Did you know that this week is National Estate Planning Awareness Week? Yes…it’s a thing that the United States House of Representative voted on in 2008. The third week of October is the week that everyone needs to get their *bleep* together before they die. But really, they want people to understand the importance of estate planning, what it entails and how vital it is for financial wellness for yourself and your family members. How are wills and genealogy important to each other? Let’s talk about it!
The Correlation of Wills and Genealogy
We need to decide now what happens to our stuff when we die. Plus we need to talk to our older relatives about their final wishes before their time. My boss told me she wrote her own funeral program and obituary – what a great idea! She wants to make sure her children get the facts right after her death! My September blog post discussed preparedness, making a plan to designate someone to take over the job as family historian and keep the family heirlooms. Well, that is estate planning. This is how wills and genealogy are perfect pairs!
A will is a written document that states our last wishes. We designate family members to give our favorite mementos, photos and property when that time comes. We love our possessions and want to give them to family members that will love them too. This should include family photos, family bibles and any heirlooms passed down from generation to generation.
Tracking Down the Enslaved
Not only are they important for this reason, wills are important for tracking our own family members. As a genealogist, I use them to find an African American family enslavers. The enslaved were considered property and included in wills as gifts to family members or pay off the debts of the deceased. Sometimes, a list of the enslaved were included as part of the estate’s inventory and a value listed for each. Other times, the enslaved were listed by name as well as a relationship and occupation. They might use an occupation to distinguish between two slaves with the same name. A relationship might distinguish separated family members. For example, I found a will that listed Mary, Jincy’s daughter to go to Emily, the daughter of the decedent. Jincy’s husband, Caesar, would stay with the widow and her younger sons to help her manage the farm.
Status Symbols
As far as property, some wills state the size and location of the farm, plantation or estate. One could tell the wealth of the deceased by knowing the amount of land distributed to his relatives. Sometimes the name of the property is listed, making it a gold mine for someone looking for enslaved ancestors. If you are lucky, the boundaries of the property name neighboring planters. Giving you an example of this: “Matthew Johnson’s plantation borders Wyatt Jamison’s farm to the North and Mrs. Smith’s property to the East.” This lets you know who the neighboring planters were and who could have possibly enslaved other family members.
No matter who you are looking for, wills could name all your family members, including the husbands of the decedent’s daughters. You can follow your ancestrial lineage by the familial relationships listed in a will.
Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
If you don’t have a will, your items will go up for auction to pay off debts or to the flea market. The money in your bank and investment accounts will go to the state as unclaimed funds. After a certain amount of time, the government keeps the funds. I have seen several family bibles and heirlooms at thrift shops. The best thing to do is go through your items while you still can, decide who you want to give them to and give them as a gift now. My aunt had me take pictures, inventory her items and she designated who she wants certain items to go to. Anything else, she has us put our names on the back of the item. She does not want anyone fighting over her things after her death.
So what will you be doing this week? Hopefully you’ll be getting your affairs in order for the inevitable…but hopefully that won’t be anytime soon!
If you want in knowing your family history but you don’t have the time or resources to do so, I have affordable packages to do the research for you. If you book the Kati or Kubwa packages during October 2022, you will get a 10% discount plus a free gift!* Click here to contact me. Hurry – you only have 14 more days left in October!!
*You must book and pay the 50% non-refundable deposit before 11:59pm on 10/31/22 in order to receive the discounted services and free gift.