Query
The family of Jonathan Olin, Sr. (1737- 1826) is something
of a mystery. He married first to Anne Gardiner in 1757. As far
as is known, this marriage produced no NATURAL BORN children.
After Anne's death in the early 1800's, he remarried to a Mereba
_______. He was supposedly the father of an illegitimate daughter
(Hannah Dyer).
In the will of Jonathan Olin, Sr.,
he twice refers to "my
ADOPTED son", Jonathan Olin, Jr. (1766-1851). Jonathan Olin,
Jr. is my ancestor. In his will, Jonathan, Sr. also bequeathed
property to Phebe Matteson (wife of Isaac Matteson, of Shaftsbury),
who is also believed to have been a daughter of Jonathan, Sr.
[but NOT the daughter of Anne (Gardiner) OIin]. Whew, this family
is confusing!!! Can anyone provide any more information to help
sort out this family? The following is the will of Jonathan Olin,
Sr.:
April the 5th day of 1826
Jonathan Olin Estate
Whereas David Mattison the 2d of Shaftsbury in said District
heretofore presented to the probate ourt a certain instrument
purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Jonathan Olin
late of said Shaftsbury deceased for probate and allowances where
when it was ordered that the said David Mattison the 2d who was
amed as the Executor to said will to that he gives notice to all
persons concerned to appear before said probate court at the probate
offie in Bennington in district on the first Wednesday of April
AD 1826 and then and there show cause if any they have why said
Will and Testament should not be proved and approved by said court
and it appearing to said court that the said David Mattison the
2d has complyed with the said order by publishing the substance
of his application aforesaid and also a copy of said order the
said probate court then when provided to take the proof of said
Will and Testament which said Will and Testament was duly proven
to be the last Will and Testament of the said Jonathan Olin deceased
and the same was approved and ordered to be recorded by the court
and which said Will and Testament was in the words and figure
following to wit--
In the name of God Amen
I Jonathan Olin of Shaftsbury in the County of Bennington
and State of Vermont being of sound isposing mind and memory and
being desirous of settling my worldly affairs whilst I have culpability
so to do make this as my last Will and Testament hereby revoking
and making void all former Wills by me at any time heretofore
made and first I commit my soul into the hands of my Creator who
gave it and my body to be decently buried in the earth by my Executor
hereafter named and as to such world Estate wherewith it hath
pleased God to intrust me to dispose as follows--
First--That all my just debts be paid out of my goods and
Estate. Second--I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Mereba
the one equal half of all my real and personal estate to her and
her heirs forever after the payment of my just debts and other
charges and expences meaning and intending to give unto my said
wife the property under which the word be intitled to be law should
I die intestate. Thirdly--I give and bequeath unto Phebe Mattison
the wife of Isaac Mattison of the Town of Shaftsbury in the County
of Bennington State of Vermont the right to use improve and occupy
all singular the rest and residue of my real estate with all the
privilidges and appertainances thereto belonging for and during
the natural life and after the death of the said Phebe I will
and bequeath the said real estate unto her heirs as the law directs
to their use forever meaning and intending hereby and it is especially
to be understood to be my last will that after the payment of
all by just debts out of my personal Estate if sufficient my wearing
apprarel and joiner tools excepted and if not sufficient then
after disposing of my said personal Estate towards the payment
of my just debts my Executor is hereby impowered to sell so much
of my real Estate as will pay the residue and that after the payment
of debts in the manner aforesaid and after the said one equal
half of real estate shall be set apart to my said wife then as
the remaider of my real estate the said Phebe Mattison is to have
and enjoy that the right of holding possessing and improving the
same for her own benefit during her natural life and that after
her death the said real estate is to descend to her heirs as before
mentioned.
Fourthly--I give and bequeath unto my ADOPTED son Jonathan
Olin of Shaftsbury aforesaid all my wearing apparel and all my
carpenter and joiner tools and should there be any remaining part
of my personaal estate after the payment of my just debts and
not otherwise bequeathed for that case I give and bequeath the
same to my ADOPTED son Jonathan Olin to his own proper use and
benefit and lastly I do hereby consitute and appoint my trusty
friend David Mattison the 2d to be my sole Executor to this my
last
Will and Testament--
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this
14 day of September in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand
eight hundred and twenty.
Jonathan Olin [SEAL]
Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Jonathan
Olin to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who
have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses In the presence
of Jonathan Olin and in the presence of each other
Henry Mattison
Henry Mattison Jun.
Susannah Mattison
Another Bit of Information from Chris Robinson
Jonathan Olin, Jr. was my 5th GGF. His father, Jonathan Olin,
Sr. referred to Jonathan, Jr. several
times in his will as "my adopted son". Jonathan,
Jr. is the only child I know of from Jonathan and Anne (Gardiner)
Olin's marriage, and he was born 9 years after they were married.
This seems to indicate that they could not have children and that
they possibly took in a nephew or perhaps some other relative
to raise. This is just conjecture on my part, but it was fairly
common in those days. I doubt that any records would exist in
RI that could point to who they "adopted" or who his
biological parents were. It is hard enough for adoptees to find
their parents today, much less after 200+ years. By the way, when
Jonathan Olin, Jr. married Penelope Harrington, his uncle Gideon
Olin conducted the wedding ceremony.
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