|
|---|
Fla., Monroe Co., Key West. Co. Judge. Will Records Book H. p.54, Copied by Wm. C. Harllee. Verified by Mrs. Sweeting:
Estate of Benjamin Curry, deceased, Monroe County, Cay West, Fla.
In the Name of God, Amen. I Benjamin Curry, Born at Harbour Island, and then Living at Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, two of the British Islands, and know living at Cay, Fla. Being of sound Memory and understanding do delaire (sic) this to be my Last Will and Testament Revoaking all other Wills by me mad.
I Will and Bequath to my present wife Catherine Curry if she is Living at the time of my Deces to be Seported During the period of her Life time out of my said Effect as above Mentioned, and in Like manner to be Baried out of the saide Effects, and of whatsoever is left at her Deces, I will and Bequath an Eaquel shair to each of My Named children of all my Effects of whatsoever that may be left at the Decest of bouth. And to the three Children of my Decest Son Benjamin E. Curry I Will and Bequath an Eaqual shair and Margaret M. Lowe my Daughter an Eaqual and Heair shaire, and to my Son and Heair Alexander H. Curry an Eaquel shair and to Mary F. Lowe my Daughter an Eaquel shair and Heair. And to the three children of my Decest Daughter Elisa Saunder and Equel shair, and to my Daughter Christanna Lowe and Eaquel Shair and Heair.
And Wheair as the present House and Lot for which I knowe Live and Reside is owned by Gideon Lowe my Son and Lawe, whilst the present Stocke is partely in the name of G. J. Lowe and parte of my owne name, I Will and Bequath to my undermentioned Executors that if Live and Aboid up to my Decese and also my pressent wif Catherine Curry that that twelve month and one day after the Decese of my self and wife Catherine Curry for my undermentioned Executors will sell of the said Effects, and to pay all demands against the said Effects, and the one Half of the proffits Clair of all Dets out of the said Stock that Remains at the Deces of myself and wife Catherine Currry will go to G. J. Lowe, the one half.
I also will and Bequath to my saide Executors if not dispost of before my Deaces to sell and dispose of all undermentioned Land namely 40 Acers on the Fish Cay on the North of Grate Abaco, and 10 Acers on Waile Cay on the North of Grate Abaco, and 11 Acers on the Island of Grate Abaco, all of the said being of the British Island.
I also will and direst to my Executors if not Seteld before my Decese to Seteld with U. H. Saunders and Brother for five years and one quarter for Servics in theair stores at the Rait of #300 pr year at $1570. Wheairas I received 1030 leaving the under ble due 540.
I heair nominate Executors namely Gideon Lowe my present Son and Law, Alexander H. Curry my son, Joseph Lowe my Son and Law, all of which being interested will Act for the best Benefit of all Concerned in the said.
Signed, sealed, Publish and Declair In the our pressence who in the presence of each other to be the Last, who have subscribed Will and Testament of our names. / BENJAMIN CURRY (Seal)
True Witness SAML YOUNG JR. / CORNELIUS CURTIS / L. M. SHAFER.
(Note that the above will bears no date. (WCH).
State of Florida, Monroe, City of Key West. / On the eighth day of May in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty two, personally appeared before me Winert Bethel, Judge of Probate for said County of Monroe in the State aforesaid, Cornelius Curtis and Lawrence M. Shafer, Two of the subscribing witnesses to the Last Will and Teatament of Benjamin Curry late of the said County of Monroe deceased and severally made oathe on the Holy Evangelists of "Almighty God," that they together with Samuel Young Jr. the other witness whose name is subscribed to said Last Will and Testament, did see the Testator therein named sign and seal the said Last Will and Testament, that he published, pronounced and declared the same to be his Last Will and Testament that at the time of doing so he was to the best of their knowledge, of sound and disposing mind, memory and...
Extract from Rerick's Memoirs of Florida (1902)
William CURRY, for many years the leading citizen of Key West, was born on Green Turtle Key, on of the Bahama Islands, September 11, 1821, and began his life at Key West, then an insignificant hamlet of fishermen and wreckers, March 3, 1837. He secured a clerkship with Weever & Baldwin, the merchants on Hall street, and when they went out of business about eighteen months later, he was fortunate enough to secure employment in the office of the United States quartermaster. He spend a couple of years afloat with the fleet under Commander McLaughlin in the Seminole War, and after returning from this service , was a clerk with William WALL, until about 1843. At this time he embarked in business management in connection with G.L. BOWNE and another partner, and upon the retirement of the latter the firm of Bowne and Curry began business in 1845. The year previous Mr. Curry had married Euphemia, daughter of Capt. John Lowe, and this gentleman became interested with the firm in a wrecking schooner, the Lavina, which proved a fortunate investment. During his whole life Mr. Curry was largely interested in the salvage of wrecks along the peninsular coast and keys, and his mercantile business consisted principally in furnishing vessel supplies and family stores for those connected with shipping. They built the ship Stepen R. Mallory, which cost $80,00, the pilot boats G.L. Bowne and Euphemaia and they owned or were interested in many sloops and schooners. Mr. Curry insisted on the best obtainable workmanship and all the vessels built under his supervision were the finest of their class. By a severe gale in 1846, Bown & Curry met with disaster, the store, and large stock of general merchandise being destroyed, causing heavy loss, but soon thereafter they purchased property on Front and Simonton streets, where, with ample wharfage and land, store and storehouses were erected and the business continued on an enlarged scale. In 1861, Mr. G.L. Bowne withdrew from the business on account of ill-health, selling all his interests, real and personal, to Mr. Curry. The latter continued the business successfully for more than thirty years in his own name, to be succeeded by the firm of William Curry's Sons, comprising Charles, George H., and Milton W. Curry, and Capt. Martin L. HELLINGS, who married Eleanor, daughter of William Curry.
On September 11, 1894, Mr. and Mrs Curry celebrated their golden wedding, with a banquet to their children, children-in-law and grandchildren, despensing gifts and souvenirs and remembering friends in their usual kindly manner.
But the health of the veteran merchant was then failing and on Thursday, January 23, 1896, he passed away. [paragraph contains a few more flower platitudes]
Miami, Dade County, Florida " Woodlawn Cemetery"
CURRY, Amos, 1846-1920
Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida "Dew Cemetery"
CURRY, John William, 1833-1921
HUTCHENSON, Elizabeth Abigail, wife of John William Curry 1834-1907
CURRY, Charles Theodore, 1870-1921
CURRY, Charlotte Amelia (nm), 1863-1916
CURRY, Amelia, wife of (1) Samuel Young Sawyer (CSA); (2) Germain Hanstead Wyatt, born 12 June 1839, died 26 May 1906
WYATT, G. H., born 20 April 1827, died 18 March 1899
Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida " Fogartyville Cemetery"
CURRY, Samuel George, 1843-1925 (C. S. A.)
Manatee, Manatee County, Florida "Old Cemetery"
CURRY, Mary Ellen, wife of John Waddell Harllee, born 4 November 1852, Key West, died 16 September 1870, Manatee, Florida
HARLLEE, J. W., born 12 August 1837, S. C., died 20 December 1887 (C.S.A.)
CURRY, John, born 25 January 1811, Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas, died 29 November 1882, Manatee, Florida
KEMP, Mary Ward, wife of John Curry, born 12 December 1814, Harbor Island, Bahamas, died 5 September 1883, Manatee, Florida
CURRY, Benjamin Samuel
LOWE, Julia Ann, wife of B. S. Curry, 1924
CURRY, Rosa Maralyn, wife of (1)Frank Clark Wyatt, (2) Frank C. Jones, born 11 November 1873, died 24 July 1892
CURRY, Jemima Lillian, daughter of Mary Ward Curry
