Transcribed from SAMPUBCO copy by Tim Kreh
Tompkins County, New York, Will Book Vol. V, page 34
Surnames: Owen, Lanning, Gould

At a Surrogate Court, held in and for the County of Tompkins, at the office of the Surrogate of the said County, in the city of Ithaca, on the 2nd day of October in the year 1893. Present, Bradford Almy, Surrogate. In the matter of proving the last Will and Testament of Alvah C. Owen, Deceased. An instrument, purporting to be the last will and Testament of Alvah C. Owen, bearing date the 25th day of June in the year 1886, was produced in court, and shown to each of the persons sworn as witnesses, as hereinafter mentioned. Monroe Lanning of the town of Enfield in the county of Tompkins being first duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that he was acquainted with the above mentioned Alvah C. Owen deceased, in his lifetime; that he saw the said Testator subscribe, at the end thereof, the instrument now shown to this deponent, purporting to be the last Will and Testament of the said Testator and above described; that he heard the said Testator declare the same to be his last Will and Testament; that this deponent subscribed his name as a witness thereto in the presence and at the request of the said Testator; that the said Testator, was at the time, in the opinion and belief of this deponent, of sound mind and memory, and not under any restraint; and that he was about 71 years of age; that he died on or about the 13 day of July in the year 1893, and was a resident of the town of Ulysses in the county of Tompkins at the time of his death. J. M. Lanning.

Sworn, examined and subscribed before me this 2nd day of Oct, 1893, Bradford Almy, Surrogate.

Almina Lanning of the town of Enfield in the county of Tompkins being first duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that she was acquainted with the above mentioned Alvah C. Owen deceased, in his lifetime; that she saw the Testator subscribe, at the end thereof, the instrument now shown to this deponent, purporting to be the last WILL AND TESTAMENT of the said Testator and above described; that she heard the said Testator declare the same to be his last WILL AND TESTAMENT; that this deponent subscribed his name as a witness thereto in the presence and at the request of the said Testator; that the said Testator was at that time, in the opinion and belief of this deponent, of sound mind and memory, and not under any restraint; and that he was about 71 years of age; that he died on or about the 13 day of July in the year 1893, and was a resident of the town of Ulysses in the County of Tompkins at the time of his death. Almina Lanning.

Sworn, examined and subscribed before me this 2nd day of Oct 1893, Bradford Almy, Surrogate.

Said last Will and Testament is in the words and figures following to wit:

In the name of God Amen. I Alvah C. Owen of the Town of Ulysses, Tompkins County and State of New York and being of sound mind and memory and of the age of seventy-one years, do make, publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following: that is to say first after all my lawful debts are paid I give and bequeath all of my estate of whatever name or nature to my wife Louisa Owen in lieu of dower during the term of her natural life, and second I give and bequeath upon and after the death of my wife aforesaid all of my said estate of whatsoever name or nature to my daughter Elvira C. Gould during the term of her natural life, third I desire that upon and after the death of my daughter aforesaid that my said estate be equally divided between my two grandchildren Edwin V. Gould and Carrie L. Gould and lastly I hereby appoint my daughter Elvira C. Gould and J. Monroe Lanning executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In Witness Whereof - I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of June in the year of Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six. A. C. Owen

The above instrument was signed by the testator in our presence and we at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have signed our names as attesting witnesses. J. Monroe Lanning residing in Town of Enfield, Tompkins Co. NY. Almira Lanning residing in Town of Enfield, Tompkins Co. NY.

In the Same Matter: On the 2 day of October 1893 - Satisfactory proof by affidavit having been made and filed of the due service of the Citation heretofore issued in this matter, requiring the proper persons to appear in this Court on the __ day of __, A.D. 18__ at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, and attend the Probate of the Last Will and Testament of Alvah C. Owen, late of the Town of Ulysses in the County of Tompkins, and State of New York, deceased, and the executors named in said will, having appeared in support of the probate of the said Last Will and Testament, no one contesting said probate, and after hearing the proofs and allegations of said executors and duly deliberating thereon; IT IS ADJUDGED AND DECREED; that the said Last Will and Testament was duly executed; that the same is genuine and valid; and that the said Alvah C. Owen deceased, was at the time of executing the same, in all respects competent to make a Last Will and Testament, and to devise Real Estate, and was not under any restraint. And this COURT DOTH FURTHER ORDER AND DECREE, that the said Last Will and Testament, and the proofs and examinations taken in respect to the same be recorded, and that the said Last Will and Testament be admitted to Probate, and that the same be and hereby is established as a Will relating to Real and Personal Estate. Bradford Almy, Surrogate.