Hi all, Below is a copy & paste I've done from my ggg-grandfather's will. I'm wondering if anyone can help me understand it. I've found lots 12 & 13 -- they appear to be smack in the middle of the Illinois River. Does anyone know where this land is? Also, does anyone have any ideas about how to print the plat maps at the Federal Land Plat website? I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Lettitia Watson the house and Lot on which we now reside situated in the Town of Meredosia in said county lots no. thirteen (13) and fourteen in block twelve in said town�Lots no. twelve (12) and thirteen (13) a part of section no. (16) north range No. thirteen (13) West of the _________________ this a principal of meridian in township. No. Sixteen containing twenty-two acres of land -- and lott no. fifteen (15) of block twelve (12) is ________________ and Sylesworthe addition to the town of Meredosia of said county also a certain tract of land designated and known as the northwest quarter of the north west quarter of section fifteen (15) in township sixteen (16) north of range thirteen (13) west of the third (3) principal meridian. Also the south most fractional quarter of section ten (10) in town and range as above also the east half of the west half of section three (3) town and range as above except twenty one acres and 9! 0/100 of an acre in the south east quarter of the South west quarter of said section three (3) which was entered by Edward A. Fox to have and to hold the same to him � also the south west fractional quarter of the north west quarter of section fifteen (15) township. Sixteen (16) north range thirteen (13) west of the third (3) principal meridian containing thirty six acres 44/100 of an acre � two hundred and eighty acres to wit. The north west of the north west the south west of south west of the south west and the south west of the south west of section three (3) in township sixteen north of range thirteen (13) west of the 3 PM also the south east of the south quarter of section nine (9) in same township and range as established by the survey as general of the United States which said tract of land was sold to the ____________ Edward Watson. The condition of this will is such that the said Lettitia Watson wife of said Edward Watson is to hold and have the control of the aforesaid property and the benefits accruing there from during her life time providing she remains the widow of said Edward Watson. Thanks for any help! Marie Ginter Butcher Elmira, NY --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software

I can't swear to the facts of your ancestors land being in the middle of the IL River, but I do know that my ancestors farm circa 1850-60 in the Pearl, IL area is currently under at least 12 feet of sand and water. This estimate was made at least 30 - 40 years ago. The flooding has changed the course of the river over the years and consequently, depending on the time of your ancestors will, this could be the case with his land also. Hope this helps clear up your question. Donna ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marie Butcher" <mbutcher14901@yahoo.com> To: <ILMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2003 7:16 PM Subject: [ILMORGAN] Meredosia land > > Hi all, > > Below is a copy & paste I've done from my ggg-grandfather's will. I'm wondering if anyone can help me understand it. I've found lots 12 & 13 -- they appear to be smack in the middle of the Illinois River. Does anyone know where this land is? Also, does anyone have any ideas about how to print the plat maps at the Federal Land Plat website? > > I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Lettitia Watson the house and Lot on which we now reside situated in the Town of Meredosia in said county lots no. thirteen (13) and fourteen in block twelve in said town-Lots no. twelve (12) and thirteen (13) a part of section no. (16) north range No. thirteen (13) West of the _________________ this a principal of meridian in township. No. Sixteen containing twenty-two acres of land -- and lott no. fifteen (15) of block twelve (12) is ________________ and Sylesworthe addition to the town of Meredosia of said county also a certain tract of land designated and known as the northwest quarter of the north west quarter of section fifteen (15) in township sixteen (16) north of range thirteen (13) west of the third (3) principal meridian. Also the south most fractional quarter of section ten (10) in town and range as above also the east half of the west half of section three (3) town and range as above except twenty one acres and 9! > 0/100 of > an acre in the south east quarter of the South west quarter of said section three (3) which was entered by Edward A. Fox to have and to hold the same to him - also the south west fractional quarter of the north west quarter of section fifteen (15) township. Sixteen (16) north range thirteen (13) west of the third (3) principal meridian containing thirty six acres 44/100 of an acre - two hundred and eighty acres to wit. The north west of the north west the south west of south west of the south west and the south west of the south west of section three (3) in township sixteen north of range thirteen (13) west of the 3 PM also the south east of the south quarter of section nine (9) in same township and range as established by the survey as general of the United States which said tract of land was sold to the ____________ Edward Watson. > > The condition of this will is such that the said Lettitia Watson wife of said Edward Watson is to hold and have the control of the aforesaid property and the benefits accruing there from during her life time providing she remains the widow of said Edward Watson. > > Thanks for any help! > > Marie Ginter Butcher > > Elmira, NY > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software > > > ==== ILMORGAN Mailing List ==== > Find an ancestor's burial place! All known cemeteries now > online with exception of the three large Jacksonville ones! > Click on Township Links on Cemetery Page at: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilmorgan/twp-cem.htm > >