Fortunate Family Find

Sometimes digging around in old newspapers doesn't give you a birth announcement, or a wedding description, or even a good obituary. Combing through the newspapers for these things can be fun, sometimes the can be frustrating. But as every genealogist knows, sometimes its what you weren't looking for that makes the best find for your family history.

The Dykeman Farm has been in the family for generations. It seems like it was always Dykeman Land, but it was in the 1940's that Henry Dykeman Senior (son of Peter & Effie Hooker Dykeman) bought the farm. He bought the farm from his mother's family who had owned the land for generations.  The last of the Hooker family to live on the land was her Aunt Cornelia (Aunt Neil) and her Uncle William (Uncle Bill).

I found by accident in the Poughkeepsie paper the ad placed for the auction of the farm, which is below. No, it doesn't give me any dates for the family tree. But it does give me a good idea of the family farm before it became the Dykeman farm. Thats just as important to my family history.

The Will of John Varney

John Varney is my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather. I have posted a little but about his part of my genealogy in my discussion concerning his first wife at Who Was Kaziah Varney's Mother?  I have yet to solve the mystery of who his first wife was, but I did find his Will which I include below in case someone else is searching for this family.

WILL OF JOHN VARNEY


[Will Book pp. 157-159, Dutchess County, New York]

And thereupon the last Will and Testament of John Varney deceased with the probate thereof were produced and are as follows, to wit –

I John Varney of the town of Dover, County of Dutchess and State of New York being in sound disposing mind and memory do think fit to make a distribution of my estate which shall remain at my decease in manner following, that is to say, First I do order and direct that all my just debts together with my funeral expanses be justly paid and satisfied out of my estate.

Next, I give to my wife Prissilla the one equal undivided half of all my household furniture one equal half of my dwelling house and one equal undivided half of all my remaining real and personal property to her heirs and assigns forever and the use and occupancy of the other half of the house during her life all which above legacies I give to her in sight and lieu of her dower.

Next, I give to my two daughters Sally Higby wife of Flemon Higby and to my daughter Keziah Cutler wife of Calvin Cutler the other equal undivided half of all my real and personal property to be equally divided between them their heirs and assigns forever and after the death of my wife that half of the house given to her during her life I give to my two daughters above named to be divided equally between them their heirs and assigns forever.

Now Therefore in order that this my last Will and Testament may be carried fully into effect I do hereby constitute and appoint my beloved wife Prissilla Varney my Executrix and John Wing and Calvin Cutler my Executors hereby authorizing and empowering them to do with and dispose of my property both real and personal in manner and form as aforesaid directed in this my last Will and Testament.

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto this my last Will and Testament set my hand and seal at Dover this ninth day of the fourth month in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty one hereby revoking all former wills by me made and ratifying this and none other to be my last Will and Testament.

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said John Varney as for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us whose names are under written who did each of us subscribe our names as witnesses at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other.


John Varney (L.S.)

Asahel H. Haviland. ) Town Dover,
Buel Giddings \ Dutchess County.

State of New York, Dutchess Surrogate Court In the Matter of proving the last Will and Testament of John Varney deceased .

Dutchess County