Will of Joseph Whitney, dated August 24, 1870 Joseph Whitney.--August 24, 1870. Will.
In the name of God. Amen.
I Joseph Whitney of Leominster in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being of sound mind and memory do make and publish this my last Will and Testament.
I direct my Executor hereinafter named, to cause a memorial stone to be placed in my lot in the New Cemetery like the one for my Wife, and my monument suitably inscribed and my coffin to be of pine stained rosewood color with four handles to be used at my funeral.
First, I give and bequeath to my son Francis Austin Whitney the southeast part of my lot in the new Cemetery.
Second, I give and bequeath to my daughter Susan E. Lathrop wife of Phillip Lathrop my hair-cloth sofa and the Bureau that was her mother's and my Large gilt mirror and round top table.
Third, I give and bequeath to my eldest son Francis A. Whitney my best set of bench tools, consisting of foreplane or Jackplane, large jointer and two smothing planes all double irons; my three or three and half feet mahogany Table with fall leaves, two veniered large Mirrors now at his house, one bureau of one Draw, or a chest of one draw.
Fourth, I give and bequeath to my son William B. Whitney my Secretery now in his house, my large mahogany Table fall-leaved and leaves now at his house, six light colored Kitchen chairs, one pine bureau of four drawers, a three feet Kitchen Table and leaves, one cherry light stand and two mirrors also at his house.
Fifth, I give and bequeath to said Francis A. Whitney and said William B. Whitney jointly to have own and possess all other shop tools and appliances and also my agriculture tools and appliances such as ladders, wheelbarrow and the like articles not already bequeathed or given away.
I give and bequeath to Joseph F. Whitney, only son of William B. Whitney aforesaid the sum of Fifteen Dollars to be deposited in a Savings Bank to be drawn by him at his majority as a token of my approval for being named for me if he shall die in his minority his father has it and may draw it at any time after such boy's death.
I hereby authorize and empower my Executor hereafter named to sell and convey by title deed of my Real Estate to the person who purchases, as follows viz: that my Executor notify my children that my Cottage House and lot used as my home lead will be set up at auction to be bid off by either Francis A. Whitney, William B. Whitney, and Susan E. Lathrop and the proceeds of such sale to the highest bidder to be equally divided by the three above named children.
I further give bequeath and Devise that the residue of my estate be equally divided between my three children and if either decease the child or children take such parents share.
I do nominate and appoint James Bennett to be the sole Executor of this my last will and Testament.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal and publish and decree this to be my last Will and Testament in the presence of the Witnesses named below this twenty fourth day of August in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Seventy.
Joseph his X mark Whitney (seal)
Signed sealed declared and published by the said Joseph Whitney as and for his last Will and Testament in presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as Witnesses hereto.
Henry F. Holt
Charlotte B. Ames
D. Ann Bennett