Notes |
- The Will of Jonathan Bassett
In the Name of God, Amen!
I, Jonathan Bassett of Dalton in the County of Berkshire, being under great
bodily weakness but possessing, blessed by God, a sound and disposing mind,
have thought fit to make and do accordingly this ninth day of May in the year
of our Lord Seventeen Hundred and ninety eight make and publish this my last
Will and Testament in manner following, to wit.. I first commend my soul to
God, who gave it, and my body to the dust from whence it was taken in humble
hopes of a resurrection to immortal life and blessedness through the merits of
Jesus Christ my adorable Saviour. What worldly substances it has pleased God
to bestow on me I dispose of in this manner that is to say... In the first
place I direct that my direct debts and funeral expenses be paid out of it -
what shall then remain I give, both real and personal, to my beloved
affectionate and faithful wife Lucy to be improved by her support and t
support and education of our children until they shall respectively arrive at
the following ages to wit.. the Daughters to the age of eighteen years and the
son to twenty-one years old, or until they shall be married, whichsoever of
the events shall first take place. In case the said Lucy shall no longer remain
alive and continue my widow, in case she should decease or marry again before
my children should respectively arrive at the age aforesaid or be married,
then and in such case, I direct that my Executors hereafter named or the
survivor of them if either should decease, shall improve my real estate for
the support and education of my children in manner aforesaid to wit.. until
they severally arrive at the age aforesaid or be married, and it is my
pleasure and meaning that in the bequest and gift of my real estate to the
said Lucy, she should have the use and improvement thereof, for the purpose
aforesaid only, and not the fee of the same. I further order that my said real
estate be equally shared by my children and their Mother, she then being my
widow, otherwise, by the children only, when they shall have arrived at the
age aforesaid, or the survivor of them, or shall be married. And I here
appoint my said wife and my brother John Spafford Executors of this my last
Will in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this day and year
first above written.
Signed sealed published pronounced and declared as and for the last will of
the said Jonathan in the presence of us whose names are subscribed and
subscribed our names in his and each other's presence. Signed: Amos Spaford,
Nathan Bassett, Wm. Williams.
Proof: Berkshire County - At a court of Probate holden at since within and for
said County, on the Sixth day of November Anno Domini One thousand seven
hundred and ninety eight before the honorable William Walker Esq Judge of the
Court. The Instrument hereunto annexed is presented as the last will and
testament of Jonathan Bassett late of Dalton, in the county aforesaid,
deceased, by Lucy Bassett and John Spafard, the executors therein named, for
probate, and Amos Spafard, Nathan Bassett, and William Williams Esq. the
subscribing witnesses to the same, appearing, made oath that they saw
Jonathan Bassett, the testator sign and seal and heard him publish and declare
the same to be his last Will and Testament, that he appeared to be of lawful age,
sound mind, and disposing memory, when he did it. That they all subscribed as
witnesses to the same, at the same time, in the presence of the said testator.
Whereupon, I, the said Judge, do adjudge and declare that the same is proved,
and it is hereby approved, satisfied and confirmed, as the last Will and
Testament of the said Jonathan Bassett, deceased. In Testimony whereof I set
my hand and seal of the said court. William Walker.
At the same court, Lucy Bassett and John Spafard, Executors of the Last Will
and Testament of Jonathan Bassett late of Dalton, appeared and took upon
themselves that office and Trust, and a bond is taken of the said Lucy and
John for the faithful discharge of their said Trust as on file... And William
Williams Esq. and Amos Smith and Selah Goodrich, all of Dalton aforesaid, are
appointed to appraise all of the estate of which the said Jonathan Bassett did
own and possess in the County of Berkshire.
Widow Lucy (Spafford) Bassett was appointed guardian of these minor children
of Jonathan Bassett deceased on July 9, 1798. Lucy died Jan 21, 1805, aged 36.
Her brother Amos Spafford was then named principal guardian of these sa
children on March 5, 1805. Lucy's second husband, Amasa Day, was named surety.
By Nov 5, 1810, poor health was cited and another guardian stepped in.
|