52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2017 WEEK 4: JOSEPH ELLINGWOOD AND JOHN ELLINGWOOD SR.

I posted previously about my next two Ellingwood ancestors.

My 5x time great grandfather Joseph Ellingwood was born in Beverly, Ma. on 22 Feb 1723, was
married twice and had thirteen children. He died at Lyndeborough,Ma 15Jun 1790 at Lyndeborough, Ma. You can read the posts about his probate file (he used the Ellenwood spelling of the family name  at the link:

http://westinnewengland.blogspot.com/search/label/Ellingwood%20Joseph

Joseph's son John Ellingwood  was born at Amherst, NH on 19 Sep 1765 and married Zerviah Abbott 29 Dec 1789 at Andover, Ma.They had nine children most of whom were born at Bethel Me. where John died on 19 Jun 1847.John was a cordwainer and shoe maker, I did a series of posts about
his probate file which you can find at this link:

http://westinnewengland.blogspot.com/search/label/Ellingwood%20John%20Sr

My next post in the 52 Ancestors series will be on my 3x great grandfather John Ellingwood Jr.

THE ESTATE OF JOHN ELLINGWOOD SR.: SOME THOUGHTS ON PT3

Some thoughts on the inventory of my 4x great grandfather  John Ellingwood Sr.'s
estate:

- It took me a few minutes to decipher the signature before I realized that one of
the assessors was a woman, Barbara Bartlett. It's not the first time I've seen this.
And it makes perfect sense. After all, while men had a pretty good idea of the
value of tools and livestock in earlier times, they probably didn't have a clue on
most of the clothing and household items.

-While John was a shoemaker I noticed that there was nothing connected to his
trade listed in the inventory. From what I read in A History of Bethel:formerly
Sudbury, Canada, Oxford County, Maine, 1768-1890;with a brief sketch of Hanover
and family statistics, his son Ebenezer Ellingwood had taken over the business so
he'd probably already taken possession of John's tools and equipment years before.

- John is one of my ancestors who owned books, Yet so far I haven't seen a bible
listed in an ancestor's estate inventory.

-John certainly had an interesting wardrobe. I think the "1 Frock" refers to a frock
coat rather than a dress, and  the "calico  gown" probably was a night shirt. But I
have no idea what a "Spencer" was.


And that concludes my series on the Probate File of John Ellingwood Sr.

THE ESTATE OF JOHN ELLINGWOOD SR. PT3

It took me longer than I wanted to transcribe the next part of my
ancestor John Ellingwood Sr's Estate file. I find dealing with legal
folderol late at night tends to make me even sleepier than I already am,
no matter how fascinating the Inventory itself is.

The Inventory consists of about one and a third pages. In the legal
form I transcribe the printed part in boldface and the handwritten
in italics. Spelling and grammar is as it appears in the document.
Again, my apologies for not being able to keep the money value column
in a straight line.
 
I'll have some thoughts about this Inventory in the next post:

                            State of Maine

 Oxford, ss- To Barber Bartlett, Timothy Chapman,
 Seth B Newell three suitable disinterested persons, GREETING:

YOU are hereby appointed and empowered to take an Inventory
 of all the Real Estate, goods and chattels, rights and credits, which
are by law to be administered, of which John Ellingwood late of
Bethel in the county of Oxford, aforesaid dec'd seized or possessed
in said county, and according to your best skill and judgment, truly
and justly to APPRAISE the same in dollar and cents, according to
the present value thereof: And when you shall have completed the
said Inventory you are to deliver the same together with this warrant,
to the Exec. of said Deceased's Estate who is to return the same
into the Probate Office of said county, within three months from the
date hereof.

GIVEN under my hand and seal official, at a Court of Probate held
at Paris, Bethel in said county, on the twentieth day of September
in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty-seven.

Job Prince, Judge

Oxford , ss Oct. 9, 1847  

The above named Barbra Bartlett Timothy Chapman  Seth B Newell
personally appeared before me, and made oath that they would
faithfully and impartially perform the service to which they are
appointed by the above warrant.  

William Potter Justice of the Peace

Recorded by Reg K Shaw Register



An Inventory of the estate of John Ellingwood, late of Bethel
County of Oxford deceased taken in pursuance of the annexed
warrant.
                                Real Estate                                         $150.00
1 Lot of wild land with a small pasture on it
1 Pew in the Congregational meeting house                             3.50

                               Personal Estate
1 Cow $15.00 1 heifer 3 years old  $12.00                             27.00
1 yearling stear $7.00  1 calf  $4.00                                        11.00
8 sheep $14.00  2 swine  $8.00                                               22.00
1 old plough $1.00  4 old chains $4.00                                     5.00
1 old loom and weaving aperatus                                              2.00
3 old spinning wheels $1.50  old casks .50                               2.50
1 table and washtub $1.00 Iron ware & pails $3.25                  4.25
3 old chests 2 meat tubs $1.00 1 Baker .33cts                           1.33
2 set andirons $1.00 shovel & tongs $1.50 1 sod iron .25         2.75
9 chairs $3.50  2 cupboards $2.00  1 bellows .25                     5.75
1 set of draws $4.00 1 table & light stand $2.00                       6.00
8 silver spoons $6.00  crockery & glassware $3.00                  9.00
pewter & tin ware $2.00  warming pan & skimmer                   4.00
1 Quilt $4.00 1 Quilt $1.50 1 Quilt1.00 1 calico Quilt $1.00    7.50
8 pair sheets $4.00 4 bed blankets $3.00                                   7.00
6 pair pillowcases .75 7 table sashs (?) $3.00                           3.75
7 towels $1.25 old books $1.00 1 chest .50                               2.75
1 Feather bed & bedding $8.00 1 Feather bed $7.00                15.00
2 bedsteds and cords $1.00                                                         1.00
1 Frock 3 pair striped pants $1.00 underflannel $1.50                2.50
7 cotton shirts $2.00 1 calico gown $1.00                                   3.00
3 pair stockings 1 pair mittings .60  coat & pants $3.50              3.50
1 over coat $3.00 1Spencer .50 gloash & trimming $4.00           7.50
1 pair boots $1.00 1hat .25 2 belts .75                                         2.00
                                                                                                 311.65

Dated at Bethel Oct.9, 1847

Carried over

And the second page:

Amount brought over                                                                 311.65
1 old saddle .50  1 waggon cushing .50                                        1.00
2 bed puffs $1.50  1 iron crane & hooks .75                         2.25
6 tin milk pans $1.25                                                                     1.25
                                                                                                  316.15

Dated at Bethel Oct.9 1847

Barbr Bartlett
Seth B Newell
Timothy Chapman

THE ESTATE OF JOHN ELLINGWOOD SR. PT2

My 4x great grandfather  died 19Jun 1847. His son and executor  George V
Ellingwood submitted his first accounting of expenses over a year later in
October. Compared to some of the other estate lists I've seen so far in my
family it's pretty short and sweet. I'm attributing the delay to perhaps the
weather or the possibility it was a circuit court and George had to wait until
the location was a closer trip:

1st Executor Account

The first account of George V Ellingwood, Executor of the last will and testament
of John Ellingwood late of Bethel in the county of Oxford deceased. He charges
himself with the amount of personal estate of the deceased, according to the
inventory, (exclusive of notes and accounts.)                                                         $162.68

He prays for the allowance of of the following charges
For cash paid for expenses of the funeral                                                                 4.25
For cash paid Doctor Robert G Wiley for medical aid in last sickness                    3.75
For cash paid the appraisors as per receipt                                                              3.25
For cash paid  printers bills, advertising notices                                                      2.00
For cash paid Asa Cummings as per receipt                                                              1.00
For cash paid William Frye as per receipt                                                               00.97
For cash paid for a copy of will and postage on papers                                          00.75
For cash paid printers bill for advertising notices                                                    1.00
                                                                                                                                  16.51         
George V Ellingwood
At a Court of Probate, holden at Paris within and
for the County of Oxford on the seventeenth day of October in
the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty eight
THE said George V Ellingwood personally appeared before
me, and made oath to the truth of the above account ;-  notice having been given
pursuant to order of Court ; - I do thereupon DECREE, that the same be allowed
and recorded.
Job Prince JUDGE

    

THE ESTATE OF JOHN ELLINGWOOD SR. PT1: SOME OBSERVATIONS

One of the benefits of finding these documents is the information in them
leads you into reexamining what you already know about a family, and look at
events in a different light.

Back when I was doing my series about my 2x great grandfather Asa Ellingwood's
Civil War pension file, I remember thinking how sad that when his mother died
when Asa was four years old, it was his mother's Barrows relatives that took him
in instead of the Ellingwood side. After looking at his grandfather John Ellingwood
Sr.'s will, I realized that might not have been possible. Daniel Ellingwood was living
in upstate New York on the 1850 Censu and may have already left Maine before 1847.
Jacob Ellingwood had died in 1826 and left a widow and three children. Sarah
Ellingwood and her husband Samuel Libby already had a large family (and their son
Varanes Libby would become a figure in early Mormon history in Massachusetts.) 
Ebenezer had barely been married a year, and George had two small children already.
Finally, John Ellingwood Sr was already 67 years old and probably not able to care
for Asa and his five siblings. So Asa ended up with his Barrows relatives instead.

One of the three witnesses, Simeon Twitchell, was one of John Sr.'s brothers-in-law.
He was married to Zerviah Abbott's sister Hannah.  Jacob Ellingwood's widow was
Adeline Twitchell, who was either  Simeon's  younger sister or his niece. There have
been several other marital links between the Twitchelld and Ellingwoods over the
years.

THE ESTATE OF JOHN ELLINGWOOD SR. PT1

After the photo of the file cover, the first image of the Probate Court
file for John Ellingwood is of an undated will. Judging by the difference
between the handwriting in the body of the document and that of John's
signature, the document was written by someone else. I will post my
transcription first and have some thoughts about the document in my
next post.

In the Name of God, Amen.
I, John Ellingwood of Bethel in the County of Oxford and State of Maine,
do make, ordain and declare this instrument to be my last will and testament,
revoking all others.

In primus. All my debts, of which there are but few, and none of magnitude, are to
be punctually and speedily paid; and the legacies herein after bequeathed, are to
be discharged as soon as circumstances will permit and in the manner hereafter
directed.

Item. To my dearly beloved wife, Zerviah Ellingwood, I give and bequeath the use
and benefit, of, all the household furniture of which I may be lawfully possessed
at the time of my decease, -of one cow and three sheep- and of my pew in the
Congregational meetinghouse in the West Parish of Bethel.

Item. Upon the death of my wife, it is my will and desire, that my son, George V.
Ellingwood, should have all the personal estate above bequeathed to my wife,
and I do hereby give and bequeath the same to all.

Item. To my said son, George V. Ellingwood, I do further give, bequeath and devise,
all real estate of which I may be secured or possessed at the time of my decease,
wherever situated, and all the personal property to me belonging, other than that
above mentioned to my wife, wherever to be found-not meaning to destroy, or
invalidate any life lease, to me & my wife, of any real estate, from our son Daniel
G. Ellingwood, heretofore given.

Item. I hereby declare that I consider that I have heretofore given to my children
Sarah S. Libby, Daniel G. Ellingwood and Ebenezer Ellingwood, who are at this time
all living, and to  my deceased children Jacob Ellingwood and John Ellingwood Jr.,
all that I am able to give them or their children.

Item. It is my will & desire and I do hereby appoint my son, George V, Ellingwood,
the sole Executor of this my last will and testament.
John Ellingwood.

Signed, sealed and declared, by the abovenamed John Ellingwood, to be his last
will and testament, in presence of us, who, in the presence of the testator and of each
other, have hereunto susbscribed our names as witnesses,
Wm.Frye
Simeon Twitchell
Franklin Cross

To be continued.

JOHN ELLINGWOOD OF BETHEL, MAINE

Before I begin my posts concerning Probate File of my ancestor John Ellingwood,
I thought I'd give some history of him and his family.

When his father Joseph Ellingwood Sr had died in 1790, my 4x great grabdfather
John Ellingwood Sr. was  himself a married man with his first child on the way.
He'd married Zerviah Abbott in Andover, Ma. on 29 Dec.1789 at Andover Ma,
but lived in Hillsborough County NH. until sometime between the birth of his
second daughter there in 1792 and the birth of his first son at Bethel, Oxford,
Me.  in 1794. His wife Zerviah had three sisters and a brother who also lived in
Bethel; whether the Ellingwoods moved there because of her relatives or if the
others followed the Ellingwoods there is not known. At the time of their arrival.
the area was part of Canada and was known as Sudbury, with the name change to
Bethel coming after it became American territory.

In his History of Bethel:formerly Sudbury, Canada, Oxford County, Maine, 1768-1890;with a brief sketch of Hanover and family statistics, William Lapham gives the following information on John's family:

Ellingwood.
John Ellingwood, born in Amherst, Mass., Sept. 19. 1765, married Zerviah Abbot who
was born in Andover, Mass., March 19, 1768. He came quite early to Bethel and was a shoemaker. Children:

i Sarah Stevens, b. Hancock, Sept. 22, 1790, m. Samuel Libby, r. Newry.
ii Anna, b. March 12, 1792.
iii Jacob, b. Feb. 23, 1794, m. Adeline Twitchell.
iv Joseph, t- twin, b. July 3, 1797, d. same day.
v Benjamin,  t- twin, b. July 3, 1797, d. same day.
vi John, b. June 12, 1798, m. Rachel Barrows of Paris, d. 1835.
vii Daniel Gould, b. Aug. 23, 1800, m. Catherine Brown.
viii Ebenezer, b. Oct- 20, 1804, m. Sarah Chickering.
ix George V., b. Dec. 10, 1806, m. Esther Swan.
 ((pp523-524))

There is one error in the entry: John was born in Amherst, New Hampshire, not
Amherst, Ma.

Lapham also mentions that one of the mountains within the borders of Bethel was
renamed Ellingwood's Mountain from its former Indian name.

I've written before about John's son Daniel Gould Ellingwood and his part in the
pursuit of accused murderer David Robbins through the woods of New Hampshire
and Maine.

And with that background, I'll start my transcription of John's Probate File next.