Taft Wills

Will of Chauncey Taft, Oneida County, New York, Will Book 40 at 233: I Chauncey Taft of the town of Annsville in the County of Oneida and State of New York of the age of Fifty years and being of sound mind & memory do make publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner following that is to say:
First = I give devise & bequeath to my wife Martha Taft all the residue of my real and personal estate of what nature or kind soever, after the payment of all my just debts and necessary and proper funeral expenses to have hold & enjoy the same for and during the full end and term of her natural life.
Second = My will is that on & after the decease of my said wife all the remainder of my said estate which may then remain unexpended be divided equally between my two children Maria T. Clover and Orra Taft or their heirs share & Share alike.
And lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my said wife Martha Taft to be the sole executrix of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 4th day of July 1872
[Signed] Chauncey Taft L.S.
The above instrument consisting of one sheet was at the date thereof signed sealed published & declared by the said Chaucey Taft as and for his last will and testament in presence of us who at his request & in his presence & in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto
[Signed] Julius C. Thorne Taberg N.Y.
[Signed] Charles Beach Taberg N. Y.
[At a Surrogate's Court held in Rome, Oneida County on 6 February 1888, for the purpose of proving and recording the will of Chauncey Taft, on the application of Maria D. Clover Legatee in said will, Charles Beach testified that he was acquainted with Chauncey Taft, deceased, and had been for the last 40 years before his death, that he died in the month of November 1886 at Annsville in Oneida County, his residence at his death and that he saw the testator sign the will, that Julius C. Thorn, the other witness "is not living". W. J. Lasher testified that he was well acquainted with the signature of Julius C. Thorn and his signature as a witness was his genuine signature and that he was well acquainted with the signature & handwriting of Chauncey Taft and his signature to his will dated July 4, 1872 was his genuine signature. The will was certified 6 February 1888. Maria D. Clover, as daughter and legatee signed a petition to Surrogate's Court 5 December 1887 stating that Chau!
ncey Taft died on or about the 7 day of Nov 1886 at Annsville and that the will of Chauncey Taft "has been in the home of the testator since it was made"; that Chauncey Taft left a widow Martha Taft of Annsville N. Y. and children viz. the petitioner of Annsville N. Y. and Orra Taft of Ellendale, Dickey County, Dakota.].



Will of Lyman Taft, Oneida County, New York, Volume 47 at 262:
In the name of God, Amen
I Lyman Taft of the age of seventy nine years and being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life, so therefore make, ordain publish and declare this to be my last will and testament that is to say
First. After all my lawful debts are paid and discharged I give and bequeath to my grandson George Campbell the sum of one hundred dollars, and also forty dollars which he now owes me.
Second. I give and devise to Clarissa A. Taft the wife of my son Rufus Taft the house and lot in Taberg known as the Whaley House and Lot in fee simple absolute forever.
Third. All the rest residue and remainder of my estate real and personal I give to my son Rufus Taft for his use during his life, and after his death then I give all such estate in fee simple absolute forever, share and share alike to the children of my son Rufus Taft living at the time of his death, and to the two children of my daughter Melissa, Alice Campbell and Lyman Campbell Said Rufus Taft to keep said property during his life in as good condition as to quantity and quality as when received by him.
Likewise, I make constitute and appoint Silas L. Snyder of Taberg NY to be executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal the 19th day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
[Signed] Lyman Taft L.S.
The above written instrument was at the date thereof subscribed by the said Lyman Taft in our presence and acknowledged by him to each of us, and he at the same time declared the above instrument so subscribed to be his last will and testament and we at his request have signed our names as witnesses hereto in his presence and in the presence of each other and written opposite our names our respective places of residence at the end of the will
[Signed]Wiliston T. Clover Taberg Oneida Co. N.Y.
[Signed]John L. Ward Taberg Oneida Co. N. Y.
State of New York
County of Oneida
Surrogate's Office
Be it Remembered, That on the 14th day of March 1893, at a Surrogate's Court, held in and for the County of Oneida, the within Last Will of Lyman Taft late of the town of Annsville in said County, deceased, was upon due proof admitted to probate as a will valid to pass real and personal property. In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court; at the City of Utica; on this 14th day of March A.D. 1893
[Signed] William H. Bright, Surrogate.


Will of Martha Taft, Oneida County, New York, Volume 8 at 464:
I Martha Taft of the town of Lee County of Oneida & State of New York, do make and declare this my last Will and testament in manner following First, I give and Devise unto Alanson Taft All and every my Messuage lands tenements and hereditaments with the appurtenances whereof I am Seized in fee Situate lying and being in the town of Lee in the County of Oneida known and distinguished as part of Lot number eighteen township number two [2 illegible words]on the State [illegible word] supposed to contain two Acres and twelve hundredths of land being the same piece of land Deeded to me the fifteenth day of March 1847, By Jesse Matteson and Sarah his wife. And I do hereby appoint my youngest Son Alanson Taft Executor of this my last Will and Testament. Also I give unto Betsey Randolph widow of Daniel Randolph Deceased, Mary Fish, the wife of Jesse Fish, Sarah Matteson the wife of Jesse Matteson, Abby White the wife of Israel White, Adelia Parker the wife of Israel S. Parker and M!
ary Simons the wife of Richard Simons All my wearing apparel. It is my will that they shall divide them equally among them all Six Also I give me to the foregoing Six girls and Vincent Taft and Lyman Taft, one Set of Silver Spoons my Sugar Tongs and my Spectacles to Divide equally among the eight And finally all the rest residue and remainder of all my estate and effects Real and Personal whatsoever and wheresoever not herein Before otherwise effectually disposed of after payment of my debts legacies and funeral expenses and other charges and deductions as aforesaid I do give Devise and bequeath unto my youngest Son Alanson Taft. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this first Day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty Seven.
[Signed] Martha Taft L.S.
The above Instrument consisting of one Sheet was now here subscribed by Martha Taft the Testatrix in the presence of each of us and was at the same time declared by her to be her last Will and Testament and we at her request sign our names hereto as attesting Witnesses
[Signed] Alpheus A Spinning Residing in Lee Oneida County
[Signed] Martin Baker Residing in Lee Oneida County
[Will was recorded 2 May 1848.].