsbury of Londonderry, New Hampshire, sole executor of this will.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventeenth day of December 1912.

Aaron Cutler.   (Seal.)

          Signed, sealed and declared to be his last will and testament by said Aaron Cutler in our presence, who in his presence and in presence of each other and at his request have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.

Alice P. Parker

Mary L. Hammond

Edward E. Parker.

507

Will and Codicil.

CODICIL.

WHEREAS I have heretofore made my last will and testament, bearing date of September 17, 1912, I now make and declare this a codicil to said will and hereby revoke the ninth paragraph of said will, in which I bequeath One share of American Woolen Stock to Maud S. Andrews, declaring said paragraph void.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25^th day of January, 1917.,

Aaron Cutler,   (Seal.)

          Signed, sealed and declared to be a codicil to his last will and testament by the said Aaron Cutler, in our presence who in his presence and in the presence of each other and at his request, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.

I needed help in locating the cemetery stone, so I turned to the reference librarian at the Londonderry Leach Library. I was in luck, as an Eagle Scout Troop had documented all the stones, took photos and did detailed maps of the cemetery. The maps are below the photos.

Aaron Cutler

Dec. 24, 1838

Nov. 23, 1917

and

George W. Cutler

Oct. 11, 1835

July 16, 1908

The Valley Cemetery, Londonderry, New Hampshire

1793

Diagram 1

A detailed information sheet and photo of this cemetery stone. This person is in Section R, Grave 18.

Diagram 2

Map of the Cemetery. There is a stone wall on the bottom, near the street, and the entrance is in the middle between A and M. My Mr. Cutler is in section R (see red arrow). Diagram 3, my 3rd sheet, shows the layout for Section R, and grave 18 (red arrow) in the last row.

Diagram 3