James McAdams' 1862 Will

James McAdams' Will

Last Will and Testament }
�� of �� }
James McAdams Dec. }

In the name of God Amen. I James McAdams of the Fifth Ward of the City of Pittsburgh being of sound mind, memory, and understanding but weak of body and knowing the uncertainty of life and certainty of Death do make this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other wills by me made.

1st I bequeath my soul to God who gave it trusting to a glorious resurrection through the merits of the Redeemer.
2nd I direct all my legal debts and funeral expenses to be paid as soon after my death as conveniently can be done.

3rd��

I will and bequeath to my son William McAdams my lot in the 9th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh near the Copper Works being twelve feet in front on Smallman Street extending back of the same width to an Alley together with the building and improvements thereon made to belong to him absolutely after my youngest child arrives of age and for whose use and the other minor children arrives of age the rent thereof is resolved.

4th

I bequeath to my daughter Susan Murphy my two story brick house on Pasture or Wide Alley adjoining Sheriff Magills line in the 6th Ward Pittsburgh being twelve feet wide and extending back to within four feet of the building between said house and the one erected between it and Franklin street when the minors are of age.

5th

I bequeath to my daughter Isabella McAdams the two story brick house adjoining the last above mentioned on Pasture or Wide Alley with the ground on which it is erected with the yard extending back of the same depth to within four feet of the house erected between it and Franklin Street and the same depth to that willed to Susan Murphy when my minor children become of age.

6th

I bequeath to my daughter Agnes McAdams the brick house with the balance of the lot fronting on Franklin Street and extending back to the two last described pieces of property to be held by her and her heirs but in case she should die without heirs of her body the same shall revert to Susan Murphy and Isabella McAdams and reserved until my minor children are of age.

7th

To my daughter Sarah Ellen I bequeath my frame house on Pine Street in the Fifth Ward with the lot on which it is erected she paying the sum of one hundred dollars to her brother Edwin McAdams within three years after my minor children shall arrive of age.

8th

I bequeath to my ground in the Seventh Ward being one hundred feet on Bedford Street extending ninety feet adjoining Mr. Moore's line to Rosan Murphy my daughter forty eight feet front on Bradford Street extending back to Moore's line with the two small frame buildings erected on the same to have and to hold the same after all my minor children shall arrive of age.

9th

To my second son Edwin McAdams I bequeath the balance of said lot as above mentioned being fifty two feet fronting on Bedford Street and extending back to Moore's line when all my minor children shall arrive of age.

10th

I bequeath to my son James Emmet McAdams the property on which I now reside on Quarry Street in the Fifth Ward of the City of Pittsburgh when he and all my other minor children shall arrive of age.

11th

To my beloved and faithful wife Elizabeth McAdams I will and bequeath all the revenue out of my estate for her support of herself and my children that are minors during her natural life and should she survive after the youngest arrives of age she is to have a living out of said estate during her life.

12th

I do hereby appoint my brother Robert McAdams and my friend James Trimble to be executors to see this my last will and testament carried into effect and faithfully executed. In testimony I the testator have to this my last will and testament signed my hand and affixed my seal in the presence of witnesses hereto and who at my request have witnessed the same this seventh day of March AD 1862.

�� Signed sealed and executed into the presence of us the witnesses the day and year aforesaid.
�� James C. Cummings
�� Bennett O'Brien

Codicil
I James McAdams the testator do hereby make and publish this Codicil to be added to my Last Will and Testament to be added to my Last Will and Testament bearing date the Seventh Day of March AD 1862 in manner following to wit; by the 6th item in my will having devised and bequeathed to my daughter Agnes McAdams the property therein described in case she should survive the revenue thereof being reserved for the support of my minor children under the care of my wife but in the event of the death of my daughter Agnes before she obtains her majority or in case she should die without lawful heirs of her body, the same shall descend to my daughter Rosanna Murphy after all my minor children should arrive of age.
By the 8th item in my said will having bequeathed to Rosanna Murphy and by the 9th item having bequeathed to my son Edwin the portions therein described is till to remain as therein stated, but that part described in item 8th devised to Rosanna Murphy is to remain for her use unless she should become heir to the property described on Franklin Street, in which event her share in Heatingstown is to be sold and the proceeds equally divided among my heirs.
As there is a strong probability of the Pennsylvania Rail Road Company purchasing my property in Quarry Street in the Fifth Ward on which I now reside it is my desire in the event that it bring twelve hundred dollars my executors with the advise and consent of my wife will invest it to the best advantage for the use as stated in Item 10th and should the amount realized from said Rail Road Company exceed the said sum of twelve hundred dollars the overplus to be appropriated to defray my funeral expenses and monumenting my grave lot under the direction and at the discretion of my wife. In witness whereof I have herein to set my hand and seal the second day of June A.D. 1862.
Signed, sealed and published and declared by the said James McAdams, as ___ for a codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who, in his presence and in the presence of each other have at his request subscribed our mercies _ as witnesses thereto.

James C. Cummings
James Maloney

Clearly James was very successful to have such an estate to leave to those he loved. For James McAdams, America was indeed the land of opportunity. James died in 1862 and was laid to rest with his wife Sarah on his right side in St. Mary's Cemetery.

In the 1866 City Directory, Elizabeth was listed as James' widow. She was living at 69 Franklin at that time with her stepson, James, a machinist. Elizabeth died in 1888, and was laid to rest on James' left.

Fortunately James E. McAdams married and had children, otherwise the McAdams line might have died out with his generation. Of the nine children of James and Sarah Fagan McAdams four were boys. Little Robert died at the age of 5. Edward was probably married, and William may have been married also, but so far I have not found any children. Any McAdams descendants of our line come from James.

Go to the Pittsburgh City Map to see the location of the property described in James McAdams' will.

Surnames

Copyright � 2000-2001 Nancy McAdams

March 28, 2000

Last update October 21, 2001

Claddagh Set background by:

1st	I bequeath my soul to God who gave it trusting to a glorious resurrection through the merits of the Redeemer.
2nd	I direct all my legal debts and funeral expenses to be paid as soon after my death as conveniently can be done.
3rd��	I will and bequeath to my son William McAdams my lot in the 9th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh near the Copper Works being twelve feet in front on Smallman Street extending back of the same width to an Alley together with the building and improvements thereon made to belong to him absolutely after my youngest child arrives of age and for whose use and the other minor children arrives of age the rent thereof is resolved.
4th	I bequeath to my daughter Susan Murphy my two story brick house on Pasture or Wide Alley adjoining Sheriff Magills line in the 6th Ward Pittsburgh being twelve feet wide and extending back to within four feet of the building between said house and the one erected between it and Franklin street when the minors are of age.
5th	I bequeath to my daughter Isabella McAdams the two story brick house adjoining the last above mentioned on Pasture or Wide Alley with the ground on which it is erected with the yard extending back of the same depth to within four feet of the house erected between it and Franklin Street and the same depth to that willed to Susan Murphy when my minor children become of age.
6th	I bequeath to my daughter Agnes McAdams the brick house with the balance of the lot fronting on Franklin Street and extending back to the two last described pieces of property to be held by her and her heirs but in case she should die without heirs of her body the same shall revert to Susan Murphy and Isabella McAdams and reserved until my minor children are of age.
7th	To my daughter Sarah Ellen I bequeath my frame house on Pine Street in the Fifth Ward with the lot on which it is erected she paying the sum of one hundred dollars to her brother Edwin McAdams within three years after my minor children shall arrive of age.
8th	I bequeath to my ground in the Seventh Ward being one hundred feet on Bedford Street extending ninety feet adjoining Mr. Moore's line to Rosan Murphy my daughter forty eight feet front on Bradford Street extending back to Moore's line with the two small frame buildings erected on the same to have and to hold the same after all my minor children shall arrive of age.
9th	To my second son Edwin McAdams I bequeath the balance of said lot as above mentioned being fifty two feet fronting on Bedford Street and extending back to Moore's line when all my minor children shall arrive of age.
10th	I bequeath to my son James Emmet McAdams the property on which I now reside on Quarry Street in the Fifth Ward of the City of Pittsburgh when he and all my other minor children shall arrive of age.
11th	To my beloved and faithful wife Elizabeth McAdams I will and bequeath all the revenue out of my estate for her support of herself and my children that are minors during her natural life and should she survive after the youngest arrives of age she is to have a living out of said estate during her life.
12th	I do hereby appoint my brother Robert McAdams and my friend James Trimble to be executors to see this my last will and testament carried into effect and faithfully executed. In testimony I the testator have to this my last will and testament signed my hand and affixed my seal in the presence of witnesses hereto and who at my request have witnessed the same this seventh day of March AD 1862.