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The following will is transcribed by Walter Stromquist
on June 13, 1999 from a recent photocopy of pages F505–F508 of the record
maintained by Schenectady County. The
transcription is intended to be exact as to words and spelling, but only approximate
as to punctuation, capitalization, and graphical elements. No attempt has been made to preserve line or
page breaks or end-of-line hyphenation.
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Summary by the transcriber: Joseph Bradshaw’s will was dated September 14, 1850, offered for probate on October 19, 1850, and admitted to probate on January 11, 1851, in Schenectady County, New York. Joseph Bradshaw is “of the town of Princetown in the County of Schenectady” and is variously described in the examinations as age 22 or 25. He lists these heirs:
Ann E. Bradshaw (sister)
Robert Bradshaw
John W. Bradshaw
George Bradshaw
Nathan Bradshaw
James Bradshaw (brother)
Elizabeth Bradshaw (mother)
Ann E. Bradshaw and Robert Bradshaw are to have the real estate which was (for a time) in the possession of George Bradshaw. Elizabeth Bradshaw is the residual heir.
The will lists these executors:
Samuel B. Bradshaw
Elizabeth Bradshaw
George J. Bradshaw (identified in the examinations as the same person as
George Bradshaw, the testator’s brother)
Samuel B. Bradshaw and George J. Bradshaw brought the will to court.
Witnesses to the will:
John L. Tullock, Princetown, Schenectady County
John W. Bradshaw, Rotterdam, Schenectady County
The record includes examinations of these witnesses:
Samuel B. Bradshaw, age 45, City and County of Schenectady (wrote will)
John L. Tullock, age 35 (acquainted with testator upwards of 10 years)
John W. Bradshaw, age 35 (acquainted with testator upwards of 20 years)
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Be
it remembered that heretofore and on the nineteenth day of October in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty Samuel B. Bradshaw and George
J. Bradshaw two of the persons named in the instrument herein after mentioned
as Executors did present a petition on writing to the County Judge of the
County of Schenectady which is duly verified and is filed, to have the said
instrument proved as the last will and Testament of the real and personal
estate of Joseph Bradshaw late of the Town of Princetown in the said county
deceased, and such proceedings were thereupon had before the said County Judge
that afterwards and on the eleventh day of January in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and fifty one the said last will and Testament was duly
proved as the last will an Testament of both the real and personal estate of
the said Testator, was duly admitted to probate and with the proofs and
examinations taken thereof ordered to be recorded as prescribed by law, which
said last will and Testament and proofs and examinations are as follows, to wit
(Will)
Princetown Sept 14th 1850 I Joseph Bradshaw of the Town of Princetown and County of Schenectady do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in the manner and form following. — I give and bequeath to my sister Ann E. Bradshaw and Robert Bradshaw all my real estate which I now possess and the colt now following the mare to Ann E. Bradshaw and the mare to Robert Bradshaw, and Ann E. Bradshaw and Robert Bradshaw to pay out of this amount one hundred dollars to John W. Bradshaw and one hundred to George Bradshaw and Nathan Bradshaw to have fifty dollars. This will is not to take effect till after the time is expired of George Bradshaw now in possession of the property—John W. Bradshaw to be paid in two years after they get the property in their possession and George Bradshaw is to be paid in three years after and Nathan Bradshaw is to be paid in four years, these is to be without interest till due—and Ann E. and Robert is to pay all claims and charges what so ever shall come against my my estate; and my Brother James Bradshaw to have my Bay horse or his value after my death and and to pay all claims against the Horse and I give and bequeath to my mother Elizabeth Bradshaw all the remainder of my personal estate such as cows young cattel sheep hogs Farming utensial and all other articals which belongs to the said Joseph Bradshaw, and I Joseph Bradshaw do appoint Samuel B. Bradshaw, Elizabeth Bradshaw George Bradshaw to be the Executors of my last will and testament therefore I do set my hand and seal—
his
Joseph ´ Bradshaw L. S.
mark
Witnesses — Signed sealed and published and declared by the said testator Joseph Bradshaw (?) and for his last will and testament in the Presents of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses there to in the presents of the said Testator.
John L. Tullock Princetown Schenectady County
John W. Bradshaw Rotterdam Schenectady County
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(Proofs and Examinations)
Schenectady County, Surrogates Court. In the matter of proving
the last will and Testament of Joseph
Bradshaw late of the Town of
Princetown as a will of both of
real and personal estate.
Depositions of witnesses produced sworn and examined in the above entitled matter before Samuel W. Jones County Judge of Schenectady County at the Surrogates Office in the City of Schenectady on the eleventh day of January 1851 at two o’clock in the afternoon—
County of Schenectady ss: Samuel B. Bradshaw of the City of Schenectady in the County of Schenectady aged forty five years a witness produced sworn and examined on the part of the persons propounding the last will and Testament of the aforesaid Joseph Bradshaw deceased deposes and says that he wrote the instrument bearing date the 14th day of September 1850 purporting to be the last will and Testament of the said Joseph Bradshaw at his request and pursuant to his instructions—that after it was written it was read over to him and he approved and executed it by making his mark within his name at the end of the will and declaring it to be his last will and testament in presence of this deponent and of John L. Tullock and John W. Bradshaw the subscribing witnesses thereto—that the Testator requested this deponent to ask the said witnesses to sign as such and this deponent did so pursuant to that request, that the executor George Bradshaw is the brother of the Testator and writes his name as deponent is informed George J. Bradshaw— Samuel B. Bradshaw
Subscribed and sworn this 11th
day of January 1851 before me
S. W. Jones~ County Judge –
County of Schenectady ss: John L. Tullock of the Town of Princetown in the County of Schenectady aged thirty five years a witness produced sworn and examined on the part of the persons propounding the last will and testament of the aforesaid Joseph Bradshaw deceased deposes and says; that this deponent was acquainted with the above named testator Joseph Bradshaw deceased and had been so acquainted with him for upwards of ten years prior to the time deponent became a witness to the instrument hereinafter referred to: that the said testator did in the presence of this deponent acknowledge that he subscribed his mark within his name at the end of the will now shown to this deponent and which bears date the fourteenth day of September in the year eighteen hundred and fifty: that such acknowledgement was made by the said Testator in the presence of this deponent who did thereupon at the same time declare the instrument so subscribed by him to be his last will and testament; and that this deponent did thereupon sign his name as a witness at the end of the said will at the request made by someone, he believes Samuel Bradshaw in hearing of the said testator and in his presence. And this deponent farther saith that at the time the said will was so subscribed by the said Testator he was of sound mind and memory of about the age of twenty two years and was not under any restraint to the knowledge or belief of this deponent—
Subscribed and sworn this John L. Tullock
11th day of January 1851 be-
for me
S. W. Jones~ County Judge
County of Schenectady ss: James W. Bradshaw of the Town of Rotterdam in the County of Schenectady aged thirty five years a witness produced sworn and examined on the part of the persons propounding the last will and testament of the aforesaid Joseph Bradshaw deceased deposes and says: that this deponent was acquainted with the above named Testator Joseph Bradshaw deceased, and had been so acquainted with him for upwards of twenty years prior to the time deponent became a witness to the instrument herein after referred to: that the said Testator did in the presence of this deponent acknowledge that he subscribed his mark within his name at the end of the will now shown to this deponent and which bears date the fourteenth day of September in the year eighteen hundred and fifty, that such acknowledgement was made by the said Testator in the presence of this deponent, who did thereupon at the same time declare the instrument so subscribed by him to be his last will and Testament; and that this deponent did thereupon sign his name as a witness at the end of the said will at the request of some person on behalf of the said Testator and in his presence— And this deponent farther saith that at the time the said will was so subscribed by the said Testator he was of sound mind and memory, of about the age of twenty five years, and was not under any restraint to the knowledge or belief of this deponent—
Subscribed and sworn this John W. Bradshaw
11th day of January 1851 be-
fore me
S. W. Jones~ County Judge
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County of Schenectady ss: It appearing upon the proofs and examinations duly taken and had of the last will and Testament of Joseph Bradshaw late of the Town of Princetown in the County of Schenectady deceased that the said will was duly executed by the said Testator as a will of both real and personal estate, that at the time of the execution thereof he was of sound mind and memory, in all respects competent to devise real estate and bequeath personal estate and was not under any restraint, the said will and the proofs and examinations taken thereof are recorded signed and certified by me pursuant to the Statutes in such case made and provided this eleventh day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty one—
S. W. Jones~
County Judge