An ongoing correspondence 7 ...

I had pretty much run out of tidbits in my other research, but last Saturday in the Vedder library, I came across a file on Grooms with copies of the original wills, and thank goodness, transcriptions. The original handwriting is almost impossible to decipher for most of us, myself no exception.

William’s will was written in 1801. In it he wills to Edward, the eldest, two lots of land in Schoharry County called Stringers patent. He also leaves his livestock, farm implements, wearing apparel his Holland gun, his Tanner and Furriers utensils and notes that they are already in Edward’s possession, and that he is already living on the land in 1801. He also leaves him is clothing, and one would assume either it fits him, or was working man’s farm clothing, and Joseph, who does not get similar items or clothing would have no need for it.

To Joseph, he gives the remainder of his real estate, where he (William) “now lives”, and “the same may be found”. Joseph also gets the English Bible, and Jacob a negro slave. (Albany county records of sales show Joseph purchased a slave called Jacob prior to that, so either the sale was in his name, or Jacob was a popular name for slaves.) I was so surprised to find those records in the New York City Public Library, that and lots of other stuff. Anyway, William stipulates that Anna, his second wife be given 100 pounds and that Joseph, Eydtche and Maria annually pay her 20 pounds annually for her life. (Edward has no such mandate) To the two daughters, he bequeaths his two wenches, female slaves, and sums of moneys to each daughter.

There is a codicil made in 1805 with some significant changes. First of all, the slave Jacob and wenches, Dina and Deyone and to be set free upon his death, implying that the farm had less need of them, or farm labor came from another source, or he had a bout of conscience William at this point was 86, too old to farm, and Joseph had many daughters, maybe one son who was not alive when he made his will, and perhaps the source of income and sustenance was elsewhere. Joseph himself was at this point 57, his daughters married and some of them by reading Joseph’s will could have been farming land contingent to the Groom family farm. (MORE RESEARCH).. The names of Brandow, Wilham Tolley and John Van Loon are all names of extended family with lands in the near surrounds.

Another point in the codicil is that instead of giving all farm related items to Edward along with clothing, etc, he should get only 1/2 and he and Joseph should share everything 50/50. It also orders that all bonds, notes, book debts, etc, be given to the 2 daughters, and that 100 pounds be given to Edward (no reason given).

The executers of William’s will are Joseph and William Brandow, grandson. This is the only reference I have found as to the relationship of a William Brandow who married Maria Patterson and fathered numerous children in the 1790’s and eventually moved to Oak Hill. The sponsors for the first child were John and Sarah Claw and this is only important because the name Claw appears in future deeds for the Howard Hall property. I guess they were all marrying neighbors.