Will of Sterling Hotchkiss

The daughter of Sterling Hotchkiss, Almira, married into the Duers Family. Almira is mentioned in her father's will. Please contact me if you have any additional information about this family.



WILLIAM DUERS (Benjamin, David) was born about 1834 in New York and is living in Alabama, Genesee County, New York at the 1860, 1870 (where his name is spelled Dewers), and 1880 U.S. Censuses. He married in about 1862 ALMIRA M. HOTCHKISS, who was born 18 August 1835 probably in Alabama, Genesee County, New York to Sterling and Hannah Hotchkiss. William buys land in Genesee County on several occasions, mostly from relatives, between 1853 and 1882. William died 22 June 1888 at the age of 63 years and is buried in the Reed Cemetery in Oakfield Township, Genesee County, New York. In his will he mentions his wife Almira and his daughter Victoria Anthony. Almira married second Mr. Ham, possibly Phillip Ham of Wheatfield, Genesee County, New York. Almira died 11 April 1904 and is buried next to William in the Reed Cemetery in Oakfield.

They had the following child:
i. Victoria E. Duers, b. September 1863.

Sources
1. F.W. Beers (editor), Gazetteer and Biographical Record of Genessee County, N.Y. 1788-1890, J.W. Vose & Company Publishers, Syracuse, New York, 1890, p. 130.

2. Genesee Co., N.Y. Deeds, v. 92, p. 219; v. 95, p. 201; v. 115, p. 71; v. 123, p. 67; v. 156, p. 88.

3. Genesee Co., N.Y. Wills, v. 20, p. 275. Will dated 7 November 1887 and proved on 31 October 1888.

4. Almira is listed as Almira Duers Ham in the Reed Cemetery records, and the only Ham of about the right age in the area is Phillip Ham a farmer who is listed in the Gazeteer and Business Directory of Genesee County published in 1869.