Finding Faulkner: Examining The Will Packet, Part 3

It started, as good quests always do, with a family tale.

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF WILLIAM FAULKENDER
The Will Letter

William Faulkn<d>er & others to the State}
Bond of Adm with will of William Faulkender Annexed

William Faulkender's will~
# letter dated Feb.r 9th 1785
Regis'd


Know all men by these presents that we, William Faulkender, James Faulkender, and Samuel Faulkender - all of the county of Ulster, Farmers -----. - - - - - - -
are held and firmly bound unto the People of the State of New York in the sum of One Thousand Pounds, current money of the state of New York, to be paid to the ---- said people; to which payment will and truly to be made. We do bind ourselves and each of us, our and each of our Heirs, Executors and administrators jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals dated the Twenty Third Day of December in the ninth year of the Freedom and Independence of the said State, and in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Four -
The condition of this obligation is such. That if the above bounden, William Faulkender - - - - - - Administrator of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of William Faulkender - late of the Precinct of Wall Kill, in the County of Ulster, Farmer - deceased, with his will annexed, do make or cause to be made a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased which have or shall come to the Hands, possession or Knowledge of the said William Faulkender -
- - - - - - - or into the Hands or possession of any other - person or persons for him and the same so made do exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the Registry of the Court of Probate of this State at or before the Twenty Third Day of June next ensuing and the same Goods, Chattels and Credits, and all other the Goods - Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased, at the time of death which at any time after shall come into the hands or possession of the said William Faulkender - - - - - - - or into the Hands or possession of any other person or persons for him, do well and truly administer according to Law, and further do make or cause to be made a True and Just Account of Administration at or before the Twenty Third Day of December next - following, and all the Rent and Residue of the said Goods, Chattels and Credits which shall be found remaining upon said administrators -
administrators account.The same being first examined and allowed of by the Judge or Judges for the time being of the said Court. Shall deliver and pay unto such person or persons respectively, as the said Judge or Judges by his or their decree or sentence, pursuant to the true intent and meaning of the said Last Will and Testament of the said William Faulkner deceased, shall limit and appoint. Then this obligation, to be void and of none effect or due to remain in full forward virtue.

Sealed and Delivered}                                                       Wm. Faulkner
In the presence of}                                            

Ebeneazer Clark                                                                James Faulknor
Joseph Gutherie
                                                                                         Samuel Fauelner                                                  


The takeaway:

• The three brothers agreed to pay a probate bond of 1000 British Pounds
• Roughly calculated that equates to around $100,000. USD in today's money. (correct me if I'm wrong)
• The Faulkner's had not only land, but wealth as well.
• Further research would include newspaper legal notices and land sales/purchases.
• A trip to Goshen, NY may turn up further documents.

Anything else I'm missing?

END

Finding Faulkner: Examining The Will Packet, Part 2

It started, as good quests always do, with a family tale.

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF WILLIAM FAULKENDER
The Surrogate's Letter

Ulster County}

Be it remembered that on the Twenty Third Day of December One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Four, personally came and appeared before me Joseph Gutherie, Surrogate of the said County, Ebenezar Clark of the Precinct of the Wall Kill in said County, Farmer. And being duly sworn on his oath declared the he did see William Faulkender sign and seal the written instrument here unto annexed purporting to be the will of said William Faulkender bearing date the Eleventh Day of September in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Three. And heard him publish and declare the same as and for his last will and testament that at the time thereof he the said - William Faulkender was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the knowledge and belief of him the deponent. And that his name subscribed to the said will in his proper handwriting which he subscribed as witness to the said will in the testators presence. And that he the deponent saw James Caldwell and John Dill the other witnesses to the said will subscribe their names as witnesses thereto in the testators presence.

Joseph Gutherie, Surrogate

Ulster County}

Pursuant to the trust reposed in me I have admitted William Faulkender, of the Precinct of Wall Kill in said County, Farmer, a son of William Faulkender, late of the Precinct of Wall Kill aforesaid, Farmer deceased, Administrator of the said William Faulkender deceased, with his will annexed, the said William Faulkender having been duly sworn and given bond before me this day. - - - Given under my hand the Twenty Third Day of December in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Four.

Joseph Gutherie, Surrogate

The takeaway:

• William Faulkner died sometime between September 11th 1783 and December 23rd 1784. 
• William Faulkner, Jr was appointed administrator.
• Ebenezar Clark was the only witness to appear before the Surrogate.

Anything else I'm missing?

NEXT: the Will Letter

Finding Faulkner: Examining The Will Packet, Part 1

It started, as good quests always do, with a family tale.

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF WILLIAM FAULKENDER

In the name of God amen. I William Faulkender of the Precinct of Wallkill, County of Ulster and State of New York, being weak in body but of sound disposing mind and memory (blessed be God) do this Eleventh day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty three Make and Publish this my last will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) Imprimis I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it me and my body to the Earth from whence it came in the hopes of a joyfull resurrection threw the merrits of my saviour Jesus Christ, and as for that worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me I dispose there of as follows ~ First I give and bequith unto my loving wife Mary Faulkender the use of the two back rooms in my House I now live in with a bed and furniture and also her maintenance, together with the use of a horse and saddle for and during the term of her natural life. Item, I give and devise unto my son James Faulkender the Farm he now lives upon and to his heirs and assigns forever Providing he pay all such Debts and Incumberances as doth arise from said place whither from Purchase or otherways. And Providing he shall convey to his Youngest son when he shall arrive to the age of Twenty one Years that Part of said farm formerly occupied by my son Joseph while alive ~ And provided further that he shall give the proffits and benefits arising from said last mentioned farm to such of my children as may then be possessed of the Place or farm I now live upon for and during the term of six years after my decease and no longer. Item, I give and devise unto my son William Faulkender Jnr the farm adjoining the wallkill which I now live upon and to his heirs and assigns forever.  Item, I give and devise to my said son William one fifty acre lott on the Long Hill and two hundred acres of my undivided part of that lott of one thousand acres lying in or about the Pine Swamp and to his heirs and assigns for ever. Also I bequeath unto my said son William all my Personal Estate Providing he pay all such Debts and Incumberances as may arise or be due from the said last mentioned divised land. Item, I devise and give unto my son Samuel Faulkender the farm he now lives upon together with one fifty acre lott on the Long Hill and also two hundred acres of my undivided part of that lott of one thousand acres in or about the Pine Swamp aforsaid and to his heirs and assigners forever. Provided he pay all such Debts and Incumberances as may arise or be due out of said last mentioned divised land by Purchase or otherways.

  Lastly I do hereby invoke and declare to be utterly null and void all former wills and testaments that may have been made by me declaring this alone to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal as being my said last will consisting of  one sheet and do publish and declare it as the same this Day and Year first above written - -- .                        his

William  X   Faulkender

mark and seal   

Signed Sealed Published and 

declared by the said William 

Faulkender as and for his 

last Will and Testament in the 

Presence of us whos names are 

here under Written.

James Caldwall

John Dill

Ebenezar Clark

The takeaway:

• Mary's maiden name is not given, proving the notation on Find A Grave incorrect.
• William had at least four adult sons, three still living at time of writing. 
• Other children were referred to as possibly living in the family home, which leaves open the possibility of further research.
• Mary remained in the marital home, which was given to son William Jr, a possible research lead.
• William was illiterate, ending all speculation that the spelling of the surname in this document is a true and accurate representation of the actual spelling.
• There's a bunch of acreage unaccounted for in the Pine Swamp.
• How big was the lot on the Long Hill?

Anything else I'm missing?

Next: the Surrogate's Letter

Field Notes: Where There's A Will

It had long puzzled me. The spelling on the transcribed abstract will. The will I strongly suspected belonged to my 5th great grandfather, but could never prove. The document that had been floating around Ancestry for years, being attached to far too many incorrect men. (Story for another day) I had given up all hope of finding the answer without a trip to Albany NY and a good digging in the archives there.

Well, the genealogy fairies smiled brightly upon me yesterday morning.

Taking another pass on Ancestry yesterday, I decided to wing a search with as many wildcards as it would let me.

Turns out that was a fine idea.

It brought me to the ACTUAL will papers. The ones actually signed by my 5th great grandfather when he was alive. Not the will alone (which is a 'copy' anyway), not the probate records - there are two separate 'copies' of those, by the way. Nope. Yesterday I was presented with the Holy Grail. The will AND the papers.

I can now, finally, connect the dots, put the family in order, and definitively declare I have found my 5th great grandfather!

I'll be writing this up later today with sources and photos. It's an interesting story. I'm so excited!

Never give up.