Tombstone Tuesday–Merritt Howell Jr.

My 4th great-grandfather Merritt Howell, Jr. died in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York on 4 December 1857 at the age of 74.  (See previous post The Life of Merritt Howell, Jr. and The Will of Merritt Howell, Jr.)  He had outlived his wife and several of his children.

Merritt Howell

Died

Dec. 1, 1857

AE. 74 years 4 days 

(there is an inscription at the bottom that is, unfortunately, very difficult to now read)

Riverhead Cemetery, Riverhead, New York

The photo for FindAGrave, added by Joy Ann Strasser in 2013, shows the writing as much clearer.     It is astonishing to note the deterioration that has occurred in 6 years.

• I noticed the death date on the stone as 1 December and I have found it listed elsewhere as 4 December.  Hmm...I need Church records and perhaps a Family Bible?
• After I read Codicil One where Merritt directed “As for the tombstones for myself and my said wife it is my will that my Executor shall pay forty dollars for each and that he shall enclose our graves and that of my deceased child Elenor Ann with a substantial iron fence” I looked again at the photo and realized there was no iron fence.  On the ground I can see what might have been part of a stone base and stone posts and wonder if perhaps an iron fence one day had been connected to that?
• I hadn’t realized until I was recently researching Merritt that he was buried in the Riverhead Cemetery.  While visiting New York during the Holidays I decided I ‘needed’ to go to the Cemetery and find his grave, as any good Genealogist would need to do, in order to get my own photo and pay my respects.  (Yes, there was already a photo on FindAGrave but I needed my own photo.)
• My father, step-mother and I set out on a quest to find the grave.  How difficult could that be?  His grave was listed as Grave #1 for the cemetery and my father knew where the original entrance had been.  I drove in to the cemetery and parked.  We fanned out in different directions looking for a stone that said Howell.  We walked and walked only to realize, eventually, that Merritt's grave was right next to the right bumper of the car.  Without realizing it I had parked right next to the Howell plot.
• I found it very interesting that as I stood there behind his grave and looked up, this is what I saw 

there in the background stood the school (Pulaski Street School) I had worked at for 11 years, right there adjacent to the cemetery!  For most of those years I even had classrooms on the side overlooking the end of the cemetery where my ancestors lay.  You just never know the connections you may have to a specific area.


If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Codicils Two and Three for Merritt Howell Jr.

If you have been following the Life of Merritt Howell Jr., and the  Will of Merritt Howell Jr., you know there were Three Codicils to his Will.  The First Codicil for Merritt Howell Jr. was previously presented and discussed.  We can see and understand the reason for several of the changes to the original Will. What can we learn from the last two Codicils that follow:

Second Codicil (11 November 1857)

(click on image to enlarge)

Transcription: 
Whereas I, Meritt Howell of the town of Riverhead in Suffolk County have made my last will and testament I hereby give and bequeath to be equally divided among my said seven children, Fanny B., Hampton F., Betsey, Sally, Harriet, Francis and Jemima (the children of Jemima to take together the same share their mother would have taken if living) all my personal property including money notes and stock, except household furniture after paying my just debts and the legacy given by my Codicil to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and except the notes I hold against John K. Smith and Hallock Edwards decd [deceased] which are given away by my said will_
I hereby appoint my son Hampton F. Howell and Sylvester Hallock my son in law Executors of my said will and of this Codicil and I hereby substitute the said Hampton F. Howell and Sylvester Hallock in the place of my daughter Sally Edwards as Trustees of the lands given by my said Will and Codicil for the use of my grandson Elbert H. Edwards and it is my will that they shall take the said lands with the same powers & for the same purposes (&subject to the same legacy to the said Sally Edwards might have taken them under the said Codicil, and that they shall furnish the said Elbert a house and support and ordinary schooling till 21 years old (unless he shall sooner marry) out of the income of such property_And I hereby annul so much of said Will & Codicil as gives to Sally Edwards any fire wood or cordwood out of said lands_ I desire that this Codicil may be annexed to & taken as a part of my said last will and testament as aforesaid to all intents & purposes_ In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this eleventh day of November one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven_
                                                                                                         Merritt Howell L.S.

Signed sealed published & declared by the said Merritt Howell as & for the Second Codicil to his last will & testament in presence & in the presence of each other have signed our names as witnesses-
     James H. Tuthill residing in Riverhead in Suffolk County
     Sylvester Miller residing in Riverhead in Suffolk County


Some thoughts and questions:

• Daughter Jemima (my 3^rd great grandmother) died 22 October 1857 only weeks before this Codicil was written.
• In the original Will Merritt’s wife Elenor and only son Hampton were listed as Executors. In Codicil One Elenor has passed away and no one is mentioned as Executor except his son Hampton. Now in Codicil Two Merritt lists Hampton again and adds his son-in-law Sylvester Hallock as Executor. Why did he decide to add his son-in-law Sylvester Hallock (Frances' husband) as an Executor? Why not add one of his other son-in-laws?
• What happened with Sally and why did he make these changes?  Why did he no longer what her to be trustee for her son?  Is it because she remarried?
• Now in this Codicil he adds his personal property to his Will and divides it equally among his living children but also includes the children of his deceased daughter Jemima.

Third Codicil (24 November 1857)

Transcription:
I, Merritt Howell, hereby make this third Codicil to my last will and to testament by which Codicil I hereby give and bequeath to the children of my deceased daughter Jemima Howell all the notes I hold against my son in law Daniel Howell to be divided equally between them share and share alike, which notes are to be executed from the personal property bequeathed by my second Codicil bearing date the eleventh day of November 1857, and this bequest is not to affect the share of the said children in the other personal estate given them by the said second Codicil_In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty fourth day of November one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven_ his

                                                                                                              Merritt Howell L.S.


Signed sealed published and declared by the said Merritt Howell as & for the third Codicil to his last will and testament in presence of us who at his request & in his presence & in the presence of each other have signed our names as witnesses_
     James H. Tuthill residing in Riverhead in Suffolk County
     Joshua L. Wells residing in Riverhead in Suffolk County


Some thoughts and questions:

• This Codicil is dated 13 days after the 2^nd Codicil.
• This Codicil only relates to the death of Merritt’s daughter Jemima (my 3^rd great grandmother) and the ‘Notes’ Merritt holds against Jemima’s husband Daniel Howell. I wonder if Merritt didn’t feel he had been explicit enough in the 2^nd Codicil about dispersing what he had given to Jemima previously as now going to her children upon her death?
• Joshua L. Wells was a witness for the original Will also. James H. Tuthill was a witness for all three Codicil.
• Merritt would die on 10 days after this Codicil was written.  Looking at the events occurring in Merritt's life during the time of the original Will and the Codicils tells me more about what he was thinking at the time.  While there are still unanswered questions I feel like I know more about Merritt then I did before I reviewed his Will and the Codicils.  I also learned valuable information on who his daughters married and their children's names.  What a wealth of information!

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

First Codicil for Merritt Howell Jr

In two previous posts I have told the story of the life (The Life of Merritt Howell Jr) and have reported on the Will (The Will of Merritt Howell Jr) of my 4th great-grandfather Merritt Howell Jr.  Next there are three Codicils to his Will to look at next. This is the 1st Codicil:

(click on images to enlarge)

First Codicil     (19 March 1855)

Transcription:

Whereas I, Merritt Howell, of the town of Riverhead in Suffolk County have made my last will and testament bearing date the seventh day of February one thousand eight hundred and fifty three, in and by which I have devised to my wife Elenor Howell (now deceased) certain real estate during her natural life and after her death the same to go to my grandson Elbert H. H. Edwards and have given the care and control of such real estate to my daughter Sally Edwards after the death of my said wife until the said Elbert H. H. Edwards shall arrive at twenty five years of age, and have directed my son Hampton L. Howell to pay to the said Sally Edwards four hundred dollars for the said Elbert to build a house with, and have directed my Executors to pay thirty dollars a piece for tombstones for myself and my said wife. Now therefore will by this my writing, which I hereby declare to be a Codicil to my said last will and testament, and to be taken as a part thereof, order and declare that my will is that all the real estate which in my said will I gave to my said wife for her natural life, now that she is dead, shall go to and I do hereby give and devise the said real estate to my daughter Sally now the wife of David Horton in trust for the use and benefit of my said grandson Elbert H. H. Edwards until he shall arrive at the age of twenty five years as aforesaid then I do devise the said real estate to the said Elbert H. H. Edwards when he arrives at the age of twenty one years shall convey to his brothers and sister James H. Edwards, Serepta E. Edwards and Chauncey A. Edwards or to such of them as shall then be living all his interest in the estate of his father Hallock Edwards deceased_ And if the said Elbert H. H. Edwards shall die before he arrives at the age of twenty one years the said real estate shall go to my heirs at law_ But the devise of the real estate above mentioned is subject to the payment of six hundred dollars to my said daughter Sally, wife of David Horton, and I do hereby direct my Executor Hampton L. Howell to sell enough off of the North part of the west half of my homestead, at my decease to said the said sum of money and pay the same to her_ as for the sum of four hundred dollars to be paid the said Elbert H. H. Edwards by my son Hampton, my will is that the said Hampton shall pay out of his own money to the said Elbert the sum of four hundred dollars and deliver to him or his _ the back kitchen answered to the __ I have in with the store of the cellar under it, when the said Elbert shall devise to build a house on the lands above mentioned_ it is my will that my daughter Sally, wife of David Horton, shall furnish the said Elbert H. H. Edwards a home and support and ordinary schooling until he shall arrive at twenty one years of age unless he shall marry before that, and reimburse himself out of the income of the lands given to her for his use, and the said Sally may cut from the part of the homestead given to her in trust as aforesaid what firewood she shall need for her family, and also twenty four foot cords of wood annually for the purpose of obtaining manure to put on __ part_As for the tombstones for myself and my said wife it is my will that my Executor shall pay forty dollars for each and that he shall enclose one graves and that of my deceased child Elenor Ann with a substantial iron fence_My will is that the rightof way mentioned at the bottom of the second page of my said will shall begin at that part of the cedar swamp which Hampton may convey to Elbert’s land_And I do further give and bequeath the sum of one hundred dollars to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, unless I shall have given that sum to that Board before my death and after the date of this Codicil_ And lastly it is my desire that this Codicil be annexed to and made a part of, my last will and testament as aforesaid to all intents and purposes_In witness where of I have hereunto set my hand & deal this nineteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty five.
                                                                                                 Merritt Howell L. S.

The above instrument consisting of one sheet was at the date thereof signed sealed published and declared by the said Merritt Howell as and for the Codicil to his last will and testament, in presence of us who, at his request and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto. The word “dollars” interlined over sixth line of 2^nd page and word “ordinary” intertwined over fourteenth line of same page_
     James H. Tuthill of Riverhead Suffolk County
     Ira Land of Riverhead Suffolk County


Some thoughts and questions:

• Merritt’s wife Elenor died on 31 October 1854 so this may have been the first reason for him to add a Codicil.
• Merritt makes sure there is money for tombstones for himself and Elenor. The money has increased by $10 for each. He is also requesting a fence around his, Elenor and deceased daughter Elenor Ann’s graves. I believe Elenor Ann died at the age of 15 in 1823.
• Merritt’s widowed daughter Sally has remarried. Perhaps an additional reason for the 1st Codicil. Her son Elbert was 11 years old at the time of this Codicil. I wonder why Merritt was so concerned about Elbert having money for a home when this was not a concern for any of the other grandchildren? Was it because Elbert’s father had passed away and his mother Sally had remarried? It also sounds like there is an estate that Elbert will be eligible for from his father, so, that may be why he is then transferring some of his estate to Elbert’s brothers and sister. Sister Rosalie was not born at this time. I find this change interesting.
• What is the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions? Merritt is leaving them a substantial amount of money ($100 then would be equivalent to about $3,000 today). After some research I learned that the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was among one of the first American Christian missionary organizations. It was created in 1810 by graduates of Williams College. In the 19th century it was the largest and most important of American missionary organizations and consisted of participants from Reformed traditions such as Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and German Reformed churches. I am not finding Merritt in local Presbyterian records, so, I am guessing he may have attended the Congregational Church in the area?  What does this tell me about his religious beliefs?
• There are new witnesses to this Codicil then in the original Will: James H. Tuthill and Ira Land.

Some major changes in life and interests have led to this first Codicil.  There are two more Codicils to learn from.  Merritt would live for two more years.  How will Merritt’s wishes change in the next Codicil?


If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

The Will of Merritt Howell Jr

When I gather documents about an ancestor it’s not just about gathering the information but about putting that information in perspective for that ancestor’s life. I can look at the events of their lives to try and understand what might have been important based on those events. I won’t know for sure but I can make assumptions about what they may have been thinking. If all I do is just gather information and not put it in perspective then all I am doing is gathering documents.

The Will for Merritt Howell, Jr. , my 4^th great-grandfather, is a long one. (See post The Life of Merritt Howell, Jr. for more information on his life.) For a while now I have struggled to make this as meaningful to his life as I possibly can. I finally decided to break up the Will and Codicils with some comments after each section that help tell the story of what was happening at the time and some questions that arose for me as I was reading it. This helped me put some perspective on the Will and Codicils.

The Will was written 7 February 1853 when Merritt was 70 years old. He and his wife ‘Elenor’ (a different spelling then I previously believed) Howell had been married 50 years. Some of my information on the children is sketchy. At this time, I believe, he had the following children still living, 1 son and 6 daughters:

• Sally (Sarah)
• Jemima (my 3^rd great grandmother)
• Hampton
• Betsey
• Fanny
• Harriett
• Frances

Liber 6 pages 309-320, Suffolk County Probate

Transcription:
In the name of God Amen, I Merritt Howell of the town of Riverhead, County of Suffolk, State of New York, being of sound mind and memory do make, ordain and publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say:

First, I give unto my beloved wife Elenor Howell the one equal undivided half part of my homestead North of the highway on the West side_Also one equal undivided part of one quarter of an acre on the East side of my land and meadow lying before my door South of the highway_ for the purpose of a Dock and Landing place_Also the West half part of my land and meadow lying before the door South of the highway after taking out the quarter of an acre above disposed of_Also one equal undivided half part of a tract of Meadow called Broad Meadows in the town of Southampton to use as she thinks proper during her natural life_likewise I give unto my beloved wife Elenor all my moveable property both outdoors and indoors_all my money and Notes_except such as are herewith otherwise disposed of_After paying all my just debts and funeral charges with thirty dollars for each of us tombstones_

Secondly-I give to my grandson Elbert H. H. Edwards all of the real estate above given to my wife during her natural life-on her decease with the condition and restrictions following towit:

I give to my daughter Sally Edwards the other undivided half tract of my homestead on the North side of the highway, during her natural life, then to go to her son Elbert H. H. Edwards and his heirs-After the decease of my wife Elenor I give to my daughter Sally Edwards the use and control of all my real estate above given until her son Elbert H. H. Edwards arrives to the age of twenty five years- then the real estate given to my wife Elenor she being deceased to go to him-If he should die before that time leaving no heir the real estate above given to my wife to go equally to my children_It is my will that the real estate above given to my daughter Sally Edwards during her natural life should go to her son Elbert H. H. Edwards and this heirs_But if he should die before her decease without heirs, it is her to dispose of as she pleases_I likewise give to my daughter Sally Edwards a certain mortgage and notes which I hold against her deceased husband-

I give unto my son Hampton F. Howell the woodland which I own in the thirty six Lot Quogue Purchase_also another tract of woodland containing four or five acres lying near the village of Riverhead between the Quogue and Flander roads adjoining the land of Charles Vail_Also one half part undivided of my land and meadow lying before the door, the balance after giving my wife as above directed_that is to say one equal half part of the quarter of an acre set off for a Dock and Landing and the Eastern half part remaining_Also one equal half part of Broad Meadows and one equal half part of my meadow at Muddy Creek_Also I give him the East part of my barn, with this condition nevertheless that my son Hampton F. shall give to my grandson Elbert H. H. Edwards three acres on the North End of the Cedar Swamp now owned by him and a right of way through gates and bars_likewise he must pay my daughter Sally four hundred dollars for Elbert when he shall have arrived to the age of twenty one years to build a house with if should want it_

I give unto my daughter Jemima Howell a certain note which I hold against her husband Daniel Howell and sixty acres of woodland a part of the Thousand acres so called during her natural life then to her heirs_

I give unto my daughter Betsey Smith a certain mortgage and Notes which I hold against her husband John R. Smith and sixty acres of woodland a part of the Thousand acres so called during her natural life then to her children_

I give unto my daughters Fanny B. Terry, Harriet N. Hallock and Frances N. Hallock each equally undivided all that tract or parcel of woodland lying near the village of Riverhead South of the Mill Pond adjoining the same containing one hundred and sixteen and a half acres_

I give unto my Grandsons hereafter to be mentioned as follows to Henry H. Howell twenty acres of woodland to Meritt H. Smith twenty acres of woodland, to Theodore B. Terry twenty acres of woodland, to my grandsons James H. Edwards and Chauncy A. Edwards each ten acres of woodland, all to be of the tract which I own called the Thousand Acres. It is my will that my daughters Jemima Howell and Betsey Smith take their sixty acres each making one hundred and twenty acres from the West part of my land called the Thousand Acres undivided_the Remainder Eighty acres to go to my Grandsons undivided as above written_

Last I give unto my beloved wife Elenor all of that tract of land lying North of the North Road called my “North Side” adjoining the Sound and lying between of Warren Young on the one side and Josiah Howell and Wells Howell on the other to dispose of as she sees fit_

I hereby appoint my beloved wife Elenor Executrix and my son Hampton F. Howell Executor of this my last will and testament, hoping that it may be executed according to the true intent and meaning thereof_

In witness whereof I have set hereunto my hand and seal this seventh day of February one thousand eight hundred and fifty three_
                                                                                                             Meritt Howell L. S.

Signed sealed published and delivered by the above Meritt Howell to be his last will and testament in presence of us who have subscribed our names at his request as witnesses in presence of the testator and of each other_
     Joshua L. Wells Jun. of the town of Riverhead in the County of Suffolk_
     Caleb Hallock of the town of Riverhead in the County of Suffolk

From the Will I know which children are living in 1853 at the writing of the will, what the married names of the daughters are and what grandsons there are:

• Sally married an Edwards and had sons Elbert H. H. Edwards, James H. Edwards and Chauncy A. Edwards. Sally’s husband died in 1848. They had 3 sons and 2 daughters. I wonder why Elbert was given more in Merritt’s Will then the other 2 sons who were all fatherless at a young age? 
• Jemima (my 3^rd great grandmother) married a Howell and had a son Henry H. Howell
• Hampton was Executor and no children listed
• Betsey married a Smith and no children listed
• Fanny married a Terry and had a son named Theodore B. Terry
• Harriett married a Hallock and no children listed
• Frances married a Hallock and no children listed

Color coding the children and grandsons really helped me. After I did that I noticed that there were only grandsons mentioned and began to wonder if there were granddaughters that were not mentioned? Some additional research said yes, there were granddaughters that were alive but not mentioned in Merritt’s Will. That’s interesting! I guess he did not feel that leaving them property, money or items was important?

I find it interesting that Merritt did leave 'mortgages' and 'Notes' he must have held connected with his daughters individually to them. Did several of his son-in-laws borrow money from him to buy property for their families? Was the land part of Merritt’s property that he sold to them? Interesting question for later research.

Were Joshua Wells and Caleb Hallock friends of Merritt and/or possibly related?


Stopping here to digest the information learned seems like a good thing to do.  I learned a great deal about Merrritt and his family from this will.  There are an additional 3 Codicils for the next post. What else will I be able to learn about Merritt from those?

Note: Up until the 1850s paper was made from recycled linen and cotton rags.  In the 1850s paper was beginning to be made from wood.  Pens with metal nibs that could hold ink began to be produced in the 1820s.  I wonder what ‘paper’ and 'pen' Merritt used to record this will?  


If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

2019 A Year of Genealogical Research

At the beginning of a New Year I like to take a look back and see what I have accomplished over the past year. I still work full time and can only do my genealogical research in little bits at a time. By taking the time to look back at the statistics and what I have been able to do I feel more of a sense of accomplishment then I might otherwise feel.

I use Legacy Family Tree software to maintain my family tree. I have trees in Ancestry and My Heritage but those are not the most up to date trees. (Sometimes in Ancestry and My Heritage I may collect information from hints and store them in my trees for future research and then discard them if the information is not correct. I use it as a ‘holding place’.)

From my Legacy tree:

A review of the statistics in my Legacy tree that I am most interested in:

I wasn’t able to add much new information to my Legacy Family tree in the past year but I was able to go more in-depth with the information I have found on people in my tree.

I decided to run my fan chart again this year. The last time I ran this was two years ago with my 2017-A Year of Genealogical Research. At that time I was missing 34/62 ancestors. I have now been able to locate and add the names for a total of 58/62 of my ancestors. With the exception of four 2x great-grandparents I have been able to identify them all. The four that I am missing will require searching in Luxembourg and German records. Hmm, what a great reason to travel abroad! Hopefully, one day in the future.

In 2019:

• I completed 46 Blog Posts (my goal was 50) with an all time total of 98,188 page views.

I continue to connect with several new cousins and develop ongoing relationships with others:

• The Warner Cousins continued their Christmas Luncheon get together for the 4^th year and added two more cousins. Six of us share great-grandparents Carrie Terry and John B. Warner. So glad two more cousins were able to join us this year. More memories and perspectives to share! Special thanks to Marie for once again opening her home to us!

Me, Kim, Hollie, Kallie, Marie, Jane, Suzanne and Sophia

• While I was able to prove my heritage and join the General Society of Mayflower Descendants last year, this year I was able to have a traditional costume made and wear for the San Diego Colony Thanksgiving luncheon in November.  (See previous post What Would Priscilla Mullins Alden Think?)

Kathy Hughes (on left) is the amazing seamstress who made my costume

Goals for next year:

• My usual goal, to complete 50 blog posts.
• I am scheduled to be a Co-Presenter, with Darlene Conner Sampley and Diane Gould Hall at the San Diego Genealogical Society on July 11th to talk about the Mayflower Society.  I enjoy presenting and hope to develop two more presentations around Wills and Land Deeds.  Stay tuned to find out when I will be presenting.
• Meet some of the cousins I have only corresponded with to date.
• Attend the Pilgrim 400th Anniversary Commemoration in Massachusetts in September.

In summary, I think it’s been a great year for research. I can’t believe what I have been able to learn about my ancestors beyond their names and dates of birth and death. Learning the history of the time period my ancestors lived has also helped me put some perspective on their lives. They have come alive as the courageous people who worked hard, loved their families and did the best they could. I owe so much to so many that have listened to my stories, read my blogs and helped me find the missing bits of information that added to my ancestors’ stories. As frustrating as my brick walls can be it’s remembering the people I have met along the way and the information I have found that make this so rewarding. A special thank-you for all the encouragement I get from my readers.  It truly is the ‘journey’ that is the reward! Off to another exciting year of research!

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,
Debby