I, Abigail B. B. Tilton, of TiltonEditorial Note: Tilton, New Hampshire, in the County of Belknap, and State of New Hampshire hereby make this my last will and testament.
1 I order and direct that my just debts and funeral charges shall be paid as soon as may be expedient after my decease.
2 I give and bequeath to Trinity Episcopal Church located at Tilton, Five Thousand Dollars. ($5000.)Editorial Note: $5,000 in 1886 is the equivalent of $144,133.07 in 2021. to be securely invested and kept as a perpetual fund, and the income to be used for the support of the minister; provided however that should the Rev. Lucius Waterman return as preacher in said Church or if the said Church shall at any time cease to exist as an Episcopal Church at Tilton, then I give and bequeath said Five Thousand Dollars to the Pembroke Academy at Pembroke, New Hampshire.
3 I give bequeath and devise to my husband’s As Written: husbands niece, Charlotte Atkinson a tract of land lying east and adjoining land of Moses Garland with the buildings, privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging, bounded as follows, Southerly, by the highway, Thirty-six feet, six inches, Westerly, along land. of said Garland One hundred, eighty-two feet, seven inches, Northerly by the fence, sixty-three feet to a stone bound, Easterly, one hundred-sixty-seven feet four inches to the highway: all of my railroad stock; my daughter's As Written: daughters piano: the full set of crockery in the sitting-room cupboard: all in the memorial chamber except the pictures and wearing apparel: all in the east middle chamber except the carpet.
4 I give and bequeath to my sister-in-law Martha D. R. Baker, the note I hold against her.
5. I give, bequeath and devise to my sister-in-law Mary Ann Baker, her heirs and assigns forever all of my Cemetery property unoccupied at my decease.
6 I give and bequeath to Abbie G. Durgin, wife of William J. Durgin, One Thousand Dollars ($1000.)Editorial Note: $1,000 in 1886 is the equivalent of $28,826.61 in 2021. my Goddard Buggy; white horse; blue lap robe and single harness.
7 I give and bequeath to Lela Gertrude Durgin daughter of Abbie G. and William J. Durgin, whose name was given her by my dear daughter Evelyn Four Thousand Dollars ($4000.)Editorial Note: $4,000 in 1886 is the equivalent of $115,306.45 in 2021. Evelyn's bosom pin and one of her bracelets like the one Lela Gertrude’s mother now possesses.
8 I give and bequeath to my niece, Ellen C. Philbrook, Eighteen Thousand Dollars ($18000.)Editorial Note: $18,000 in 1886 is the equivalent of $518,879.04 all of my wearing apparel: all of my silver and plated ware: all of my rings and other jewelry except what I have herein otherwise disposed of: also all of my daughter's wearing apparel and furs.
9 I give and bequeath to my nephew, George W. Glover, son of my sister, Mary B. G. Eddy, Ten Thousand Dollars ($10.000.)Editorial Note: $10,000 in 1886 is the equivalent of $288,266.13 in 2021.
10 I give and bequeath to my nephew George W. Baker, Three thousand Dollars. ($3000.)Editorial Note: $3,000 in 1886 is the equivalent of $86,479.84 in 2021.
11 I give and bequeath to Daniel W. Tilton of Tilton, Two Thousand Dollars ($2000)Editorial Note: $2,000 in 1886 is the equivalent of $57,653.23 in 2021.
12 I give and bequeath to my domestic Kate Kane, One Thousand Dollars ($1000.)Editorial Note: $1,000 in 1886 is the equivalent of $28,826.61 in 2021. providing she is in my service at my decease.
13 I give and bequeath to Mrs H. A. Herrick, Five hundred Dollars. ($500)Editorial Note: $500.00 in 1886 is the equivalent of $14,413.31 in 2021.
14 I give and bequeath to Henry K. Barnes of BostonEditorial Note: Boston, Massachusetts One Thousand Dollars ($1000.)Editorial Note: $1,000 in 1886 is the equivalent of $28,826.61 in 2021.
15 I give and bequeath to Selwin Bancroft Peabody in memorial of my dear Albert, Five Thousand Dollars ($5000.)Editorial Note: $5,000 in 1886 is the equivalent of $144,133.07 in 2021. to be held in trust.: the interest of which to be distributed by him to the deserving poor of Tilton at his discretion. And it is my request that he make suitable provision for the perpetuation of this fund after his decease.
16 I give, bequeath and devise to Selwin Bancroft Peabody, his heirs and assigns forever, all of my homestead property situated in Tilton: it being the house in which I live and the barns and buildings therewith connected; the new barn so called, situated opposite to my dwelling on the land leading from the highway to my mill, together with the upper cottage house situated on the land leading from the highway to my mill; the whole being bounded on the easterly by land of the said Peabody, Southerly by land belonging to my mill property as specified in the copartnership agreement between myself and said Peabody, and Winnipesaukee As Written: Winnipisaukee River: Westerly by the fence and wall separating this property from Park Cemetery; and northerly by the highway leading from Tilton to FranklinEditorial Note: Franklin, New Hampshire; with all the privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging; also my solitaire diamond ring: my diamond belt pin; and my gold bowed spectacles.
17 I give and bequeath to Evelyn Tilton Foster of ConcordEditorial Note: Concord, New Hampshire, daughter of George and Georgeanna L. Foster, my gold watch and chain: my gold pencil and diamond cluster pin.
18 I give, bequeath and devise to the said Selwin Bancroft Peabody, his heirs and assigns forever all the rest, residue and remainder of my property, real, personal and mixed, however the same may be found and however situated.
19 It is my will that my executors hereinafter appointed shall have three years in which to pay the money legacies; but the same shall be on interest at six percentAs Written:per cent per annum from the time of my decease, until paid.
20 I hereby express a wish that in the procession following my remains to the grave, Selwin B. Peabody and daughter shall occupy the first carriage: Mr. and Mrs Edwin C. PhilbrookEditorial Note: Edwin C. Philbrook and Ellen C. Pilsbury Philbrook and Charlotte Atkinson the second carriage; then my direct family according to their years: and then my deceased husband’s family according to their years.
21 I hereby constitute and appoint As Written: apponit the said Selwin B. Peabody and Richard Firth executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made
In witness whereof I have hereunto set to my hand and seal on this the sixth day of May, A.D. 1886.
signed and sealed by the above mentioned— Abigail B. B. Tilton as her last will and testament, and by us at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other subscribed as witnesses.
Enoch G. Philbrick
Sam'l Condon Jr.
John E. Senter
[*]Archival Note: The following is a printed form that has been attached here: BELKNAP SS. At a Special Court of Probate for the County of Belknap, held in Tilton, in said County, on the 27' day of August Anno Domini, 1886.
The foregoing instrument, purporting to be the last Will of Abigail B. B. Tilton late of Tilton in said County, deceased, having been presented for Probate in common form by the Executors therein named,
IT APPEARS TO ME, the Judge of Probate for said County, by the testimony in Court of Sam'l Condon, Jr.
one of the witnesses, whose names are to the said instrument subscribed, that at the time of the execution thereof, the said deceased was more than twenty-one years of age and of sane mind, that she did sign, seal and publish the same as her last Will, and that the said Sam'l Condon Jr. with Enoch G. Philbrick and John E. Senter attested and subscribed the same together as witness to the execution thereof in the presence of the said Testatrix. I DO THEREFORE DECREE, that the said instrument be, and it is hereby proved, approved and allowed, as THE LAST WILL of the Testatrix.
S. W. Rollins Judge of Probate. [*]Archival Note: The attached printed form ends here.
A true copy of the will of Abigail B. B. Tilton and of the Probate thereof.
Attest: John W. Ashman, Register of Probate for Belknap County.
Copy of Will of Mrs. Abigail BB Tilton
1886