Erie County (PA) Genealogy
Last Will of William Francis
Contributed by Cheryl Bills
The material below has been transcribed and submitted by site visitor Cheryl Bills. It is the Last Will and Testament of William Francis of Girard Township who died in early 1878. Any comments or questions concerning this material may be sent directly to Cheryl Bills.
No. 4058
Estate of William Francis
B-680 Application for Letters of Administration
Estate of Wm Francis, deceased. Filed Feb 12, 1878
Erie County
Personally came R. N. Francis who being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that Wm Francis deceased, died testate on the 5th day of February A.D. 1878 at 11 o’clock p.m. and at the time of his decease he was a resident of the County of Erie residing in the Township of Girard, County of Erie, and State of Pennsylvania.
Sworn and subscribed before me this
12th day of Feb A.D. 1878
Daniel Long, Register R. N. Francis
Erie County
Girard, Erie County, PA
In consequence of ill health I decline to act as the Executor of the will and estate of Wm Francis, dec. Stated this 19th day of Feb 1878.
James McClelland
You, Ransom N. Francis do swear that as Executor named in the last will and testament (the other executor being deleted) of William Francis, deceased, you will and truly administer the goods and chattels, rights and credits of the said deceased, according to law, and diligently and faithfully regard, and well and truly comply with the provisions of the law relating to collateral inheritances.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 12th day of February A.D. 1878.
R.N. Francis
Daniel Long, Register
F—140
WILL OF
William Francis, Dec’d
Registered Feb 12th, 1878
Will Book F page 140
Daniel Long, Register
Tax and Fees Paid $6.50
In view of the uncertainty of life and my advanced age, I, William Francis, of the township of Girard in the county of Erie do make and ordain this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making null and void all other wills by me at any time heretofore made.
And first I direct that all of my just debts, funeral expenses, and expenses of settling my estate be fully paid.
I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Damaris Francis, the entire use and control of all my property, real, personal, and mixed during the full time of her natural life (with the understanding that one half of all my personal property belongs to my son, Ransom N. Francis, by arrangement and agreement heretofore made with him and to which arrangement the above bequest to my wife is subject.) My said wife to have whatsoever money and government bonds I may have after my funeral charges are paid.
And as ... all my real estate which consists of about ninety-one acres and a home in which I reside in Girard township and about fifty-two acres and allowance in Franklin township adjoining lands of Len ??Levi Howard and others Subject to the life of estate of my said wife above given.
I give, devise, and bequeath unto my son, Ransom N. Francis, with the understanding that he is to take care of and support myself and my said wife, during both of our natural lives and that he pays the following children to wit:
Samuel Francis
Dorcas, wife of Hezekiah Coburn
David B. Francis
Walter Francis
Hannah, wife of Ivory Hawkins
Russel Francis
Melvina, wife of William Gordon
Cynthia, wife of John Gordon
Shepherd Francis
The sum of two hundred and seventy-six dollars and twenty-five cents each. To each of the same, his or her, or their heirs and assigns forever to be paid to them within five years after the decease of myself and my said wife
And as to all of my personal property which may be remaining after the death of myself and my said wife, I give to my son
William Francis fifty dollars; to my son,
Stephen Francis seventy-five dollars
The balance of said personal property to be divided equally between all my children named in this will, except that my son Ransom N. Shall have twice as much as either of the other children.
And lastly, I nominate and appoint my said son, Ransom N. Francis and James McClelland to be the executors of this my last will and testament and I further direct that the sum of one hundred and seventy-five dollars which I advanced to my son Russel Francis shall be taken out of from the above sum willed to him and the sum of one hundred dollars which I advanced to my daughter, Cynthia, I direct shall in like manner be deducted from the above sum willed to her.
Wm Francis
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
by the above William Francis
to be his last will and testament
in the presence of us this 7th
day of October 1867 and at
his bequest we have heretofore
subscribed our names as
witnesses.
C.F. Rockwell
Henry Ball
Erie County
This day before me, Daniel Long, Register for the Probate of Wills and Granting Letters of Administration, in and for the County aforesaid, personally came C.F. Rockwell and Henry Ball the subscribing witnesses to the annexed will, who being duly sworn according to law that they were present and saw and heard Wm Francis pronounce and declare the foregoing instrument of writing to be and as and for his last will and testament, and that at the time of so doing, he was of sound mind, memory, and understanding, to the best of their knowledge and belief.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 12th day of Feb. A.D. 1878. Henry Ball
C.F. Rockwell
Daniel Long, Register
Erie County, Pa,
This day, before me, Henry Ball, Justice of the Peace, for said County, personally came J.E. Smith and Lyman Smith and J.P. Silverthorn who being duly sworn according to law, do depose and say that at the request of the Executor of William Francis, late of Said County, deceased, they will well and truly, and without prejudice or partiality, value and appraise the goods, chattels and credits which were of the said deceased, as set forth in the inventory hereunto annexed, and in all respects perform their duties as such appraisers to the best of their skill and judgment.
J. E. Smith
J. P. Silverthorn
Lyman Smith
Sworn and subscribed to me this
28th day of February A.D. 1878
Henry Ball
4058
73-680
Inventory
of the Estate of
William Francis, deceased
Filed March 7, 1878
A true and perfect inventory and just appraisement of all and singular goods and chattels, rights and credits which were of William Francis, late of Girard in the county of Erie, Pennsylvania, at the time of his death, to-wit:
Inventory and Appraisement of the Personal Property.
One Work Horse
45.00
One four year old colt
57.50
Four cows
37.50
Four calves
12.00
Interest in stock wintered for L. Smith
10.00
Five head young cattle
50.00
Seven sheep
18.75
A quantity of corn in ear
18.75
A quantity of oats
8.12 ½
A quantity of Timothy seed
6.25
A quantity of buckwheat
1.00
Sundry’s in Corne House
1.80
One Lumber Waggon
15.00
One Skeleton Waggon
5.00
One pair Bobsleighs
6.00
Contence of back yard Lumber, Kettle, etc.
4.62 ½
Two Piggs
3.00
Eight Hens
1.70
Contents of tool House Plows dragg etc.
11.50
One Spring Waggon
20.00
Forks, spools, hoes and contents of horse barn
2.50
One set double harnesses
8.00
One Snkez (?) Horse Rake
10.75
One Snkez (?) Cultivator
6.00
One quantity straw
1.00
Contents of shop
2.50
Robes, Blankets, etc.
4,00
One mowing machine
11.50
One yoke oxen
31.50
Thirteen 3/4 ton hay
47.83
One wood machine
5.50
Contents of well shed
5.00
Quantity of pork
16.80
Quantity of potatoes
7.50
Sundrys in Cellar
2.62 ½
Contents of close room
3.25
One Beaureau
1.62 ½
One Bedroom Set
4.25
One Bedroom Set
10.18 ½
One Bedroom Set
3.75
Contents of pantry
6.00
Contents of kitchen, stove, etc.
15.12 ½
One Stove, pipe, etc.
2.00
Contents of chamber
6.25
A quantity of wheat
8.00
256.64
300.30
556.94
We, the undersigned, do hereby certify that the aforegoing is a correct inventory of the property as appraised by us.
Witness our hands and seals this 28th day of February A.D. 1878
J. E. Smith
J. P. Silverthorn
Lyman Smith
4058
73-680
Account of
Ransom N. Francis
Executor of
William Francis, Deceased
Filed May 8, 1880
Fees, $8.00 paid
Account of Ransom N. Francis, Executor of the last will and testament of William Francis late of Girard Township of Erie County.
Accountant charges himself as follows to wit:
Accountant and decedent were the joint-owners at the death of Wm Francis of certain personal property appraised at the sum of $1113.88. There were certain debts jointly incurred by accountant and decedent in his life time which accountant as surviving owner or partner has been compelled to pay and for which accountant claims credit to wit-----
Whole amount at which partnership property was appraised $1113.88
Amount paid by accountant as surviving partner to wit:
Paid in November 1:________________ 2.45
2. John Vith 5.37
3. W. C. Batcheler 6.43
4. Henry Box 25.75
5. C. F. Rockwell 217.45
6. J. Guilliford & Co 9.61
7. A. R. Smith 50.27
8. J. Bender & Co 3.00
9. M. Randall & Co. 1.90
10. S. G. Francis 3.30
11. P.D. Flower 9.50
12. Jacob Kibbler 2.00
13. D.B. Francis 15.43
14. Minick VanBushkirk 6.65
15. VanCamp & Godfrey 1.90
16. Lyman Smith 50.00
17. Jos. Barker 65.61
18. Smith Woolsey 22.90
19. C. C. Clark 10.00
_________
509.44
Amount left after payment of debts 604.44
One half of which belongs to decedents estate $302.22
Accountant asks allowances for the following payment made on account of paid estate.
CREDIT
Paid Daniel Long, Register No. 201 6.50
Paid J. P. Silverthorn estate appraisers 211 3.00
Paid Henry Ball expenses proving will 221 3.00
Paid Frank Watson 231 2.00
Paid Josiah Nece (?) Coffin 241 42.00
H. D. Myers company account which was
submitted from statement on the first pages
of this account the sum of $4.09
One half of which charged to decedents estate 251 2.04
Accountant has expended in traveling expenses
in settlement of estate & 3.25
Accountant charges for services 27.84
Paid J. E. & F. Woodruff 261 10.00
Paid John C, Kent to .... this account Paid 8.00
Accountant asks allowances for the following amounts paid to legates under the will.
Paid: Stephen Francis 271 75.00
William Francis 28.. 50.00
R. N. Francis assignee of the interests
of Russel Francis, Shepherd Francis,
M. Gordon, and Cynthia M. Gordon
in the personal estate of the decedent 291 21.08
Samuel Francis, his interest in personal estate 301 5.28
David B. Francis, “ ” 311 5.28
Stephen Francis “ ” 321 5.28
Walter Francis “ ” 331 5.28
Wm Francis “ ” 341 5.28
Hannah Hawkins “ ” 351 5.28
Dorcas Coburn “ ” 361 5.28
R.N. Francis his share under the will of the
decedent of personal estate 37 10.55
_____________________
$301.22
Statement of payments and releases made to the accountant of the legacies specifically charged upon the Real Estate devised to the accountant.
Paid Samuel Francis 38 276.25
Dorcas Francis 39 276.25
David B. Francis 40 276.25
Walter Francis 41 276.25
Hannah Hawkins 42 276.25
Russell Francis 43 276.25
Melvina Gordon 44 276.25
Cynthia Gordon 45 276.25
Sheppard Francis 46 276.25
Erie County
This day, before me, John C. Hilton, Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the County aforesaid, personally cane Ransom N. Francis the above named Executor of William Francis’s dec’d, who being duly sworn according to the law, doth depose and say that the account as above stated is just and true, to the best of his knowledge and belief.
R. N. Francis
Sworn and subscribed this 8th day of May, A.D. 1880
John C. Hilton, Register
This page was originally created on Thursday, January 20, 2005 .
This page was last updated on Saturday, February 3, 2007 .
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