House history update- September 2015

I was hoping to find court transcripts or documents as to why William Duff had his house repossessed in 1896. After an afternoon of trying to find the proper archive, we got lucky and met a historian that works for the court system. He told us without a docket number it would be impossible to find any information, (there's no docket number on the repossession deed) and that those records are kept in a facility that does not allow public access.

We did find the will of Samuel Duff Sr. My point and shoot camera is missing, so I took these with my super crappy cell phone camera. Luckily I was able to make copies.

The photo doesn't do it justice, but this guy had really beautiful handwriting.

Unfortunately, there's no earth shattering surprises here. Besides the land divided up between his six sons, he leaves his" mansion house" (not our house) to his son Thomas.  His wife Isabella "during the time and term she shall remain my widow" gets $150. a year. Was it standard practice to cut off the widow if she remarried? This money was supposed to come from her sons, but they arent left any money, just property.  How were these payments to Isabella enforced?

His daughter Mary was given $500. and Matilda got $200., to be paid one year after his death. I guess Matilda got less because she was married, or maybe her dad wanted to stick it to her in the end for whatever reason.