McLean County IL, Last Will and Testament of Martha Evans ***************************************************************** File contributed to the McLean County ILGenWeb Project Copyright © 2004 to present, all rights reserved. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format without the written consent of the author, ilmcleanvcc@gmail.com. File Submitted by: Carol M Staats, staats2@bnis.net Date Submitted: May 2004 ***************************************************************** McLean Co IL. Recorded in Book V, Wills, Bonds and Letters Page 519, June 3rd 1875 I Martha Evans of the City of Bloomington Illinois grateful to my Heavenly Father for all his mercies toward me and still blessed with a Sound and disposing mind, do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in [the] manner following: First= It is my will that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall be fully paid Second= I will and bequeath to my granddaughter Fannie May Evans, daughter of my son John Evans deceased one certain promissory note and its proceeds executed by Martha Heywood and A. L. Heywood bearing date December the 9th 1872 and made due and payable on or before the 27th day of April 1879 with ten percent per annum interest, the interest made due and payable semiannually and which note is for the principal sum of Five Hundred dollars and secured by a mortgage on real estate in the city of Bloomington, executed by Martha Heywood. I expect to use the interest accruing upon this note during my lifetime, and after my death said note and its proceeds to go as above stated. But my Executor is to keep said funds or interest well secured and real estate and is directed if he deems best to pay the accruing interest to the benefit or support of said Fannie May Evans during her minority and upon her arriving at full age the said fund principal and interest to be paid to her. I also direct that my diamond ring and guitar which formerly belonged to John Evans, shall be left in the care and possession of my daughter Martha Heywood till said Fannie May Evans arrives of age and there that the same shall be given to her. It is further my will however that if the said Fannie May Evans should die before she arrives of full age all the property so bequeathed to her shall be equally divided between my tow granddaughters Emma North and Effie May Sneed. I further direct that my executor may in his discretion pay over to any guardian which said Fannie May Evans may have the moneys or note so bequeathed to her. Third= I hereby will and bequeath to my grand daughter Effie May Sneed Amanda North the sum of Four Hundred Dollars. Three hundred of which is the amount now due to me from Eliza Hawks (formerly the widow Eliza Sneed) for borrowed money for the payment of which I expect (?) get from Eliza Hawks her note= the remanding hundred dollars to be paid out of the dale of real estate. I also give to my daughter Amanda North my bed and bed clothing. Fourth= I hereby direct and empower my Executor to sell at private sale and for the best price and the best terms he can make and convey the same by proper deed or deeds all my real estate the following being all that I presume I have to wit. The North West quarter of the South West quarter of Sec No Three (3) Township No seven (7) North of Range No Six (6) East of the 3rd P M in Effingham County Illinois it being the same land conveyed to me by A. Gridley and wife. And it is my will that after paying to the said Amanda North the Five Hundred Dollars so bequeathed to her and then other bequests as stated above and all debts and expenses in settlement of my estate the residue of my estate shall go to and be divided equally between my grand daughter Effie May Sneed, the money arising from the same to be put at interest the principal to be well secured and to be paid to her when she arrives at full age. Fifth= I hereby nominate and appoint my friend Jesse Birch of the city of Bloomington Executor of this my will and of my estate. In testimony where of I have hereinto set my hand and seal this 4th day of January A.D. 1873. Martha Evans [seal] Signed sealed and published as the last will and testimony of Mrs. Martha Evans who in the presence of us in the in the presents of each other did subscribe her name thereto and request us to subscribe our names hereto as witnessing the same which we now do in the presence of the testatrix and in presence of oath other this 4th day of January A. D. 1873 Martha Heywood Mary A Walton State of Illinois McLean County}ss Martha Heywood and Mary A Walton being duly sworn in open Court, do depose and say, that they were present at the execution of the last Will and Testament (herewith attached) of Martha Evans late of said county, deceased, that they saw the said Martha Evans subscribe said Will, and heard her publish and declare the same to be her last Will and Testament; that they believe, an still do believe that the said testatrix the time of executing the same, was of full age, of sound mind and memory and under no restraint. That they signed said Will as witness thereto, in the presence and at the request of the said testatrix and in the presence of each other. Subscribed and sworn to before me in open Court, this 3rd day of June 1875 R L Davis Clerk, by J H Seaton Deputy (signatures) Martha Heywood Mary A Walton