I
recently acquired a copy of 3rd Great Grandfather Adam Snyder’s estate
papers and will tell you about them today. His hopes and wishes for the family
after his death were revealed in the will.
Adam
prepared his will March 31, 1877 almost two years before his death on March 15,
1879. [1] You might find it helpful to
review my earlier post titled ‘TUESDAY’S TRUE BLUE GRANDPA Adam Snyder, Augusta
Co., VA, Exemplary and Peaceful Citizen’. Click
here to view.
His
first bequest provided for his two granddaughters, Alice J. E. Kiracofe and
Mary J. Kiracofe. Alice and Mary Josephine Kiracofe were the children of his
deceased daughter Catherine Virginia (Snyder) Kiracofe and the Rev. John Wesley
Kiracofe. The girls were to receive a $500 bond dating back to a land deal
between their father and grandfather. Grandfather Adam Snyder wanted them to
inherit $700 from his estate too. As you read through the will transcript
below, you’ll notice Grandfather’s language included detailed stipulations. I’m
certain this was his way of keeping the estate in the hands of his blood line.
The
next order of business was 3rd Great Grandmother Hannah (Hull)
Snyder. Grandfather left all his property to her. No doubt Grandfather wanted
to provide for her needs. The Kiracofe grandchildren wouldn’t receive their
$700 inheritance until after their grandmother died. The same was true of Adam
and Hannah’s daughters. Grandmother
lived to be 75 years old passing Jan. 2, 1892.
Adam’s
daughter, Elizabeth E. Snyder, was not yet married when he wrote his will. If
Elizabeth died without heirs, 3rd Great Grandfather wanted her share
of his estate given to his other daughter, my 2nd Great Grandmother
Sarah Jane (Snyder) Clemmer. It turns out this was unnecessary as Elizabeth E.
Snyder married James F. Clemmer April 22, 1877 several weeks after Adam
prepared his will.
Great
Grandfather’s last wish was that his two living daughters share his legacies
equally.
My
2nd Great Grandfather Joseph H. Clemmer (husband of Sarah Jane Snyder)
was appointed executor to settle Grandfather Adam’s estate. To serve as Adam
Snyder’s executor it was necessary for Joseph to post a bond. Joseph’s father,
William K. Clemmer, and uncle, Ananias J. Miller, were his bondsmen and pledged
their financial support in an $11,000 bond.
About
five weeks after his death, Jacob Baylor, John M. Baylor and Jacob F. Clemmer
inventoried Grandfather’s personal estate. [2] That property was sold at
a public sale August 15, 1879 for $331.80. [3]
Transcription
of Adam Snyder’s Will:
In the Name of God Amen, I Adam Snyder of
the County of Augusta and State of Virginia do make, Constitute and appoint
this my last will and testament, in terms and articles as follows viz:
1st I give and bequeath to my two
Grand-daughters Alice J. E. Kiracofe and Mary J. Kiracofe, a bond on J. W.
Kiracofe their father for five hundred Dollars payable the 10th day
of April 1876, it being a bond for the deferred payment on a tract of land
purchased of me by him, and conveyed to him by deed on record in the Clerks
Office of Augusta County, and in which Conveyance, the vendor’s lien is
retained to secure the payment of said bond and in addition to this I give to
my two grand-daughters above mentioned the sum of Seven hundred dollars in
money to be paid out of my Estate one half of said Seven hundred dollars, to be
paid to them at the Expiration of three years after the death of myself and my
wife, and the other half to be paid to them at the Expiration of five years,
after the death of myself and my wife. In case of the death of Either of these
grand children then these bequests to be made entire to the surviving one and
in case of both of them dying without any heirs of their bodies then these
bequests to revert to my two children Sarah J. Clemmer, wife of Jos. H. Clemmer
and Elizabeth E. my other daughter still unmarried.
2nd I give and bequeath to my
wife all of my property of whatever kind except the bond of J. W. Kiracofe for
five hundred dollars herein mentioned and fully described, for her use and
benefit during her life, and after her death I desire all of my property of
whatever kind to be divided Equally between my two children Sarah J. Clemmer
wife of Jos. H. Clemmer and Elizabeth E. my single daughter, subject to the
payment of the Special bequest of seven hundred dollars to my two
grand-daughters before mentioned herein, and in the times and manner herein enumerated.
3. In case of the death of my single
daughter Elizabeth E. Snyder without any heirs of her body, then I desire her
proper share of my Estate of whatever kind to revert to my daughter Sarah J.
Clemmer wife of Jos. H. Clemmer.
4. I herein make, constitute and appoint
Joseph H. Clemmer my son-in-law the Executor of this my last will and
testament, with the privilege of choosing an assistant if he think proper.
5. In the division of my estate between my
two children after paying the Special legacies herein mentioned, I wish the
division to be made entered equal, either by dividing the land and personalty
in Kind, or selling the same, and dividing the proceeds equally, after paying
all my just debts.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Thirty first day of March in the year one thousand Eight
hundred and seventy seven.
Adam Snider
Interlining
done before signing
Signed,
Sealed, published and
declared
– in the presence of these
witnesses,
who signed in the presence
and
at his request.
Witnesses
John M. Baylor
Jacob Baylor
M. W. D. Hogshead
In
Augusta County Court April 28th 1879
This Last Will and Testament of Adam Snider
decd, was presented in court and proved by the oaths of John M. Baylor and M. W.
D. Hogshead two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be
recorded. And on the motion of Joseph H. Clemmer the Executor therein named who
made oath thereto according to law, and together with William K. Clemmer and
Ananias J. Miller his securities (who Justifed as to their sufficiency and
moreover the obligors waiving all benefit of their homestead exemption) entered
into a bond in the sum of Eleven Thousand Dollars, payable and with condition
as prescribed by law, which bond was acknowledged in open court by the obligers thereto and ordered to be
recorded, Certificate is granted the said Joseph H. Clemmer for obtaining a
probate of said will in due form. The estimated value of decedents estate
passing under said will being $5600.00 it is ordered that said Executor pay the
state tax of $5.60 herein.
Teste
William A. Burnett Clk
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