"...she went to the people called Shakers...."

    In the course of client research, I look at a lot of records. Lots and lots of records. I love land records and probate records, for the details they provide about family, and glimpses into the lives our ancestors lived.
    Recently I came upon a will that made my mouth drop open as I read. This is the first will I have seen that disinherited a wife, and gave a compelling reason for it.

Worcester County, Massachusetts, Probate File 35711 for Manessah Knight (1814); digital image, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: accessed 3 Dec 2014), imaged from FHL microfilm 859180.

In this will written in 1814, Manessah Knight gives several bequests to his son Charles Knight, his daughter-in-law Catherine Knight, and his grandchildren. There is no mention of his wife until the last paragraph:


The Reason why I have not made any provision for my wife Hannah Knight in this my will is because that the Said Hannah Regardless of her marriage Covenant did in the year 1782 abscond from me leaving my bed and board with a family of four young children to bring up that said Hannah at that time went to the people called Shakers with whom She has Ever Since lived altho Repeatedly Requested to return home. I Do not therefore think it my Duty as She has conducted to give her any part of my Estate.


You just never know what you're going to find in a will!