Be it Remembered that on the 13th day of March AD 1871 Letters of Administration in Common form were granted to P. Peterson Pierce ___ the estate of Jacob Peirce late of Rayne Township dec’d who did on the 8th day of  March 1871 at 3 o’clock am  he having first given bond to the Commonwealth in the Sum of Five Hundred Dollars conditioned according to law with John A Kinter and Joseph Longhey as Securities Same day Administrator Sworn According to law.

D. R. Lewis

Register

(See Bond + c filed)

On Christmas Eve, while my kids were busily playing with their new toys (they each opened one present early), I spent a few hours scanning in documents.  Honestly, I barely even made a dent in the pile – but it felt good to at least start sifting through all of it.

Among the documents in this pile was a will for my husband’s 3rd great-grandfather, James H. Leonard (1796-1892).  It’s been sitting there for at least five years. 

Well, now it will see the light of day and be posted for the world to see!!!  I’m only transcribing the actual will, below the images.

Do you have any important documents that haven’t seen the light of day for years?  Share them!!!

The last Will and Testament of James H. Leonard of the Town of Newfane in the County of Niagara + State of New York.

I, James H. Leonard considering the uncertainty of this mortal life + being of sound mind and memory do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner + form following that is to say:

First, I give and bequeath unto my two sons Dewitt C. Leonard + Henry B. Leonard + unto my daughter Eliza Jane Sawyer the sum of two hundred dollars each, to be paid to them from the proceeds of the real or personal estate I should be possessed of at the time of my decease + to be paid to them within a reasonable time after my decease for their use forever.

Second, All the rest and residue of my real + personal estate not herein before given + bequeathed after payment of debts, funeral expenses + e I give unto my five children Dewitt C. Leonard, Henry B. Leonard, Eliza J. Sawyer, Roxanna Spencer, + Maria Peck to be equally divided between them, that they share + share alike for their use forever and I do here by constitute and appoint Augustus B. Kendall of the Town of Newfane, sole executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other heretofore made wills by me.  Witness my hand + seal the twenty eighth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and eighty.

James H. Leonard (Seal)

The above instrument consisting of one half sheet of paper was now here subscribed by James H. Leonard the testator in the presence of each of us + was at the same time declared by him to be his last Will and Testament + we at his request signed our names there to as attesting witnesses.

Anthony McKee residing in Newfane Niagara County NY
Martha A. McKee residing in Newfane Niagara County NY

I found this will in the Keokuk County Courthouse in Sigourney, Iowa.  It was file No. 1187, in a large bundle of loose papers.  I don’t think that the clerk was very happy that I wanted copies of them all, but oh well- that’s their job, right?

I Frederick Sanches Tereso of the County of Keokuk and State of Iowa do make this my Last will and Testament.
first, I will that all of my just Debts and Funeral Expenses be paid out of my personal property and all of the ballance of my Property both Personal and Real Except that hereafter Excepted I do will and bequeath to my wife Matilda Jane to have and to hold During her Lifetime and at her Death then what is Remaining of my property is to be divided Equally among my children Milton F, Helen Handelman, Nancy, Sheridan, Viola Theodore + George Oscar and if my son Milton Shall Stay on the presmises and assist his mother in managing and caring for the Property untill the Youngest one of my children Shall become of age then it is my will that in addition to having an Equal Share with the other heirs above named he is to have the North East quarter of the North West quarter and the North West quarter of the North East quarter of Section Twenty Five (25) Township Seventy four North of Range No thirteenwest, which he is to have for the Services that he is Required to perform as above and Should he fail to perform Said Services as above Stated then all of my property Remaining at the Death of my wife including the above Described Land to be Equally Dividing among my heirs above named and Should my wife Die before my youngest child becomes of age then it is my will that my Son Milton manage and controll my property Remaining at that time untill the youngest heir becomes of age + I do choose my wife Matilda Jane to act as my Executor with my Son Milton has her assistant with of which shall be Required to give bonds and it is my wish and will that my property be divided by my Heirs mutually among themselves without Having the Same to go into Court Witness my Hand this 24th day of August 1881
Fred Sanchez Tereso
witnessed by
Jos Merryfield
___________

The will was written a few days before he died.  I have scanned it in here and will transcribe it below.

Know all men that I John Robertson of Washington County Iowa being of sound mind and Memory do make and publish this my last will + testament as follows to wit
Item 1st
It is my will that all my Just debts be first paid.
Item 2nd
I give and bequeath to my son Alexander C. Robertson all that part of the North East quarter of section No. thirty four (34) in Township No seventy five (75) North of Range No. (8) Eight west lying East of the railroad also the timber lot commencing at the North West corner of the North East quarter of teh south west quarter of L__ No 18 in Township No 74 north of Range No Eight west thence south 44 rods thence East 40 rods thence North 44 rods thence west 40 rods to the place of beginning
Item 3rd
It is my will that the portion of the North East quarter of section No thirty four (34) in Township No seventy five (75) North of Range No 8 west lying west of the rail road also the timber lot beginning at the south East corner of the North west quarter of the South East quarter of section 29 in Township 74 North of Range No seven (7) West together with my personal property be sold and out of the proceeds there shall first be paid to my daughter Mary Glenn the sum of four hundred dollars + the remainder after paying expenses of executing this will shall be equally divided between my daughter Mary Glenn and the heirs of my deceased daughter Rachel A Lynn
Item 4th
It is my desire that Walter McKinnie act as executor of this my last will + testament
In testamony wherof I have hereto set my hand this 25th day Feb AD 1879
John Robertson [signed]
We the undersigned in the presence of Each other and the above signed testator have at his request signed as wittnesses of the above proper by him declred in our presence to be his last will +testament this 25th day of Febuary 1879

Walter McKinnie [signed]
Joshua Ca__ [signed]

State of Iowa SS
Washington County} J.J. A Cunningham
Clerk of the Circuit
Court in and for said County to hereby certify that on the 16th day of September 1879 before the Circuit Court in and for said county the forgoing instrument of [?] was duly proven and admitted to Probate as the last Will and Testament of John Robertson deceased.
Witness my Signature and Seal of office this 30th day of September 1879.
J A Cunningham Clerk Circuit Court

Here is his will and probate. I have transcribed it below the scanned images. I appreciated the nice large handwriting.

Will of Thomas J. Ridgway, Deceased.
In the name of the Benevolent Father of all: I Thomas J. Ridgway of Washington Township, Harrison County, Ohio, do make and publish, this my last Will and Testament.
Item 1st I give and bequeath to my son Jonathan S. Ridgaway’s heirs the sum of Two Hundred dollars ($200)
Item 2nd, I give, devise and bequeath to each of my daughters Eliza Ann Kinsey, Hannah Stafford, Mary Spencer, Phebe Smith, Anna Spencer and Alvira Kirk the sum of two hundred dollars severally.
Item 3rd. In consideration of my son Thomas E. Ridgaway keeping me and my wife during our natural lifes furnishing us, so long as we or either of us may live, all of the necessaries and usual comforts of life. I give, devise and bequeath to him my said son Thomas E. Ridgaway the farm on which I now reside situate in the Township of Washington, aforesaid, containing about one hundred and twenty and eight and one half acres, and all the Stock household goods, furniture, provisions and other goods and chattels which may be thereon at the time of my decease and his paying the several Two hundred dollars to each of my other children
Item 4th. I hereby nominate and appoint my son Thomas E. Ridgaway Executor of this my last Will and testament.
In testimony hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Eleventh day of May in the year 1867.
Thomas J. Ridgaway (seal)
Samuel Knox

In the state of Ohio.
Harrison County.
Probate Court.
Personally appeared in open Court Thomas Green and Samuel Knox the subscribing witnesses to the last Will and testament Thomas J. Ridgaway, deceased, who being duly sworn, according to law to speak the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth in relation to the execution of the said Will, depose and say that the paper before them purporting to be the last Will and testament of Thomas J. Ridgaway, now deceased is the will of the deceased, that they were present at the execution of the same at the request of the Testator, subscribed their names to teh same as witnesses, in his presence, and that they saw the said Thomas J. Ridgaway, deceased, sign and seal said Will and heard him acknowledge the same to be his last will and testament; that he said Thomas J. Ridgaway at the time of making, signing and sealing said will, was of legal age, of sound and disporing midn and memory and not under any undue or unlawful restraints whatsoever.
Samuel Knox
Thomas Green

Affirmed to and subscribed in open Court This 11th day of February A.D. 1879 Amou Semmon, Probate Judge.

In the matter of the last will and testament of Thomas J. Ridgaway, Dec.
Probate Court, Harrison County, Ohio, Feby 11th 1879. The last will and testament of Thomas J. Ridgaway, deceased, late of said county was this day produced in open court, And it appearing that all the next of kin of the deceased residing in the state have been notified of the time and place of hearing the application for the Probate thereof would be heard this day which form of notice is approved by the Court. Thereupon came Samuel Knox and Thomas Green the subscribing witnesses To said Willa nd in open Court on oath testified to the due execution of the said Will which testimony was reduced to writing and signed by said witnesses and it appearing by said testimony that said Will was duly executed and attested and that said Thomas J. Ridgaway as the he executed said Will was of legal age of sound mind and memory and not under any restraint. It is thereupon order by the Court that said Will and is now admitted to Probate and Record in this Court. And that said will and testimony be Recorded, Amon Semmon, Probate Judge

I found a wonderful website for the Illinois Regional Archives Depository and learned that they had her probate records.  I called and ordered them (along with a couple of other records pertaining to my Thornton line who lived in this area) and much to my surprise, they arrived just a few short days later!  I was very happy with their quick and friendly service.

Here is what I have pieced together on Sophia Ross Pottgen so far:

Abt. 1813: She is born in Germany to Frederic Ross and Sophia Ketterhoff.

18 Feb 1835:   She marries Francis Pottgen in St. Louis, Missouri.

30 July 1836: Her daughter Louisa Mary Pottgen is born in Alton, Illinois.  (I descend through this line.)

Abt. 1838: A son, Francis Pottgen is born.

1840: Living in Alton, Illinois.

Abt. 1843: A son, Henry Pottgen is born in IL.

Abt. 1846: A daughter, Catherine (Kate) is born.

Abt. 1848: A son, Joseph is born.

13 Dec 1849: Her father, Frederic Ross dies in St. Louis, MO.

20 Nov 1850: Living in Alton, Illinois with her husband and children.

Abt. 1851: A daughter, Sophia is born.

1853: Her husband Francis dies.

22 Jun 1860: Her children are living with a Peter Pattkin in Alton, Illinois.  She is not living with them.

29 Oct 1863: Her son, Henry dies of chronic diarrhea after having served in the Civil War.

22 Jul 1864: An affadavit is signed by an Utten Smith and James Burns for her widow’s pension.  They state that they have known her for 10 years and that for the 5 years previous to his death, Henry Pottgen was the only support of his mother, Sophia.

14 Jun 1865:  James Thornton signed an affadavit for the Civil War Mother’s Pension of Sophia Pottgen.  He said that he received money from Henry Pottgen for Sophia while Henry was in the service of the U.S. and that for several years previous to Henry’s service, James looked after and was familiar with all the interests and affairs of Sophia and Henry Pottgen.  James was Sophia’s son-in-law.

20 Jun 1865: She received a mother’s pension of $8 a month.

9 Jun 1870: She was living in Alton, Illinois with her son Joseph Pottgen.

27 Oct 1874: She writes a will, as follows:

Know all men by these presents That I Sophia Pottgen of the City of Alton County of Madison and State of Illinois being weak in body but of sound mind and memory do make ordain and establish this to be my last will and testament hereby revoking all others and I do hereby appoint James Thornton of the City of Alton County Madison and State of Illinois to be the Executor of this my last will and testament.

First  It is my will that all my Just debts be paid.

Second. After the payment of all my Just debts and funeral expenses I ordain and desire that my real estate being Lot Seven Block twenty in Pope and others Addition be sold at public or private sale as my executor may desire best.

Third. I give and bequeath to my daughters Louisa Thornton and Kate Harris and to my son Joseph Pottgen One Third of my personal estate money etc. to each.  That is to say One Third of my personal property money etc. to Louisa Thornton One Third of my personal property money etc to Kate Harris and one Third of my personal property money etc to Joseph Pottgen. In testimony whereof I have hererunto set my hand and affixed my seal this Twenty seventh day of October in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy four.

Sophia Pottgen  [Seal]

Signed and acknowledged before us the date above mentioned
John w. Coppinger
Phil Thornton
Barney Reilly

11 Jan 1877: She dies in Alton, Madison County, Illinois.

23 Jan 1877: Her will is proven.

7 Mar 1877: An inventory is taken of her estate.

State of Illinois, Madison County}SS
In the matter of the Estate of Sophie Pottgen Deceased.  The following is a full and perfect inventory of all the Real and Personal Estate of the said deceased, so far as the same has come to the possession or knowledge of the undersigned.

Real Estate
Lot Number Seven (7) in Block Number twenty (20) in Pope and others addition to Alton Illinois  Value $500.00

Personal Estate
1 Bureau $12.00
1 Feather Tick $5.00
1 Rocking Chair $2.00
2 Quilts $.75
1 Check  Sundries $1.00
1 Stove $2.00

6 Chairs $2.00
2 Tables $2.50
1 Cupboard $2.00
1 Bedstead $5.00
2 Pillows $1.00
2 Quilts $2.00
3 Curtains $1.00
1 Lot sundry articles $1.00
13 chickens $2.00
a lot of coal $4.00

1 Stove and utensils $12.00
1 clock $2.00
1 Tub $.75
1 box Sundries $1.00
1 Feather tick $5.00
3 Quilts $.75
2 chairs $.50

A certificate of deposit on the first National Bank of Alton Illinois payable to the order of said Sophia Pottgen for the sum of $2300.00

Notes and Accounts
Note, (By Whom Owing) Louis F. Harris, (Date) Feby 8″ 1875, (Rate Interest) 5 perct, (Desperate) desp to (Amount) $200.00

I do hereby certify that the above is a correct Inventory of the Real and Personal Estate of Sophia Pottgen Deceased.
Given under our hand this Seventh day of March A.D. 1877

James Thornton

*****************************************

I still have some questions that I would like answered.

• What part of Germany was she from?
• When did she and her parents immigrate?  Did she have siblings?  Did they also live in the area?
• Where was she living in the 1860 census? Her children are living with a Peter Pattkin, but she is nowhere to be found.  Why wasn’t she with them?
• Where are she and her husband (and her parents) buried?  I found a receipt for a burial paid to a Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Alton.  I need to see where their cemetery is.  I am hoping that I can stop by and find her gravestone this May.

All in all, I am happy with what I found so far.  After being at a standstill on her line for many years, I feel like I’m actually getting somewhere now!  I am hoping that my trip to St. Louis/Alton might shed a bit more light on her family.  I only wish that I had a bit more time to spend there.