Below are transcriptions of probate documents concerning the estate of Otis Torrey NELSON. They are on file in Worcester County Probate Court, where I viewed them on 8 September 2000. Docket #26579 comprises the following documents.
Asterisks mark the documents I copied - I bit off way more than I could chew in the time I had available, so I tried to limit the job. Dates are filing dates; swearing dates are so noted.
BROWN
COOK
COYNE
DAY
ELLIS
FALES
FISHER
KIMBALL
NELSON
WHITE
The original will is typewritten, and contains the misspellings "decendant," "Thommas," and "devided." This is a verbatim copy.
|
BE IT REMEMBERED that I Otis T. Nelson of Milford in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being of sound mind and memory but knowing the uncertainty of this life, do make this my LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. After the payment of my just debts and funeral expenses, I bequeath and devise as follows:- First. To Fred L. Ellis of Milford in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I give the house and lot at Number 346 Main Street in said Milford, in trust however for the following purposes and not otherwise:- To pay over the net income rents and profits derived therefrom to my daughter Mary E. Brown, and if my said daughter shall so desire, it is my will that she shall occupy and enjoy said property for and during her natural life, and at her decease it is my will that the title to said property shall immediately vest in the children of my said daughter and the decendants of any deceased child or children of my said daughter. Second:- I also give to the said Fred L. Ellis the sum of Fifteen hundred dollars, in trust however for the following purposes and not otherwise:- To pay over the net income, rents and profits derived therefrom to my daughter Mary E. Brown, and so much of the principal sum as in the judgment of said Ellis her needs and necessities may require, for and during her natural life and at her decease it is my will that said principal sum or so much thereof as shall remain unexpended shall be paid over by the said Fred L. Ellis to the children of the said Mary E. Brown and the survivors of any deceased child or children. Third:- All the rest and residue of the estate of which I shall die seised and possessed, whether real, personal, or mixed, of whatever name or nature, and wherever situated, I give devise, and bequeath to my beloved wife Hannah H. Nelson to have and to hold the same for and during her natural life, with the right to my said wife to use the net income to be derived from the same during her natural life, and if her needs and necessities require it then it is my will that she shall have the right to sell and dispose of so much of the real estate as shall be necessary for her comfort and convenience, and at her decease it is my will that all of said property or so much thereof as shall remain undisposed of and the proceeds derived from the sale of any of said property which shall remain unexpended at the decease of my said wife shall be divided equally between my children Ellen M. Cook, Elizabeth White, Anna F. Ellis, Etta E. Day and Thommas O. Nelson to be devided equally between them share and share alike, and said trust shall terminate. Fourth:- I hereby nominate and appoint my said son Thomas O. Nelson to be the executor of this my last will, and I hereby request that he be exempt from furnishing any surety or sureties on his official bond of such executor. In testimony whereof I, hereunto set my hand and seal and in
the presence of three witnesses declare this to be my last will
and testament this sixth day of May in the year One thousand eight
hundred and ninety-nine.
/s/ Otis T. Nelson
On this Sixth day of May A. D. 1899, Otis T. Nelson of Milford Massachusetts signed the foregoing instrument in our presence, declaring it to be his last will: and as witnesses thereof we three do now, at his request, in his presence, and in the presence of each other, hereto subscribe our names.
|
Abstract of Rochefort's Milford & Hopedale Directory for the year 1900. These are the listings for the above witnesses.
| Lowell E. Fales | lawyer and special justice, 154 Main | rooms do. (see page 22) [his advertisement] |
| Louis [sic] L. Fisher | real estate, 154 Main | house West Pine, near Gibbon ave. |
| Thomas Coyne | messenger (State House, B.) | house 12 Bacon slip |
The original form is printed, with blanks to fill in and unused choices to cross out. This is a partial, verbatim copy of the "finished" words. Dated 26 June 1900.
Respectfully represents Thomas O. Nelson of Milford in the County of Worcester that Otis T. Nelson who last dwelt in Milford in said County of Worcester, died on the nineteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred, possessed of goods and estate remaining to be administered, leaving no widow, and as his only heirs at law and next of kin, the persons whose names, residences and relationships to the deceased are as follows, viz.:
Name Residence Relationship Mary E. Brown Milford, Mass. daughter Ellen M. Cook do. do. do. Elizabeth White Boston, do. do. Anna F. Ellis Milford, do. do. Henrietta E. Day Chicago, Ill. do. Thomas O. Nelson Milford, Mass. son (petitioner)
Fred L. Ellis declined the trusteeship; Thomas O. Nelson petitioned for it. It is signed by Thomas O. Nelson, and has signatures of approval from Bertha M. Brown, Jennie E. Carpenter, William H. Brown, Lottie M. Kimball, and Cora N. Brown, all of Mary E. Brown's living children.
Verbatim copy (spelling preserved) of the schedules from the "First and Final Account" of Thomas O. Nelson, Otis T. Nelson's executor. It covers the period 10 July 1900 through 16 January 1902. It is signed by Thomas O. Nelson, and has signatures of approval from Ellen M. Cook, Anna F. Ellis, Mary E. Brown, Elizabeth White, and Henrietta E. Day, all of Otis' living children.
| Schedule A. | ||
| 1900 Sept. 1 |
Amount of personal property, according to inventory. | 4175.59 |
| Amounts received from income, gain of sale of personal property over appraised value, and from other property, as follows: | ||
| Sept. 6 | Interest rec'd. from deposit in Woonsocket Institution for Savings | 40.36 |
| Sept. 6 | Interest rec'd. from deposit in Peoples' Savings Bank, Woonsocket, R.I. | 40.40 |
| Sept. 14 | By sale of personal property (at auction) over the appraised value | .96 |
| Oct. 6 | To interest on Thomas O. Nelson, note dated Sept. 23, 1893, ($16.90 included in inventory) | 1.10 |
| Oct. 6 | By sale of personal property (at private sale) over the appraised value | 2.76 |
| Nov. 3 | To interest on Thomas O. Nelson's note dated Oct. 20, 1893 - $20. ($17.27 included in inventory) | 2.73 |
| Nov. 12 | To sale of hay to T. Manion for $25. - inventoried at $15. | 10.00 |
| Dec. 6 | To interest on Thomas O. Nelson's note dated Dec. 1, 1893 - $20. ($15. included in inventory) | 5.00 |
| Dec. 18 | To cash from deposit in Prodecers Sav. Bank, Woonsocket, R.I. | 1040.40 |
| Dec. 18 | To cash from deposit in Woonsocket Inst. for Savings, Woonsocket, R.I. | 550.00 |
| 1901 Oct. 1 |
To interest on Thomas O. Nelson's note dated Sept. 23, 1893 | 18.00 |
| Oct. 25 | To interest on Thomas O. Nelson's note dated Oct. 20, 1893 | 20.00 |
| Dec. 12 | To interest on Thomas O. Nelson's note dated Dec. 1, 1893 | 20.00 |
| 1902 Jan. 15 |
To cash from deposit in Peoples' Savings Bank, Woonsocket, R.I. | 1061.20 |
| Jan. 15 | To cash from deposit in Woonsocket Inst. for Savings, Woonsocket, R.I. | 1071.60 |
| 1901 Apr. 10 |
To interest on Thomas O. Nelson's note dated Aug. 1, 1893 - $64.52. ($26.87 included in inventory) | 37.65 |
| 1902 Jan. 15 |
To interest on deposit in Milford Sav. Bank, book #20675 | 48.26 |
| 8096.01 | ||
| Schedule B. | ||
| Showing payments, charges, losses and distributions. | ||
| 1900 Aug. 31 |
Town of Hopedale, 1900 taxes | 1.00 |
| Sept. 5 | Town of Milford, 1900 taxes | 72.06 |
| Sept. 5 | To myself for services as nurse | 29.00 |
| Sept. 14 | S. Warren Cook, services and expenses as auctioneer | 12.00 |
| Sept. 14 | To myself for services relating to auction sale | 9.40 |
| Sept. 14 | E. E. Cook, hacks | 28.00 |
| Sept. 14 | M. W. Knight, M.D., services | 16.00 |
| Sept. 14 | Avery & Woodbury, chairs for funeral | 4.69 |
| Sept. 14 | Pine Grove Cemetery | 6.00 |
| Sept. 17 | Avery & Wood. undertaking | 114.00 |
| Oct. 16 | Anna F. Ellis, board, care, etc. of deceased | 35.25 |
| Dec. 18 | Thomas O. Nelson, Trustee for Mary E. Brown-legacy | 1550.00 |
| Dec. 18 | Executor's expenses to Woonsocket | 1.75 |
| 1901 Jan. 23 |
C. A. Cook, legal services | 18.50 |
| May 25 | C. L. Fair, monument | 232.00 |
| Nov. 9 | To sale of vinegar at less than appraised value, (inventoried $12, sold for $7.65) | 4.35 |
| To spray pump, inventoried at | 5.00 | |
| To winnering machine, inventoried at | 3.00 | |
| To C. A. Cook, legal services | 5.00 | |
| Services as executor | 100.00 | |
| Ellen M. Cook, distributive share | 1179.80 | |
| Elizabeth White, distributive share | 1179.80 | |
| Anna F. Ellis, distributive share | 1179.80 | |
| Henrietta E. Day, distributive share | 1179.80 | |
| Thomas O. Nelson, distributive share | 1179.80 | |
| 8096.01 | ||
Verbatim copy (spelling preserved) of the schedules from the "Fourth and Final Account" of Thomas O. Nelson, Otis T. Nelson's trustee (Fred L. Ellis having declined to serve). It covers the period 30 November 1906 through 3 August 1924; it is dated 5 December 1924. By this time Thomas O. Nelson has died, so it is signed by Fannie W. Nelson, administratrix of his estate. It has signatures of approval from Mary E. Brown (her mark; apparently incapable of signing, she died 14 December 1924) and her children Cora N. Brown, Bertha M. Brown, Jennie E. Carpenter, William H. Brown, and Cora N. Brown, Trustee Carleton B. Kimball (minor son of also-deceased Charlotte "Lottie" Kimball).
| Schedule A. | ||
| Amount of personal property, according to inventory, or Balance of principal, according to next prior account, Amounts received on account of principal, as follows: |
1500.00 | |
| Schedule B. | ||
| Amounts paid out and charges on account of principal, as follows: | ||
| Mary E. Brown | 967.73 | |
| Cora N. Brown, trustee under aforesaid will, (appointed to fill vacancy):- | ||
| Deposit in Milford Savings Bank, Milford, Mass., book No. 25911 | 74.04 | |
| Deposit in Benjamin Franklin Savings Bank, Franklin, Mass., book No. 6744 | 441.97 | |
| Cash | 16.26 | |
| 1500.00 | ||
| Schedule D. | ||
| Balance of income according to next prior account, Amounts received on account of income, as follows: |
||
| Rent of house, 348 Main St., Milford, Mass. from Nov. 1, 1906 to Dec. 1, 1910 | 448.50 | |
| Interest on deposit in Milford Savings Bank | 613.60 | |
| Interest on deposit in Benjamin Franklin Savings Bank | 355.83 | |
| 1418.93 | ||
| Schedule E. | ||
| Amounts paid out and charges on account of income, as follows: | ||
| Clark Ellis & Sons - plumbers | 66.59 | |
| Milford Water Company - water rent | 198.39 | |
| Lewis Hayden - insurance | 25.55 | |
| Cenedella & Co. masons | 23.00 | |
| A. P. Clarridge - mason | 24.95 | |
| Z. C. Field - lumber | 10.96 | |
| T. E. Morse Co. - painters | 29.99 | |
| Geo. I. Woodbury - labor | 7.00 | |
| F. L. Davis - carpenter | 43.10 | |
| Frank Albee - mason | 4.75 | |
| Milford, Hopedale and Mendon District Nursing Asso. - nursing | 6.75 | |
| Labor | 1.00 | |
| Dr. J. J. Duggan - medical services | 6.00 | |
| Town of Milford - taxes | 617.98 | |
| Thomas O. Nelson - services as trustee | 60.00 | |
| Mary E. Brown, beneficiary | 292.92 | |
| 1418.93 | ||
Verbatim copy (spelling preserved) of the schedules from the "First and Final Account" of Cora N. Brown, Otis T. Nelson's trustee. It covers the period 15 December 1924 through 22 January 1925; it is dated 22 January 1925. It is signed by Cora N. Brown, trustee. It has signatures of approval from Jennie E. Carpenter, Carlton B. Kimball, Bertha M. Brown, and William H. Brown.
| Schedule A. | ||
| Amount of personal property, according to inventory, or | 533.94 | |
| Balance of principal, according to next prior account, | ||
| Amounts received on account of principal, as follows: | ||
| Schedule B. | ||
| Amounts paid out and charges on account of principal, as follows: | ||
| Mary E. Brown, life beneficiary, died dec. 14, 1924 | ||
| Jennie E. Carpenter, daughter of said Mary E. Brown, distributive share | 106.79 | |
| William H. Brown, son of said Mary E. Brown, distributive share | 106.79 | |
| Bertha M. Brown, daughter of said Mary E. Brown, distributive share | 106.79 | |
| Cora N. Brown, daughter of said Mary E. Brown, distributive share | 106.79 | |
| Carlton B. Kimball, son of Lottie M. Kimball, daughter of said Mary E. Brown, distributive share | 106.78 | |
| 533.94 | ||
| Schedule D. | ||
| Balance of income according to next prior account, | ||
| Amounts received on account of income, as follows: | ||
| Interest on deposit in Benjamin Franklin Savings Bank, Franklin, Mass. | 9.92 | |
| 9.92 | ||
| Schedule E. | ||
| Amounts paid out and charges on account of income, as follows: | ||
| C. A. Cook - legal services | 9.92 | |
| 9.92 | ||
This ended Cora N. Brown's trusteeship; it is dated 22 January 1925. It lists the beneficiaries of the trust, with their addresses and signatures, as follows: Jennie E. Carpenter, of North Attleborough, Massachusetts; William H. Brown, of Exeter, New Hampshire; Bertha M. Brown, of Providence, Rhode Island; Carlton B. Kimball, of Newburyport, Massachusetts.
·