The Interesting Will of Dorothy Kline

Tomorrow is our monthly internet research group genealogy meeting and we will be discussing wills and probate packets. We were asked to pass along any “interesting” wills or probate packets we had in our files to discuss at our meeting. I chose one I recently received from a newly found cousin. The will, which was proved in 1799, is my 6th great grandmother’s.

Highlights From the Will

I found this will to be both curious and entertaining. First of all, under “secondly” she gives her son Daniel the two blind mares and an half waggon [sic] and to her son Nicholas she gives the old black mare and the grey Colt and one half wagon. I hope the brothers get along as they share this wagon! And, I think Nicholas might have got the better deal with his old mare and colt versus his brother’s two blind mares. [NOTE: Please see a follow up post which corrects this misconception!]

She also bequeaths five pounds each to the following grandchildren:

• • Catharine, the daughter of George
  • Dorothy, the daughter of George
  • Dorothy, the daughter of Lenohard
  • Dorothy, the daughter of Nicholaus

The first three of these granddaughters are getting their
five pounds “out of the money which their said father… is indebted to
me.” So, do they only get the money if their fathers are able to pay it to
them?

Also, note that three of these granddaughters are named Dorothy. And, yes, the deceased is named Dorothy: Dorothy Klein or Kline. She is giving inheritance primarily to those who share her name! I have another will like this where the deceased grandmother, Catharine, is only giving items to those granddaughters who were named Catharine. Very interesting! I can’t imagine this happening today. Can you imagine my putting in my will that my granddaughters named Dana would be the only grandchildren to inherit? I hope someone knows more about this practice, as I find it quite strange!