Geauga County, OH
Ruth Smith Estate
Be it remembered that at a Probate Court held at the Probate office at Chardon within and for the County of Geauga and State of Ohio on the 14th day of Oct. AD 1880 by and before H K Smith Judge of said Court the last Will and Testament of Ruth Smith deceased was presented for Probate and record and on the 28th day of Oct AD 1880 the heirs having been notified, James E Stephenson and R P Parsons the subscribing witnesses to said Will appearing were sworn and examined in open Court touching the Execution of said will and their testimony reduced to writing and signed by them and placed on file and said notice and proof is in the words and figures following to wit.
Notice to heirs
The State of Ohio
Geauga County ss In Probate Court
In the matter of the last will and Testament of Ruth Smith deceased. To Chester Adams and Amanda M. Wilson
You are hereby notified that on the 14th day of October AD 1880 an instrument of writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Ruth Smith late of Chardon township in said County deceased was produced in open Court and an application to admit the same to Probate and Record was on the same day in said Court. Said application will be for hearing before this Court on the 28 day of Oct AD 1880 at 10 o'clock AM
H. K. Smith Probate Judge
We the undersigned persons within named do hereby acknowledge service of the within notice this __ day of Oct 1880.
Amanda M Wilson
On consideration whereof the next of kin being present the Court find that said will was duly executed and attested and that said testatrix at the time of Executing the same was of full age and of sound mind and memory and not under any restraint and the Court therefore approve and establish said will as the last value Will and and Testament of said Ruth Smith deceased and order the same with the testimony to be recorded which will is in the words and figures following to wit:
In the name of the Beloved Father of All Amen. I Ruth Smith of the Village of Chardon County of Geauga and State of Ohio being about Seventy seven years of age and being of sound mind and disposing mind and memory, considering the frailty and uncertainty of human life; and being desirous of settling my worldly affairs and directing how the Estate with which it has pleased God to bless me, shall be disposed of after my decease, while I have strength and capacity so to do, Do make and publish and declare this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making null and void all other Such Wills and Testaments by me made heretofore. And first I resign my immortal Being into the hand of Almighty God hoping and believing in a remission of my sins by the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ and my body I commit to the earth, to be buried at the discretion of those surviving me. And as to my worldly estate and all the property not personal or mixed of which I shall die seized and possessed or to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease I devise, bequeath and dispose of in manner following to wit:
First My Will is, that all my just debts and funeral Expenses shall be paid to my Estate as soon after my decease as shall be formed convenient.
Second I give Devise and bequeath to my Eldest Daughter Sally F. Ragan Fifty Dollars to be paid out of my Estate.
Third I give and bequeath to my son Chester Adams one hundred Dollars to be paid out of my Estate.
Fourth I desire my Executor hereafter named to expend Thirty dollars in the Erection of a plain monument at my grave -- the same to be paid out of my Estate.
Fifth I wish to say that in the life time of my son John W Adams now deceased I advanced to him his full share of my Estate, and this in explanation why I make no bequeath to his heirs.
Sixth I give, devise and bequeath to my daughter Amanda M Wilson all and singular, my real Estate in fee simple to her and her heirs forever together with all right and title that I have or ought to have in and to the same. -- I give and bequeath to my said Daughter Amanda M. Wilson all my personal property and effects including all moneys, Bonds, notes chores in action household good and property of whatever nature I may be possessed of at my decease changing the same same however, with the bequest herein.
Seventh I desire that No Inventory or appraisment be made of my Estate or any part thereof and that the Probate Court order the same to be omitted. I also desire that my Executor hereafter named shall not be required to Enter into bonds for the faithful discharge of his trust, and that the same be omitted.
Eighth I hereby appoint and constitute my son-in-law George W Wilson my Executor of this my last Will and Testament.
In Testimony Whereof I have set my hand to this my Last Will and Testament at Chardon this twenty first day of April in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and seventy seven.
Ruth Smith
The foregoing Instrument was signed by the said Ruth Smith in our presence and by her published and declared as and for her last Will and Testament and at request and in her presence and in the presence of each other, we hereto subscribe our names as attesting witnesses at Chardon this 21st day of April AD 1877
J. E. Stephenson Resides at Chardon O
The State of Ohio
Attest H. K. Smith Probate Judge
Scan of original document (page 1)
Wills 1853-1883 vol B, pp 442-444
Will and Proof of same
Dated at Chardon O this 14 day of Oct AD 1880
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Chester Adams
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R P Parsons " " "
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Geauga County } I H. K. Smith Probate Judge within and for said County certify the foregoing is a true & complete record of the last will and testament of Ruth Smith deceased together with the proofs and orders made in said Court concerning the same.
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Scan of original document (page 2)
