Charlotte Leggett

     Charlotte was born on Saturday, 8 December 1787 in New York. Charlotte married William Woolley Fox on 9 June 1808 in New York. Charlotte's husband, William, died on 1 March 1861 in his home, West Farms, Westchester County, New York, leaving her a widow. Charlotte made her will on 20 June 1865 at West Farms, Westchester County, New York.

I, Charlotte L. Fox, widow of William W. Fox, deceased of the Town of West Farms in the County of Westchester, and State of New York, do make, publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say:
First: I order and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon after my decease as can conveniently be done.
Secondly: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary L. Tiffany all my wearing apparel, household furniture, pictures, books and family provisions on hand at the time of my decease, also my horses and carriages and harness, all my cows, hogs, poultry, and all my greenhouse plants, and all other articles of personal property appertaining to my homestead at the time of my death. To have and to hold the same as her own separate property as if she were a feme sole not subject to the control of her present or of any future husband or liable for his debts.
Thirdly: I give and bequeath unto each of my grandchildren, William W. Fox, George F. Tiffany, Lyman Tiffany, Francis Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabelle Tiffany, the sum of ten thousand dollars to such of them as shall be living at the time of my decease and shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years, or marry, and to the descendants, if any, then living, of such of them as shall have deceased, said descendants to take by representation the share which his, her, or their parent, or respective parents, would have taken if living, and the amount so given to my said granddaughters respectively, I direct shall be paid to them respectively on their own receipt, and shall be held by them free from any interference or control of and not liable for the debts of any husband they may then or may thereafter have, and should any or either of my said grandchildren be under the age of twenty-one years at the time of my decease, I direct that the said sums with the accumulated interest shall be paid to them respectively by my Executors as and when they shall respectively arrive at the age of twenty one years.
Fourthly: I give, devise and bequeath unto my Executors hereinafter named, or to such of them as shall act for the time being, all my certain dwelling house and farm, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon situate in the Town of West Farms, County of Westchester and State of New York, now occupied by me, and which was devised to me by my late husband, in trust, to permit my said daughter, Mary L. Tiffany, to occupy and enjoy the same, with the rents, issues and profits thereof to and for her sole, separate use and benefit during her natural life. Subject to the devise hereinafter made to my colored man John, during his natural life, of the house and premises now occupied by him, and upon her decease I authorize and direct my executors hereinafter named, or such of them as shall act for the time being, to sell, wither at public or private sale, and convey the said land and premises and give good and sufficient conveyances in the law for the same, and to pay and divide the proceeds thereof among my following named grandchildren in equal portions, viz.: George F. Tiffany, Lyman Tiffany, Francis Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabella Tiffany, or to such of them as shall by living as shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years or marry, and to the descendants, if any, then living of such of them as shall then have deceased, said defendants to take by representation the share which his, her, or their parent or respective parents would have taken if living, and the portions so given to my said granddaughters respectively, I direct shall be paid to them respectively on their own receipt and shall be held free of any interference or control of and not liable for the debts of any husband they may then or may thereafter have, and should any of my said grandchildren be under the age of twenty-one years at the time of the decease of my said daughter, I direct that their respective shares with the accumulated interest shall be paid to them respectively by my executors as and when they shall respectively arrive at the age of twenty-one years.
Fifthly: I authorize and empower my executors hereinafter named, or such of them as shall act for the time being, at any time or times after my decease, upon the request in writing of my said daughter, Mary L. Tiffany, to sell at either public or private sale the said land and premises in the preceding bequest referred to or any part thereof, subject, however, to the devise hereinafter made to my colored man John during his natural life of the house and premises now occupied by him and to invest the proceeds thereof and to pay and apply the interest and income thereof to and for the sole separate use and benefit of my said daughter during her natural life upon her sole receipt and upon her decease I order and direct my said executors to pay and divide the said proceeds to and among my following named grandchildren, George F. Tiffany, Lyman Tiffany, Francis Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabella Tiffany in equal portions to such of them as shall then be living and shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years or marry and to the descendants if any, then living of such of them as shall then have deceased said descendants to take by representation the share which his, her or their parent or respective parents would have taken if living and the amounts so given to my said grand daughters respectively I direct shall be paid to them respectively on their own receipt and shall be held by them free from any interference or control of and not liable for the debts of any husband they may then or may thereafter have and should any or either of my said grandchildren be under age of twenty-one years at the time of the decease of my said daughter I direct that his, her or their portion or respective portion or respective portions with the accumulated interest shall be paid to them respectively by my executors as and when they shall respectively arrive at the age of Twenty-one years.
Sixthly: I give, devise and bequeath unto my Executors hereinafter named or to such of them as shall act for the time being the sum of Twenty thousand Dollars, in Trust, to invest the same and to pay and apply the interest and income thereof to and for the sole separate use and benefit of my said daughter Mary L. Tiffany during her natural life upon her sole receipt and upon her decease, I order and direct my said Executors to pay and divide the said proceeds to and among my following named grandchildren, viz: George F. Tiffany, Lyman Tiffany, Francis Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabella Tiffany in equal portions to such of them as shall then be living and shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years or marry, and to the descendants if any, then living of such of them as shall then have deceased, said descendants to take by representation the share which his, her or their parent or respective parents would have taken if living, and the amounts so given to my said granddaughters respectively I direct shall be paid to them respectively on their own receipt and shall be held by them free from any interference or control of and not liable for the debts of any husband they may then or may thereafter have and should any or either of my said grandchildren be under age of twenty-one years at the time of the decease of my said daughter I direct that his, her or their portion or respective portion or respective portions, with the accumulated interest shall be paid to them respectively by my Executors as and when they shall respectively arrive at the age of twenty-one years.
Seventhly: I give and bequeath all my plate unto my daughter Mary L. Tiffany, to have and to hold the same during her natural life, and upon her decease, I give and bequeath the same unto my eight grandchildren, viz: William W. Fox, George F. Tiffany, Lyman Tiffany, Francis Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabella Tiffany if then living, to be divided among them equally as nearly as practicable, and it is my will and I do hereby direct that on the selection and division for and among my said grandchildren the decision of my acting Executors or Executor shall be final and binding upon my said grandchildren respectively.
Eighthly: I give and bequeath unto my nieces Esther Tucker, Eliza F. Merritt, Anna M. Fox, Mary L. Parsons, Martha L. Cox, Charlotte F. Schermerhorn, each the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars.
Ninthly: I give and bequeath unto Sarah Leggett and Catherine Leggett each the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars.
Tenthly: I give and bequeath unto my friend Rebecca Bowne, daughter of Joseph Bowne, deceased, late of Butternuts, the sum of Two hundred dollars.
Item: I give and bequeath unto Susan Angus, wife of James Angus, now and for a considerable time living, in my family the sum of Five hundred dollars.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my friend Sybil Jones, wife of Ely Jones, now living in the State of Maine, the sum of One hundred dollars.
Item: I give, devise and bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of my property and estate, real and personal, of every name, nature and description whatsoever unto my grandchildren, William W. Fox, George F. Tiffany, Lyman Tiffany, Francis Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabella Tiffany and I direct my Executors hereinafter named or such of them as shall act for the time being to pay and divide all the said rest, residue and remainder of my property and estate to and among said grandchildren in equal portions to such of them as shall then be living and shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years or marry and to the descendants, if any, then living of such of them as shall then have deceased, said descendants to take by representation the share which his, her or their parent or respective parents would have taken if living, and the amounts so given to my said granddaughters respectively, I direct shall be paid to them respectively on their own receipt and shall be held by them free from any interference or control of and not liable for the debts of any husband they may then or may thereafter have and should any or either of my said grandchildren be under age of twenty-one years at the time of the decease of my said daughter I direct that his, her or their portion or respective portion or respective portions, with the accumulated interest shall be paid to them respectively by my Executors as and when they shall respectively arrive at the age of twenty-one years.
Item: I hereby authorize and empower my Executors hereinafter named or such of them as shall act for the time being either at public or private sale, to well and dispose of any part or all of my real estate and to give good and sufficient conveyances in the law for the same and to keep my buildings well and sufficiently insured, against loss or damage from fire and to rent or lease the same, to compromise and compound with any and all my debtors and to submit to arbitration all disputes and controversies that shall arise in the settlement of my estate, and it is my will that none of my executors shall be answerable for any loss that may happen to my estate except such as may happen from or through gross negligence or willful misfeasance and that no one of them shall be answerable for the acts, receipts or omissions of any other or others of them.
And lastly I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my brother-in-law Thomas W. Pearsall and my friends Cornelius L. Everett and Edward Wood Executors of this my last Will and testament and hereby revoking all other and former wills and testaments by me made, I declare these presents and none other to be and contain my last Will and testament.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twentieth day of six month (June) in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five. [Surrogate's Office of Westchester County, New York: Liber 63 of Wills, page 551]¹

She wrote a codicil to her will on 21 November 1868.¹ She wrote a codicil to her will on 28 November 1868.

The two codicils contained the following provisions affecting the said property of Thomas Leggett, her father: ... "AND WHEREAS, in and by my said last will and testament I have given and bequeathed all the rest, residue and remainder of my property and estate, real and personal of every nature and description whatsoever unto my grandchildren William W. Fox, George F. Tiffany, Lyman Tiffany, Francis Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabella Tiffany. NOW THEREFORE, instead of said bequest in my last will and testament, I give, devise and bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of my property and estate, real and personal of every nature and description whatsoever after the death of my daughter, Mary L. Tiffany, who is to have the use thereof during her lifetime, unto my following grandchildren, viz: Lyman Tiffany, Henry Tiffany, Charlotte Trowbridge, Mary Tiffany and Isabella Tiffany. And I direct my executors of such of them as shall act for the time being to pay and divide all the said rest, residue and remainder of my property and estate to and among the said grandchildren in equal portions to such of them as shall be then living and shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years of age or marry, and to the descendants, if any, then living of such of them as shall have deceased, said descendants, to take by representation the share which, his or their respective parents would have taken if living, and the portion so given to my said granddaughters, respectively, I direct shall be paid to them, respectively on their receipt, and shall be held by them free from any interference or control of, and not liable for, the debts of any husband they may then or may thereafter have, and should any or either of my said grandchildren be under the age of twenty-one years at that time, I direct that his, her or their portions, or respective portions, with the accumulated interest, shall be paid to them respectively by my executors as and when they shall respectively arrive at the age of twenty-one years.¹

Charlotte departed this life on Monday, 5 June 1871 in West Farms, Westchester County, New York. She was buried at Bronx, Westchester County, New York, in the Woodlawn Cemetery. Her will was probated on 28 June 1871 at Westchester County, New York. She was survived by her daughter, Mary L. Tiffany, and by the following: William W. Fox, grandson, Mary P. Tiffany Tucker, granddaughter, who died intestate on September 27th, 1885, having previously been married to George F. Tucker, who still survives her and whose address is Number 288 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York, Isabella T. Perry, who died May.