Tioga County, New York Surrogate's Court, Book of Wills 54-4-349. 

At a Surrogate court held at Elmira in the County of Tioga on the 3rd day of September 1832:

In the matter of proving The will of the real estate Hosea Brees deceased

It satisfactorily appearing to me that Moses P. Brees, Mary Brees, Ruth Brees, Arad J. Brees, Elizabeth Ann Brees, and Mahala Brees are heirs in law of the said Hosea Brees deceased, and are minor. It is ordered, the Nathaniel Smith of the town of Veteran in the County aforesaid be the is hereby appointed guardian of the said minors respectively to take care of their interest in the proceedings in this matter.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto let my hand and affixed the seal of surrogate court the day and year above written.

W. Maxwell, Surrogate

To Nathaniel Smith Esq. Guardian for Moses P. Brees, Mary Brees, Ruth Brees, Arad J. Brees, Elizabeth Ann Brees and Mahala Brees infant heirs of Hosea Brees.

Wit. Please to take notice that I intend to present the will of the said Hosea Brees deceased to the Surrogate of the County of Tioga at his office in Elmira on Friday the 21st day of September instant at ten O'clock in the forenoon to be according to law, which said will bears date the 13th of August 1832

Dated September 3, 1832 Rachel Brees, Executrix

I hereby acknowledge due service of the above notice September 13, 1832 Nathaniel Smith

To Abraham Brown and Merilda, his wife heirs at law to Hosea Brees deceased.

You are hereby notified that I intend to present the will of the said Hosea Brees deceased to the Surrogate of the County of Tioga at his office in Elmira on Friday the 21st day of September instant at ten 10 o'clock in the forenoon to be proved according to law, which said will bears the 13th day of August 1832

Rachel Brees, Executrix

We hereby admit due service of the within notice. Dated September 6, 1932 Abram Brown Merilda Brown

I Hosea Brees, do make and ordain the this my last will and testament, in manner and form as follows, that is to say: I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Rachel Brees ________ constitute and appoint sole executrix of my last will and testament, all my property both real and personal at her disposal during he lifetime and after her death then to be equally divided among my children, seven in number, that is to say Merilda Brown the wife of Abram W. Brown, and Moses P Brees, Mary Brees, Ruth Brees, Arad J. Brees Elizabeth Ann Brees, Mahala Brees:

In witnesses where of I have unto set my hand seal this the 13 day of August 1832.

That Merilda Brown has had fifty dollars which sum I with to have taken from her share of the above property when divided

Hosea Brees Seal

Witnesses' names Nathaniel Smith Uriah Hall Ruth Treat

County of Tioga Surrogate Court In the matter of proving the will of the real and personal estate of Hosea Brees deceased: Nathaniel Smith, Uriah Hall and Ruth Treat, being first duly sworn and depose and say that they saw Hosea Brees deceased subscribe the instrument now shown to then the said deponents and which purports to be the last will and testament of the said Hosea Brees deceased bearing date the thirteenth day of August 1832; that they heard the said Hosea Brees , declare the same to be his last will and testament, and that they the said deponents did subscribe their names as witnesses, there to at the request of the said Hosea Brees, and in his presence and in the presence of each other and further that at the time tereof the said Hosea Brees was of sound mind and memory, of full age [next several words could not be read]

Subscribed this 21st day of September 1832 before me W. Maxwell surrogate

Uriah Hall Ruth Treat Nathaniel Smith