Will and Testament of
Elizabeth Churchill
 

ED NOTE: Elizabeth was the daughter of Lyman Sperry and the wife of James M. Churchill. (Josiah, Janna Sr., Nathaniel Jr., Nathaniel Sr., Joseph, Josiah). James M. Churchill is the 3rd cousin once removed of the first Charles Belden Churchill Sr. ( b. 1795).

September 17, 1886

I, Elizabeth Churchill, of Avon, Fulton Co., Illinois, being of sound mind and memory. Make this final disposition of my property real and personal.

1. I give and bequeath all the personal property belonging to me to my brothers and sisters and direct that Ira P. Sperry of Tallmadge, Ohio and S. A. Sperry of McPherson, Kansas or some one whom they may name to have charge of the distribution of the same.

2. I give and devise all my real estate and all monies belonging to me after my just debts are paid, to the four following Benevolent Societies, namely: The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; The Illinois Home Missionary Society; The American Missionary Association, and the New West Education Commission; that is to say,
Twenty five percent of said monies and estate I give and devise to my Executors, in trust however, for the charitable uses and purposed of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, incorporated in New York in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Twelve, to be, by said Executors, paid over in cash to the then acting Treasurer of said society.

3. Thirty percent of said money and estate I give and devise to my Executors in trust to pay the same after my decease to the person who, when the same is payable shall act as the Treasurer of the American Missionary Association of New York City to be applied under the direction of the Executive Committee of the Association to its charitable uses and purposes.

4. Fifteen percent of said monies and estate I give and devise to my Executors in trust for the charitable uses and purposed of the New West Education Commission incorporated in the state of Illinois in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Seventy Nine, to be paid by said Executors after my decease for cash to the then acting Treasurer of said society.

I appoint Rev. James D. Wyckoff of Talerburg, Illinois and Dr. S. S. Clayberg of Avon, Illinois as Executors of this my Last Will. I direct that their payments be made in such reasonable time as to them may seem best but not to exceed three years and that they shall not be required to give bonds for the performance of this trust.

In witness whereof I have signed and sealed and declared and published this instrument as my last Will, at Avon, Fulton County, Illinois on this seventh day of September in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Eighty Six.

Signed: E. S. Churchill (SEAL)

The Said Elizabeth Churchill of Avon, Fulton County, Illinois on the said seventh day of September Eighteen Hundred and Eighty Six, signed and sealed and published and declared the same as her Last Will and we at her request and in her presence and on the presence of each other have hereunto written our names as subscribing witnesses and we certify that at the time she was of sound mind and memory.

Signed: R. R. Chatterton (SEAL)
G. J. Brinkerhoff (SEAL)
Emanuel Smith (SEAL)

STAMPED: Filed I the Office of the Clerk, County Court, Fulton Co., Illinois, February 14, 1888, P. H. Snively

ESTATE OF ELIZABETH CHURCHILL DECEASED.
LETTERS TESTAMENTARY,
Filed March 22, 1888
Recorded in Book C, Page 30
Attest: P. H. Snively, Clerk.
STATE OF ILLINOIS,}
FULTON COUNTY.} SS. IN COUNTY COURT, MARCH TERM, 1888

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS to all whom these Presents shall come—GREETING:

KNOW YE, that whereas Elizabeth Churchill, late of the County of Fulton, State of Illinois, died on or about the 31” day of January 1888 as it is said, after having duly made and published her last Will and Testament, a copy whereof is hereunto annexed, leaving at the time of her death, property in this State which may be lost, destroyed or diminished in value if speedy care be not taken of the same; and inasmuch as it appears that J. D. Wyckoff and S. S. Clayburg have been appointed Executors in and by the last Will and Testament, to execute the same:

Now, to the end that the said property may be preserved for those who shall appear to have a legal right or interest therein; and that the said Will may be executed according to the request of the said Testators, we do hereby authorize the said J. D. Wyckoff and S. S. Clayburg as such Executors to collect and secure, all and singular, the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were of the said Elizabeth Churchill at the time of her decease, in whosoever hands or possession the same my be found in this State; and well and truly to perform and fulfill all such duties as may be enjoined upon them by the said Will, so far as there shall be property, and the law charge them; and in general to do and perform all other acts which now are, or hereafter may be required of them by law.

Witness, P. H. Snively, Clerk of the County Court of the said County of Fulton, at his office in Lewistown, this 22” day of March, A. D. 1888, and the Probate Seal of said Court hereunto affixed.

Signed: P. H. Snively, Clerk of the County Court (SEAL)

WARRANT TO APPRAISERS.
ESTATE OF Elizabeth Churchill Deceased.
STATE OF ILLINOIS,}
FULTON COUNTY.} In County Court March Term A. D. 1888.
The People of the State of Illinois, To A. J. Churchill, Harry Cough and A. B. Tompkins of the County of Fulton and State of Illinois—GREETING:

This is to authorize you, jointly, to appraise the goods, chattels and personal estate of Elizabeth Churchill late of the county of Fulton and State of Illinois, deceased, so far as the same shall come to your sight and knowledge, each of you having first taken the oath hereto annexed; a certificate whereof you are to return, annexed to an Appraisement Bill of said goods, chattels and personal estate, by you appraised, in dollars and cents; and in the said bill of appraisement you are to set down in a column or columns, opposite to each article appraised, the value thereof,

WITNESS P. H. Snively Clerk of the County court, for the said Court, this 22 day of March A. D. 1888.

Signed: P. H. Snively, Clerk

OATH OF APPRAISERS.

You, each of you, do solemnly swear, that you will well and truly, without partiality or prejudice, value and appraise the goods, chattels and personal estate of Elizabeth Churchill deceased, so far as the same shall come to your sight and knowledge; and that you will in all respects perform your duty as appraisers, to the best of your skill and judgment.

Subscribed and sworn to this 28th day of March A. D. 1888, before me,
Signed: A. J. Churchill, H. H. Cough, A. B. Tompkins

Signed: Frances M. Nance, Justice of the Peace

APPRAISERS’ ESTIMATE FOR THE WIDOW.

We, the undersigned, appraisers appointed by the Judge of the County Court of Fulton County to appraise and value the goods, chattels and personal estate of deceased, do hereby make and certify to said Court, the following estimate of the value of each of specific property allowed by law to the widow, for herself and family, to wit:

ITEMS. DOLLARS/CENTS
School Books and Family Library $100.00
Household and Kitchen Furniture $100.00
Other Property $100.00

APPRAISEMENT BILL.
Estate of ELIZABETH Churchill, Deceased.
Filed this 6th day of April 1888.
Approved April 18, 1888, J. B. Montgomery, County Judge
Recorded in Appmt. Record O, Page 177, P. H. Snively, Clerk
STATE OF ILLINOIS,}
FULTON COUNTY.} IN COUNTY COURT April Term, 1888.
An Appraisement Bill of Goods, Chattels and Personal Estate of Elizabeth Churchill late of said County, deceased, made by virtue of the annexed Warrant.

ARTICLES DOLLARS/CENTS
1 Lot Dishes in cupboard $ 5.00
1 Cupboard $ 2.00
1 Cupboard and contents $1.00
1 Stand and towels $ 1.50
1 Lot Miscellaneous in Kitchen $ 2.00
1 Lot Furniture $ 1.00
1 Lot Wood and Tools $ 5.00
1 Lot Canned Fruit $ 2.00
1 Lot Furniture in Sitting Room $12.00
1 Carpet in Sitting Room $ 1.50
1 Clock $ 2.00
1 Mirror $ .50
1 Lot Miscellaneous in Sitting Room Cupboard $ 3.00
1 Lot Miscellaneous in Sitting Room Bureau $ 2.50
1 Lot Books $ 2.00
1 Lot Clothing in Bed Room Closet $20.00
1 Bed and Bedding $ 4.00
1 Sewing Machine $ 2.00
1 Carpet Sweeper $ .50
1 Table in Bed Room $ 1.00
1 Carpet in Bed Room $ 1.00
1 Parlor Set $15.00
1 Center Table and What Not $ 6.00
1 Brussels Carpet $10.00
4 Lace Curtains $ .50
1 Lot Miscellaneous in Parlor $ 3.00
1 Lot Miscellaneous in Hall Closet $ 5.00
1 Hat Rack $ 1.00
1 Lot Bedding Etc. in Upstairs Closet $10.00
1 Bed & Bedding Bureau Etc. in
upstairs Bed Room $20.00
1 Base Burner Stove $ 5.00
1 Watch $ 3.00
1 Lot Plated Ware $ 5.00
1 Wheelbarrow $ 1.50
Total $157.00

We, the undersigned, appointed by the Honorable County Court of said County, to appraise the goods, chattels and personal estate of Elizabeth S. Churchill late of said County, deceased, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct Appraisement Bill of said goods, chattels and personal estate, so far as the same have come to our sight and knowledge; that we have appraised each article at its true value according to the best of our skill and judgment, having first taken the oath required by law.

Given under our hands and seals, this Twenty Eighth day of March 1888

Signed: A. B. Tompkins}
H. H. Cough} Appraisers
A. J. Churchill}

We, the Appraisers above named, do certify that we have attended and served one day each, in appraising the estate of said deceased.

Signed: A. B. Tompkins}
H. H. Cough} Appraisers
A. J. Churchill}

INVENTORY
ESTATE OF ELIZABETH CHURCHILL, DECEASED.
Filed this 6th day of April 1888
Approved May 8, 1888, J. B. Montgomery, County Judge.
Recorded in Invent. Record J, Page 41, P. H. Snively, Clerk

STATE OF ILLINOIS,}
FULTON CONTY,} SS.
In the matter of the Estate of Elizabeth Churchill, 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 S. S. Clayburg of Avon, Ill.

REAL ESTATE
Lot 3 Block 8, Village of Avon, West side Main St. $1550.00
Lot 4 Block 8 Village Avon $ 600.00
Lot 5 Block 8 Village Avon $ 100.00
Lot 5 Block 9 Village Avon $ 450.00
Lot 6 Block 9 Village Avon $ 500.00
Lot 1 Block 10 Village Avon $ 250.00

Household goods as per appraisement $ 157.00
Cash on hand at time of Decease $ 49.45

NOTES AND ACCOUNTS

BY WHOM OWING DATE INTEREST GOOD DESPERATE AMOUNT

Mary E. Y. Woods Jul 6-85 54.00 Good $1254.00
A. J. & Mary E. Churchill Apr 22-85 23.00 Good $ 23.00
T. V. Stout Apr 7-87 9.30 Good $ 64.30
T. V. Stout Nov 8-87 4.55 Good $ 74.55
S. A. Sperry Aug 21-82 233.75 Desperate $ 382.25
S. Tompkins And Sons Jul 7-87 Certificate of Deposit $ 125.00

Total: $2323.10

I do hereby certify that the above is a correct Inventory of the Real and Personal Estate of Elizabeth Churchill Deceased. Given under our hands, this fifth day of April 1888
Signed: S. S. Clayburg

FINAL REPORT
OF THE ACCOUNT OF S. S. CLAYBURG AND J. D. WYCKOFF, EXECUTORS of the Estate of ELIZABETH CHURCHILL, DECEASED.
Filed this 1st day of March A. D. 1892 and recorded in Account Current, Record H, Page 426, Joseph Harmon, County Clerk.
Approved before me this 8th day of April A. D. 1892, A. M. Barnett, County Judge.

STATE OF ILLINOIS,}
COUNTY OF FULTON.} SS. County Court, April Term, 1892

In the matter of Estate of Elizabeth Churchill Deceased, S. S. Clayburg and J. D. Wyckoff Executors of the Estate of Elizabeth Churchill, Deceased.

In account with Said Estate.
DR.

1890

Aug. 29 To balance on report #2 $657.74
To balance on real estate sales $905.00
To balance on Interest received $ 32.55
To balance on rent received $ 72.70
Credit $1667.99

1890

Mar 25 By amount paid _______ $ 1.00

1891 By amount paid Sentinel $ 8.00

May 28 By amount paid H. M Soc’ty $221.05
By amount paid Am. M. Assoc. $184.20
By amount paid Am. B. of Conn. $184.20

1892 _____ E. Conn. $110.55
Mar 18 Geo. Whitaker Services $ 15.00
S. S. Clayburg, Exp. R___ $ 25.00

Mar 24 Avon Sentinel Notice $ 1.00
31 Home M. Soc’ty $ 40.89

April 1 The M W E Conn $ 20.44
A M B of Conn $ 30.67
A M M Assoc. $ 30.67
J. Harrison $ 8.85
A. J. Churchill $335.33
___ on Personal 6% $151.77
“ “ Real estate 3 % $108.51
E_____ in Churchills note $100.00
E_____ in interest $ 90.86

Total: $1667.99

Respectfully Submitted:

Signed: S. S. Clayburg, J. D. Wyckoff, A. J. Churchill