WILL: JOHN  RAY; Henderson  Jefferson Co., New York
Surnames:  Ray, Wakefield, Hall, Dening [ Denning, Dennie ] Hungerford, White,
Wilkinson, Barney, Tilden, Bailey, Tucker, Matteson, Spencer, Ward, Cutler,
Parsons

Submitted by Lois B. Morrill (loisbrlmrl @ erols.com)
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http://www.usgwarchives.net/ny/nyfiles.htm
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transcribed by Lois B. Morrill
Will from Jefferson Co. Courthouse, Watertown, NY
Will Book Vol 11, page 202-205

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF John RAY deceased
BE IT REMEMBERED, That heretofore, to wit:  on the 4th day of December in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty six Harvey Hungerford
of Henderson Jefferson County New York Executor named in the last Will and
Testament of John Ray late of the Town of Henderson in the County of
Jefferson, deceased, appeared in open Court before the Surrogate of the
County of Jefferson and made application to have the said last Will and
Testament which relates to Personal Estate, proved; and on such application
the said Surrogate did ascertain by satisfactory evidence who were the widow
[,] heirs atlaw and next of kin of the said testator, and their respective
residences, and they are as follows, viz:  Sally A. Ray of Henderson
aforesaid widow & Monroe Ray & George Ray of Henderson children of the said
Testator & both minors having no general guardian and said Surrogate did
thereupon issue a citation in due form of law, directed to the widow heirs
of law and next of kin by their respective names, stating their respective
places of residence and requiring them to appear before said Surrogate at
his office in the village of Watertown, in said County, on the 27th day of
December A.D., 1866, to attend the Probate of said Will, on which  .... day
said petitioners appeared and filed due proof of the service of said
citation on all thereto, the same as was directed & it appearing that Monroe
Ray & George Ray are minors having no general guardian therefore W.W.
Taggart of Watertown was appointed the Guardian of said minors for the
purpose of appearing for them & in behalf of their interests in this
proceeding said Taggart immediately ..... and in that day no one appearing
to oppose the Probate of such Will Such proceedings were thereupon had in
said Court afterwards, that the said Surrogate took the proofs of said Will
hereinafter set forth this 27th day of December A.D. 1866 and he thereupon
adjudged the said Will to be a valid Will of Real and Personal Estate and
the proofs thereof to be sufficient, which said Last Will and Testament
proofs are hereinafter recorded in this book.
D. M. Bennett   Surrogate  
   

                       JOHN RAY ESTATE 
                             WILL 

In the name of God Amen!  I John Ray of the town of Henderson in the County
of Jefferson and State of New York of the age of forty three years and being
of sound mind and memory do make publish and declare this my last will and
testament in manner following, that is to say. 

First, I give and devise to my wife Sally A. Ray the house and lot of about
one acre of land situated westerly from my farm dwelling in Henderson
aforesaid meaning the same purchased by me of Jackson & Martin Barney to be
for her use and benefit forever. And I further give and bequeath to my said
wife Sally A. the use of all my other Real Estate of every description
whatever until my youngest son George Ray shall attain the age of twenty one
years (if he shall live to such age) if not during his natural life and also
I further give and bequeath to my said wife Sally the money and articles to
which she would be entitled as my widow by law or exempted to widows. And I
further will and direct that when my said son George shall arrive at the age
of twenty one years, my whole real estate (except the house herein above
willed to my said wife) shall descend to and belong to my said wife and my
two sons Monroe Ray & George Ray share and share alike, by the three persons
for their several use and benefit forever. 

Second. I further give and bequeath to my eldest son Monroe Ray when he shall
attain the age of twenty one years (to be paid out of my personal estate)
solely, the one half of my personal estate or the one half of the value
thereof, which belonged to me at my decease after settling & paying my past
debts and also directing the above exceptions and articles herein willed to
my said wife meaning and intending that my said son Monroe shall receive at
the age of 21 years the one half of the surplus of my personal estate at my
decease or the amount of value thereof And I further will and direct that in
case my said son Monroe shall after he shall become twenty one years of age
continue to live upon and carry on my farm and look after and take care of my
whole personal property of my estate after he becomes twenty one years of age
and until my said son George shall become twenty one years of age he Monroe
in addition to said sums herein above willed to him shall be entitled to one
third of the gains or increase of my personal estate from the time he Monroe
became 21 years of age until my said son George becomes 21 years old or at
the decease of George if he should not live and the remainder of my personal
estate shall be divided share and share alike between my said wife & my said
son George when he shall attain the age of 21 years and in case that either
of my said sons should die leaving no heirs before they shall be entitled to
their share of the benefits of this my last will and testament such share
shall be divided share & share alike between my said wife and the son who
shall be living. 

Thus and Lastly: I hereby appoint Harvey Hungerford of Henderson sole
executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills
by one made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this
24th day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty
six 
                      his 
                  John X Ray (L.S.) 
                     mark

The above instrument consisting of one sheet and three pages was as the date
thereof signed sealed published and declared by the said John Ray 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 thereto.
J.M. White        residing in Henderson Jefferson County State of New York
Albert Wilkinson      "     "     "        "         "     "       "    "

                       SURROGATES COURT 
In the matter of Proving the Last Will and Testament of John Ray Deceased
Jefferson County, SS. 
James M. White of Henderson in this County and Albert Wilkinson of the same
place being first duly sworn in open Court, upon their several corporeal
oaths, each for himself doth depose and say, that they are subscribing
witnesses to the last Will and Testament of John Ray late of the town of
Henderson in the County of Jefferson and State of New York deceased. And
these deponents do further say, that the said John Ray deceased, did, in the
presence of each of these deponents, subscribe his name at the end of the
instrument in writing  which is now here shown to these deponents and which
purports to be the last Will and Testament of the said deceased, and which
bears date on the 24th day of June one thousand eight hundred and sixty six 
by the signing of his mark as his signature.   
That the said deceased did, at the time of subscribing his name to the said
instruments aforesaid, declare the same to be his last Will and Testament;
and these deponents did thereupon subscribe their own respective names at the
end of said instrument as attesting witnesses to the execution thereof, each
at the request of the said deceased, and in his presence and in the presence
of each other: That the said deceased, at the time of so subscribing his.
name to said instrument as aforesaid, and publishing said instrument as
aforesaid, was upwards of twenty one years of age, and a citizen of the
United States, that he appeared to be, and deponents believe he was, of sound
mind, memory and understanding, and not under any restraint, and as deponents
verily believe, in all respects competent to devise real estate, that each of
these deponents saw the other sign his name to said instrument in the
presence of the said deceased. 
Subscribed and sworn to          James M. White
Dec 27 1866 before me            Albert Wilkinson
     D.M. Bennett
     Surrogate 

Jefferson County SS.                                             
It appearing upon the proofs duly taken in respect to the Last Will and
Testament of John Ray late of the town of Henderson in the county of
Jefferson and State of New York deceased that the said Will was duly executed
and that the said John Ray at the time he executed the same, was in all
respects competent to devise real estate, and not under restraint the said
last Will and Testament and the proofs and examinations are hereby recorded
signed and certified by me, pursuant to the Provisions of the Revised
Statutes" this 27th day of December A.D. 1866
D. M. Bennett  Surrogate

Notes:
Sally Wakefield Ray Hall Dening [Denning, Dennie] died at Ray's Bay 1909,
buried with John in Henderson. John Ray was survived by his parents, Coonrod
[Conrad] and Charity Ray of Ellisburg / Henderson 1825-1850, and siblings
Harriet Ray & ___ Tilden, Edward & Matilda Bailey Ray, Jacob & Sarah Tucker
Ray, Eliza Jane Ray & Horatio Matteson, Mahala Ray & John Spencer, Silvia Ray
& Samuel? Lewis Ward, who all emigrated to, & are buried in, Wisconsin.  

About 1870 Monroe Ray m Emma Parsons; 1878 George Ray m Etta Cutler of
Henderson; 1878 Charles Parsons of Henderson m Emma A. Denning of Pinckney.  
Source: Jefferson County Journal clippings from Henderson Historical Society,
Historical Assoc. of South Jefferson