Cecelia (Pryor) Wickham
(1814 - 1889)
Ceceila Pryor was born in County Leitrim, Ireland in about 1814. She married Patrick Wickham, also of County Leitrim, around 1830. They had 10 children, all born in Ireland. Four of them were alive in 1884 when this will was written. The family emigrated to the United States in the 1850's, settling in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Two of her sons, James and Owen, were very successful contractors in the Council Bluffs area. Five of her children married and had families: Mary (married Martin D. Hughes), James (married Mary Lacy, Johanna Denehey and Bridget Keating), Patrick (married Margaret Doyle) Owen P. (married Jennie Fenlon) and Ann (married Patrick Lacy). In 1884 these children (with the exception of daughter Ann) were the only ones still living. All of her children, either directly or indirectly through their children, are mentioned in the will. The only grandchildren mentioned by name are two sons of her daughter Mary Hughes, James' children by his first wife and Mary Lacy, daughter of Ann. Cecelia named her "friend" James Pryor as co-executor of her will. It in not known if he was somehow related to her. In the 1885 Iowa State Census Celia is enumerated living with a James Pryor, wife Julia and their four young children. James is 36 years old (year of birth about 1848) and was born in Ireland. His occupation is brick layer. It is probably safe to assume that this James was the executor of her will. It took almost 14 years to probate this will, the final probate hearing was on 28 February 1903. This was among other things due to there being insufficient funds in her estate to cover her bequests. In 1884, $100 had about the same worth as $2120 does today (2006). Related Items:
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Pottawattamie County, Iowa
Book D, Pages 408-411, # 1239 Testament of Mrs. Cecelia Wickham Deceased Know All Men by these Presents: That I, Cecelia Wickham of Council Bluffs, Iowa, being of sound mind do hereby make, constitute and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills made by me, That is to say, First. I will and direct that all my just debts be first paid out of my estate. Second. I will, bequeath, devise and give to my daughter Mary Hughes wife of Martin Hughes of Council Bluffs Iowa, the sum of Four Hundred Dollars to be paid to her by my executors. Third. I will, devise, bequeath, and give to my granddaughters Katie Wickham and Ellen Wickham, daughters of my son James Wickham of Council Bluffs Iowa, each the sum of One Hundred Dollars making two hundred Dollars for my said two granddaughters. Fourth. I devise, bequeath and give to my grandsons Bernard Wickham, Edward Wickham and Frank Wickham, sons of my son James Wickham of Council Bluffs Iowa, each Fifty Dollars each making One Hundred & fifty Dollars for my said three grandsons. Fifth. I devise, bequeath and give to Mrs. Bridget Wickham wife of my son James Wickham the sum of One hundred Dollars to assist her in the education of her children. Sixth. I will bequeath and give to my son Owen Wickham of Council Bluffs Iowa, the sum of Three Hundred and fifty dollars, to be expended by him in educating his children. Seventh. I will bequeath and devise to my son Patrick Wickham now of Boulder Valley, Montana Territory the sum of Four Hundred Dollars. Eight. I will, bequeath, devise & give to my granddaughter Mollie Lacy daughter of Patrick Lacy of Council Bluffs Iowa, the sum of Two Hundred Dollars. Ninth. I will, bequeath, devise and give to my grandson George Francis Hughes son of Martin Hughes of Council Bluffs Iowa, the sum of One Hundred Dollars. Tenth. I will, bequeath, devise and give to my grandson John Hughes, son of the said Martin Hughes the sum of Fifty Dollars. Eleventh. I will, bequeath, devise and give to the Rev. Father B. P. McMenomy, the sum of One Hundred Dollars and request that he perform the Religious services at my death. Twelfth. I will, bequeath, and give to the church of St. Francis Xavier at Council Bluffs, Iowa, the sum of One Hundred Dollars, which sum I direct to be paid to the Rev. B. P. McMenomy, pastor of said church, and in case at the time of my death he shall not be pastor of said church then I direct that said sum paid be paid to the priest who then is pastor of said church for the benefit thereof. Thirteenth. I will, bequeath and give to the Sister Mary of Clare Orphan Asylum at Nack 1 in the County of Mayo, Ireland the sum of Twenty-Five Dollars. Fourteenth. I will, bequeath and give to the St. Joseph�s minor Orphans Asylum, of the city of New York the sum of Twenty Five Dollars. Fifteenth. After paying the above bequests I will and direct that all the residue and remainder of my estate of every name and nature shall be paid over to my daughter Mary Hughes wife of Martin Hughes of Council Bluffs, Iowa. I thereby constitute and appoint my friend James Pryor and my grandson George Francis Hughes the executors of this my last will and testament, and I expressly give them full power to sell and convey any and all real estate belonging to me at the time of my death, on such terms and for such prices as they shall think best and out of the proceeds pay the several amounts herein given and I direct that in case my estate is not sufficient to pay all of the said sums so by me directed to be paid then my will is that they be paid pro rata, and it is my request that no part of my estate be expended for a tombstone for me. In witness whereof I hereto set my hand this thirteenth day of October 1884. her
Jeremiah Sullivan, Edward T. McKim, Robert Percival. On this 13� day of October AD 1884 Mrs. Cecelia Wickham executed the foregoing will in our presence and declared the same to be her last will and testament and requested us to witness the same and at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other we signed the same as witnesses on the date aforesaid. Jeremiah Sullivan
Probate notice. In the District Court of Iowa, in and for Pottawattamie County: In the Matter of the Last Will and Testament of Cecelia Wickham, Deceased. To All Whom It May Concern: Notice is hereby given that on the 19� day of March, 1889, an instrument purporting to be the last will and testament of said, decedent, was produced, read and filed by the Clerk of said Court, and that the 15� day of February 1890 has been set for hearing the proof and probate of said instrument before said court at Council Bluffs, Iowa, when and where cause may be shown, if any exists, why the same should not be admitted to probate. Witness the undersigned Clerk of said Court and seal thereof at Council Bluffs, this 8� day of January 1890. (seal) Proof of Publication. State of Iowa Pottawattamie County SS I, Thos. Bowman, on oath do solemnly swear that I am Manager of the Council Bluffs Daily Globe, a newspaper issued weekly and printed in said County, that the annexed Notice was published in said newspaper for three consecutive times, as follows: The publications being as follows: 1st. on the 10� day of Jan. 1890, 2nd on the 17� day of Jan. 1890, 3rd on the 24� day of Jan. 1890. Signed in my presence by said Thomas Bowman, and by him sworn to before me this 1st day of March AD. 1890. Witness my hand and seal. (seal) Notary Public State of Iowa Pottawattamie County ss I, H. J. Chambers, Clerk of the District Court in and for said County, and State, do hereby certify, that the within and foregoing will of Cecelia Wickham, deceased, was on the 21� day of March, AD. 1890, duly proven in open Court, by the testimony of Jeremiah Sullivan and Edward T. McKim, the subscribing witnesses thereto, who, upon oath say that said will was duly executed by said testator, in the presence of the attesting witnesses thereto, and by them signed in the presence of each other, and in the presence, and at the request of said testator. And I further certify that said last will and testament as proved, was by the said District Court allowed and admitted to probate, as and for the last will and testament of Celelia [sic] Wickham, Deceased, and ordered by said District Court, that said will, together with this certificate be recorded in the will records of said court, and that the same has been so recorded in will record D, page 408, to page 411 both inclusive. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto, set my hand and caused to be affixed the seal of the said District Court. Done at the City of Council Bluffs, in the County and State aforesaid, this 21� day of March AD. 1890. (seal) Clerk District Court. |
| Transcribed by Erica DeCoursey
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