The instrument's own words
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171
Know all men by these presents that we Austin Thompson
and Mary & Thompson (formerly Mary & Dewitt) his wife
parties of the first part both of California have made constituted
and appointed and by these presents do make constituted one
& only Henry Whitfield of the state of Rhode Island one
true and lawful Attorney for us and one in our name place
stead and for our use and benefit to ask demand sue recover
collect and receive all such sums of money debts due accounts
legacies bequests interests dividends dividends and demands whatever
as are now or shall hereafter become due owing payable or
belonging to us and our heirs use and take all lawful ways
and means in our name or otherwise for the recovery thereof
by attachments arrests distresses or otherwise and to compromise
and agree for the same and acquittances or other sufficient
discharges for the same for us dead in our name to make seal
and deliver to bargain contract agree purchase receive lend
take lands tenements hereditaments and accept the seisin
and possession of all lands and deeds and other assignments
of the same for to lease let demise bargain sell remise
release convey mortgage and hypothecate lands tenements
and hereditaments thereon upon such terms and conditions and under
such covenants as he shall think fit Also to bargain and agree
for buy sell mortgage hypothecate and in any and every way
and manner lawful deal in and with goods wares and merchandise
close in action and other property in possession or in action
and to make do and transact all and every kind of
business of what nature or kind soever and handle for us
and one in our name and as our act and deed to sign seal
execute deliver and acknowledge such deeds covenants
indentures agreements mortgages hypothecations bottomeries
charter parties bills of lading bills bonds notes receipts
evidences of debt releases and satisfaction of mortgage judgment
and other debts and such other instruments in writing
of whatever kind and nature as may be necessary or
proper in the premises Lawing and granting unto
our said Attorney full power and authority to do and
perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite
and necessary to be done in and about the premises
as fully to all intents and purposes as we might or
could do if personally present hereby ratifying and
confirming all that our said Attorney shall lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents
over
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172
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and
seals this 30th day of January A.D. one thousand
eight hundred and seventy four
Signed sealed and delivered
in the presence of
J. W. Tisdale
Austin M. Thompson L.S.
Mary A. Thompson L.S.
Formerly Mary A. Harris
State of California
County of Santa Barbara
On this 30th day of January A.D. one
thousand eight hundred and seventy four before me
James R. Love Notary Public in and for
said County of Santa Barbara duly commissioned
sworn and qualified personally appeared Austin M.
Thompson and Mary A. Thompson formerly Mary A.
Harris the wife formerly known to me to be the
individuals whose seals are affixed who executed the annexed
Instrument as parties thereto and they each of them
duly acknowledged to me that they executed the said instrument
freely and voluntarily and for the uses and purposes
therein mentioned And I further certify that the said
Mary A. Thompson formerly Mary A. Harris wife supra
of the said Austin M. Thompson was by me first made
acquainted with the contents of said Instrument and
thereafter acknowledged to me on an examination
separate apart from and without the hearing of her said
husband that she executed the same freely and voluntarily
and for the uses and purposes therein mentioned without
fear compulsion or undue influence of her said husband
that she did not wish to resign the presure of the
same. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my Official seal at my office in
the city of San Jose County of Santa Barbara State of
California the day and year in this Certificate above
written
James R. Love Notary Public
L.S. In and for the County of Santa Barbara State
of California
State of California S.S. I Cornelius Finley
County of Santa Barbara County Clerk of the County of Santa Barbara State of
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California, do hereby certify that James W. L. [illegible] to Fr. Ear
the person subscribing the annexed certificate / ack now ment,
and before whom the same was taken, was at the date
thereof and is now a notary public in and for said County
duly commissioned and qualified; that by virtue of his
said office he is authorized to take acknowledgments and
administer oaths. I further certify that the signature of
R. Ear for subscribed to the annexed certificate of acknow
ledgment is his proper and genuine signature, and that said
said instrument is executed in accordance with the laws
of this State. In witness whereof I have hereunto set
my hand, and affixed the seal of the County Court of
said Santa Clara County this 31st day of January A.D.
1875. [Signature] C. B. Finley
County Clerk and Clerk of the County Court
of Santa Clara County. By P. B. Smith
Dep. Clk.
Received for record Oct 4th 1875 at 12 o'clock P.M.
and recorded by Chas. Cross Town Clerk
In the Name of God Amen
I Hager Meeden of [illegible] Kingstown in the County of
Washington and State of Rhode Island being of sound and
disposing mind memory and mindful of the uncertainty
of human life do make and publish this my Last Will and
Testament, hereby revoking and making void all former
Wills and codicils by me at any time heretofore made.
After the payment of my just debts by my Executor hereinafter
named I dispose of my estate as follows to wit:
I give, devise and bequeath to my wife Sarah B. Meeden my
homestead farm it being the North Division of the fields from
in said North South through town together with the Hill pasture and
my right in the North of the highway, for and during the term of
her natural life. Also I give and bequeath to my said wife all my
household furniture possessions and all articles of personal property
in and around my home at the time of my decease together with
said house and carriage as I may then have for and during the
term of her natural life, and to the said Sarah outdoores and pasture
for her during her life, of she may think proper, and whatever shall
be left of their personal property at the time of her decease, I desire
and it is my Will that the same shall go to my daughter Olivia and her
The page as recorded
