In the name of God, Amen.
I Esther Dickinson of Deerfield, in the County of
Franklin in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being
of sound and disposing mind and memory do on
this ________ day of ________in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and sixty one make and
publish this my last Will and Testament in manner
and form following.
Section I
I give and bequeath to Mrs. Jane Harding, widow of
Abijah Harding, late of Groveland in the County of
Tazewell, in the State of Illinois, or her heirs the sum
of five hundred dollars.
I give and bequeath to each of my Nephews, Austin
Harding and Caleb Harding, and to my Niece Mrs. Fanny
Roberts, or their heirs the sum of one hundred
dollars.
I give and bequeath to my Niece, Electa Harding
the sum of two hundred dollars.
I give and bequeath to my Brother Lyman Har-
ding of Conway, or his Heirs or assigns my pasture,
situated in the town of Buckland, containing
seventy five acres more or less. Also, my Secretary
or Book-case and my Clock. I also give and bequeath
to my said Brother Lyman, the sum of five
hundred dollars.
I give and bequeath to each of my Nephews, Henry Har-
ding Baxter Harding, Sedgwick Harding and Tyler
Harding; and to my Niece Mrs. Lota Hamilton, or their
heirs the sum of one hundred dollars.
I give and bequeath to my Nephew, Edwin Dodge of
Worthington his note which I hold, of one thousand
dollars together with any interest thereon that may
remain unpaid. The said note is secured by a
Mortgage on his Real Estate which I now hold. I order
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(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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Esther (Harding) Dickinson married Consider (1761-1855) in 1840 and, when he died in 1855, she inherited a large estate, which she prudently increased. She and Consider had no children. In her 1861 will, Mrs. Dickinson remembered each of her nieces and nephews and specified that a "high school, library, and reading room shall be located on my homelot on the Deerfield street." This bequest was in accordance with her husband's wishes. The Dickinson homelot became the home of Deerfield Academy by 1880.
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Will of Esther (Harding) Dickinson
author Esther (Harding) Dickinson (1790-1875) |
date 1861 |
location Deerfield, Massachusetts |
height 15.5" |
width 10.5" |
process/materials manuscript, paper, ink |
item type Legal Documents/Will |
accession # #L99.057 |
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