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Son of Joseph & Elizabeth
Hefford
Between September of 1813 and February 1819, the Heffords immigrated to the United States.
Illinois Public Land Purchase Records indicate Joseph T. Hefford
acquired 160 acres in Illinois on February 25, 1819. The 1850 census indicates Marion Elizabeth Hefford Bullard, Joseph's daughter, was born in Illinois. The death date on her cemetery marker is December 8, 1897 at 74 years of age.
The 1830 Census of Gallatin County, Illinois enumerated Joseph
T. Hefford with the following information:
Joseph's first wife, Louisa Taylor Hefford died September 30, 1843 in Matagorda at the age of 52. Christ Episcopal Church recorded her death from “Fever," and she was buried in Matagorda Cemetery. Joseph would be buried beside her in 1859.
A passenger list for the Brig. Sam Houston lists J. T. Hefford as traveling from the Port of Matagorda to New Orleans, LA on April 3, 1840.
1850 Matagorda County Census
Joseph married Mary Ann Hannum on February 8, 1851 in Matagorda
County.
Marion E. Taylor married Charles Augustus Bullard on August 13, 1846 in Matagorda County. [unclear whether her name was Marion Elizabeth Taylor Hefford even though the marriage record has Taylor. The name of Louise listed above appears to be Taylor) Marion E. Bullard married Isham Thompson on April 12, 1857 Matagorda County.
1860 Census - Texas - Matagorda County
Granddaughter Cora
Louise Bullard married Walter Scott Stewart on November 11, 1892
in Matagorda County after the death of his first wife, Minna
Jane Cheesman who died on December 3, 1886.
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Know all men that I Joseph T.
Hefford of the City and County of Matagorda, State of Texas
being of sound mind and duly appreciating the uncertainties of
this life do hereby make this my last Will and Testament namely.
In the first place I give and bequeath to my daughter Marion E.
Thompson my Negro man “Abram” a slave for life and also that
piece of Ground known as Twenty feet off the North East side of
the North east half of Lot number two (2) Block no 7. Tier no 1
M. front lately obtained by purchase from the Estate of C. A.
Bullard decd with all the appurtenances thereto belonging. Next. I give and bequeath to my Grand daughter Cora L. Bullard my house & Lot number three (3) Block No. 5 Tier no 1. M. Front in said City of Matagorda with all appurtenances thereto belonging and also that piece of Ground known as part of Lot number four (4) Block no. five (5) Tier no two (2) M Front, the same having a front on Lewis street of one hundred & Eleven feet, four inches by a depth on ____ Street of one hundred feet with all thereto belonging and lastly I give and bequeath to my wife “Mary Ann” the rest of my property of every description whatever both Real Personal and mixed including my other two servants Boy Harvey and girl Maria both slaves for life with all notes of hand debts in open account and ready money of which I may die possessed: Conditioned nevertheless that at the demise of my said Wife “Mary Ann” the two Slaves above mentioned Harvey and Maria shall become the property of my said Grand Daughter Cora L. Bullard and in the event of her death to my said daughter Marion E. Thompson and should they all three die during the life time of all or any of the said slaves or off spring they shall be handed over to the corporation of Matagorda for the purpose of aiding in a school fund subject to the following restrictions. Viz. That they be appraised by three respectable citizens to be chosen by a vote of at least three fourths of a full Board of Aldermen, who shall value said slaves where each shall after said valuation be made known have the liberty of one month holiday, during which time they shall be allowed to choose their own Master at their appraised value, which I desire may be liberal one in order that who ever they may choose for their master may be willing and even anxious to purchase them, and it is my further desire that out of the proceeds of sale each Negro shall be entitled to and shall receive the sum of Twenty five dollars for his or her private use and benefit, the rest as before Stated to be appropriated to forming or in aid of a School fund for the exclusive use of the City of Matagorda. Should it however happen that my said daughter Marion E. Thompson and my said Grand daughter depart this life during the life time of my present wife Mary Ann, It is my wish & desire that all the property hereby bequeathed to them shall revert to and become the property of my said present wife Mary Ann. In conclusion of this my last Will and Testament and as I owe no debts worth naming I desire that my Estate be exempt from the Control of the Probate Court and that she be not be required to give security for her acts as Executrix. And now having arranged my affairs of this world I commend my Soul to Him in whose Love Goodness and Mercy I have all confidence.
Witnesses
Samuel W. Fisher
Codicil
I Joseph T. Hefford being of
sound mind and disposing memory and desiring to make an
alteration in my foregoing Last Will and Testament by a Codicil
in this respect, that is to say, the Girl Maria which I have
bequeathed by my said Original will to my beloved wife Mary Ann
Hefford for an during the life of my said wife and with certain
restrictions I now give absolutely to my said Wife Mary Ann
together with all the present children and future increase of my
said Slave Maria so that my said wife at my death shall become
the sole owner of said slave Maria and her present and future
increase free from all limitations and remainder to any person
whomsoever with full and absolute property in my said Wife her
heirs or assigns forever. In testimony of all which I have hereunto set my hand at Matagorda on the 28th day of April A. D. 1859 in presence of the undersigned witnesses.
D. E. E. Braman
The State of Texas County of Matagorda
In County Court May Term A. D.
1859 Before me Matthew Talbot Chief Justice in and for said County of Matagorda personally appeared in open Court, George Burkhart and John F. Holt, who are to me both well known and being by me duly sworn according to law on Oath say that they were well acquainted with Joseph T. Hefford late of the City and County of Matagorda but now deceased & that they were well acquainted with the Handwriting and signature of said Joseph T. Hefford, often having seen him write and sign his name. And said affiants further on Oath say that the paper filed in this Court on the 19th day of May A. D. 1859 and dated on the eighth day of March One thousand, eight hundred and fifty eight 1858, and signed twice at the bottom of the second page thus “J. T. Hefford. J. T. Hefford” and purporting to be the last Will and Testament of said Joseph T. Hefford (and here Shown to said deponents) and wholly written by the said Testator and deponents further say that said testator signed said will in their presence and then and there acknowledged the same to be his last will and Testament and requested these deponents and other persons then present to sign the same as subscribing witnesses, and deponents further say each for himself that they then & there at the request of said testator and in his presence signed their names to said last will and testament as subscribing witnesses. And deponents further say that the signature of said testator to said will and his usual and most common forms of signature and the usual mode of writing his name. And they further say that said Joseph T. Hefford died in Matagorda aforesaid on the 14th Day of May 1859 and said Affiants subscribed their names to this affidavit in my presence subscribed & Sworn to in open Court before me this 30th day of May 1859.
John F. Holt
And at same time and place before me Matthew Talbot Chief Justice as aforesaid personally appeared before me in Open Court George Burkhart & D. E. E. Braman both to me well known and who after being by me duly sworn according to law, depose and say that the paper filed in this Court on the 19th day of May 1859, and dated 28th day of April 1859 purporting to be a Codicil to the last will and testament of Joseph T. Hefford deceased and written on the same sheet of paper with said will on the third page thereof (and here shown to said deponents) was read over in the presence and hearing of said Joseph T. Hefford and in the presence and hearing of these deponents and of other witnesses, then and there present and that said Testator then and there signed said instrument of writing in the presence of each of said deponents and that the said Testator then and there declared the same to be his last Codicil to his last will and testament and at said time requested each of these deponents to sign said Codicil as subscribing witnesses and deponents further say that they each then and there subscribed their names to said Codicil as witnesses in the presence of said testator and in the presence of each other and deponents further say that the signature of said testator to said Codicil is genuine and as he usually wrote his name.
Geo. Burkhart
Subscribed & sworn to before me in Open Court. Before me this 30th day of May A. D. 1859. M. Talbot. Chief Justice, Recorded 3d day of June A. D. 1859. James H. Selkirk Clerk C. C. M. C.
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In the name of God Amen. I Charles A. Bullard of the City & County of Matagorda, Texas, being of sound and disposing mind and duly appreciating the uncertainties of this life, so hereby make my last Will and Testament in manner following To wit. In the first place I devise desire that all my just debts be paid and first those of my sister Mrs. Mary Ann Richardson and my uncle Charles K. Bullard. I then give and bequeath to my said Sister Mary Ann Richardson the sum of Five hundred Dollars to my brother George F. Bullard the sum of Five hundred Dollars, and to my Father Isaac Bullard the like sum of Five hundred Dollars and in case of his demise to be divided between my said Brother and sister said Legacies to be paid out of the first available funds from my estate, after the payment of my Debts & Funeral expences. The Residue of my property both Real and Personal, I give and bequeath to my Wife Marion Elizabeth Bullard whom I hereby make & Constitute my sole Executrix - - - - -As I owe no debts but what can be easily paid by my said Executrix out of the proceeds of my estate, It is my particular wish and desire that the trouble & Expense of passing my said estate through the Probate Court, be saved as far as possible, & that my said Executrix be allowed to sell or any way dispose of all my or any part of my estate at private or public sale and that she be not required to give any security to the probate Court, for any of her acts as Executrix. And now having arranged my affairs of this world, I commend my sole to God in the confident hope that my firm belief in Him and Him alone will procure me my just reward for what little good I may have done and no more than my just punishment for what I may have neglected or done wrong in this life. Amen. Chas. A. Bullard.
signed in presence of Recorded 8th April A. D. 1851
Jas. A. Selkirk Clerk C. C. M. C. |
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Copyright
2014 - Present by Carol Sue Gibbs |
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Created May 27, 2014 |
Updated May 27, 2014 |