First, I direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be first paid. Second, It is my will that my executor herein after named shall sell either at public or private sale, and convey by a good and sufficient deed within two years from the date of my death the following described real estate , to wit. Apart of the tract formerly known as the Evey or Dexter land commencing at a point where Long Street and North Third street intersect [in Shelbyville, Illinois] and running thence east one hundred and six feet along the north side of North third street, thence north one hundred twenty feet, thence west one hundred and six feet to the place of beginning. situated in the city of Shelbyville, county of Shelby and state of Illinois. Third, I will and bequeath to my wife Martha E. Field to have and to hold as her absolute property forever the following described real estate to wit.
Fourth, It is my will that my executor pay unto my wife, Martha E. Field five hundred fifty dollars out of my money in his hands as so as collected from the assets of my estate. Fifth, It is my will and I direct my executor to pay my grandchild, Allie May Smith, two hundred fifty dollars out of any money he may collect from the assets of my estate in case she has some suitable person appointed to act as her guardian (if at that time she is a minor) rather her father, but in case she does not nominate such a person to act as such guardian then my said executor shall hold said money in trust for her until she becomes eighteen years of age at which time he shall pay said money over to her with all occurred interest. Sixth, It is my will that my executor, after reducing all of my property both said and real and personal, to money pay the above legacies to Martha E. Field (my wife) first, or retain my grandchild’s part in trust as above specified, – after which he will divide the remainder equally between my sons George E. and Keen R. Field each of said sons to share equally in such remainder. Seventh, it is my will that my wife Martha E. Field and my sons George E. Field and Keen R. Field divide my bed clothing and beds and picturers equally between them and each to take one third of the same. Also that my clothing shall be divided between my two sons George E. Field and Keen R. Field as they may agree. Eighth, I hereby appoint my nephew John. W. Field as executor of this my last will and testament, and declare this to be my last will and testament and hereby revoke all other wills by me made. In Witness thereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this 1st day of April, A. D. 1901. Benjamin R.Field (seal) We Edward N. Harron and Charles R. Athey hereby certify that Benjamin R. Field signed the foregoing instrument in our presence and declared the same to be his last will and testament, and that we signed the will in the presence of the testator and in the presence of each other and that we believe that said testator at the time of the execution of this will was of sound mind and disposing memory. Edward N. Herron Resident in Shelbyville, Illinois Will of Benjamin R. Field Deceased. Filed in the office of County (?) This 16" day of May A. D. 1903 Gilbert Allen (?) Clerk. Shelbyville Shelby C Ills Feb 27
Eight it is my will that my executor shall consider the word personal properly null and void it is my will that my executor after complying with my will except the word personal property Ninth to pack all my carpenter tools in the tool chest and rap it well with wire send it to Valparaiso Indiana to my son George E Field also pay the freight put the key in the box in the clothing tell him how to find it Tenth it is my will that my executor fix the brown beauro in the east room also the corner cupboard and fix them safe for shipping pay the freight and send them to Keen R. Field in Patoka Indiana Eeleventh when the beds and the clothing are divided box the boys shares separately and send them to George in Valparaiso and Keen to Patoka pay the freight all freight to be paid out of assets of my estate Twelfth it is my will that my wife Martha E. Field shall have the balance of my personal property not including money except her legacy nor notes nor certain articles that I will name which my executor shall sell also that my wife shall have the house and ground rent free untill sold. Thirteenth it is my will that my executors take the property I name here and sell them as best he can at private sale one the tile spade one weed (?). one sixteen foot ladder one step ladder one lawn mower one hand plow one grind stone. in witness hereof I hereunto set my hand and self this 27 Feb 1903 Benjamin R. Field We E. N. Herron and August H. Wynich hereby certify that Benjamin R. Field signed the forgoing insturment in our presence and declared the same to be his last will and testament and that we signed the will or codicil in the presence of each other and that we believe that said testator at the time of the execution of this will was of sound mind and disposing memory Edward Harron (seal) I also appoint John W. Field my nephew executor fo this codicil as will as the former will Benjamin R. Field |
Benjamin R. Field, being of sound mind and disposing memory, do make, publish and declare the following to be my last will and testament.
|
|
|
Benjamin R. Field (1828-1903) was a very interesting man. He was a son of Abraham Field (1793-1870) and Grace Rainey (1797-1863) and a grandson of Keen Field (abt. 1774-1815) and Anna Lewis Field (1773- aft. 1850). Keen and Anna were the first Field family members to move into southern Indiana. Keen was only the 4th man of European descent to move into Gibson County. It was Keen´s brothers, Joseph and Reuben Field, that were on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. When Keen and Anna settled in what later became Gibson County, Indiana about 1799, it was virgin land. By the time Benjamin died in 1903, just a little over 100 years later, there were roads, trains, towns, modern houses and a totally changed world. From what we have learned Benjamin was quite an active man. He was a farmer and a carpenter. He was on the school board for the Patoka Schools. He was the guardian of several children of the family. Benjamin had five wives and twelve children. He had children with Lydia Ellen Brown (1827-1869) and Elizabeth Moore (1838-1873). Before Elizabeth married Benjamin she had been married to Michael Turpin (1830-1860). With him she had one child, William Henry Turpin (abt. 1858-) None of her children with Benjamin survived very long. It is from Lydia that our line of the Field Family has descended. His sons George E. (1849-1915) and Keen R. (1862- aft. 1915) married and had children. Our line descends through George. In his will there is a section crossed out that describes property in Princeton, Indiana. He must have owned that property and possible intended to retire there. However, when Benjamin retired he moved to Shelbyville, Illinois. Two of his siblings lived there also. Keen Withers Field and Cynthia Anne Field Turner. All three owned homes in the same block of north Third Street. Therefore, he must have sold his Princeton property and then changed his will.
The photograph of what we think is Benjamin Field was found in the home of his grandson Harvey O. Field. Harvey and his wife Marie Jeanette Eddy, lived in Nappanee, Indiana. They died just one week apart in February of 1966. Their daughter, Mary Clouse, took down a picture that had been hanging at the bottom of the stairway in their home. It was a pen and ink drawing of a house. The house meant nothing to Mary so she took it out of the frame and behind the drawing was the torn faded photo of a man and 4 women. The house in the back ground was the house illustrated in the drawing. In the History of Gibson County by Stormont is the illustration of Benjamin Field’s house. As you can see if you click on the link below it is the same house. We are pretty sure the man in the photo is Benjamin but we do not know the year or who the women are. Benjamin moved to Shelbyville, Illinois in 1893. At that time he was married to Margaret Anne Gillispie. Margaret died in June of 1899. In August of 1899 he married Martha E. Vaught. Benjamin was her fourth husband and she was his fifth wife. She only had one child by previous marriages and that was Harry Foote, with her first husband Foote for whom we do not have a first name. After Benjamin died she married one more time to William P. S. Walton. |
|
|
|
|