Schuyler County Legal Documents (Deeds/Wills)

   Most of the records listed below are at the Schuyler County Courthouse in the village of Watkins Glen, seat of Schuyler County, at the southern end of Seneca Lake; incorporated 1842.
   At the time that William E. Hause lived in the area, it was part of Steuben County. Steuben was formed from Ontario County on March 18, 1796. This means that some of the records are actually at the Steuben County Courthouse in Bath. (And there might even be some in Ontario County!) But most of the stuff below is in Schuyler County, unless otherwise noted.

BOOK #1, 1800-1828

William's Letters of Administration. This is the version recorded in Bath, Steuben County, on November 1, 1828, by Surrogate William Woods. William Hause; Page 392: "The people of the State of New York by the grace of God free and independent To Joseph Hause and Samuel Hause of the town of Wayne in Steuben County and State of New York aforesaid send Greeting: Whereas William Hause deceased (as is alledged) died intestate having whilst living and at the time of his death goods chattels and credits within the State by means whereof the granting of administration and also the auditing, allowing and final discharging the amount thereof doth appertain unto us and we being desirous that the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased may be well and faithfully administered applied and disposed of do grant unto you the said Joseph & Samuel full power by these presents to administer and faithfully dispose of all and singular the said goods chattels and credits, to ask demand and recive (sic) the debts unto the said deceased whilst living and at the time of his death did belong and to pay the debts which the said deceased did owe so far as the said goods chattels and credits will thereunto extend and the law require—hereby requiring you to make or cause to be made a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the said goods chattels and credits of the said deceased which have or shall come to your hands possession or knowledge and the same so made to exhibit into the office of the Surrogate of said County of Steuben at or before the expiration of six calendar months from the date hereof and also to render a just and true account of administration when thereunto required and we do by these presents depute constitute and appoint you the said Joseph & Samuel Administrators and singular the goods chattels and credits which were of the said William Hause deceased,-- In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of our said Surrogateto be hereunto affixed. Witness John Metcalfe, Surrogate; Bath 18th day of June 1818 of our Independence the forty second year.--Recorded on the 18th day of June 1818, John Metcalfe Surrogate" (Recorded the first day of November 1828 Wm. Woods Surrogate)

BOOK #2

William Hause Jr.; Page 16 (Bath Surrogate's Office): "The people of the State of New York by the grace of God free and independent—To Esther Hause and Matthew Hause of the town of Tyrone in Steuben County and State of New York, aforesaid send Greeting. Whereas William Hause deceased, (as is alledged) died intestate, having whilst living and at the time of his death goods, chattels, and credits within the state, by means whereof the granting of administration, and also the auditing, allowing and final discharging the amount thereof doth appertain unto us, and we being desirous that the goods, chattels, and credits of the said deceased may be well and faithfully administered, applied and disposed of, do grant unto you the said Esther and Matthew full power by these presents to administer and faithfully dispose of all and singular the said goods chattels and credits, to ask demand and recive (sic) the debts unto the said deceased whilst living and at the time of his death did belong and to pay the debts which the said deceased did owe so far as the said goods chattels and credits will thereunto extend and the law require —hereby requiring you to make or cause to be made a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the said goods chattels and credits of the said deceased which have or shall come to your hands, possession or knowledge—and the same so made to exhibit into the office of the Surrogate of said County of Steuben, at or before the expiration of six calendar months from the date hereof; and also to render a just and true account of administration when thereunto required, and we do by these presents depute, constitute and appoint you the said Esther & Matthew administrators of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits which were of the said William Hause deceased. In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of our said Surrogate to be hereunto affixed—Witness James Brundage, Surrogate; Bath 11th day of January 1825 of our Independence the forty ninth year. Recorded on the 11th day of January 1825, James Brundage Surrogate"

Hause, Jonas; Page 174: ae 80 3 Apr 1862 - 2 Jan 1866; Hector, Schuyler co. - s Aaron, s Dellaber, s Mahlon, my widow Rebecca (sounded like more children but none named) exec friend Henry D Barto, sons Mathias D Hause & Dellaber Hause - wit Sam Burlew & C C Pearce, Ulyses.

BOOK #3, 1826-1838

Harris, William E.; Page 76 (Watkins Glen Surrogate's Office), on 7 feb 1826 - 9 jun 1836 - Tyrone, Steuben co. - wf Martha Harris of State of New Jersey or wherever she may be acc. to settlement made between Richard Lanning and self 15 jan 1820 which will total $1100 - 3 youngest sons born in town of Tyrone - Nelson, Isaac Monroe & William Decator Harris - present wife Sarah $1 - ch to support and care for her - dau Sarah Runyon, dau Polly Boice, son Elijah, son Nelson - exec friends Henry L Williams, Henry Booram & Stephen Arnold - wit Wm Bacon & Barney Spears.

Hause, Joseph; Page 136. AE 51 4 sep 1838—4 feb 1839 Tyrone Steuben co.: "I, Joseph Hause aged fifty one and upwards being desirous to discharge the duty which every man owes to his family by making such provisions for the distribution of my property as shall be just and equitable, do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament as follows viz: Item. I give and bequeath to my wife the one third of all my property both real and personal during her life time for her support and maintenance, and it is my wish and request for her to remain with my children until the youngest become of age and one and provide further [according to the best of her family unit.?] Item. That my wife Eunice shall have the right t… use and … of all the beds and bedding and other household furniture now or hence to either keep on hand or dispose of for the benefit of herself and children as she may think best while she remains my widdow (sic). Item. In case my wife should marry after my decease it is my will that she shall have the use of sufficient bedding furniture and to keep house comfortably with during her lifetime and then to revert to my heirs— Item. I give and bequeath to my son Herman C Hause the sum of eight hundred dollars. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Hannah Bennett wife of Lester Bennett the sum of eight hundred dollars. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Betsey Wolverton wife of William Wolverton the sum of eight hundred dollars. Item. All the rest and residue of my estate both real and personal deeds [or lands?] [tenants] notes Bank Stock Mortgages amounts … whatsoever and wheresoever … nature and kind I give and devise to my remaining children viz, to Elvin C. Hause Charles W. Hause, Lewis R. Hause Joseph Hause Mary Jane Hause William Hause and John Hause, subject to the bequests heretofore and hereafter made to be equally ... in all respects to have dollar for dollar and each one to have as much and no more than another! Item. And in case [other?] of them shall die before the age of twenty one years or marriage then I give to show of him or her as doing to the survivors of my children— Item. The gifts and bequeaths to my son Herman C. Hause to my daughter Hannah Bennett and my daughter Betsey Wolverton of eight hundred dollars each to be paid to each of them respectively or to their heirs on or before the time my youngest children become of age and it is to be discretionary with my executors whether to pay said legacies before my youngest children becomes of age or not. Item. Provided always and I do hereby declare that such loan or loans of money I have or may advance to my children during my lifetime the same shall be deducted from their legacies theretofore mentioned and also for such property or goods as I have or may advance to them during my lifetime with reference being had to my book of accounts will appear—said sums not to draw interest— Item. I do hereby appoint my executors hereafter named guardians of each and all my children until they come of age. Item. The devise to my heirs Elvin C. Hause Charles W. Hause Lewis K. Hause and Joseph Hause Mary Jane Hause William Hause and John Hause is to be equally divided between my said heirs when my youngest heir becomes of age. Item. I do hereby appoint and constitute my said wife Eunice and my son Elvin C. Hause and Charles W. Hause executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the fourth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight. Joseph Hause The above instrument consisting of one sheet was here subscribed by Joseph Hause the testator in the presence of such office and was at the same time declared by him to be his last will and testament and [made] it his request [sign] our names as attesting citizens Stephen Arnold residing in Tyrone Steuben County Ira A. White residing in Tyrone Steuben County State of New York Steuben County Surrogates office fs: I Robert Campbell Jr. Surrogates of said County, do hereby certify that in pursuance after revised [reviewed?] Statutes of this State upon proofs and communications taken in such county on this 4 February by the oaths of Stephen Arnold and Ira A White the … witnesses to the forgoing will, that such will was duly executed – that the said testator at the time of writing the same was in all respects competent to devise real estate and not under restraint. And I do further certify that said will is recorded in my office in Book Wills Testaments & Codicils at page 136 etc. and the proof thereof in Book of minutes orders and … -- In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal of office this 4 Feb 1839. Recorded 4 Feb 1839 R Campbell Jr. (Surrogate) R Campbell Jr. (Surrogate)"

BOOK #4, 1845-1849

Hause, Eunice: ze 74 8 may 1846 - 18 sep 1846 Tyrone Steuben co. - s Herman C Hause, dau Hannah Bennett, dau Betsy Wolverton, s William, s exec John, s Elvin(?) & wf Percis F, exec s Joseph C & mary Jane Disbrow - wit Stephen H Arnold & John Lang, Tyrone.

   William Hause and son-in-law William Harris (and probably William Hause, Jr.) are buried on Hause Hill. (The Harris family were documented as the first white settlers in the area, and there is at least one deed featuring a William Harris that precedes any of William's deeds.)
   Jonas and Rebecca Hawes (Hause) are buried at Seneca Union Cemetery in Valois, Schuyler County, New York.