WILL: Sally Russell; Easton, Washington co., New York

submitted by anonymous
***********************************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm
http://files.usgwarchives.org/ny/washington/wills/vf/russell-sally.txt
***********************************************************************
Source: sampubco.com
Washington co NY Will Book Vol. F page 540
Written: 11 Apr 1855
Probated: 

"The last will and Testament of Sally Russell of the Town of Easton, County of
Washington, State of New York

I Sally Russell considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of
sound mind and memory (blessed be Almighty God for the same) do make and
publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following:

First, I order that all my debts and funeral expenses be paid out of my estate
by my executor hereinafter appointed.

Second, I give and bequeath unto my brother Thomas Schuyler with whom I now
reside the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars.

Third, I give and bequeath unto my Sister-in-law Sally Schuyler the wife of my
brother Thomas Schuyler one of my feather beds and my only bedstead, four
cotton sheets, four woolen blankets, one pain of pillows and a bolster.

Fourth, I give and bequeath unto my Sister Phebe Alegred [? I cannot read this
name.] my other feather bed and my large silver spoon, there being only two.

Fifth, I give and bequeath unto the daughters of my brother Phillip my small
silver spoons to be divided equally among them, there being six only.

Sixth, I give and bequeath the remaining part of my estate whatsoever and
whensoever of what nature and kind and quality the same may lie and not be
hereinbefore given and disposed of (after payment of debts, legacies and
expenses) to be divided equally among all my brothers and sisters who survive
me except my sister Hriah [? I cannot read this name.]

And I hereby constitute and appoint my brother Thomas Schuyler sole executor
for this my last will and testament.

I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh day of April, one thousand
eight hundred fifty-five.

her
Sally X Russell
Mark"

Witnessed by Wm. Cozzered [?], a resident of Easton, Washington County, New
York and David [? I cannot read this name clearly.] P. Schuyler, a resident of
Easton, Washington County 

Comments by transcriber:
I transcribed the will of Sally Russell, but I could not place her for a long
time. Recently I found her grave listed in the Slave Burying Ground: "Russell,
Sally, died 13 April 1855 at age 70 years, 6 months and 17 days" (CEMETERY
RECORDS, THE TOWN OF EASTON, WASHINGTON COUNTY, NEW YORK, Historical Data
Services, p. 44). Her stone could no longer be found, but there was a record
of it. She was buried with James Schuyler, who died in 1851 at age 90 and
Warren Schuyler, an infant son of "Thomas and Sally." Their stones remain.

During the 1810 census of Easton, James Schuyler's family of 9 was listed as
free, not white, not Indian. During the 1800 census, the free Schuylers lived
near the white Van Schuylers who owned slaves. In the 1850 census of Easton,
Sally Russell, 67, was listed as living in Thomas Schuyler's household
(Ancestry.com). The household, including Sally, was listed as Black, not
mulatto. In her will Sally referred to Thomas as her brother, so I presume
that she was born a Schuyler.

I have no idea whether Sally came by her Russell surname through marriage or
from early service in a Russell household. She mentioned no children in her
will, so probably she had none. At any rate, I transcribed her will, and maybe
some modern Schuylers or Van Schuylers will find it useful.