Feb 18 '79

"Borrow'd of my Mother 5 lb butter"

Mar 12 '79

"Returned my Mother all the butter borrowed"

Apr 29 '79

"Pd Mother 3 lb wool for 24 lb tallow"

Jun 2 '87

"My Father Henry Livingston Sr. bought a cow of me the 27th ultimo for L7"0"0, towards which to this day he has paid me 12 bushels of wheat at 8 sh in & 8 bushels of corn at 4sh"

Henry Livingston (1714-1799) bought a small house at Poughkeepsie in 1742 and added to it from time to time, until when he died it had become of generous proportions. During the nineteenth century it was still further enlarged and ultimately it was a rambling structure full of the story of the life of a family for a century and a quarter.

The executors of the will of Henry Livingston sold this homestead on March 7, 1800 to Henry Alexander Livingston (1776-1849), a grandson of the first owner [and son of Gilbert Livingston], and at his death it passed to his widow. The latter died in 1870 and in 1872 the Hudson River Iron Company bought it. The company's successors, the Phoenix Horseshoe Company, used the house as an office-building for many years but in 1910 tore it down. At that time the mantel in the southwest parlor was presented to the Daughters of the American Revolution and set up in the Clinton Museum. A brass grate, once encircled by this mantle, is shown in an old photograph in the Year Book of the Dutchess County Historical Society for 1919.

On Sunday last, the 10th inst. at 1 o'clock, P.M. Henry Livingston, Esq. for about sixty years a much respected inhabitant of this place, closed his eyes in death at the advanced age of 84 years 5 months aned 3 days -- he ever maintained a character of punctuality and integrity, filled for the most of his life important offices, with the greatest exactness, ability and public confidence -- he was ever a republican in principle -- and demonstrated till the last that he was no friend to aristocracy or monarchy. He died rejoicing that the Lord reigns -- and some of his last words (about an hour before his death) were "Let all creatures and things rejoice in and praise the Lord."

Died last Wednesay Mrs. Susannah Livingston, consort of Henry Livingston, Esq; of this place, in the 69th year of her age.

In the name of God, Amen, I Henry Livingston of Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County Esq. being in usual health of body and of sound and disposing mind and memory, do this twenty fifth day of May in the year of our Lord Christ One thousand seven hundred and eighty six, make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following, that is to say:-

First:- I will that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid as soon as possible after my death and I order that the same be paid out of my personal estate.

Item, that a just and true inventory of all my estate both real and personal be made by my executors hereinafter named as soon as conveniently be done. Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Susannah for and during the whole term of her widowhood, the house where I now live together with the farm and all lands in Poughkeepsie Precinct with barn, orchard, meadow and all appurtenances thereunto belonging and all the household furniture of what kind soever, all my plate and my slaves, all my cattle and horses of which I shall be possessed at the time of my death (also the income of my farms in Beekman Precinct if wanted in support of the next article).

Item, It is my will and I hereby order that if my daughter Helen shall be a minor and unmarried at the time of my death, she shall be educated and maintained in the rank and manner my other children were while minors out of the product and income of my estate until she shall arrive at the age of twenty one years or shall marry whichever shall soonest happen and that no deduction shall be made from her portion or share hereafter divided of or upon account of such mainenance. And I hereby give the care of educating my minor child aforesaid to my widow, and in case of her death to my executors.

Item- I give and bequeath unto my daughters, Cornelia and Helen and to each of them, one negro wench to be purchased out of any part of my estate not otherwise hereby disposed of and given at such time as my widow in her discretion shall determine.

Item- for the better maintaining of my widow and such of my children as are unmarried and shall chuse to dwell with their mother, I give to my said widow the whole income and profits of all my real estate wheresoever situate for and during so long a time as the same shall remain unsold or undivided by my executors.

Item- I will that all my whole estate real and personal which shall remain after the payment of my debts (except what is before bequeathed to my widow) shall be divided into ten equal parts and be given share and share alike unto all my children subject however to the deduction and deductions hereafter mentioned which division may be made either by sales of real estate whereby the dividensian be given in money or by an appraisement and assortment to be drawn for by lot as the majority of my executors shall determine.

Item- For effectually carryinginto exeuction my will respecting my real estate, I hereby give power to my executors hereinafter to be named to sell my real estate wherever such sale shall be necessary and agreeable to the purport and meaning of this my Will and give conveyances and grant a title for the same.

Item- After the death or marriage of my widow, I will that all the estate hereby given until her shall be lso divided into ten equal parts and be distributed share and share alike unto all my children in the manner and form following that is to say:-

Item- I give and bequeath unto my son Gilbert and to his heirs and assigns forever the one whole equal tenth part of all my estate both real and personal of what kind soever which shall remain after the uses afore mentioned to have and to hold the same unto the said Gilbert his heirs and assigns forever; Subject nevertheless to a deduction of three hundred pounds (agreeable to the present estimate of gold or silver) being so much money advanced to him after he was of age which is my will shall be considered as a part of his dividend already apportioned to him, and as my said son Gilbert is indebted unto me for fees and services in the law as by account him will appear it is my will and meaning that such debt shall also be considered as another part of his dividend as far as the same shall extend and that he shall receive no part of my estate as any proportion of the legacy hereby bequeathed until the rest of my children shall each have received a sum equal to the said debt and the money advanced to him as aforesaid.

Item- I give and assign unto my son John, and to his heirs and assigns forever the one whole equal tenth part of all my estate both real and personal of what kind soever which shall remain after the uses aforementioned to have and to hold the same unto the said John his heirs and assigns forever subject nevertheless to a deduction of four hundred pounds (agreeable to the present estimate of gold and silver) being so much money advanced to him after he was of age which it is my will shall be considered as part of his dividend already apportioned to him and that he shall receive no part of my estate as any proportion of the legacy hereby bequeathed until the rest of my children shall each have received a sum equal to the money advanced to him as aforesaid.

Item- I give and bequeath unto my son Henry and to his heirs and assigns forever the one whole equal tenth part of all my estate both real and personal of what kind soever which shall remain after the uses afore mentioned to have and to hold the same unto the said Henry his heirs and assigns forever, subject nevertheless to a deduction of One thousand three hundred and fifty pounds being the valuation of a farm and estate granted to him by a deed of gift which sum (agreeable to the present estimate of gold and silver) it is my will shall be considered as a part of his divident already apportioned to him and that he shall receive no part of my estate as any proportion of the legacy hereby bequeathed until the rest of my children shall each have received a sum equal to the valuation of the estate given to him and it is my will that he shall be bound to fulfill the tenor of an obligation entered into by him for that purpose.

Item- In order to tender the distribution of my estate as equal as possible, it is my will that those tenth parts of my estate which in any dividends would otherwise have fallen to the share of my three eldest sons already named shall be divided share and share alike among my other children until such sums shall have been divided as shall entitle my said sons respectively to come in for their shares of future dividends according to my will and menaing already mentioned concerning each of them.

Item- I give and bequeath unto my children Cornelia, Joanna, Susannah, Alida, Robert, Beekman and Helen respectively and to their respective heirs and assigns forever the one whole equal tenth part of all my estate both real and personal of what kind soever which shall remain after the uses afore mentioned to have and to hold the same unto the said Cornelia, Joanna, Susannah, Alida, Robert, Beekman and Helen their respective heirs and assigns forever.

Item- If my daughter Helen should die under the age of twenty one years without any heirs of her body lawfully begotten, it is my will that the part of share by this will given and devised to her shall be equally divided share and share alike among all my children agreeable to the restrictions already mentioned.

Item- I here by nominate, constitute and appoint my said beloved wife Susannah and my sons Gilbert, John, Henry, Robert and Beekman to be the sole executors of this my last Will and Testament.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal at my dwelling house in Poughkeepsie aforesaid the day and year above written.

(far over right)Henry Livingston L.S.

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Henry Livingson as and for his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, who subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the Testator.