Copy of Huldah Keeney's Will

[Daughter of Russel Keeney and Jeruscha Dart]

Manchester, CT

April, 1892

If anyone can identify the connection with any of the referenced people (see sections 3, 6, 7, and 8 below) beyond what I have highlighted, please let know. Thanks.

I, Huldah Keeney, of the Town of Manchester, County of Hartford, and State of Connecticut, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make, publish and declare this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form as follows, viz:-

First.            I direct that all just debts and claims against my estate be fully paid and discharged by my executor, and after payment as aforesaid, I dispose of the remaining property that I may be possessed of at my decease, that God, in his kind Providence has entrusted to me, as follows, viz:-

Second.        I give and devise to my nephew, Arthur B. Keeney, [son of Huldah's brother Porter, and his wife Emily Bidwell] of said Town of Manchester, any and all real estate and interest in or title to any real estate own by me at my decease, (not intending to include herein my interest in real estate which I may acquire by mortgage to secure the payment of any debt due to me) to him and his heirs forever.

Third.           I give and bequeath to my five nieces, Emily Keeney of Manchester, Connecticut, Huldah M. Jucket of Providence Rhode Island, Adelaide E. Lyons of Manchester, Connecticut, Sarah R. Keeney of Glastonbury, Connecticut, Harriet L. Hills, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, [Adelaide, Sarah, and Harriet are the living daughters of Huldah's brother, Porter Keeney, and his wife Emily Bidwell] or to so many of said five nieces as survive me, all my household furniture and effects of every description, and also my wearing apparel to be divided among them as they mutually agree.

Fourth.         I give and bequeath five hundred dollars ($500.) in money to the Trustees of the New England Southern Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, incorporated by the General Assembly of Rhode Island, A.D. 1846, and to their successors forever, the same to remain in the hands of the Trustees and their successors as a permanent fund, the income from which is to be appropriated for the benefit of Superanuated Preachers and the widows and orphans of deceased members of said Conference, and the receipt of the Treasury of said Trustees shall be sufficient discharge henceforth to my executor.

Fifth.            I give and bequeath to the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church Society, in South Manchester, Connecticut, and their successors, two thousand dollars ($2000.) in trust, the same to remain in the hands of said Trustees and their successors as a permanent fund, the increase from which is to be used in defraying the current expenses of said Church, so long as a church organization shall exist in said South Manchester. When such a church shall cease there to exist, the said principal sum of two thousand dollars ($2000.) and any unexpended part of the income thereof shall be paid over to the Trustees of the New England Southern Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, mentioned in the fourth clause of this Will, and shall become a part of the fund described in said clause, and the receipt of the Treasurer of said Trustees shall be sufficient discharge hereof to my executor.

Sixth.            I give and bequeath to James Ryan of said Manchester, son of Thomas and Margaret Ryan, two hundred dollars ($200.) in money, to him and his heirs forever.

Seventh.       I give and bequeath to Nellie Hamilton of Plainville, Connecticut, the adopted daughter of Niles Keeney, deceased, late of New Britain, Connecticut, one hundred dollars ($100.) in money, to her and her heirs forever.

Eighth.          I direct that all the rest and residue of my estate be divided into twenty (20) equal parts, and I give and bequeath the same as follows, viz:-

to Hattie Keeney, of Rockford, Illinois, invalid daughter of Collins W. Keeney, deceased, one part;

to John D. Keeney, of Rockford, Iowa, one part;

to Marble D. Keeney, of Antioch, California, one part;

to Albert W. Keeney, of Rockford, Illinois, one part;

to Wilber L. Keeney, of Wilmington, Illinois, one part;

to Huldah M. Jucket, of Providence, Rhode Island, one part;

to Emily Keeney, of said Manchester, two parts;

to the heirs of Justine Cook, late of Springfield, Massachusetts, one part;

to Russell Keeney, of said Springfield, Massachusetts, one part;

to Frederick C. Keeney, Plainville, Connecticut, one part;

[The following represent all the children of Porter Keeney and Emily Bidwell, living or with heirs]

to the heirs of Sanford Keeney, of said Manchester, deceased, one part;

to Edwin Keeney, of New London, Connecticut, one part;

to the heirs of Riley F. Keeney, late of New London, Connecticut, deceased, one part;

to Arthur B. Keeney, of said Manchester, one part;

to Adelaide E. Lyons, of said Manchester, one part;

to Sarah R. Keeney, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, one part;

to Harriett L. Hills, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, one part;

And to Arthur B. Keeney, of said Manchester, as Trustee, one part; the same to be held by him and his successors in said trust as follows: the income of said part to be paid to Amanda Keeney of said Manchester, widow of Andrew G. Keeney, late of said Manchester, deceased, annually, so long as she remains unmarried, and upon her death, or second marriage, the principal of said part to be paid over to the nearest heir or heirs of said Andrew G. Keeney.

Ninth.           For the purpose of making divisions and bequests enumerated in the foregoing paragraph, I authorize and empower my executor herein named, to sell at such rates as seem to him advantageous, any and all securities, bonds, stocks or other assets which I own at my death, and convert the same into cash as soon as reasonably can be done.

Tenth.           I direct my said executor to set off against the share of Albert W. Keeney, above named, one-half the amount due at the time of my death, on a certain note signed by said Albert W. Keeney and held by me, and direct that the remaining half due on said note be set off against the share of said Marble D. Keeney.

Eleventh.      I appoint Arthur B. Keeney, of said Manchester, to be the executor of this, my Will, and hereby expressly revoke all former wills by me made.

                    In Witness Whereof I have signed and sealed this instrument and published and declared the same to be my last Will and Testament.

                    At Manchester, Connecticut, this 14^th day of April,1892.

                                                            (signed) Huldah Keeney

                    The foregoing Will was signed, sealed and published in the presence of us, who in the presence of the Testratrix and in the presence of each other, attested on the same day and year aforesaid.

                    Joseph Malkin

                    Charles O. Treat                           Witnesses

                    Charles S. Cheney