Will of Ransom Ladd

The Last Will and Testament of Ransom Ladd

From the "Record of Deeds, Book ‘J', Stoddard Cty, MO AD1867"

Page 569

Copied and transcribed by Michael D. Ladd

Please note: This book is at the County Court House. The copy machine available at the time I copied these pages was an older model. The edge where the paper meets the binding is very dark and very difficult to read. There are also some words that I was unable to figure out due to the handwriting and the manner in which they wrote in those days. Where I was unable to figure out the word you will find these asterisks ****. They are numbered and I will list what the letters (if legible) look like to me. I think some of the words may be real estate terms that I can not decipher. If anyone is able to decipher some of the missing information please feel free to add it here. (1) towit; (2) chasis; (3) to if any and deceed; (4) towit; (5) towit; (6) can't read; (7)towit; (8) can't read; (9) can't read; (10) can't read; (11) can't read; (12) can't read; (13) can't read; (14)probably his title; (15) probably his title; (16) can't read; (17) can't read; (18) can't read; (19) can't read; (20) can't read. The ones marked as can't read were too dark near the binding of the book.

I Ransom Ladd of the County of Stoddard in the State of Missouri being of sound and disposing mind and being anxious to make a suitable disposition of my real and personal estate do make and ordain this my last will and testament. It is my will that all my just debts and the charges of my funeral be paid and discharged by executors hereafter named and appointed out of my estate as soon as conveniently may be after my decease I give and disperse of my real and personal estate (save what may be necessary for the payment of my just debts and funeral charges) in the following manner. I give to my son William Ladd the Northwest quarter of the Northeast quarter of Section no. Seventeen in Township no. Twenty Five north of Range no. Ten East containing forty acres. I give to my two Grandsons John H. Ladd, William B. Ladd and Henry A. Ladd and to their heirs the following Real Estate ******(1) the Northeast quarter of the Southeast of Section Thirty Two (32) in Township no. Twenty five (25) North of Range no. Nine (9) East containing forty acres. I leave to my daughter Malinda Allen one dollar. I leave to my two grandchildren Judith C. Majors and Adrian A. Majors each one dollar. I give to my daughter Rachel Bridges one dollar. I give to my son Francis Marion Ladd my saddle and Rifle gun. I will that my two daughters Rebecca Ann and Ester Ladd in their marriage or arrival at the age of twenty one years be given out of my estate each one horse bridle and saddle. I give to my beloved wife Jane Caroline Ladd all my personal property money debts and ******(2) in action (except what may be necessary for the payment of my just debts and funeral expenses and such as I have not disposed by this my last will and testament) to have use and enjoy during her natural life or widowhood for her and for the support and education of my four youngest children Francis M, Robert S, Rebecca A, and Ester Ladd and after the death or marriage of my said wife (whichever may first happen) then that the remainder of my said personal property money ******(3) go to my four youngest children just above named and to their heirs equally. I also give to my beloved wife Jane Caroline to have use and enjoy during her natural life or widowhood my homestead place consisting of the following Real Estate ******(4) the Southeast quarter of the Southwest quarter of Section Eight (8) and the Northeast quarter of the Northwest quarter and the Southeast quarter of the Northwest quarter of Section no. Seventeen (17) in Township no. Twenty-five (25) north of Range no. Ten East containing One hundred and Twenty acres also the East sectional part of the Northwest quarter of the Northwest quarter of Section no. (17) in Township no. (25) North of Range no. Ten East bounded as follows ******(5) commencing at the Southeast corner of no. 6 made for William Neal running hence East six chains and seventy-five links to a stake hence North twenty chains to a stake hence West three chains to a stake hence South ten degrees West twenty one chains and eighty seven links to the place of beginning containing nine acres and three rods. Also the East half of the Southwest quarter of the Northwest quarter of Section no. Seventeen in township no. Twenty-five North of Range no. Ten East containing twenty acres and after the death or marriage of my said wife (whichever event may first happen) it is my will that the said described Real Estate and appurtenances hereby given to her as above mentioned ascend and belong equally to my two sons Francis Marion Ladd and Robert S. Ladd and to their heirs and assigns forever. It is my will that the following described Real Estate belonging to me be reserved for the following purposes ******(6) is to say if it should be necessary for the support of my beloved wife during her widowhood and for the support and education of my four youngest children remaining with her at this time that the said lands or Real Estate ******(7) West half and the Southeast quarter of the Southwest quarter of Section ***teen(8) in Township no. Twenty five North of Range no. Ten East containing One hundred and twenty acres be sold by my executors hereinafter to be named and appointed and the proceeds thereof to be used for the purpose aforesaid ******(9) as may necessary to dispose of said lands for the use and purpose aforesaid then in that event it is my will that said land decend and belong to my children and their decendants in accordance with the Statutes of the State of Missouri regulating decents and distribution and thereby ******(10) constitute and appoint William A. Neal and Reuben P. Owen family ******(11) severally to be executors of this my last will and testament in ******(12) whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal and publish and declare this to be my last will and testament this 20th day of September AD Eighteen Hundred and Sixty five _____________R. Ladd (seal)

Signed Sealed Published and declared by the above named Ransom Ladd as and for his last will and testament in the presence of ******(13) at his request and in his presence have subscribed our names as witness thereto

________________________N.J. Norman ******(14) State of Missouri

________________________Henry H. Sadler ******(15) County of Stoddard

Invocation of the County court be it remembered that his 30 day of November AD 1865 personally appeared before the undersigned Adrian B. Owen clerk of the County court of the County and State aforesaid Nathin J. Norman and Henry H. Sadler the subscribing witness to the annexed will of Ransom Ladd and being by me first duly ******(16)depose and say that the said Ransom Ladd the testutor ******(17) entered ******(18) in their presence and published the said will or instrument of writing ******(19) his last will and testament and he the said testutor was at the time of publishing the said will of sound mind and more than twenty one years of age that they the said depossents attested the said will as witnessed by subscribing their names to the same in the presense of said testutor

_______________(witnesses)______Nathin J. Norman

______________________________Henry H. Sadler

In witness thereof I Adrian B. Owen clerk of the county court of the county of Stoddard and state aforesaid have hereunto subscribed (seal) my name and affixed the seal of said court at office in the county aforesaid this 30 day of November AD 1865 Adrian B. Owen (signature) Clerk.

I Adrian B. Owen clerk of the county court of the county of Stoddard and State of Missouri do hereby certify that the foregoing is a ******(20) and correct copy of the last will and testament of Ransom Ladd deceased of the county and state aforesaid as appears ******(21) in this office in testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said court at office this 8th day of January AD 1866 (seal of co. court) Filed and record Feb. 21st 1867 Adrian B. Owen clerk

Fees 2.00

Submitted by: Michael D. Ladd
April 26, 1998