This will is an addendum to the 1824 will of Oliver Washburn of Raynham, MA, that I posted to the list last month. Some of the best wills I've found, genealogically, are those of bachelors. Otis L. Washburn was born in Raynham, MA, in about 1795, according to his age in the censuses, to Oliver Washburn and Sarah "Sally" Liscomb, who were married in Raynham on 17 Jan. 1788. Since the birth records for the children of Oliver and Sally Washburn were not recorded in the vital records, they must be pieced together from other sources. The 1823 will of Oliver Washburn gives us the names and probable birth order of his children, and most of their birth years can be estimated from their ages in later censuses. Otis never married, as far as I can tell, and apparently fathered no children. When he died on 11 Oct. 1863, he left a will inwhich he named all his married sisters, as well as a daughter of his deceased brother and a son of one of his sisters. Often the wills of bachelors will give more information about the family structure than the will of a family man. This is from LDS microfilm #0577880, Bristol County Probate Records, from the docket titled "Otis L. Washburn, Raynham, 1863." Otis signed his will in a very shakey hand. "Be it remembered that I Otis L. Washburn of Raynham in the county of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being of sound and disposing mind, do make and publish and declare this my last will and testament. First: = I give and bequeath to my sister, Eleanor Holmes--twenty five dollars. Second = I give and bequeath to my sister Martha Gushee twenty five dollars. Third = I give and bequeath to my sister Mary Snow twenty five dollars. Fourth = I give and bequeath to my sister Charlotte E. Leonard twenty five dollars. Fifth = I give and bequeath to Jane T. Washburn daughter of my late brother, Caleb S. Washburn five hundred dollars. Sixth = I give and bequeath to William Otis Snow son of my sister Mary Snow, all my real and personal property remaining after the above bequests and the payment of my just debts. And, I do appoint William Otis Snow of, Raynham, aforesaid, to be the sole executor of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixteenth day of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred sixth three. Otis L. Washburn Signed published and declared by the said Otis L. Washburn as his last will and testament in the presence of us, who in his presence and in the presence of each other, at his request, have hereunto set our names as witnesses. Samuel Jones Nancy D. Washburn Sarah S. Wilbur" William O. Snow petitioned for probate of the estate of Otis L. Washburn, of Raynham, on 22 Oct. 1863, stating that he had died on 11 Oct. 1863 leaving no widow as his heir, and listing his next of kin: Eleanor Holmes, wife of Thomas Holmes of Bristol, Rhode Island Martha Gushee, widow of Williams Gushee of Raynham Mary Snow, wife of William Snow of Raynham Charlotte E. Leonard, wife of George Leonard of Marshfield Jane T. W. Champlin, wife of Benedict P. Champlin of Providence, R.I. Bond was posted and the will was probated on 20 Nov. 1863. Another thing noted when comparing the list of children from Oliver Washburn's will and Otis L. Washburn's will is that between 1823 and 1863 several of the children had died, including Oliver's daughters Rhoda, Pamela, and Sarah Washburn, and Oliver's son Caleb S. Washburn. John A. Maltby Redwood City, CA jamaltby@creative.net