Will of Abel Calkins



In the name of God amen.  I, Abel Calkins of the Town of Hartwick in the
County of Otsego and State of New York being of sound mind and memory but
being weak in body and considering that it is appointed for all men once to
die and the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death I do make this my
last will and testament and revoking all others ever made before this. First
of all I give my body to its Mother Earth from whence it came to be decently
interred by my executor hereafter named.  And my soul I give to God in full
assurance of a happy immortality and as touching my worldly estate which it
has pleased God to bestow on me first of all I give unto my wells beloved wife
Mary Calkins the whole of my estate during her natural life my debts being
first paid by my executor out of my personal estate.  

Item:  I give unto my son Abel Calkins one dollar to be paid in six months     
after my decease by my executor hereafter mentioned.

Item:  I give unto my daughter Anna Swann one dollar.

Item:  I give unto my daughter Mary Hawkins one dollar.

Item:  I give unto my daughter Sarah Jones one dollar.

Item:  I give unto my son Elisha Avery Calkins the residue and remainder of
all my estate after my well beloved wife before mentioned her decease to be to
him and his heirs in fee simple unto the said Elisha Avery Calkins forever
both real and personal estate of the several legacies above mentioned to my
daughters are to be paid by my executor in six months after my decease.  And I
do ordain constitute and appoint my son in law Ezra Green Jones to be sole
executor of this my last will and testament.  I witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty ninth day of December in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen Signed and sealed Abel
Calkins L.S.
Published and Pronounced in presence of
Nath. Gott
Rufus Hawkins
Samuel Bissell Jr.
Surrogates Office}
Otsego County}
Be it remembered that on this twenty fifth day of January 1814 personally 
appeared before me Bille Williams Jr. surrogate of said county Rufus Hawkins
and 
Nathaniel Gott subscribing witnesses to the within will of Abel Calkins who 
being dully sworn on his oath declared that they did see the said Abel Calkins 
sign and seal the within written instrument and heard him publish and declare 
the same as and for his last will and testament that at the time thereof he
the 
said Abel Calkins was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the 
knowledge and belief of him the deponent and that they together  with Samuel 
Bissell Jr. the other witness to the said will severally subscribe their names 
thereto as witnesses in the presence of the testator.
Also appeared at the same time Ezra Green Jones executor named in the said
will 
and was duly sworn to the true performance and execution thereof by taking the 
usual oath of an executor.
Bille Williams Jr.
The people of the state of New York by the grace of God free and independent
to 
all to whom these presents shall come or may concern send greeting.       
 
Know ye that at Cooperstown in the County of Otsego on the twenty sixth day of 
January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred fourteen before
Bille Williams Jr. Esquire Surrogate of our said county the last will and
testament of Abel Calkins deceased a copy whereof is hereunto annexed was
proved and is now approved and allowed of by us and the said deceased having
whilst living was and at the time of his death goods chattels or credits
within this state by means whereof the proving and registering the said will
and the granting administration of all and singular the said goods chattels
and credits and also the auditing allowing and final discharging the account 
thereof doth belong unto us the administration of all and singular the goods 
chattels and credits of the said deceased and any way concerning his will is 
granted unto Ezra Green Jones executor in the said will named they being first 
duly sworn well and faithfully to administer the same and to make and exhibit
a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the said good chattels and 
credits and also to render a just and true account thereof  when thereunto 
required~~~ 

In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of office of our said surrogate
to be herewith affixed witness Bille Williams Jr. Esquire surrogate of the
said county at Cooperstown aforesaid the twenty sixth day of January in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen and of our
independence the thirty eighth. 
B. Williams Jr. Surrogate

The preceding will of Abel Calkins with the proof thereof and the
qualification of Ezra Green Jones executor.  Recorded the twenty six day Jan.
1814.