Will of John Godfrey Dunscombe:
I, John G. Dunscombe of Stuart, County of Palm Bech, State of Florida, do make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament hereby revoking all other and former wills by me made.
First - The Farmers Loan & Trust Company William Street, New York City, New York are the trustees of a trust I have established in behalf of my grand children Edward & Margaret Dunscombe the children of my deceased son Cecil Dunscombe and of his wife Marie M. Dunscombe, residing at 375 Henry St. Brooklyn, New York, and in the event of their death of my daughter Margaret S. Dunscombe, she being a member of the Protestant Episcopal Community of St. Mary's at Peekskill New York, and who is there known as Sister Mary Michael.
Second - I give, devise and bequeath unto my son Carroll Dunscombe residing at Stuart Florida four bonds of one thousand dollars each numbered 185-186-187-188 of the Florida Growers Incorporated said bonds being in the custody of the Farmers Loan & Trust Co. New York.
Third - I give devise and bequeath to my son Carroll Dunscombe and to the Stuart Bank and Trust Company at Stuart Florida, but nevertheless to them in trust as therein provided for a certain tract of land located in Palm Beach County Florida described as follows, viz; Government Lot 3 Section 6 Town 38 Range 41 and containing eighty (80) acres more or less. I direct that said land be held by my Trustees until the year nineteen hundred forty five (1945) during which year, or so soon thereafter as my trustees deem wise-but not to exceed two (2) additional years or to nineteen hundred and forty seven (1947); it shall be sold and the proceeds arising therefrom, after paying all expenses connected therewith, taxes and trustees fees - shall then by my trustees be equally divided between my daughter Margaret S. Dunscombe (the Sister Mary Michael) and my grand children Margaret & Edward Dunscombe or in the event of the death of either of them between the survivors of them. My said trustees may at their discretion rent said land but not beyond the year 1945 - and use said rentals to pay the annual taxes thereon and the trustees fees investing the surplus from rentals in U.S. Gov't. bonds - and these bonds shall be equally divided between my said daughter and two grand children mentioned above; at the same time the proceeds derived from sale of the land is divided between them as directed above; Should the land not be rented or the rentals derived therefrom prove sufficient to pay taxes, trustees fees and other incidental expenses connected therewith - the land may be mortgaged for a sum sufficient to discharge said expenses.
Fourth - I give devise and bequeath to my daughter Margaret S. Dunscombe (Sister Mary Michael) my silver folding clock.
Fifth - I give devise and bequeath to my grand son Edward Dunscombe, my English Gold Repeater Watch with its fob key - and the Water Color portrait of myself made when I was a child - This watch was formerly my maternal grand father's Daniel Leon (sic - should read Daniel Seon) - the great, great grandfather of Edward - I also bequeath to him my bible inscribed Cecile G. Dunscombe - who was my stepmother and who left this bible to Edward's father Cecil Dunscombe.
Sixth - I give devise and bequeath to my grand son John Albert Dunscombe of Stuart Florida - my American Repeater Gold Watch and my Gold Topez (sic) fob seal - This seal formerly belonged to my grand father John Dunscombe - or the great, great grand father of John Albert.
Seventh - I give devise and bequeath to my grand daughter Margaret Dunscombe my gold neck chain - which formerly belonged to her grand mother Katherine Stuart Dunscombe and in addition thereto, One Hundred Dollars in cash -
Eighth - After paying my funeral expenses and cost of a simple grave marker - I give devise and bequeath my residuary estate for equal division between my daughter Margaret S. Dunscombe - and my grand children Margaret Edward and John Albert Dunscombe.
Ninth - I hereby appoint my son Carroll Dunscombe and the Stuart Bank & Trust Company, Stuart Florida as the executors and trustees of this my last will and testament - signed John G. Dunscombe
We the undersigned witnesses, affirm that John G. Dunscombe, the testator signed the foregoing in our presence and declare the same to be his Will and requested us to witness the same, and we therefore in his presence and in the presence of each other affix our names as witnesses thereto this fourth day of November Nineteen Hundred twenty four.
Marie F. Colt 148 East 61st St New York City
Francis S Colt " " " " " "
Mary Colbery " " " " " "
State of Florida
County of Palm Beach
Be it remembered that on this 20th day of March A. D. 1925 the foregoing Application for Letters Testamentary and Will have been duly recorded in the public records of said County.
Witness, the Honorable Richard P. Robbins, County Judge
By MAY HEALY (SEAL)
Clerk County Judge's Court
Filed March 20th, A. D. 1925
Recorded in Will Record No. 7 Page No. 425
Richard P. Robbins
County Judge
Palm Beach County
West Palm Beach
Florida
August 30th, 1926
Mr. Louis Barsch
132 Nassau Street
New York City, N.Y.
Dear Sir:
I am enclosing herewith certified copy of the Last Will and Testament in the matter of the Estate of John G. Dunscombe, deceased, together with bill for the same.
Stuart is not in Palm Beach County, the county has been divided since this will was made, this estate is now being handled in Martin County, the seat is Stuart, Florida.
J. H. Getszen, Attorney-at-Law is the lawyer handling this estate.
Yours very truly,
May Healy
Clerk County Judge's Court
(Copy of letter sent to Mr. Barsch, from the County Judge, in reference to the property, mentioned in will).
Re: B 22 - Lot 3, Sec. 6, Twn. 38, Range 41,
80 Acres, Martin County, Florida
"This is ordinary pine land located about six miles northwest of Stuart and borders on the north fork of the St. Lucie River, with some mangrove swamp on this frontage. Years ago the County proposed to build a road to serve this section but no paved road has ever been built. I would say the land is worth from $5 to $10 per acre."
We were not advised as to the cost of having a close appraisal made.
Following is the text of a handwritten note concerning John's death, but I am not certain who the author is:
Our Dear dear beloved Grand papa - John G. Dunscombe age 78. Left us to go home to his Heavenly Father. He went so gently asleep with our mama at his side to his nurse. at four o'clock in the afternoon of February fourth 1925 - in our home at 375 - Henry Street Brooklyn New York, his son Carroll Dunscombe came up from Florida to take Grand papa to be buried in all Saints Cemetery in Florida where his Son Carroll - Dunscombe reside (sic) ; he is survived by his son Carroll & a daughter Sister Mary Michael in Saint Mary's Convent & three Grand children Edward & Marguerite Dunscombe son & daughter of his oldest son Cecil, & John a son of Carroll Dunscombe.