Joseph Leggett

     Joseph was born on Wednesday, 5 January 1785 in New York. Joseph married Elizabeth Jenkins on 3 September 1808 in Nantucket, Nantucket County, Massachusetts, at the North District Meeting House. In a Quaker ceremony. In 1834, he lived at 27 Rose and his business was at 286 Water Street.¹ Joseph made his will on 4 October 1850 at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

I, Joseph Leggett, of the City of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, 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 e
xpenses be paid as soon after my decease as conveniently can be done.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Elizabeth Leggett, all my personal property of every nature kind and description. This bequest however not to include the proceeds of any real estate which may have been or may be hereafter disposed of by the executors of my late father, Thomas Leggett, in the proceeds of which I may be interested.
Item: I give and devise to my wife for and during her life, the rents and income of my share of the real estate in the City and County of New York, devised to me by the Will of my late father Thomas Leggett, and in case the executors of said will shall sell and dispose of said real estate of any part thereof then and in such case, I order and direct that the share of such proceeds which by virtue of my said father's will, would be payable to me or my legal representatives, be paid over by the executors of said will to the executors of this my will, and be by them invested on bond and mortgage on productive real estate, or in stocks of a permanent and productive nature, and to apply the interest or income thereof to the use of my said wife during her life. And on the death of my said wife, I order and direct that all my real estate and the proceeds of any real estate which may have been sold as aforesaid be equally divided one equal half part thereof, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Sally Ann Leggett her heirs and assigns, and the other equal half part, I give and devise unto my executors and the survivors of them in Trust to receive the rents and income thereof and to apply the same to the use of my son James Shaw Leggett for and during his life, and upon his death to convey, transfer and deliver over the real estate so held in trust of the proceeds thereof to his lawful issue each then living child of his taking one equal share thereof and the issue of any deceased child of his who shall have died leaving lawful issue then living taking the share their parents would have taken if living. And in case my said son shall die without leaving lawful issue him surviving, then upon his death to convey, transfer and deliver over the real estate so held in Trust of the proceeds thereof to my said daughter Sally Ann Leggett her heirs and assigns. And for the purpose of making the division aforesaid, I hereby authorize and empower my executors and the survivor of them to sell and dispose of all or any part of my real estate at public or private sale, as he or they shall see fit and to give good and sufficient deeds of conveyance therefore in fee simple to the purchaser or purchasers thereof.
Lastly: I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my brother-in-law, George S. Fox and my friend Joseph Walker executors of this my last Will and Testament. And hereby revoke all former wills by me made, I declare this and this only to be my last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and fifty.
Joseph Leggett. [L. S.]
[New York Surrogates's Office: Liber 106 of Wills, page 63]²

12 October 1850, Joseph and his wife, Elizabeth, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Enumerated in this household were Joseph Leggett [65 New York - gentleman], his wife: Elizabeth [65 Massachusetts], Sarah Ann [42 New York], Thomas L. Sturtevant [9 New York], Edward L. [8 Massachusetts], Joseph N. [6 Massachusetts], Alice Moss [21 Ireland], Ann McGlivery [22 Ireland], & James Green [19 Philadelphia].³ Joseph departed this life on Monday, 25 October 1852 in New York. His will was proved before the Surrogate of the County of New York, on the 21st day of December, 1852, and duly admitted to probate by said Surrogate, and that letters testamentary were duly granted by said Surrogate to George S. Fox and Joseph Walker, the executors in said will, named, who thereupon duly qualified as such executors, and entered upon the discharge of the duties of their office, and that the said will was duly recorded in the office of the said Surrogate of the County of New York, on the 21st day of December, 1852.