\n<\/em>
\nThen, in a series of seven paragraphs Joseph gives, orders, or declares:
\n1. Payment of all my just debts and funeral expenses . . . and to place a suitable grave stone at my grave.<\/em>
\n2. Give and bequeathe unto my beloved wife Elizabeth<\/em>\u00a0[knick-named “Betsy”] absolutely all my household and kitchen furniture and my library, and one cow, her choice, and my __ buggy and harness and also the interest or income of all my personal property not hereby specifically bequeathed, during her life, the said personal estate to be kept invested by my executors during her life for this purpose.<\/em>
\n3. I will and devise to my son Robert F. Marshall, his heirs and assigns, the farm and tract of land in said township of Little Beaver whereon I now reside subject to, and changed with the following provisions and directions: the use of the house by my wife as aforesaid, the rendering to my said wife during her life one third of the grain raised on the farm, to take the same to the mill or market as she may desire (requesting her to exact no more grain than she really needs). Also to render unto her during life as much fruit, potatoes, beef and pork as she may require for her support or use for her table. Also to supply her with fuel, wood, and coal and to furnish her with a horse whenever she may desire to use for driving for herself or her attendants. Also keeping for her cow. Also said farm shall be chargeable with, and said Robert F. shall pay the following legacies or sums: to my four daughters, Margaret Hill <\/em>[my great-great grandmother], Eliza Adams, Mary McKean, and Anna Reed, the sum of seven hundred dollars to each of them, making twenty-eight hundred in all, payable one half thereof in one year after the decease of my said wife, and the other half in two years from said decease. <\/em>[Joseph also gives $700 to his niece Alice Doran and $500 to his son John C. His son is probably yet a minor living at home, but we don\u2019t know about Alice. Are her parents dead? Is she a caretaker to the elder Marshalls? Joseph asks his older son Robert to allow her \u201cthe right to occupy the rooms and kitchen in the east end of my house as long after the death of my wife as she may remain single.\u201d]
\n4. The personal estate is to be kept invested during the life of my wife, but afterwards to be divided among my four daughters, share and share alike.<\/em>
\n5. To my son Robert F. all my livestock and farming implements of every kind and description.<\/em>
\n6. In case of the death of my son Robert F. Marshall happening before the time of the decease of my said wife . . .the farm, the provisions, and the legacies <\/em>[go to] my wife during her natural life, and at her death I authorize, empower, and direct my executors here, according to their best discretions and on such <\/em>[sell all] together with the personal estate invested to be then divided as follows: the same to be equally divided to and among all my children, the children of Robert <\/em>[but he doesn\u2019t mention Robert\u2019s wife], or any other deceased child, representing their parent and taking a share, but before any division, the sum of seven hundred dollars to be given to my niece Alice Doran.<\/em>
\n7. I nominate and appoint my son John C. Marshall and my son-in-law John D. Hill <\/em>[my great-great grandfather and this seems unusual to name an in-law, except that John D. had been a Captain in the Civil War and was then a land owner and businessman] to be executors of my last will and testament.
\n<\/em>
\nAn undated note attached to the will declares:
\nAmount of personal property appraised and account rendered:<\/em>
\n Note on <\/em>[loan to] John D. Hill $1,000.00<\/em>
\n Deposit in Savings Bank, Poland 1,189.76<\/em>
\n Household furniture 83.00<\/em>
\n Total $2,272.76
\n<\/em>
\nAlthough this would have been a lot of money in 1878, it may have fallen short of the amount Joseph promised his four daughters, his son John C., and his niece Alice Doran. Wife Elizabeth “Betsy” lived only five years beyond Joseph,until 1894, so that wasn’t a problem, and Robert died in 1931, but had the full possession of the farm. I still wonder what was to happen to Robert\u2019s wife, should he die before his mother.<\/p>\n
Joseph Marshall\u2019s daughter, Margaret Sarah (1831-1907), became the second wife of Captain John Dixon Hill, not to be confused with his first wife, Margaret Stewart Thorn (1832-55), who died at age 23 after a five year marriage that produced two children: William Walter and Mary Anne. These children are beneficiaries in step-mother Margaret Sarah\u2019s short and casual hand-written will of January 9, 1907. She was in her mid-70s when she wrote it on an old brown envelope that was mailed to John Hill of Valencia, PA, and postmarked July 13, 1906. It\u2019s not clear why the postmark would be before the date of the will unless paper was at a premium, nor are we certain which John Hill received the envelope, father John D. or son John W. In a minute we\u2019ll look at the father\u2019s will produced later the same year, October 10, 1907. The names to which he refers are fairly clear. But, Margaret Sarah leaves us somewhat confused at times. For example, her simple testament begins: I, Margaret S. Hill, direct that at my death desire <\/em>[sic] that John R. get one bedstead <\/em>[bed frame probably with four high posts] with clothes belonging there. <\/em>[Does this refer to a grandson, as her son was John W.?] To Margaret Brooks, one bed spread and nice quilt (bone and white), one blanket, and wash stand if she desires it. <\/em>[This Margaret could have been her step-daughter or granddaughter.]<\/p>\n Next come more Hills, probably granddaughters: John D. Hill\u2019s last will and testament begins:<\/p>\n In the name of God, Amen. <\/em>[It continues much the same as other formal wills of the day with three pages and nine paragraphs] Except for the iron safe given to son and executor John W. and the stern warning to all his beneficiaries not to question his judgment in distributing the estate, Captain John D.\u2019s will is fairly simple. He isn\u2019t concerned with individual items of property and generally charges his heirs with caring for his wife and each other after his is gone. Unlike Joseph Marshall\u2019s will and Margaret Sarah Hill\u2019s list, John D.\u2019s wishes are easily interpreted. Today, much of his original farmland is still in the family and is being farmed. However, the Mars area, consisting of Adams and Cranberry Townships, is the fastest growing suburb of Pittsburgh, so the future for \u201cgreen\u201d use of our family\u2019s land isn\u2019t very bright. Nor is it for any of the farms and homesteads of William and Sarah Hill or Joseph and Elizabeth “Betsy” Marshall\u2019s descendants. But, in the coming months we hope to continue our research into the living history still available in Western Pennsylvania. In other words, we still have plenty of relatives to meet and talk to.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Larry Pearce 11\/9\/02 & 2\/28\/14 Now that I\u2019ve traced my Grandmother Bessie Reed [Hill] Pearce (1887-1974) through her father Joseph Marshall Hill (1858-1939) and his father John Dixon Hill (1824-1915) to his father William Hill (1799-1875), we want to … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/e-gen.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/margaretShillWill.jpg\" "\\"margaretShillWill\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMary M. Hill to get looking glass <\/em>[mirror], is upstairs, the smallest stand that is in the parlor. Florence and Maggie <\/em>[another Margaret?] to get the other one. Bessie <\/em>[the only one, my grandmother] and Mary S. Hill, the feather bed with pillows and bolster. <\/em>[long, narrow cushion or pad \u2013 why would these beneficiaries want to share a bed? This Mary was probably my grandmother\u2019s sister, Mary.] Florence and Maggie, pillows with bed quilt and a tablecloth apiece. Mary M. Hill <\/em>[already mentioned above], two pillows with a bolster. It is understood that Bessie\u2019s to get the washstand. With one of these a rocker.
\n<\/em>
\nThen some in-laws and probably grandsons:
\nTo Sadie M. <\/em>[daughter-in-law, wife of Francis Leroy] the highest bedstead in the house. Harold H. <\/em>[unreadable] and the stove Clarence Hill. Alice H. <\/em>[daugher-in-law, my great-grandmother] and Ella Hill <\/em>[son John W.\u2019s wife] to divide the tableware and kitchen furniture. My navy shawl as they see fit.
\n<\/em>
\nThe mystery continues:
\nMargaret to get the bed spread that formerly belonged to Elizabeth Marshall. <\/em>[Can we assume that this Elizabeth was her mother? But again, which Margaret?] My navy shawl to Layda Reed. <\/em>[was this the same one offered above? Who was Layda? Reed was Grandmother Bessie\u2019s middle name. How did it fit into our family?]
\n<\/em>
\nFinally, more familiar names:
\nYes, let Joseph the largest table if he wants it. One looking glass. Also the carpet to be divided up. Mary M. Hill to take the table that is in the parlor.<\/a><\/em>Margaret S. Hill signed her formal name at the bottom of the old brown envelope. I wonder: the text is so confusing at times, back and forth, almost as if she is thinking out loud. Could this simply have been a draft of ideas that she jotted down on the first paper she found, an old envelope, and mailed to her son John W. for transcribing? But why the formal signature? She doesn\u2019t name an executor or other formal details or have witnesses, which are usually found in a legal document. We don\u2019t know when Margaret Sarah died, but could this simple list have been found after her death and mailed to her son? Her husband, whose formal will we\u2019ll look at next, was seven years older than she was and may have been beyond probating such matters. The answer to that is \u201cno,\u201d because as we\u2019ll find, he left his estate to his wife ten months after her list was dated. She must have been still living.<\/p>\n
\n1. Pay all just debts and funeral expenses. <\/em>
\n2. I give and bequeathe to my wife, Margaret S. Hill, all my household goods, books, pictures, and other effects not otherwise disposed of in this will contained in our home. I also give my wife the entire use and control of my dwelling house, during her life, or as much thereof as she may choose to occupy. I also direct that she be paid Fifty dollars per year by each of our three sons, Joseph M. Hill, Francis L. Hill, and John W. Hill, payable semi-annually during her life, and should any additional money be required to maintain her comfortably, they shall bear the additional cost. Share and share alike.<\/em>
\n3. I give to my son W.W. Hill <\/em>[by his first marriage] sixty acres of land off the west end of my farm in Adams Township . . . and at his death to be the property of his sons and daughters, said land to be chargeable with the maintenance of Jennie G. Hill, their mother, during her widowhood only.<\/em>
\n4. I give to my son Joseph M. Hill <\/em>[my great-grandfather] the farm upon which he now lives in Pine Township . . . chargeable with the Fifty dollars per year to his mother, Margaret S. Hill <\/em>[and shall become the property of Joseph\u2019s sons and daughters chargeable with the maintenance of my Great-Grandmother Alice Virginia Moon Hill].
\n5. <\/em>[Francis L. Hill receives the 35 acres farm on which he resides plus 20 acres off the east side of his father\u2019s farm. His children are to care for their mother, Sadie B. Hill].
\n6. I give and devise to my son, John W. Hill, during his life, all the balance of the farm upon which I live. . . I also give my son my iron safe in which to keep valuable papers <\/em>[all to go to his sons and daughters chargeable with the maintenance of their mother, Ella B. Hill].
\n7. I give to <\/em>[each of] my grandchildren Leroy Love, Margaret Brooks (maiden name Love) <\/em>[so her mother Margaret, born to John D.\u2019s first wife, must have married a Love but is now probably deceased], and Bruce Love one hundred dollars, payable as they each attain the age of Thirty years.<\/em>
\n8. The balance of my estate consisting of money in savings banks, bonds, and mortgages after all expenses are paid shall be distributed between my four sons, share and share alike, deducting from each one of them all money or other valuables heretofore furnished them as represented by book accounts or notes on my books extending back many years. Should any one of my sons be dissatisfied with this my honest effort to do justly between them and commence any suit at law, or give unnecessary trouble in any way to the Executor herein named, shall forfeit and be debarred from receiving any share in the distribution of the proceeds realized from the sources mentioned in the above eight sections of this instrument.<\/em>
\n9. [John W. Hill is named Executor].
\nThe legal witnesses were J. R. Stoup and George S. Dickson.<\/p>\n