Last Will & Testament of Charles Patterson (1745-1837)
Transcribed by Michele
(Patterson) Valenzano
In
the name of God, Amen.
Know all men by
these presents, that I, Charles Patterson of Mount Washington
in the
Being in sound mind and disposing memory,
thanks be to God, therefore calling to mind my own mortality and knowing it is
appointed unto men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and
testament in manner and form following
that is to say principally and first of all, I recommend my soul to God, who
gave it to me trusting to the mints of his son for his gracious acceptance and my body I give to the earth to be buried
in a decent and Christian manner, nothing doubting that I shall receive the
same again by the mighty power of God at the general resurrection and in hopes
of eternal life. With what worldly goods it pleased God to bless me with in
this life, I give and dispose thereof in the following
manner.
I will and bequeath
unto Martha, my loving wife, if she outlives me,
one hundred &
ninety nine dollars of my personal estate
in such articles as she may choose, to be valued at the appraisal.
Item two, I hereby
ordain and direct that the residue of all my estate after my debts are paid, be
divided between
Levi, Joseph, Patta, Hannah, Abigail, Emma & Luther Marks heirs as
here after stated.
I tem three, I
will and bequeath unto Levi, my first son, one eighth of said residue
reserving one hundred and
thirty three dollars, which I hold note against the said Levi to that amount.
Item four, I will
and bequeath unto Joseph my third son, one eighth of said residue
and one hundred and
eighty eight dollars, in addition.
Item five, I will
and bequeath unto Patta, wife of Freeman Hopkins, my
first daughter, one eight of said residue,
reserving one hundred and
thirty seven dollars which I hold notes for against said Freeman to that amount
owed by a mortgage.
Item six, I will
and bequeath unto Hannah, wife of Linus Pratt, to his
and her children, one eighth of said residue
reserving one hundred and
ninety nine dollars, which I hold note
and book account to that amount against said Linus.
Item seven, I will
and bequeath unto Abigail (widow, my third daughter), to her and her children,
one eight of said residue.
Item eight, I will
and bequeath unto Emma, wife of Ira Schutt, one
eighth of said residue.
Item nine I will
and bequeath to Sally, widow of Luther, my fourth son and to his said Luther children,
one eighth of said residue.
Item ten, I will
and bequeath unto Mark O and Luther H Patterson, heirs of Mark, my fifth son
deceased, one eighth of said residue.
It is however my
intention, that if the said Mark O and Luther H should die having no heirs,
then the 10th item to
be divided equally between my sons, Levi and Joseph.
Item eleven, I
will that the names in the items third, fifth and sixth, after deducting the
addition made to item fourth,
which have a balance of
three hundred and thirty one dollars, be equally divided between
Levi,
Joseph, Patta, Hannah, Abigail, Emma and Luther Marks
heirs.
Item twelve, I
hereby nominate and constitute, Levi, my first son and Joseph, my third son
sole executors of
this, my last will and testament, hereby revoking other and former wills
heretofore made.
In witness whereof
I have him unto set my hand and seal,
this fourteenth day of
February, in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and twenty eight.
Charles
Patterson
Signed, sealed and published, Declared by the said
testator Charles Patterson Esq. as and for his last will and testament in the
presence of us who have subscribed our names as witness thereof in the presence
of said testator
Isaac Lamson
Cyrus Lamson
Abram Bignal
Source: Probate Record# 9168, Berkshire Anthenaeum,