Wordless Wednesday: Fountain and Mary Rash

Fountain Fox and Mary (Martin) Rash circa 1885
Mary was the sister of my paternal great, great grandmother, 
Ursula Ann  (Martin) Davis Burnette

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Amanuensis Monday: The Will of David B. Owen, Sr.

Last Will and Testament of David Brashears Owen

David Brashears Owen was born in Ohio on 16 Feb 1836 to James and Nancy Ann (Brashears) Owen. He was my paternal great, great grandfather. David married Sarah Samantha Miller, daughter of Benjamin B. and Elizabeth (Smith) Miller, on 31 Dec 1858 in Fayette Co., Illinois and died there on 5 Oct 1919, over nine years after his will was written. His deceased daughter, Mary Ellen Lucretia Townsend, as mentioned here in his will, was my great grandmother. Mary Ellen's daughter, Iva Illinois Townsend, also mentioned, was my grandmother.

The Last Will and Testament of David B. Owen of the Township of Sefton in the County of Fayette and State of Illinois made and published the 30th day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred Ten

In The Name of God Amen

I David B Owen of the Township of Sefton in the County of Fayette and State of Illinois of the age of Seventy Four years and being of Sound mind and memory, do hereby make publish and declare this my Last Will and Testament in manner following that is to Say:

First ÷ It is my will that my funeral Expenses and my just debts be fully paid:

Second ÷ I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah S Owen all my Estate both Real and personal So long as She lives and remains my widow. That upon her Death or remarriage all remainder of Personal property and all Real Estate I give bequeath and Devise to My Dear children as follows:

To - George W Owen  One Seventh part Thereof

To - Benj M Owen  One Seventh part Thereof

Subject to advancements To each of Five Hundred ($500.ᴼᴼ) Dollars in lands Conveyed to them Severally hereinafter more particularly set forth.

To - Roxanie Durbin  One Seventh part Thereof

To - James Owen  One Seventh part Thereof

To - David B. Owen Jr  One Seventh part Thereof

To - Sarah Dellas Simpkins  One Seventh part Thereof

and to my Dear Grand children, children of my deceased Daughter Mary E L Townsend as follows

To - Gladys S Townsend  One Thirtyfifth part Thereof

To - Floyd Townsend  One Thirtyfifth part Thereof

To - Mary E Townsend  One Thirtyfifth part Thereof

To   Iva Illinois Townsend  One Thirtyfifth part Thereof

To   Andrew Nelson Townsend  One Thirtyfifth part Thereof

The Specific charge of Five Hundred Dollars is here made against the interest of George W Owen in such of my Estate left by me on account of the following deemed and given to him by way of advancement To wit:

S 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 24 Town 7-N-A-2 - East of the 3rd PM in Fayette County, Illinois.

and the Specific charge of Five Hundred Dollars is here made against the interest of Benj M Owen in such of my Estate left by me on account of the following described land given to him by way of advancement to wit:

W 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 8 Town 7-N-R-3 East 3rd PM and the S 1/2 of the S 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 24 Town 7-N-R-2 East 3rd PM all in Fayette County, Illinois.

That upon a Division and final Settlement of my Estate as above provided, the Sums of Five Hundred Dollars shall be deducted from the Share each of George W Owen and Benj M Owen as herein charged against them and the Same distributed in Equal parts to Roxainie Durbin, James Owen, David B Owen Jr. and Sarah Dellas Simpkins. Each One Fifth (1/5) part Thereof and to Gladys S Townsend, Floyd Townsend, Mary E Townsend, Iva Illinois Townsend and Andrew Nelson Townsend My Grand children herein named Each one Twentyfifth (1/25) part Thereof:

Third, I hereby authorize direct and Empower my Executor hereinafter named upon the death or remarriage of my Said Wife or with her Written Consent before her Death or remarriage to Sell and Convey such of my Estate either Real or personal, part or all, without the order or Direction or Decree of any Court, having in View at all times the personal welfare of my Said Wife and making Such provisions for her care and comfort as She may need or require;: and upon such Sale being made to divide and Distribute the same to the Several parties named herein, or to their heirs:

It is Expressly provided That my Estate Shall be divided and settled up within a year after the Death or remarriage of my Said Wife:

Lastly, I hereby nominate and appoint James Owen to be the Executor of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made:

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the 30th day of March in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred Ten (1910)

David B Owen (seal)

The above Instrument consisting of Two Sheets was now here Subscribed by David B Owen the Testator in the presence of each of us and was at the same time declared by him to be his Last Will and Testament and we at his request sign our names hereto in his presence as attesting Witnesses:

                    J C Burtschi of Vandalia, Ill.

                   F I Henry of Vandalia, Ill.

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

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Sunday's Obituary: James John Trowbridge 1933

Death of James J. Towbridge

Knightstown Banner
May 5, 1933 pg. 8 c. 1 & 2

     James J. Trowbridge, age 82 years, died at Charlottesville last Friday morning at 8:30 o'clock of a complication of diseases, coupled with heart trouble. He is survived by one son, Arthur Trowbridge, at whose home he died; a daughter-in-law and one grandson also survive.

     Funeral services were held from the late residence at 10 o'clock Sunday morning, conducted by Rev. Omer Hufferd. Burial was at Curry's Chapel cemetey, in charge of O. M. Wilson, undertaker.

   Those out-of-town attending Mr. Trowbridge's funeral Sunday, were Mr. and Mrs. Joe Miller; Mrs. Genoa Holland of Knightstown; Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Runyon and daughter of New Castle; Mrs. Charles Newby and son Charles of Spiceland; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Emay, of Dunreith; Miss Ina Harrison; Mr. and Mrs. Claude Downey and son George of Fountaintown.

James John Trowbridge was the son of William Bradford and Julia Ann (Duncan) Trowbridge. He was married to a distant half-cousin, Sarah Elizabeth Trowbridge, daughter of John and Phoebe (Cook) Trowbridge. (Phoebe Cook married two distantly related men named John Trowbridge. Sarah is daughter of the first husband, I am a descendant of the second husband, John Calvin Trowbridge.)

Relationships to out-of-towners mentioned above: 

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Miller - Joseph F. and Estie (Trowbridge) Miller, Sarah Elizabeth's niece and her husband.

Mrs. Genoa Holland - mother of Estie. Genoa's first husband was Albert Franklin Trowbridge (brother of Sarah), and second husband was Edwin Holland.

Mr. and Mrs Lawrence Runyan and daughter - my maternal grandparents, Lawrence and Fern (Newby) Runyan and my mother, Janet Runyan.

Mrs. Charles Newby and son Charles - Ida May Newby and son, Morris Henry (mistakenly listed as Charles), my great grandparents, parents and brother of Fern Runyan.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Emay - not sure.

Miss Ina Harrison - sister of James and Sarah's daughter-in-law, Myrtle (Harrison) Trowbridge (wife of Arthur Manuel Trowbridge).

Mr. and Mrs. Claude Downey - another sister and brother-in-law of Myrtle Trowbridge.

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Sunday's Obituary: Sarah Samantha (Miller) Owen

Sarah Owen was my paternal great, great grandmother. 

A descendant chart can be seen by clicking this link

Obituary taken from the Fayette County Genealogical and Historical Society publication:
"Fayette Facts" Vol. 31, No. 2, pg. 30 at the Evans Public Library in Vandalia, Illinois.

           "OWEN, Sarah Samantha b 18 May 1839 Holmes Co., OH died at her home 4 May 1927 age 88y 1m 16ds. She was the dau of Benjamin and Elizabeth MILLER and came to this county at age 6. She m 30 Dec 1858 David B. OWEN and they were parents of 7 children - George Winfield, Ben McClellan, James and David B., Roxana E. DURBIN, Mrs. Dellas SIMPKINS and Lucretia TOWNSEND who died 7 Nov 1905. Her husband died 5 Oct 1919. Also surviving with the 6 children were 2 sisters, Mrs. Talitha ROBERTS of St. Elmo, Selecta OWEN, Aurora, MO and bro Ayres OWEN, 15 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren. Burial was in Fairview Cem. Vandalia Union 12 May 1927."

[A correction to the above obituary: "Selecta" should be "Electa".]

Click here to see the tombstone of Sarah and her husband, 

Rev. David Brashears Owen

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Tombstone Tuesday: Benjamin and Elizabeth Miller

Benjamin B. Miller

b. 1814  Pennsylvania  -  d.1892  Illinois

Elizabeth [Smith] Miller 

b.1814  Ohio  -  d. 1858  Illinois

married January 14, 1835 in Holmes Co., Ohio

My paternal third great grandparents
buried Post Oak Cemetery, Louden, Fayette Co., Illinois

This stone is, I assume, replacing an old or missing stone and appears to have been put in place by a grandchild, considering the inscription below the names. There are more complete birth and death dates to be found on various family trees but are somewhat suspect because none seem to be sourced. If anyone reading this has that source information I hope you will consider e-mailing me at the g-mail link towards the bottom of this page.

Photos were taken May 31, 2011.

Descendancy Chart

Miller tombstone and me

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Tombstone Tuesday: David B. And Sarah S. Miller Owen

REV. DAVID BRASHEARS OWEN 1836 - 1919

SARAH SAMANTHA (MILLER) OWEN 1839 - 1927

My paternal great, great grandparents

Fairview Cemetery, Sefton Twp., Fayette Co., Illinois

Tombstone photo courtesy of Find A Grave contributor Gary Feezel

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Amanuensis Monday: The Will of Sarah Schmetzer Owen - 1791 - Northampton Co., Pennsylvania

Sarah Schmetzer Owen 1724/25 - 1791

About Amanuensis Monday: John Newmark, who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog started a Monday Blog Theme called "Amanuensis Monday". John defines "amanuensis" as "a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

Will of Sarah Owen

In the name of God, Amen. I Sarah Owen of Upper Saucon Township in the County of Northampton and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Widow & Relict of David Owen late of the same Place Yeoman Deceased being advanced in Years and Very Infirm in health, but of Sound & disposing mind, Memory & Understanding, praised be God, for the same, and knowing the Mortality of my Body and that it is Appointed for all Man kind once to die, I do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in Manner following (Viz) I Give and Recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, my Merciful Creator and Redeemer and my Body to be Buried in a Christian like and decent Manner And Touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to be bless me in this life, I Give and dispose of the Same in Manner following: I do order & direct that after my Decease all my goods and Effects & Whatsoever was left to my disposal by my late Husband, of what name and denomination they may be, be converted into money by way of Public Vendue which said money so praised by the said Vendue Together with all other Money or Monies which shall then be due and owing to me by Virtue of my said Late Husbands last Will and Testament or otherwise The Same I Give Devise and Bequeath unto my three Grand Children (the Children of my son Thomas Owen Deceased) named Owen Owen, Hanna Owen, & Sarah Owen to be Equally divided Amongst them Part and Share alike, to be put out on Interest and Paid thereon when they Respectively arrive at the age Called twenty One Years, or on the days of their Marriages which of them shall happen first. And if any of my said Described Grand Children should die before they arrive at the said age, or before Married. Then I do so order that the whole shall be the Property of those who shall survive, likewise Equally to be Equally divided amongst them and I do Ordain, Constitute and Appoint my Son Nathan and my Son in law Jonathan Scot to be the sole Executors of this my last will and Testament in trust for the Purpose above mentioned In Witness Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal the thirteenth day of August, In the Year of Our Lord, One thousand Seven hundred & ninety One.

Signed, Sealed, Established, Pronounced and declared by the said said (sic) Sarah Owen, as signed for her Last Will and Testament in presence of us

Henrich Schaeffer

John Stout

Sarah Schmetzer was born in Pennsylvania and married David Owen about 1740. They were my paternal fifth great grandparents. Their son Nathan married Leah Margaret Hartzell. Nathan and Leah's son James married Nancy Ann Brashears. James and Nancy Ann's son David Brashears Owen married Sarah Samantha Miller. David and Sarah's daughter Mary Ellen Lucretia Owen married Andrew Melvin Townsend and their daughter Iva Illinois "Noy" Townsend married William Jesse Wallen. Noy and William J. were my paternal grandparents.

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Amanuensis Monday: The Will of Nathan Brashears - 1817 - Fairfield Co., Ohio

Nathan Brashears 1769 - 1818

About Amanuensis Monday: John Newmark, who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog started a Monday Blog Theme called "Amanuensis Monday". John defines "amanuensis" as "a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

1817 Will of Nathan Brashears

December 3rd 1817 In the name of God, Amen. I, Nathan Brashears of Fairfield County, Madison Township, State of Ohio, being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say, first I give and bequeath unto my loving wife all the lands and tenements which I now possess and am now living on during her widowhood, eleven or twelve acres excepted on the east side of said land with the improvements thereon which I grant the use of to Henrietta Mahoney during her natural life provided she lives on the premises herself and lives unmarried. I further give and bequeath unto my loving wife Elizabeth all my goods and chattels of what ever kind or nature after all my just debts are paid and all funeral expenses paid. I hereby appoint my loving wife Elizabeth sole executor of this my last will and testament hereby evoking all other former wills by me. Made in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the third day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen.

Nathan Brashears

Signed, sealed, published and declared the above named Nathan Brashears to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witness in the presence of the Testator.

John Lyons

Samuel Friend

HB Furthermore I grant to my loving wife Elizabeth all the privilege of the water belong to the said eleven or twelve acres of land on the east side of said land where I now live given under my hand and seal December 3rd 1817.

Nathan (his mark) Brashears

John Lyons

Samuel Friend

Fairfield County Ohio at a court of common pleas held at Lancaster in and for the county aforesaid on the 23rd day of March 1818 the foregoing past will and testament is proven by John Lyons and Samuel Friend the subscribing witness thereto on which it is ordered to be recorded.

Attest Hugh Boyle Clk

Nathan Brashears was born in 1769 in Frederick Co., Maryland. He married Elizabeth Scheidenhelm. They were my fourth great grandparents. Their daughter Nancy Ann married James Owen. Nancy and James' son David Brashears Owen, married Sarah Samantha Miller. David and Sarah's daughter Mary Ellen Lucretia Owen married Andrew Melvin Townsend who's daughter Iva Illinois "Noy" Townsend married William Jesse Wallen. Noy and William J. were my paternal grandparents.

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Amanuensis Monday: The Will of Nathan Owen 1811 Fairfield Co., Ohio

OWEN

My Owen line is of Welsh origins. Above is the dragon which has long been the symbol of Wales. At the bottom of this article is the Welsh Owen Tartan which I sometimes wear to Celtic events (when I am not wearing my Scottish Anderson Tartan).

My paternal grandparents were William Jesse Wallen and Iva Illinois "Noy" Townsend. Noy's parents were Andrew Melvin Townsend and Mary Ellen Lucretia Owen. Mary Ellen's parents were David Brashears Owen and Sarah Samantha Miller. David's parents were James Owen and Nancy Ann Brashears and James' parents were Nathan Owen and Leah Margaret Hartzell. Nathan was born about 1768 in Northampton Co., Pennsylvania and died in 1811 in Fairfield Co., Ohio. He married once before his marriage to Leah and that union produced one known son David. Nathan and Leah had 10 known children: James, William, Mary, Joseph, Charles, Nathan, Jesse, Thomas (not mentioned in will, may be deceased), Reuben and Levi. This below is a transcription of the Will of Nathan Owen:

In the name of God, Amen. I Nathan Owen of the county of Fairfield and state of Ohio, yeoman being very sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God; calling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die; do make and ordain this my last will and testament - that is to say principally, and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hand of almighty God that gave it, and my body I commend to the earth, to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection, I shall receive the same - again by the mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form: First, that all my last debts be paid, my dearly beloved Leah to have the privilege profits and income of all my real and personal estate for the term of ten years after my decease; together with the privilege of buying and selling any personal property for the schooling and maintenance of the children and at the expiration of ten years after my decease it is my will that all my real and personal estate shall be sold, except what shall be excepted hereafter. I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Leah such a part of my real estate as contained within the following boundaries at the expiration of ten years after my decease, viz; Beginning at William Young's corner on Clear Creek and running South to Robert Young's corner, thence east with said Robert Young's land till the N. E. corner of the same, thence North to Clear Creek, thence up said creek to the place of beginning, be the same, more or less, with all the profits arrising from the same during her natural life; I likewise give and bequeath to my beloved wife Leah at the expiration of ten years after my decease, the following property viz, one horse and saddle not under the value of sixty five dollars, two cows, two beds and beding together with the kitchen furniture, all the remainder of my real and personal estate to be praised and sold, giving any of the heirs jointly or singly the privilege of holding the same at the appraisment by paying the other heirs their proper shares; and after the decease of my beloved wife Leah, all the real and personal estate devised to her, by this my last will and testament, the same to be praised and sold for the benefit of the heirs, giving them the privilege of holding the same at the appraisement, as above, reserving out of my whole tract of land, one acre on the north east corner of the same for the benefit of a school, where a school house may be built and a grave yard for the benefit of the public - in general, such religious denominations as is hereafter mentioned to have the privilege of building a house for public worship on said reserve (vis) Old sort of Quakers, otherwise called Friends. Old sort of Manists, Babtists, Lutherans and Presbyterians, and no person or persons whatsoever to dwell or reside thereon. The said reserve to be appropriated to no other use than the purposes herein mentioned. I give and bequeath to my oldest son David by my first wife, eight dollars it being my will that my son James, my son William, my daughter Mary, my son Joseph, my son Charles, my son Nathan, my son Jesse, my son Reuben and the one unborn to have an equal share without distinction of all the monies interest profits and income. It is likewise my will that no sale shall be made of any part of my real estate before the expiration of ten years after my decease any of the heirs that should be of age before that time shall wait till such sale shall take place and money raised, and then to receive interest for the same from the time they become of age till the time they receive payment and the others to receive their shares as the respectively become of age. I likewise constitute make and ordain Martin Sanders Esq. Executor and my beloved wife Leah executrix of this my last will and testament likewise leaving the reserve above mentioned in their care and charge giving them power to transfer their charge of it to my heirs and then their heirs and so on successively hoping that all things herein mentioned and contained be faithfully and truly performed ratifying and confirming this (with they interlining and erasement as above) and no other to be my last will and testament. In Witness whereof I have herewith set my hand and seal this nineteenth  day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and eleven. Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of us and we in his presence have hereunto set our hand this day and date herein written. Nathan Owen

Alex McConkey

Hesekiah Hyatt

State of Ohio Fairfield County

At a court of common pleas begun and held at Lancaster in and for the county aforesaid on the 30th day of September AD1811 the within and forgoing last will and testament of Nathan Owen is produced in court and is proven by the oath of Alexander McConkey one of the subscribing witnesses thereto.

Attest Hugh Boyle Clk

At a court continued and holden as aforesaid on the first day of October AD1811 appeared Hezekiah Hyatt one of the subscribing witnesses to the within last will and testament and proved the same as the law directs on which it is ordered to be recorded and letters of executorship be issued to the executor and executrix therein mentioned by the court. 

Attest Hugh Boyle Clk

Welsh Owen Tartan

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