Category Archives: Genealogy

Dunes State Park (Gladys)

1 Reply

: July 15, 1943 envelope

: July 15, 1943, p. 1

: July 15, 1943, p. 2

: July 15, 1943, p. 3

: July 15, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 15 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but had up to July 3^rd this week. It is a typical hot & dry July day. We are needing rain now. After all the rain we had and just a week ago it doesn’t seem we would be needing more so soon. John just finished mowing the lawn again and if we don’t have rain soon again the grass won’t grow very fast. The Onargo man was here this morning and trimmed the trees & sprayed. It was Cailey – he was just working for them today. He has a job in a defense plant and had a day off. Now the two end trees look almost the same. They are to replace the one tree. It has come out of it but we are to get a new one.

[page 2] The ones Foulkes & Funks have in the middle of their front yards look like they are gone but they had them sprayed today.

Mark is out in the yard with David & John is washing dishes. John made cup cakes this morning. Mark wants to go to 4-H camp at Dunes State Park in Aug. I told him he could go if he practiced on his piano lessons & worked on other things when told to do so. He weeded some this morning and now John is sitting at the piano with him to get him to learn his notes. I didn’t buy the new horn for him because he didn’t practice on it any better than on the old one. John and I think he would do better on a reed instrument than a brass because it would be easier to blow. So if we come across a clarinet or sax will see what we can do. However I am about to buy the grand piano I wrote you about. Mother has $100⁰⁰ saved she was going visiting on and since

[page 3] she won’t be able to go any place for a long while she wants me to use it on the piano. That would leave $200⁰⁰ that I can pay later. I have been figuring what I can do in the next few months. I know it would be best to have the cash but pianos are so hard to find I thought I had better take one when I can. I have all bills paid up and nothing coming up except Ins. ever quarterly. The car ins. is due in Aug. Your next Hancock is in Oct. This won’t get the loan on my ins. pd. off quite as soon. But maybe can take care of it a little later.

The Rotary Club is entertaining ladies Mon. evening and I am invited. Will see about your dues. Have been so busy with Mother haven’t seen about them yet.

David’s eyes are about cleared up. Just a few red streaks, but definitely improved since starting on the drops Dr. Ade gave. He doesn’t

[page 4] rub them so much. I don’t remember what Dr. Ade said was the trouble, except infection that was going around. So don’t worry about it because it is almost gone, whatever it was.

Irene said her sister has a baby girl, born this morning. I suppose they wanted a boy. Most everybody does. Donahues wanted a boy, but I told Carl they probably felt like we do – wouldn’t trade David for all the girls. John says a girl couldn’t possibly have David’s personality, etc. David is very friendly – smiles at everybody and hasn’t yet shown sign of being afraid of people.

I think Mother is improving tho slowly. She eats little, but does eat something every meal, so that is better than nothing. Had a night letter from Jim. He & Thelma are recuperating from a sunburn they got at the beach. He has a 9 day leave but can’t come home. Says before he is sent out will get another leave & come home.

Love Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/10/10/dunes-state-park-gladys/

The General’s Pencil (Roscoe)

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: July 14, 1943 envelope

: July 14, 1943, p. 1

: July 14, 1943, p. 2

: July 14, 1943, p. 3

: July 14, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.C.
July 14, 1943

Dear Mother,

Received a regular air mail yesterday Dated 25^th of June. I think that was the last. I put the them letters all together and I’m not sure which came last. I’ve have one each day for the last three days.

It’s very hot and sticky here this A.M. but that isn’t news. You stated in your letter that it was that way there and I suppose you can expect that for another month or two but we can expect that here longer than that or at least until our tour of duty is over in this area.

[page 2] You remember me telling you sometime ago about playing Dorothea Dix to a doctor – well he got orders for a change of duty and yesterday wrote me a very fine letter thanking me for all that I had done for him. He lived in the tent with me and after we had our talk – he somehow got some drink and proceeded to get “stinko” – which was very bad for me. In his letter he was much ashamed and apologized etc. It makes me feel more than ever like Dorothea D. Guess I’ll save the letter and have it run as a special feature for the love tangled boys of the Island.

[page 3] Somehow an egg sunny side up got into our breakfast this A.M. It was a total surprise and I might say a pleasant on at that. I think I must be gaining back all the weight I lost due to better eats and less exercise.

I don’t believe I ever told you about fixing the General’s pencil – If I did just disregard this part. Our skipper and I just went over for a social call and during the conversation something came up that the General wanted to write and his pencil a gold Everharp was out of order so I loaned him mine. Then he asked if I thought I could fix his and I of course polishing apples at my best said “yes sir.”

[page 4] It was one of those push on the end and the lead comes out kind. I brought it back took it all apart and found it was out of lead. So all it needed was a stick of my lead. I’m not sure whether he knew that or whether it was his way of bumming. Anyway it cost him 3 bottles of beer – or rather six. 3 for me and three for the Skipper. I gave the pencil back to him about 3 days later and he seemed a little taken back because he had failed to think of the possibility of being out of lead. He told me if I couldn’t fix it just to keep it. I sure would have liked to – had his name etc. but I didn’t have the heart to be that dishonest. The above has no point only I was just bragging. It’s a true story – ever bit of it.

Well, I’ve shot my wad for today.
Love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/10/09/the-generals-pencil-roscoe/

Will of Charles Harding

2 Replies

Will of Charles Harding
Montgomery County, Maryland
Book B: 448
Written 12 February 1790; Filed 14 February 1792

“In the Name of God Amen, I Charles Harding of Montgomery County in the State of Maryland being weak in body, but of sound mind, memory and understanding considering the certainty of Death and the uncertainty of the time there of and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be the better prepared to leave this world when it shall Please God to call me hence, do therefore make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say, first and principally I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God, and my body to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix herein after named after my Debts and funeral charges are paid, I devise and bequeath as follows –

Item – I give and bequeath to my dear wife Eleanor Harding for and during the time of her living my widow the whole of my Estate, both Real and personal, and if it should increase or decrease from (unavoidable causes) the said profit or loss to be the gain or loss of my legatees hereafter named –

Item – It is further my will and desire and I do order and direct – that after the death or Marriage of my wife Eleanor Harding which shall first happen that the whole of my Estate both real and personal be sold at Public Auction by my Eldest son then living and the money arising there from be equally divided amongst my two daughters, namely, Millisent and Jocaster, and my nine sons, Namely William, Clement, John, Elias, Nachel, Benjamin, Lewis, Rezin and Charles to them and their Heirs each an equal dividend share and share alike.

And Lastly – I do hereby constitute and appoint my dear wife Eleanor Harding to be sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament, revoking and annulling all former wills by me heretofore made ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last Will and Testament –

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this Twelfth day of February Anno Domini One thousand seven hundred and ninety

Signed, sealed, published and declared Chaˢ Harding [seal]
By Charles Harding the above named
Testator, as and for his last Will and
Testament, in presence of us who at his
Request and in his presence have subscribed
Our names as witnesses thereto

Thoˢ Cramphin
Edward Harding
Erasmus Perry

Montgomery County Ss. The 14^th day of February 1792 then came Thomas Cramphin and Edward Harding two of the subscribing witnesses to the within last will and Testament of Charles Harding late of said County deceased and severally made Oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that they did see the Testator herein named sign and seal this will and that they heard him publish pronounce and declare the same to be his last Will and Testament and at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehension of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and that they and Erasmus Perry the other subscribing witness to this Will respectively subscribed their names to this will in the presence and at the request of the Testator and in the presence of each other

Certified by Samᴵ Turner Register”

©2014 transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/10/09/will-of-charles-harding/

Have David For A Brother (Gladys)

3 Replies

: July 14, 1943 envelope

: July 14, 1943, p. 1

: July 14, 1943, p. 2-3

: July 14, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 14 1943

Dear Daddy,

No mail today but I didn’t expect any since I had rec’d up to July 3. Had a letter from Marie Mace – Said David has been having rheumatism again. Marie said if he didn’t write to you she would and his reply was that, when he finished a letter to you and read it over it seemed toobe to be so “ped-dling” in the face of things you must be seeing and going through with, he felt it shouldn’t take up the space it would in going to you. He lost 26 lbs. then gained back 6. Marie says his clothes are so loose they hang on him.

Sometimes I feel

[page 2] that way about my letters to you but I go ahead and mail them anyway. I wish every day I could write volumes of interesting thing but hardly do that.

It is cloudy today and has rained a tiny bit and looks like all the time will rain hard. It is cooler than yesterday and I am glad because of Mother feeling so weak. I brought her home yesterday. She is upstairs in bed. Dr. Cole has her taking acidolphilus broth in milk after each meal and a tonic before meals. He said the after meal medicine is to help heal her bowels. She says all the soreness is gone. Is eating a little but not much. If you can imagine her being thinner than she was. Her clothes are too large too.

David’s eyes got red looking – the whites were blood shot so I took him to Dr. Ade – he

[page 3] said it was an infection that was going around and gave us a prescription for drop to put in three times a day. He said it should clear up in a few days. David doesn’t like the drops but I manage to get them in. He has had them three times and I think his eyes are better.

Mark is working on airplanes today. John is practicing. There is a plane going over & Mark has run out to see it. This must be a regular route now because planes go over almost daily. I am writing with an old pen and I keep making mistakes.

The Thompsons are visiting the Foulkes. Tommy is still helping his father farm. I haven’t seen them only from a distance. Mark saw Mary and asked her how much Davey weighed. She said 22 ½ & he is 16 mo old – can’t walk alone yet. Mark

[page 4] thought their Davey is a little slow in every way. Of course I haven’t seen him and can’t say. Yesterday Dr. Ade said he had two girls who would be glad to have David for a brother. John was with me and he said there were 3 girls next door who would like to have him too. It seems almost everyone things he would be pretty nice to have.

When I paid Mother’s bill I had 41⁰⁰ bal. in the bank. Her bill for a week was 47⁰⁰ – that included medicine & lab fee. I had put 52⁰⁰ of her money in our acc’t and you can see there wasn’t much of hers left.

Irene is home this week keeping Jimmy. Said she didn’t know what she would do next week and thereafter – Her mother isn’t coming back yet and she has to find someone to take care of J. when she goes back to work.

I have to make a trip to town.
Love Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/10/08/have-david-for-a-brother-gladys/

Will of Elias Harding

1 Reply

The other day I transcribed the will of James B[ecraft] Harding. I am one of his descendants through my grandmother Gladys. James’ daughter Ruth (by his first marriage to Verlinda Wilcoxon) married Charles F. Harding, in Montgomery County, Maryland on 14 October 1818. I have yet to figure out how Charles fits into the Harding family of Montgomery County, Maryland. On the death certificate of Ruth and Charles’ daughter Cassandra (Harding) Lawhead, her parents were recorded as Elias Harting and Ruth Wilcox. Obviously the informant for the death certificate confused some of the family names. I suspect that Charles F. Harding was related to Elias Harding in some way. I am working my way through the Harding wills and other legal documents in Montgomery County to see if I can figure out how the extended family fits together.

: Wills Book D:295

: Wills Book D: 296-297

Will of Elias Harding
Montgomery County, Maryland
Will book D: 295-297
Written 10 November 1799; filed 10 March 1800

In the Name of God Amen I Elias Harding of Montgomery County and State of Maryland being sick and weak in body but of sound mind memory and understanding praised be the Lord for his mercy do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say, First I commend my soul into Almighty God who gave it me hoping through the merits of my redeemer Jesus Christ to obtain full remission of my manifold transgressions, and my body to the Grave to be decently intered at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named and as for all the Worldly Estate wherewith it hat pleased God to bless me I dispose thereof in manner following – First my will and desire is that all my Just debts and funeral Expences be first paid by my Executors. Secondly I give and bequeath unto my son Edward Harding One Negro Boy named Enos to him his heirs and assigns for ever – Thirdly I give and bequeath unto my son Josiah Harding one Negro named Ben to him his heirs and assigns for ever – Fourthly I give and bequeath unto my son Nathan Harding one Negro named Davy to him his heirs and assigns for ever – Fifthly I give and bequeath unto my son John Harding one Negro named Ezeheel to him his heirs and assigns for ever – Sixthly I give and bequeath unto my Grand son Thomas Noble Harwood Harding son of John Harding one Negro boy named Scipio (or Scip) his heirs and assigns for ever – and my Will and desire is that the same Negro be kept by my said son John Harding until my said Grand son Thomas Noble Harwood Harding shall arrive to the age of eighteen years at which period my will and desire is that my said Grand son shall be put in possession of said Negro Scipio or Scip to act and do with him as he may think most beneficient for himself with out the constraint of any person whatever and in case my

[page 2] said Grand son Thomas Noble Harwood Harding should decease before he arrives to the age of eighteen years as aforesaid my will is that the said Negro be legally and impartially appraised and an equal distribution of his Value be made between the brothers and sisters of my said Grand son which shall then survive him share and share alike. Seventhly I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Harding during her life or widowhood, all my Real and personal Estate of every kind and nature whatever save and except the before mentioned bequests and at the decease or marriage I give and bequeath unto my son John Harding his heirs and assigns for ever one hundred and fifty acres of Land part of the tract I live on called forrest to be laid out on the West side of my said Tract of Land called Forrest and to extend Eastwardly till a course run from the North side south degrees a Cross the said Tract shall include the said one hundred and fifty acres of Land and Improvements in which I now dwell with all other the appurtenances thereon, I give and bequeath unto my son Nathan Harding his heirs and assigns for ever all the remaining part of my said Tract of Land called Forrest being the East side of it and on which my son John Harding now swells – And as to my personal Estate bequeathed to my wife during her lie or widowhood my Will is that at her decease or marriage my Executors sell so much of it as will amount to forty pounds current money of Maryland as now commonly passing which said sum of Forty pounds I give and bequeath unto my four Grand children the Children of my deceased son Walter Harding Namely Elias Harding, Philip Harding, Mary Drane wife of Thomas O. Drane and Elizabeth Williams wife of Benjamin Williams to each of them respectively separately and Severally the sum of ten pounds like money to be paid them and each of them by my Executors and in case either of my said four Grand children shall die before the receipt of the said ten pounds my will is that the Legacy of the deceased go to the legal representative or representatives of the deceased if any, if none, the said Legacy of the deceased shall be divided between the survivors of them or their heirs, share and share alike. Also my Will is that after full payment of the before mentioned Legacies that all the residue and remaining part of my personal Estate devised to my loving wife Elizabeth as aforesaid and at her decease or marriage to be equally divided between my son Edward, my son Josiah, the legal representatives of my son Basil being four children (to wit) Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth and Walter, that is for the said four children of my son Basil

[page 3] to share only one fifth part of the aforesaid remaining part of my personal Estate. My daughter Elizabeth Perry, wife of Erasmus Perry and Deborah Wheeler wife of John Hanson Wheeler, and in case of the decease of either of my said sons or Daughters or either of the four Children of my deceased son Basil my Will is that the shares of any such Deceased shall go to his, her or their legal representatives, And lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my two sons Edward Harding and John Harding Joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking making null and void all former wills and wills by me heretofore made ratifying and confirming this only to to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of November one Thousand seven hundred and ninety nine – Elias Harding [seal]

Signed Sealed Published and declared by the
Above named Elias Harding as and for his last
Will and Testament in the presence of us who
Have hereunto subscribed our names as witness thereto in the presence of the said Testator and at his request and in the presence of each other –

Alexʳ Whitaker, Walter Williams, Hugh s. Dunn –

Montgomery County Scᵗ On the 10^th day of March 1800 then came Alexander Whitaker, Walter Williams and Hugh S. Dunn the three subscribing witnesses to the within last Will and Testament of Elias Haridng late of said County deceased and made Oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, that the signature of Elias Harding signed at the foot of the within Will was done in their presents and that they heard him publish pronounce and declare the same to be his last will and Testament and at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehension of sound and deposing mind memory and understanding and that they respectively subscribed their names as witnesses to the Will in the presence and at the request of the Testator and in the presence of each other –

Certified by Samᴵ Turner Regʳ

©2014 transcription by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/10/08/will-of-elias-harding/

First President of the Rotary (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 13, 1943 envelope

: July 13, 1943, p. 1

: July 13, 1943, p. 2

: July 13, 1943, p. 3

: July 13, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran
July 13, 1943

Dear Mother,
Yesterday your letter of June 24 came and one from Ruth Y. of June 22. I thought possibly the pictures of D. would be in this one but then I remembered that you said you would send them next week. It has been a week since I received that letter from you but this letter was only 2 days older than the one in which you told of the pictures.

I don’t know if I told you that Uncle Wess had sent a Rotary news week of their own club in Chicago. Well, it had an

[page 2] item in it about the first president of Rotary and it gave a short account of his life. Well I “sorta” get a kick out of having my friends read it and then claiming him as my uncle. I’ll have to write him and give him the low down.

My ambition got the better of me yesterday and I constructed that long talked of rat trap and we have a rat this A.M. to prove the merits of the trap. It’s a type of gang plank where the rat walks out to get a piece of cheese held by a wire beyond the balance point. So Mr. Rat walks out and takes a dip in

[page 3] a 5 gallon can filled about half full of water. We heard it trip two other times but I guess the rat was too nimble. With a little rearranging I believe I can make it 100% instead of 33⅓% as it now is.

I wrote some time ago about changing the allotment but I think I’ll just leave it as is and send what extra money I have home ever so often. As far as I can see it’s just as good one way as the other and if it is left as is you will always get your $200 but if the mail would get crossed as it did with the uniform, your 200 might stop and

[page 4] the new fail to start. If one of the checks I send home gets lost we can always get the numbers and check it that way. I think I’ll continue that way for a while at least and in the next week or 10 days will be able to send a check. That is as soon as a pay day arrives. The amount of the check I can’t say because I don’t know how much there is there. I’ve written all that before but just a little alteration in plan.

You said something about the hot weather in your letter. At Noumea the wind would blow but here it’s always calm and that makes the heat a little more severe. Yes I’ve had practically 14 month of hot weather now beginning at Norfolk Va.

Well, must be on the move
Love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/10/07/first-president-of-the-rotary-roscoe/

A Grand For 300 (Gladys)

1 Reply

: July 13, 1943 envelope

: July 13, 1943, p. 1

: July 13, 1943, p. 2-3

: July 13, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 13 – 1943

Dear Daddy,

Rec’d yours of July 3 and you had rec’d more pictures. I am always glad when you get them. The pictures never do justice to David but you can get a good idea how he looks. He is so full of pep and does so many cute things (we think). I may be wrong but he acts like he will talk very young. He jabbers so much. It was hot when John took him up to bed last nite so he went to bed with just a diaper on and slept that way all night. I covered him with his spread and when I woke up this morning he was up playing with the spread. His bed downstairs is in front of

[page 2] the window and if left alone will watch the traffic & trains at long periods. He will play in his bed or pen with a toy or just a blanket or pillow. He loves to pound a pillow and take the slip off. After his bath & meal at 11: Mark usually takes him out in his buggy for a sunbath.

John is up making an Angel Food Cake – we have egg whites left from David’s formula and when enough accumulates John makes a cake. Mark is still in bed. He seemed to be all over his nervous habits after his tonsil operation and then he went to Ruth’s a week. I think he was too excited all the time about things because when I went to get him he was about as bad as ever. I have been trying to keep him from doing so much and let him sleep as long as he wants too – He still jerks his head and bats his eyes, but maybe I

[page 3] can get him quieted down with plenty of rest. I have noticed any excitement or hard play makes him worse. Betty Nesbitt is taking a group of youngsters to Battle Ground, the Methodist vacation school, and she wants him to go. I don’t think I’ll let him go because I am afraid it will be too much excitement.

I am going to the hospital today and if Dr. Cole thinks it’s the thing to do will bring Mother home. She has had sulfaquanodine since she has been down (1 week) and the infection should be cleared up by now and I think she will get along as good here now as there. Jim talks like he will be home soon for a leave before being sent out and I think that should help Mother some. Of course I know it will take food to give her strength and she hasn’t been eating so good. I sent Jim an air mail a week ago but haven’t had any reply from him. Sometimes it takes about

[page 4] as long for him to get my letters as it does for you to.

I have been looking at a piano again. A tuner who worked on ours last fall had a grand for $300⁰⁰. That sounds like a fortune just now and I don’t know what to do. If I could only get your opinion in tme. I told him I didn’t have the cash because I had bought bonds. He said he would arrange the payment for me but I haven’t decided yet what I should do. By the time I get an answer the issue will probably be past history.

I have been quoting our bank bal. several times lately. When I pay the hospital bill today I will be pretty low. Will give you definite figures tomorrow. This everyday living without trimmings is so high – I haven’t spent for anything but necessities and it seems to take a lot. Just so we can get by I am nor worrying about savings – of course I would like to have a nest egg saved up when you come home, but I am not going to worry about it. I’ll feel good about the whole things if we get along –

Love Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/10/06/a-grand-for-300-gladys/

Will of James B. Higgins

5 Replies

: Will of James B. Higgins p. 1

: Will of James B. Higgins p. 2

Will of James B. Higgins
Montgomery County, Maryland
Will Book 3: 1-2
Written 9 May 1844
Filed 1 August 1848

“In the name of God Amen, I James B. Higgins of Montgomery County in the State of Maryland do make, execute, publish and declare the following as and for my last will and testament, viz: I give devise and bequeath to my sons Johnᵒ H. Higgins and Charles A. C. Higgins one twelfth part being a childs part of all the real and personal estate I may leave at the time of my death, after my debts & funeral charges have been paid and my wife’s dower and thirds have been taken out (if she should survive me) to them and their heirs or the heirs of the survivor of them in trust, for the use and benefit of Margaret Rebecca Higgins, wife of Jesse T. Higgins and the children of the said Margaret Rebecca and Jesse T. Higgins now begotten or which may hereafter be begotten during the life of the said Margaret Rebecca and after the death of the said Margaret Rebecca in trust for the children of the said Margaret Rebecca and Jesse T. Higgins, their heirs and assigns equally to be divided between them.

And in consideration of the preceding devise to and for the use and benefit of the wife and children of my son Jesse T. Higgins, I will and direct that he shall have no part of my estate real or personal but that the residue thereof be divided and disposed of as if I had died intestate among all my children (except the said Jesse T. Higgins) their heirs and assigns.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this ninth day of May eighteen hundred and forty four.

Signed, sealed, published and}
declared by the above named tes-}
tator, as and for his last will and}
testament, in our presence, who at} James B. Higgins [seal]
his request, in his presence and in}
the presence of each other, have sub-}
scribed our names as witnesses thereto}
W.O. Chappell}
H. Franklin Viers}
Richard Ricketts}

Montgomery County to wit: On this 1^st day of August 1848 came H. Franklin Viers one of the subscribing witnesses to the last will and Testament of James B. Higgins late of said County deceased and made Oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God that he did see the testator herein named sign and seal this will and that he heard him publish, pronounce and declare the same to be his last will and testament and that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of his apprehension of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding and the he subscribed his name to this will as a witness in the presence and at the request of the testator, also in the presence of William O. Chappell and

[page 2] Richard Ricketts the other subscribing witnesses thereto,
Certified by Henry Harding Register

[Seal of Montgomery County]
Know all men by these presents, that we Charles A.C. Higgins, George Knowles and John H. Higgins of Montgomery County are held and firmly bound to the State of Maryland in the sum of Ten Thousand dollars, current money, to be paid to the State aforesaid or its certain Attorney to which payment will and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators jointly and severally, firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals, and dated this first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight.

The conditions of the above obligations is such, that if the above bounden Charles A. C. Higgins shall well and truly perform the office of Administrator with the will annexed of James B. Higgins, late of Montgomery County deceased, according to law, and shall in all respect discharge the duties of him acquired by law, as Administrator aforesaid, without any injury or damage to any person interested in the faithful performance of the said office, then the above obligation shall be void: it is otherwise to be in full force and virtue in law.

Signed, Sealed and C. A. C. Higgins [seal]
delivered in the presence of George Knowles [seal
C. A. Harding John H. Higgins [seal]

State of Maryland Montgomery County Orphans Court August 2^nd 1848

Then came Charles A. C. Higgins and made Oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God that he will well and truly administer the goods, chattels, personal estate and credits of James B. Higgins late of said County deceased to the best of his knowledge according to law and will give a just account of his administration when thereto he shall be lawfully called and that he will diligently and faithfully regard and well and truly comply with the provisions of the Acts of Assembly passed at December Session 1844 entitled “an Act imposing a tax or commissions allowed to Executors and Administrators to aid in paying the debts of the State” and an Act entitled “an Act imposing a tax on collateral inheritances, distributive shares and legacies to aid in paying the debts of the State.”

Certified by
Henry Harding Register”

Images courtesy of Family Search (www.familysearch.org)

© 2014 transcription by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/10/06/will-of-james-b-higgins/

Lettuce (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 12, 1943 envelope

: July 12, 1943, p. 1

: July 12, 1943, p. 2

: July 12, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
July 12, 1943

Dear Mother,

Another Monday rolling along. Yesterday an air mail letter came from the folks. It was dated June 23. The latest from you was June 22. I believe there will be more mail in the next few days. It seems to run like that.

I’m completely floored as to anything to write as I have often been before and a few words like this might serve as a starter offer.

Some officers came in yesterday who had left the

[page 2] States in early June and they were giving us the low down on rationing, prices and conditions in general. Things must have changed back there and we would probably notice it more that others who have been there and accepted the changes gradually.

I haven’t heard from Joe R. since he was here nor have I written to him. There really isn’t much to write about for he knows as well as I what goes on in the area.

My lettuce was growing a little and then one morning it was all gone – evidently the rats

[page 3] or worms or something liked the green because it was all mowed down and gone. I guess cocoanuts and jungles are all that can survive here unless something is added in the way of fertilizer.

The boy is here cleaning and throwing things around and that doesn’t add much to the ability to concentrate. The only good feature about that is the clean sheets that are added to the bunk on Monday.

Well, that’s all for today.
Love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

A Logical Explanation (Gladys)

1 Reply

: July 12, 1943 envelope

: July 12, 1943, p. 1

: July 12, 1943, p. 2

: July 12, 1943, p. 3

Letter Transcription:

Kentland Ind
7 – 12 – 43

Dear Daddy,

Yours of July 1 and 2 came today. This is Monday and had a little washing to do. It is hot & sunny so things are drying well. I want to get the ironing done to because I promised to go to Laf. tomorrow. I’ll bring Mother home if Dr. Cole thinks she should come. She wasn’t eating any better yesterday but maybe she will in a few days. Dr. Cole is giving her something to help stimulate her appetite.

I have to fill in a form for a new gas ration book. They should be issued by July 21 – that is the expiration of the present book.

Margaret Kruman came out and asked me to order three catheters for Bud. Seems

[page 2] Dr. M. has had a little misunderstanding with Aloe & won’t order so she asked me to. I am going to send a C.O.D. order.

Bud Krull is here today. He & Mark went fishing & caught 2 little fish they threw back in. I caught Mark in time to keep him from going back so he can mail this for me. You need not worry about him studying too hard. He hasn’t done any since he had his tonsils out, and I am so busy with things now I can’t keep him at anything, so the studying will have to wait until school begins. I started him on the piano again but he won’t practice unless I sit with him. I think he could soon get it if he had the urge. John thinks he could soon play by ear if he tried.

John is over at Zell’s helping them break beans to can. They brought a girl about his age back with them for a week’s visit. John has a bad case of pimples & black heads on his nose and around it but he won’t let me get near him so I can’t do much about it. I told him good scrubbing would help a lot. I suppose you know by now we didn’t get the horn for Mark. He wouldn’t practice any more on it than on the old one and when the bike came along he said he would rather have it.

David is taking a nap at present. It is so hot today he is dressed in a diaper only. We didn’t get back last nite until 8 P.M. and he didn’t mind at all going an hour past his supper. I have been putting him to bed at 7 so he won’t wake so early in the a.m. – even with going to bed an hour late he was awake at 7 this morning. He is jabbering a lot, say Da Da very

[page 4] plainly – anyone could understand it – but that’s about all except sometimes he says mom- mom. He reminds me of John the way he make sounds like words. John can’t understand how he would know to say da da – John has to have a logical explanation for things. He gets more like you every day. He says so many things that makes me think of the things you would say. Mark is so anxious to look like you. I tell him I would be more pleased if he acted like Daddy. He just grins and goes on as usual. Mark & Buddy just came in with a yard stick discussing the length bass & bluegill should be to keep & Mark said 6 & 10 ft. & meant inches. When I called his attention to his error he had a good laugh.

He is waiting to mail this so will get it finished. There is a swallow’s nest in our fireplace chimney – I can hear the baby birds.

Love Mother