Will of Sarah A. Losee

Amanuensis: "one who is employed to take dictation or copy manuscripts." (The American Heritage High School Dictionary).

In the name of God Amen

                                        I Sarah Ann Losee

of Yorktown County of Westchester N.Y. wife 

of Daniel W Losee being of sound and dis

posing mind and memory and consider

ing all uncertainty of this life do make

publish and declare this to be my last

Will and Testament as follows

First After All my lawful debts are paid 

I give to my sister Phoebe Emily Losee my

farm situated in Yorktown County of

Westchester N.Y. where I now reside. with

all the farming utensils and stock therein 

during her natural life. After her death 

to be given to her chldren share alike.

2d It is my will that my husband Daniel

W Losee have a home on said farm during

his life provided he remains single.

3rd It is my will that my sister Phoebe

Emily Losee pay to my sister Martha the sum

of Fifty ($50) dollars per year during her life

in the event of my sister Phoebe Emily's death

then the yearly sum of Fifty Dollars to cease.

4th I give to my niece Emma Jane Smith

one Feather bed and bedstead with bed

ding

5th I give to Schuyler S. Losee one Feather bed

and bedding

6th It is my will that my sister Phoebe Em

mily furnish the sum of Fifty ($50) Dollars 

to be expended on a head stone for my father

Isaac Losee

It is my will that my Executrix [take] the cash

[page break]

in Peekskill Bank to furnish pay funeral

expenses

I hereby appoint my sister Phoebe Emily

Losee of Yorktown Westchester county N.Y. herein

before mentioned to be Executrix of this my

last Will and Testament hereby revoking

all former wills by me made

In Witness whereof I have hereunto sub

scribed my name and affixed my seal 

the twenty seventh day of September in

the year of our Lord one thousand eight

hundred and seventy nine

Witnesses

George F. Ferris}              Sarah Ann Losee {seal}

George Morton

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The will of Sarah Ann Losee is an interesting read and one of the few I've found for my female relatives. After reading the will, I have formulated several hypotheses:

• In neither Sarah's or Daniel's will are any sons or daughters mentioned; everything is bequeathed to siblings or nieces and nephews. Therefore I am guessing that Sarah and Daniel had no children or their children died young;
• Since Sarah names her sister, Phoebe Emily Losee, and their father, Isaac Losee, I'm guessing their maiden name is the same as their married names, Losee;
• The Schuyler S. Losee mentioned is likely her nephew, who is enumerated with Phoebe and Samuel R. Losee on the 1870 census;
• and, Sarah's niece, Emma Jane Smith, is probably the Emma who is enumerated with Samuel and Phoebe on the 1870 census.