Benjamin Coffin

In the name of God, Amen!! I, Benjamin Coffin, of the town of Deerfield, in the county of Oneida, state of New York of the age of sixty-five years and being of sound mind and memory do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner following:

I will, order, and direct that my wife Amy shall have and hold and enjoy all my real and personal property during her natural life, and I further will, order, and direct that my granddaughter and daughter of my son Sherman Coffin shall have out of my estate the sum of one hundred dollars, to be paid her after my death and after the death of my wife Amy, and this legacy is willed to her as and for what I should of willed to my son Sherman Coffin if he had of been living.

I further will and direct that after my death and after the death of my wife Amy that all my worldly effects of every name and nature shall be equally divided between my five heirs, to wit: Lusina Spencer, Anna Harris, Martial D. Coffin, Esther Reynolds and Jane Harris.

Hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 9th day of November, 1864.

signed - Benjamin Coffin

Witnesses - O.L. Stacy, A. Barney

Codicil to the Will of Benjamin Coffin, 30 Aug 1879

I, Benjamin Coffin, of Deerfield, having made my last will and testament bearing date the 9th day of November 1864, Do now make this Codicil to be taken as a part of the same.

First, I hereby ratify and confirm said Will in every respect, save, so far as any part of it is inconsistent with this Codicil.

Second, I give to my executors the sum of five hundred dollars to be expended by them in the purchase and erection of a suitable monument to my memory on my burial lot in the village of Newport, Herkimer County, NY. And I hereby direct my executors to expend that sum in the purchase and erection of such monument.

Third, I will and ordain that the executors of my last will and testament and this codicil for and towards the performance of said testament shall after my decease bargain, sell, alien in fee simple all my lands for the doing, executing, and perfecting finishing. Whereof I do by these presents give to my said executors full power and authority to grant, alien, bargain, sell, and convey and assure all the same lands to any person or persons and their heirs forever in fee simple, by all and every such lawful ways and means in the law as to my said executors shall seem fit and necessary.

Fourth, I hereby nominate and appoint Albert W. Brayton of Poland, NY and William Reynolds of Newport, NY to be executors of my said last will and testament and of this codicil and I hereby declare that my said will shall be read, constrained, and take effect as if the names of the said Albert W. Brayton and William Reynolds were inserted in my will throughout.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal the 30th day of August, 1879.

signed - Benjamin Coffin

Witnesses - Milton Howe, D.P. Jarvis

Codicil to the will of Benjamin Coffin, Newport, Herkimer, NY, 23 Jun 1885

I, Benjamin Coffin of Newport N.Y., formerly of Deerfield N.Y. having made my last will and testament bearing date the ninth day of November 1864, and also a codicil thereto bearing date the 30th day of August, 1879, do make this second codicil to be taken as a part of the same.

First, I hereby ratify and confirm said will and former codicil in every respect, save so far as any part of it is inconsistent with this codicil.

Whereas in my said last will and testament I did give and devise one fifth part or share of all my worldly effects of every name and nature to my son Marshall D. Coffin, now I hereby revoke all gifts, devises, and bequests by said will made to my said son Marshall D. Coffin, and in lieu and instead thereof I give, devise, and bequeath the said one fifth share of my real and personal estate to my executor Albert W. Brayton of Poland, N.Y. as trustee and in trust during the life of the said Marshall D. Coffin, to receive the rents and profits, and to manage and control the said share in real estate, and invest the said share in the real and personal property when converted into money, and keep the same invested safely, and during the life of the said Marshall D. Coffin to pay over to him from time to time in each and every year as may and shall be necessary for his support and maintenance, comfort, and benefit the rents, profits, and income of and from said real estate, and the income and interest of and from said personal estate, and such portion of the principal thereof as the said trustee shall in his own judgement and discretion think he may need in addition to the said income, profits, and interest, for his proper support and maintenance, and funeral expenses at his decease.

It being my will that my said son shall not have power to anticipate such income, interest, rents, or profits, or to transfer or dispose of his rights to receive the same or any part thereof. And on the death of thesaid Marshall D. Coffin, I will and devise the said share or so much thereof as remains unexpended as aforesaid to my next of kin, according to the laws of distribution of the laws of the state of New York in case of intestacy. But no part of the said principal shall be used or paid out for his support or maintenance unless he causes to actually want by means of sickness or incapacity to work.

In witness whereof I have to this second codicil, consisting of one sheet, to my last will and testament, subscribed my name this 23rd day of June 1885.

signed - Benjamin Coffin

witnesses - Milton Howe, Fred D. Mastner