Yesterday I found the Last Will and Testament of my paternal 2nd great-grandfather, Ole Anthon Christopherson!1 He was born in Norway and immigrated to the United States. I am confident this is his Will because it lists known information such as his wife's name, and the names of their children, and the name of his stepson.
This is quite an exciting find. Ole's Will is dated 22 January 1906. He passed away a number of years later in 1914. This Will contains two pages. I've added a transcription following each page.
Here's the first page of Ole's will.
Will of Ole A. Christopherson Decedent.
In the name of God, Amen.
I, Ole A. Christopherson of the Village of Benson
in the County of Swift and State of Minnesota, being of sound mind
and memory, do make, publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament.
First—I order and direct that my Executor hereinafter named, pay all my just debts and funeral expenses as soon
after my decease as conveniently may be.
Second—After the payment of such funeral expenses and debts, I give, devise, and bequeath to my beloved
wife, Aslou Christopherson all of the property of which I may
die seized, both real and personal, to be held and owned by her
during her life time and the rents and profits and increase thereof to
be used by her for her support and maintainance, the remaining
interest therein, subject to her life Estate, to go in equal portions to
my children as hereinafter directed and to the son of my said wife.
Third, I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved children,
Annie Iverson, Serena Iverson, Nels Christopherson, Julia Larson,
Elsie Larson and my step-son Halvor Christopherson, the son of my
said wife, Aslou, all the property both real and personal of which I may
die seized subject however to the life interest of my wife Aslou
as hereinabove directed.
Fourth, I further order and direct and it is my will, that should I
survive my said wife Aslou, then and in that case, upon my death
all of my property shall go direct to my said children above named,
and to my said step-son Halvor Christopherson, to them share and
share alike.
Lastly, I make, constitute
and appoint Magnus Pederson of Benson, Minnesota
to be Executor of this my
Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me made.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my
name and affixed my seal the 26th day of
January in the year of our
Lord one thousand nine hundred
and six (A.D. 1906)
Ole Anthon Christopherson [seal]
This Instrument Was, on the day of the date thereof, signed, published and declared by the said Testator Ole
A. Christopherson to be his
Last Will and Testament in our presence, who at his
request, have subscribed our
names thereto as witnesses, in his presence, and in the presence of each other.
C. L. Kane residing
at Benson, Minnesota
P.
Christopherson residing at Benson, Minnesota
___________________
State of Minnesota } IN PROBATE COURT,
}ss. CERTIFICATE
OF PROBATE
County of Swift }
In the Matter of the Estate of Ole Anthon
Christopherson Decedent.
Be It Remembered, That on the day of the date hereof at a Special Term of said Probate Court
pursuant to the notice duly given, the Last Will and
Testament of Ole Anthon Christopherson
Decedent, late of said County of Swift bearing date the
26th day of January
1906, and being the annexed written instrument, was
duly proved before the Probate Court in and for the County of
Swift aforesaid; and was duly allowed and admitted to
probate by said Court according to law;
as and for the Last Will and Testament of said Ole
Anthon Christopherson deceased,
which said Last Will and Testament is recorded and the examination taken thereon filed in this office.
In Testimony Whereof, The Judge
of the Probate Court of said County has here-
unto
set his hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Benson
in said County, this 22 day of June 1914
Court Seal J. N. Edwards
Judge of Probate.
Recorded this 22nd day of June 1914
As I mentioned before, I am confident that this Will is the Will of my paternal 2nd great-grandfather, Ole Anthon Christopherson. The relationships mentioned are correct and so is the locality.
In his Will, Ole lists his wife's name as Aslou. My records have her name as Aslaug. Ole listed the following children in his Will: Annie Iverson, Serena Iverson, Nels Christopherson, Julia Larson, Elsie Larson and his step-son Halvor Christopherson. Halvor was the son of his wife, Aslaug. He was born before Aslaug and Ole married. Ole and Aslaug were the parents of seven children. Sadly, two of the children did not survive to adulthood. Annie Iverson was my great-grandmother. She married Christopher Iverson. Annie passed away before her father on 4 June 1913 in Benson, Swift, Minnesota. Her father, Ole, passed away on 12 May 1914 in Benson, Swift, Minnesota and his Will was proved in Probate Court on 22 June 1914.
An interesting item in Ole's Will is that he appointed Magnus Pederson as his Executor. I don't know who Magnus Pederson was. As for the witnesses, I wouldn't be surprised if P. Christopherson was Ole's brother, Peter Christopherson. I don't know who C. Kane was.
Also of interest is the phrase "and being the annexed written instrument" on the second page of the Will. What does that mean exactly? I've heard of adding a codicil to a Will before, but what is an annex? Is it the same thing? If so, is there an earlier version of Ole's will?
I'm so glad I found Ole's Last Will and Testament. In his Will Ole mentioned "real and personal property." That's interesting. I wonder if I can find land records for Ole. And, if there is an earlier version of Ole's Will then searching for that should be added to my research to do list.
Thanks for stopping by!
Jana Last
© 2020 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved
1 Swift County, Minnesota, Last Will and Testament, Vol 2. Pages 138-139, Ole A. Christopherson; “Minnesota, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1801-1925,” database with images, District and Probate Courts, Swift, Minnesota. Ancestry.com. (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9070/images/004416447_00141 : accessed 15 December 2020); image 141 of 324.↩