Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2011, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: SOURCE: Centennial Edition of the Lapeer County Press and Lapeer County Clarion dated Wednesday, August 19, 1931 Commemorating 100 Years of History and Progress Lapeer 1831 - 1931 Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ============================================================================ CURIOSLY WORDED OLD WILL OF LAPEER MASON DISCLOSED (contributed [to the newspaper] by Geo N. Lawrence) Myron B. Smith a patriarchal Mason of Lapeer County, who died several years ago, was one of the most learned men on Freemasonry of his day. His early life was spent in surveying lands. He helped to run all the town and many subdivision lines from Port Huron and Saginaw Bay and on the west, and from Rock River to Point aux Barques on the north. Possessing great energy, an indomitable perseverance and a most remarkable physical endurance, he was admirably fitted for the hardships incidental to the surveyor's life. Mr. Smith was six feet in height, broad shoulder and straight as an arrow. With a high forehead, long white hair and beard, his appearance was that of more than an ordinary man. Masonry was his hobby, in fact, his religion. The large funeral held under Masonic auspices was but a sentiment of expression in which he was held. The old Masonic apron worn by his father in 1818, and given him at the latter's death, occupied a position on the casket. In like manner Mr. Smith gave it to his only son, Henry, in whose possession it was kept as an heirloom until his death. A Curious Will After Mr. Smith's death a collection of rare specimens was shown. Among them the first issue of the Detroit Free Press and Michigan Intelligencer, and a unique will from his grandfather, dated July 7, 1828. The spelling, punctuation and general arrangement tends to show that the education of the maker had been sadly neglected. The copy of the will read: "In the name of God, amen, this 7 day of July 1828, I Joel Smith of Kent county of Springfield and State of Connecticut being of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament to wit. I do will my soul to God who made it and my body to the dust from whence it came, hoping for a joyful resurrection through the Lord Jesus Christ in whose merits alone I trust for happiness beyond the grave and I recommend to my exetors to give my body a decent and Christian burial. Itim: I will that all my just depts and funeral Charges be paid by my exetors out of my estate. Bequeaths Bible and Spectacles Itim: I will and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth my Great Bible and Dwits Psalms Book and my silver spectacles also I give and bequeath to my wife Elizabeth the use and improvement of all my lands with all the buildings standing thereon situated and lying on the west side of the highway leading from Samuel Wallers to Silas Brownsons during her natural life as her dower from my real estate, also I give and bequeath to my wife Elizabeth one horse or horse kind which she is to have the privilege of Choosing from the horses on the farm at my disease to her disposal forever, also I give and bequeath to my wife Elizabeth the one horse waggon and harness together with one-third part of the personal estate forever not including the horse waggon and harness in her third of personal Estate. Also I give and Bequeath to my wife Elizabeth the household furniture which she brought with her when she came to live with me to be hers forever. Portions Paid in Advance "Itim. To my son David I give and bequeath seven hundred and twelve dollars reconing what I have advanced from the sum sd, advances have been seven hundred dollars and seventeen cents as appears from my accounts which I have against him on book as part portion. "Itim. To my son Reuben I give and bequeath seven hundred and twelve dollars from which sum there is to be deducted seven hundred and Eight dollars and seventeen cents deducted for which I have his receipts part portion. "Itim. To my daughter Annis Young I give and bequeath seven hundred and twelve dollars from which sum is to be deducted three hundred and forty-six dollars and two Cents for which I have her husband Stephen Young and his receipt as part portion. "Itim. To my son Joel Bearse I give and bequeath Seven hundred and twelve dollars from which sum to be deducted seven hundred dollars and twenty-six Cents for which I have his receipt part portion. "Itim. To my Levi I give and bequeath seven hundred and twelve dollars from which sum is to be deducted the sum of three hundred and thirty-three dollars and thirty-four Cents for which I have his receipt as part portion of his bequest I give and devise to him the sd. Levi the East meadow so called with the plow lot adjoining westerdly said lands are bounded easterdly on Doctor Smith's land known by the name of the Michel farm southerdly and westerdly by highway leading from Samuel Wallers to Silas Brownsons and lands of my own and northerly on lands of my own not yet divided sd. lands are to make up the amount of his portion of seven hundred and twelve dollars. "5. To my son Isaac I give and bequeath seven hundred and twelve dollars from which sum is to be deducted the sum of seven hundred and eleven dollars and twenty-six cents for which I have his receipt as part portion. Had Many Children "Itim 6. To my son Martin I give and bequeath seven hundred and twelve dollars from which sum there is to be deducted five hundred and thirty-five cents for which I have three receipts which added together makes that amount as part portion. "Itim 7. To my son Doctor I give and bequeath seven hundred and twelve dollars for which I have his receipt as part portion. "Itim 8. To my daughter Eliza I give and bequeath seven hundred and twelve dollars from which sum there is to be deducted the sum of three hundred and seventy-two dollars and five cents for which I have two receipts from her husband (Minor Morehouse) and her as part portion. "Itim 9. To my son Noble I give and bequeath seven hundred and twelve dollars from which sum there is to be deducted the sum of six hundred and ninety-two dollars dollars for which I have his receipt as part portion. "Item. To my three children Levi Annis and Eliza I give and bequeath all that part of my real estate of which I have given toe use and improvement to my wife Elizabeth during her natural life to Each of them equal proportions and to their heirs forever. "Itim 11. To my grand Children and the Children which may hereafter be of David, Reuben, Joel B., Isaac, Martin, Doctor and Noble I give and bequeath all the remainder of my Real and personal Estate to be equally divided between my seven Children herein named and each share by them equally divided to their children. Sons are Executors "Lastly do hereby Constitute appoint and ordain my sons Levi Smith and Steven Young exetors of this my last will and testament and I hereby order them to be faithful in every particular. "In Witness where of I have here-unto set my hand and seal at Kent this 7 day of July 1828 "Joel Smith" "Signed sealed and pronounced and declared by the testator to be his last will and testament in the prescence of Almus Beardsley, Agur Beardsley, Birdsey Beardsley, Lichfield county, ss, Kent, July 7th, 1828, personally appeared Almus Beardsley and Agur Beardsley, witnesses of the foregoing will and made solemn oath that they saw Joel Smith, the testator, sign his last will and testament and that he at the time of signing was of sound mind and that they witnesses in presence of each other and of the testator. Sworn before me "Birdsey Beardsley, J.P."