Calico Genealogy

I thought this was interesting…Caleb is an uncle to my third great grandfather, Lewis. He married but never had children, and was employed as a bank clerk. I totaled it up at the bottom and then went back and figured out how much it would be in 2018 dollars (which was when I abstracted this).

Will of CALEB STARR

New Castle County probate records, ca 1682-1925; Author:  New Castle County (Delaware).  Register of Wills.  Probate Place:  New Castle County, Delaware, RG2545.001, Roll #397, Register of Wills, Stalcop, Isreal 1765-1791 to Starr, Jacob 1812-1813

Repository:   Dover Delaware Public Archives

Written:  10 September 1851                                      Inventory:  3 April 1852

List of Debts:  3 April 1982                                           Settlement:  4 October 1852

I, CALEB STARR, bequeath the following:

To the children of my late sister HANNAH TROTH, thirty five hundred dollars divided as follows:

To her daughter SARAH OXLEY (if she be not living, then to her children)                     $1,000

Equally divided between her [Hannah’s] other children

viz – JANE TROTH, JOHN TROTH, MARGARET TRUMAN and HANNAH COATES               $2,500

And in case of the death of any or either of them before my decease, then the share or shares of such, one or more dying before me to go to the survivors of them; my motive for this disposition is to avoid the chance of minors taking so as to increase claimants, thus rendering the settlement of my estate less troublesome to my executor

To my sister MARGARET RASIN, but in case she dies before me, then I give the same to her

daughter HANNA  W. ASKEW                                                                                                                               $1,500

To my brother WILLIAM STARR, but in case he dies before me, then I give the same to his

two daughters ADALINE STARR and JANE BASINGER, or to the survivor of them, if both be

not then living                                                                                                                                                        $2,000

To my brother JOSHUA, seventy five shares of stock standing in my name of the Phenix

Mutual Insurance Company of Philadephia, which I may transfer to him in my life time:

But should I dispose of them and use the money then arising, then in lieu thereof, I give

to my said brother Joshua the sum or amount for which I may have sold them                                      $3,000

Also to my brother JOSHUA, all my wearing apparel, household furniture, provisions on

hand, excepting so much as many be necessary for the family until the separation of

its members and cash valued at                                                                                                                         $2,500

To my nephew LEWIS STARR                                                                                                                               $   500

 To my nephew CHARLES STARR (crippled), son of my brother Joshua inalienable annuity

from one of the annuity companies of Philadelphia                                                                         $150/yr annuity

To said niece HANNAH ASKEW                                                                                                                           $ 500

To MARY LEE                                                                                                                                                          $ 500

The remainder of my estate I bequeath unto the daughters of my said brother, JOSHUA STARR, viz. ELIZA JANE, EMMA, SARAH and CAROLINE, share and share alike.

I nominate and appoint my friend and neighbor JOSEPH C GILPIN to be Executor of this my will.

[Not including the $150/yr annuity for Charles, that brings the total to $14,000.  This was in 1852.   In today’s dollars (2018) that would come to roughly  $445,672.73.   Not bad for a bank clerk.]