George Lighthall's will was contributed by Lighthall Family researcher Neal Smith. Neal is researching in Herkimer, Oswego and Wayne Counties. We have taken some liberties in formatting for online readability.
Will of George Lighthall
County of Herkimer Surrogates Court: In the matter of proving the last will and testament of George Lighthall deceased Herkimer County
SS: John R. Hall of the town of Stark in the county of Herkimer and Abram H. Smith of the town of Stark in the county of Herkimer being first duly sworn in open Court on their oaths do depose and say that they are subscribing witnesses to the last Will and Testament of George Lighthall late of the town of German Flatts in the said county of Herkimer deceased but formerly of Minden Montgomery County. And these deponents further say that the said deceased did in the presence of these deponents subscribe his name at the end of the instrument which is now shown to these deponents and which purports to be the last Will and Testament of the said deceased and which bears date on the 25th day of November A.D. 1867 that the said deceased did at the time of subscribing his name to said instrument as aforesaid declare the same to be his last Will and Testament - that these deponents did thereupon subscribe their own names at the end of said instrument as attesting witnesses to the execution thereof at the request of the said deceased and in his presence and in the presence of each other. That the said deceased at the time of subscribing his name to said instrument as aforesaid was upwards of twenty-one years of age that he appeared to be of sound mind and memory and was not under restraint to the knowledge or belief of these deponents.
Sworn examined and subscribed this Abram H. Smith
8th day of July 1872 before me
John R. Hall
Amos H. Prescott Surrogate
WILL
In the name of God Amen. I George Lighthall of the town of Minden County of Montgomery and State of New York of the age of seventy four years and being of sound mind and memory do make publish and declare this my last will & testament in manner of allowing that is to say
First. I order and direct that all my just debts be paid also my funeral expenses and that I have a christian burial and that my executors hereafter named cause to be erected to my memory the usual monument or marble slab within one year after my death and also one for my wife Nancy at her death.
Second. I give & bequeath to my wife Nancy Lighthall the sum of one hundred dollars annually during her natural life which is to be in full for and in lieu of any right of Dower she may have in any such estate and direct my Executors hereinafter named to pay to my said wife Nancy the aboave sum as directed.
Third. I give and bequeath to my wife Nancy Lighthall all my household furniture also one horse one buggy waggon one cutter one buffalo robe & whip & sleigh harness & one cow to be hers at my death.
Fourth. I order and direct my executors hereinafter named to sell any equal undivided one half of the Farm which I own jointly with my son Peter Lighthall and on which I now reside situated in the town of Minden Montgomery County & State of New York butted and bounded as follows viz. on the west by the lands of Albert Walrath on the south by the Center of the road leading from the gravel road to Cramers Corners on the east by lands of Peter Lighthall and Jacob Wieting and on the north by the Gayakill Gulch in five years after my death.
Fifth. I give and bequeath to each of my eight daughters herein named Mary wife of Abram Snyder Delia widow of John O'Brian deceased, Nancy wife of Peter House Margaret wife of George F. White Sally wife of Roswell Houck Lavina wife of Milton Jones Eliza wife of George Bean & Lucinda wife of Peter S. Suits - the sum of four hundred dollars each and I order my executors hereinafter named to pay to each of the above named daughters the above named sum as soon as they can do so out of the sale of my read estate in the 4th clause.
Sixth. I order and direct my executors hereinafter named that after all the legacies herein named are paid and my wifes are paid and all expenses and debts are paid the ballance to be equally divided between my eight daughters named in the Fifth clause in this will & each to share & share alike
Lastly I do hereby appoint my friends John Smith & his son Moses Smith my Executors of this my last will & testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In witness whereof, I have herewith set my hand and seal this 25th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & sixty seven George Lighthall (S.S.)
The above Instrument consisting of one sheet was at the date thereof signed sealed published and declared by the said George Lighthall as and for his last will & testament in presence of us who at his request & in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
John R. Hall residing in Starkville Herk Co. N.Y.
Abram H. Smith residing at Starkville Herk Co. N.Y.
State of New York Herkimer County Surrogates office SS: Be it remembered that on the eighth day of July A.D. 1872 the last will and testament of George Lighthall late of the town of German Flatts in said county of Herkimer deceased bearing date the 25th day of November A.D. 1867 (being the annexed written instrument) was duly proved before Amos H. Prescott Surrogate of said County of Herkimer according to law as and for the last will and testament of the real and personal estate of said deceased which said last will and testament and the proofs and examinations taken thereon are recorded on this office in book P. of will on page 287 and following.
(S.S.) In testimony whereof I Amos H. Prescott Surrogate of said County have herewith set my hand and seal of office at the surrogates office in the village of Herkimer this eighth day of July A.D. 1872.
Amos H. Prescott Surrogate
I Amos H. Prescott Surrogate of Herkimer County do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy and record of the last will and testament of George Lighthall late of the town of German Flatts propounded for probate and duly proved before me and also of the proofs and examinations taken before me in relation thereto.
Dated Herkimer July eighth 1872
Amos H Prescot
Surrogate
Also at the top of page 287 of Book P., dated July 8, 1872, is the Surrogate's statement concluding the last will and testament of Francis S. Wilcox of the town of German Flatts. The will bore the date of August 26, 1863 and is recorded on page 286.
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