Amanuensis Monday -- Will of Delight Adams Benham of Batavia, NY

A copy of the Will and many legal documents were sent to me several weeks ago by my cousin.  Delight was my 2nd great-aunt. Two pages from the packet are below; the Will and a list of people who received distribution, and a copy of her obituary.


"I Mrs. Delight Benham of Batavia Genesee County, N.Y. being by the blessing of Almighty God of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make public and declare this to be my last will and testament. Namely--

First. I will and direct that my just debts and funeral and customary expenses be paid out of my property.

Second. I give and bequeath to Mrs. Jennie Adams of Batavia, N.Y. my parlor cook stove.

Third. I give and bequeath to the First Baptist Church of Batavia N.Y. formerly situated on Jackson Street and now situated on Main Street, the sum of Two Hundred Dollars.

Fourth. I give devise and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my property to my sister Grace Wilcox of Clifford, Oswego County, New York and my niece Lettie A. Adams of Battle Creek, Michigan to be equally divided between them, share and share alike.

I hereby nominate and appoint my friend W. Harris Day of Batavia New York to be the executor of this my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of August, 1890.

Mrs. Delight Benham

Names listed are: Jennie Adams, Grace Wilcox, Lettie A. Adams, First Baptist Church, Edgar J. Adams, John A. Adams, and Yates A. Adams.

The obituary of Delight Adams Benham is below.

Batavia Daily News

5 July 1898

Mrs. Delight Benham of Batavia

Mrs. Delight Benham, a lifelong resident of Genesee county, died at her home, No. 19 Evans Street, at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon, aged 79 years. She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Grace Wilcox of Clifford; one niece Miss Lettie Fuller of Grand Rapids, Mich., and four nephews,  Edgar J. Adams of Batavia, Ebbott Y. Wilcox of Newark Valley, John A. Adams of Albion, Mich., and Yates A. Adams of Battle Creek, Mich.

The funeral will be held from the house at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

Follow Friday -- One year Blogiversary

I debated whether I would even mention my Blogiversary, then when I saw I’ve written 302 posts in one year, I decided it might be worth mentioning. Especially, since I never thought I would make it through the first month!

My first post, dated Oct. 15, 2009, was a guest posts for blogger Stephen Danko, but it was actually something written for him on September 3, 2006. Even after seven early guest posts, it took another few years before I got my courage to begin the writing.

Now, I’ve decided to make a few changes to the blog, as some of you may know, it looks the same since day one…and it will still look the same. I just want to fix the labels and check links.  For the next few months, I plan on posting mainly on Saturday and Tuesday, and perhaps a few other things, as time permits. My main goal now is to work on my brick walls.

Thank you to each of you who have followed me, left comments and / or encouraged me. Without you, I wouldn't have made it.

Top Ten -- Canadian Research Sites

These are my favorite sites for doing Quebec, Canada research.

Indices to Canadian Censuses (free census records)  http://www.automatedgenealogy.com/

Eastern Townships Archives  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~qceastwn/archives.html


Eastern Townships Research  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~qceastwn/index.html


Library and Archives Canada  http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/index-e.html


Quebec, Canada cemetery records  http://www.afhs.ab.ca/registry/regqc_cemetery.html


Quebec, Canada cemetery records:  Interment.net Cemetery Records Online  http://www.interment.net/can/qc/index.htm


Canada GenWeb Project  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~canwgw/


Missisquoi County (Quebec, Canada) http://www.griffincunningham.net/davis/misscountymain2.htm


Marlene Simmons Research site http://simmons.b2b2c.ca


1851 Missisquoi Co., census (pdf)  http://www.daviesgenealogy.com/CENSUS.pdf

Missisquoi Historical Society and Museum 

http://www.museemissisquoi.ca/a3.html

Top Ten, Now Seven Brick Walls

Old brick walls coming down in Lowell, ma.

iF ANYBODY CAN SOLVE ANY OF THESE SEVEN (7) BRICK WALLS, I WILL PAY YOU $100. One person has already been paid.

PLEASE WRITE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.


Adams, John (Parents needed)

Born abt 1757of Wintonbury (now Bloomfield), CT - Lexington, MA - Hamilton, NY - Elba, NY

In Lexington, MA during Revolutionary War

Died September 25, 1830, Elba, Genesee Co., New York

Married to Hannah Smith, dau. of Joseph Smith and Eunice Drake of  Windsor, CT

Farmer, Alexander “Alex” (Parents needed, no other information.)

Born March 05, 1814 in New York or Canada

Died January 27, 1864, Calhoun Co., Michigan

Married Huldah Lay abt 1833 in prob. Niagara Co., New York

Children 5 born bet. Niagara, NY and Leroy, Michigan

HAWLEY, BENJAMIN (Parents needed, no other information.) Solved by me, December 2017.

Born 1753,  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Died 1831, Tompkins, Delaware Co., New York

Married February 05, 1778 to THEODOSIA FITCH at Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut  (Had 8 children)

HULL, NANCY (Parents needed, no other information.)

Born 1790, Woodbridge, New Haven Co., Connecticut

Married 1807 to JESSE WRIGHT, son of ASHER WRIGHT Prob. Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut

She and her husband both died February 07, 1878, one in New Haven, and the other in Killingworth

JAQUAYS, William (Parents needed, no other information.)

Born bet. 1784 – 1790, poss. CT or VT (No other information.)

Married Lucy Cross of Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut

Lucy died January 14, 1878 at Cowansville, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Children were: Louisa Jane / Elizabeth Jaquays, Thankful, Sarah, William Cross, and Harriet C. (all of Addison, Vermont and Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

JOHNSON ELIZABETH / BETSEY  (Father was William, need more information and her mother.) SOLVED, BY A RESEARCHER, AND I PAID HIM.

Born November 07, 1751, Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts

Died March 19, 1799, Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire

Married October 21, 1773, DAVID MEAD / MEED at Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts

(Two children born Lynn, one in New Ipswich, New Hampshire)

JOHNSON, LYDIA (Parents needed, no other information.)

Born Abt. 1822, Vermont

Died March 22, 1858, Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Married WILLIAM CROSS JAQUAYS October 24, 1839 at Franklin Co., Vermont

MUNSON, ANNA (Maiden unknown.)

Born Abt. 1731, Died April 18, 1772, Plainview, Hartford Co., Connecticut

Married WAITSTILL MUNSON (They had 2 children, Esther and Anna.)

Richardson, Almira “Mira”  (Parents needed, no other information.) SOLVED BY USING THRULINES, by me, 3/4/19.

Born abt. 1798 of Orange, New Haven Co., Connecticut

She was adopted by John Byran.

Died April 22, 1861, New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut

Was married to Aaron Kilborn of Hamden Co., Connecticut

Wyckoff, Gerritje (No further information known.)

Died Abt 1725

Married JOHN (Jan) PIETERSE Van NESS (his 1st wife of 4 years)

Had son, JOHN (Jan) PIETERSE Van NESS born 1722 Readington, Somerset Co., New Jersey

Top Ten Posts I Enjoyed

There are far more than these nine posts that I enjoy. I tried to give a variety of personal genealogy blogs with stories and hints on how-to-do things.

Brenda of Journey to the Past
Ancestor Biography: Daisy Ellen Graf

Heather of Nutfield Genealogy
Cousins Collaborate on a Genealogy Story 

Betty of Betty's Boneyard Genealogy Blog
James Jay Huber -1952-1973 Vietnam Veteran

Becky of Kinexxions
Greetings From Alaska (and related trip)

Jasia of Creative Gene
Melancholy Too

Greta of Greta's Genealogy Bog
Greenville Love (and related Greenville posts)

Michelle of The Turning of Generations
Organization

Susan of Long Lost Relatives
Managing your Digital Files

Hummer (Frances) of Branching Out Through the Years
A Great Example of Never Give Up

Special mention:

There are about 1,250 genealogy blogs and they can be found in listed categories at Genealogy Blogs by Type  Thank you to Tom MacEntee, the top genea-blogger.

Gena-Musings by Randy Seaver   (He blogs a lot and discusses everything in depth.)

Lorine of Olive Tree Genealogy Blog

Top Ten -- Free Genealogy Sites

This short list was done because I have several new genealogists following my site. If any "seasoned" genealogists have additional FREE sites, please feel free to post them in my comments section.


Find-A-Grave (52 million grave records, many with photos) at http://www.findagrave.com/


Google searches, Google Alerts and Google Books


DAR -- Daughters of the American Revolution (great site for seeing if your ancestor was a Revolutionary War patriot) at http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search/


Family Search (LDS site with millions of records, many images of actual records).
https://beta.familysearch.org/


Ellis Island site with emigration and naturalization records.  http://www.ellisisland.org/


RootsWeb (site is free and owned by Ancestry.com (subscription site).
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/


The US GenWeb Project.  http://usgenweb.org/


Dutch Door Genealogy.  http://www.dutchdoorgenealogy.com/


Internet Archive. http://www.archive.org/


Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.  http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/


Special Mention:
Cynthia Shenette of Heritage Zen wrote a wonderful article in which she did a lot of research, and explains step by step what was done and what needs to be done. She doesn't subscribe to Ancestry either.  Please read Researching the Coldbrook Tragedy (4 parts)  Note:  Cynthia has a very long list of genealogy sites at the end of her Heritage Zen home page. Scroll all the way down.


ADDITIONAL SITES RECOMMENDED BY OTHERS (See Comments.) They are excellent.


Nancy suggested:  Cyndi's List

Gretta suggested:  The Bureau of Land Management


Heather suggested:   Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness 

Tombstone Tuesday -- KNAP (2 Generations) CT to Quebec, Canada

Jonathan Knap

Born:    March 17, 1750, Fairfield, Fairfield Co., Connecticut

Died:  April 25, 1828, St. Armand E. (Freighsburg), Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada
Stone reads: "Erected in memory of Capt. Jonathan Knap who was born in Redding, Conn. on the 17th March 1750 and died on the 25th of April 1828, aged 78 yrs. 1 month and 8 days in St. Armand, L.C."

His wife Mary Alvord

Born:   April 26, 1754, Fairfield, Fairfield Co., Connecticut
Died:  July 31, 1842, St. Armand E. (Freighsburg), Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Stone reads: "In memory of Mary Alvord wife of Capt. Jonathan Knap who departed this life July 31, 1842.  Aged 88-3-5."
Jonathan and Mary Knap were my 4th great-grandparents.


Their daughter Anna Knap Pell, my 3rd great-grandmother.

Born:  April 22, 1798, Redding, Fairfield Co., Connecticut
Died:  February 20, 1866, Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

And, their son, Aquila Knap, my 3rd great-granduncle.

Born:  December 05, 1785, Redding, Fairfield Co., Connecticut

Died:  March 23, 1877, Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Aquila Knap was my 3rd great-granduncle.

The above were buried at the Bishop Stewart Memorial Church Cemetery in Frelighsburg, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

(Above 2nd photo of church and cemetery by Patrice Marcotte, permission granted to use about 10 years ago.)

Jonathan Knap's brother, Moses Knap

Born:  Abt. 1754, of Arlington, Vermont

Died:  February 13, 1816, Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

His wife was Charity Hurd

Moses was my 4th great-granduncle.

This stone is at the All Saints Anglican Church Cemetery in Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Amanuensis Monday -- Will of HORACE ADAMS (CT to Genesee Co., NY)

The below document was obtained when I was at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City in Oct. 2008.  Horace Adams was my 3rd great-uncle and I decided to transcribe it so a descendant could benefit from it's content.


“In the name of God Amen, I HORACE ADAMS of the town of Stafford County of Genesee and State of New York being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of life do therefore make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament that is to say.  First I give and bequest to my beloved wife BETSEY the use of my household furniture and the use of one third of all of my real estate during her natural life to be accepted and received by her in lieu of dower – Second I give and bequest to my niece JANE KING the sum of seventy dollars to be paid to her when she arrives at the age of twenty-one years – Third I give and bequeath to my son AMOS the some of three hundred dollars  Fourth – After the payment of all of my just debts, and funeral expenses, I give and bequeath to my children AMOS ADAMS, EMILY BROWN, AMANDA KNAPP, HORACE ADAMS, GEORGE ADAMS, JOHN Q. A. ADAMS, SARAH JANE ADAMS, CHARLES ADAMS, MARY ADAMS and FITCH ADAMS all of my remaining real estate and personal estate to be divided equally between them, it being my express intention that my son AMOS shall receive the above legacy of $300 over and above any of the rest of my said children – It is my further desire and request that my said children shall manage to keep the real estate together as a homestead so long as the same can be done consistently with the intent of the parties.  It is my further desire that said real estate shall so long as it remains together as a homestead be cultivated in a husband-like manner.  And lastly I make constitute and appoint Leonard Foster to be executer of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made.


In witness whereof I have hereunto all set and subscribed my name and affixed my seal the twentieth day of February the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-Five.”

HORACE ADAMS


Genesee Co., New York Probate records.  Record of Wills, 1809-1911, v. 5: 376 (1840-1857).  FHL Film #810481.

Follow Friday -- Rock of Ages Resource...A Genealogy Booklet!

Some of you may have heard of the company, Rock of Ages. It is a company that had been in business since 1885, and they specialize in headstones, mausoleums, and memorials. The company is based in Vermont, and even provides a factory tour of their facility. All this might not be interesting but, they apparently believe in the slogan, "Families Are Forever..."


About six years ago, when I first began teaching beginning genealogy at a local library, I used to hand out the Rock of Ages wonderful 16 page booklet, The Rock of Ages Family Genealogy Workbook to the students. The company sent me about 24 heavy cover and think paper booklets to hand out. Now, you can download it to your computer. The picture above is from the booklet I used, but the information is the same now, with the exception of several updated pages covering genealogy websites, and software to use. All you need to do is provide them with your email address and zip code, and then they allow you to use the download link immediately.


What is covered?  All the basics and it is perfect for beginners. There is a Research Log, Work Sheet, Pedigree Chart, Family Name Register and a Family Tree chart (fan design). You can copy or print out as many pages as you need.


My copy was printed in 2002, and even then their advice was relevant in their Ten Basic Research Rules. For example:
"Never assume. Prove it instead.
Do not rely solely on computer databases.
Do not rush the research or jump to hasty conclusions.
Work with facts; not guesses.
Keep an open mind.
Accept the fact that some people cannot be found."

Tombstone Tuesday -- ADAMS -- New York and Michigan

John Adams

Born:  Abt. 1757, of Wintonbury (now Bloomfield), CT - Lexington, MA - Hamilton, NY - Elba, NY

Died:  September 25, 1830, Elba, Genesee Co., New York
Buried at:  Pine Hill Cemetery, Elba, Genesee Co., New York

His wife, Hannah Smith

Born:  January 18, 1772, East Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut

Died:  August 22, 1850, Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

John and Hannah Adams were my 4th great-grandparents.

The below all buried at Tyler Cemetery, Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

Their son, John Adams

Born:  January 17, 1792, Connecticut

Died:  May 31, 1860, Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

His wife, Bathsheba Pollock

Born:  August 01, 1792, Possibly Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle Co., Delaware

Died:  February 11, 1858, Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

John and Bathsheba Adams were my 3rd great-grandparents.

Their son, Liberty Adams

Born:  October 03, 1821, Stafford, Genesee Co., New York
Died:  March 14, 1867, Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

His wife, Martha Aletta Anderson

Born:  September 13, 1826, New Jersey
Died:  May 02, 1886, Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan
Buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan
Liberty and Martha Adams were my 2nd great-grandparents.


(New York photos taken by Claire; Michigan photo by David Rumery.)