Rowland S. Bumpus Probate Information

Rowland Sturtevant Bumpus (1804-1853) is my fourth great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Davis' side of the family. He was from Wareham, Plymouth Co., Mass., the son of Jonathan and Martha (Chubbuck) Bumpus. He married Lucy Nye Pierce and they had 10 children, three of whom died young. I wrote an entry about him here. I have finally gotten around to transcribing his probate file. I find reading the old handwriting to be tedious but the end result is worth it. Any errors are likely an error on my part in trying to decipher the words and numbers. It is Plymouth County probate file 3299. Thomas Savery of Wareham, Esquire and Justice of the Peace, was Executor of the estate.

Rowland had gone to California in search of gold, so I wonder if he contracted consumption/tuberculosis there. Rowland's will (his name is spelled Roland and Rowland in the papers):

On back: 3299 Will of Rowland S. Bumpus

Recorded Book 95, page 319

By GS Beal, reg’r

Be it remembered, that I Rowland S. Bumpus of the town of Wareham, in the County of Plymouth in the state of Massachusetts, yeoman, considering the uncertainty of this life, being of sound mind and memory, do make and publish and declare this my last will and testament.

First I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Lucy the use and improvement and income of my dwelling house, barn and all the outbuildings, furniture and all my real and personal property including two lot Of woodland all situated in Wareham aforesaid to have and to hold the same for and during her natural life.

Second I give and bequeath to my son Frederick Adams the sum of one dollar and I also give devise and bequeath to my daughters Adeline, Lucy, Caroline, Mary, Lucretia one dollar each to be paid to them by my executor hereinafter named from and after the decease of my beloved wife Lucy.

Third I give bequeath and devise to my son Nathan, my youngest child, the aversion(?) the remainder of my house, barn and all the outbuildings, furniture, and all my real and personal estate as named above situated in the town of Wareham aforesaid and all profits, income and advantage that may result therefrom, from and after the decease of my beloved wife Lucy to have and to hold the same to him and his executors and administrators and unsigns(?) forever.

Fourth And I do appoint Thomas Savery Esq of Wareham aforesaid to be my sole executor of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto this 16^th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty three.
Signed Roland S. Bumpus

Signed published and declared by the said Roland S. Bumpus as his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto set our names as witnesses

Signed: George Cryer

                Obed Griffith

                John F. Bourne

Rowland's signature on his will (not spelled Roland)

It's interesting that his will went against the laws of the time. I'm not sure if it was unintentional or a purposeful attempt to take care of his wife. I like to think it was intentional. He wanted to leave everything to Lucy, with no clause about widow's thirds or to be hers until she remarried. Lucy had to sign something for the probate court waiving the clause in the will pertaining to her inheritance. She wrote a letter of waiver which she signed.

Lucy Pierce Bumpus' signature

Wareham 4^th July 1853

Dear Sir,

The subscriber respectfully represents that she waives the provision made her in the last will of her late husband Rowland S. Bumpus of Wareham; and instead thereof will take what the law will allow her to receive of her late husband’s estate.

Yours Respectfully, Lucy Bumpus (her signature)

To

Hon Aaron Hobart

Judge of Probate for the

County of Plymouth

Reverse side reads:

3299

Rowland S. Bumpus

Widow waives provision of will

Recorded book 95, page 324

By GS Beal Regr

The following is a correct list of the estate and affects of Roland S. Bumpus, late of Wareham, deceased, as appraised by us, July 25, 1853.

Homestead $800

Lot of woodland, 7 ½ acres of woodland below Jonathan Gibbs, as ___ $37

Lot of woodland at Muddy Cove his right in common and undivided with others $10

                                                                                                                                                                        $847

Personal Estate

4 beds & bedding 23.00

2 clothes chests .50

7 parlor chairs 5.60

1 parlor table 3.50

1 sofa 11.00

1 bureau 7.00

1 looking glass 3.00

1 parlor carpet 3.00

Window curtain .75

4 pictures, rug, cricket__? 1.50

1 lounge .25

13 kitchen chairs 3.90

1 dining table 1.00

1 __ stand .50

1 looking glass .50

1 wooden clock 1.00

1 bureau 1.00

___

$67

Second Column: Amount Bought up $67

1 table $1.00

1 cooking stove 2.50

Crockery, glass, tin 3.00

1 air tight stove 2.00

1 market basket .50

1 rag carpet 2.50

Set farm tools 2.00

1 wheelbarrow .50

Lot refuse wood 9.00

2 lamps (glass) .50

                                ___

                                $90.50

Signed Samuel Shaw Jr, George Cryer, Albert Ellis

On the back of the inventory:

3299

Inventory of Rowland S. Bumpus

Recorded book 95, page 321

By JS Beal Reg’r

Handwritten (difficult to read):

Plymouth SS

At a court of probate holden at Middleborough on the first Tuesday of August 1853 by Thomas Savery executor of the ___ named Roland S. Bumpus deceased made oath that the foregoing inventory contains the whole the estate of the said deceased so far as is the same has come to his hands or knowledge. It is therefore ordered that the same be accepted and recorded. Aaron Hobart J. of Probate.

One thing on my to do list is to find the location of Rowland and Lucy's home. Below gives a nice clue that it was near Agawam Iron Works. 

Plymouth SS November 18^th, 1853, Personally appeared the above named Lewis Kinney, Albert S. Hathaway, and Charles FA Weston and made oath that they would faithfully and impartially, according to their best skill and judgment, perform the duty assigned them by the foregoing warren. Before me Thomas Savery J. Peace.

Pursuant to the foregoing warrant, we the commissioners therein named, having been first sworn as therein directed, and given notice to all persons known to be interested, have appraised all the real estate of which the said Rowland S. Bumpus died seized, at the sum of eight hundred and forty dollars.

And we have assigned and set off to the said Lucy Bumpus the widow of said deceased, as her dower therein, the following described parcels, to wit

The whole of the main bodely(?) dwelling house, the porch excluded. Together with the following described land.

Beginning at the northeast corner of the house, thence south 45 degrees east, one rod and twenty links to the road leading from Agawam Iron Works into Agawam Neck, thence in the line of said road south forty four and a half degrees three rods and six links to a gate post, thence north forty five degrees seven rods and five links to a stake, thence north forty four and a half degrees east, one rod and twenty and a half links to a stake, thence south forty five degrees east, six rods and nine links to the dwelling house, thence running northerly and easterly by said house to bound first mentioned, together with the privilege of going to and from and drawing water from the well on the porch.

Signed Lewis Kinney, AS Hathaway, CFA Weston

On back of page:

3299

Affidavit of Notice of Appointment

Roland S. Bumpus

Recorded book 8, page 514

JS Beal Reg’r