Florence Pamela Ford Carter Phinney

Florence Pamela Ford was born on 05 January 1895 at English Harbour, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland. She was the youngest of eight children of James Ford and Martha Price.

I don't know when, but at some point she left home for the USA, residing initially at Boston. Her first marriage is believed to be to a man whose surname was Carter. I do not know how this marriage ended (it could be either death or divorce).

Florence's second, and final, marriage was to Howard Ferguson Phinney, sole heir to a family industry in Boston (having something to do with making shoes) or so I'm told. When Howard passed away in 1956, Florence inherited the Phinney estate.

Having never met Florence myself, I only know what others have said of her. One thing that stands out is her fondness of the colour red... she would never be seen without the presence of this colour in her attire.

Below I have made available Florence's will (and codicil), detailing some of her possessions at the time of her death on 09 March 1976.

It was with the aid of this will that I was able to identify, and subsequently locate, most of the descendants of James Ford and Martha Price. I am still looking for some, notably the descendants of Florence's sister Amelia, but am endebted to Florence nevertheless for her unknowing assistance.

Of all the items mentioned in Florence's will, she unfortunately neglected to mention the most valuable, namely such family keepsakes as photographs, letters, and her Bible (I think she had the family Bible, with names, dates of birth, etc written inside). I understand that much of her estate was auctioned off within weeks of her burial, so I do not know where these precious items may now be. Naturally, should anybody know their whereabouts, I would be grateful if you would email me or get in touch some other way.

Florence's Will...

BE IT REMEMBERED

That I, FLORENCE P. PHINNEY, of St. George, in the County of Knox and State of Maine, being of lawful age and of sound and disposing mind and memory, but mindful of the uncertainty of life, do make, publish and declare this my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills, codicils and testamentary distributions by me made.

I direct that all my just debts, including the expense of my last illness, funeral and burial expense, and the expense of administering my estate, be paid by my Executor as soon after my death as may be convenient.

In appreciation for her many acts of kindness to me, I give and bequeath to my nurse and companion of many years, JEAN E. SVENNINGSEN, my one star diamond dinner ring, my gold cross and chain, my Sir Walter Raleigh brooch, my 1962 Buick automobile and the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00), if she survives me.

III

In appreciation for his many acts of kindness to me, I give and bequeath to DAVID B. SVENNINGSEN of Rockland, Maine, the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), if he survives me.

In appreciation for his many acts of kindness to me, I give and bequeath to ROBERT C. TODD, of Rockland, aforesaid, the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), if he survives me.

In appreciation for his many acts of kindness to me, I give and bequeath to JOSEPH C. ROBINSON, JR., of St. George, aforesaid, the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), if he survives me.

In appreciation for her many acts of kindness to my late sister, Josephine Ford Hanson, I give and bequeath to ANNE JENSEN, of Balsam Lake Wisconsin, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), if she survives me.

align=center> VII

In appreciation for his many acts of kindness to my late sister, Josephine Ford Hanson, I give and bequeath to CHESTER JENSEN, of Balsam Lake aforesaid, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), if he survives me.

VIII

In appreciation of her many actos of kindness to my late sister, Josephine Ford Hanson, I give and bequeath to HOPE SCHROEDER, of Jim Falls, Wisconsin, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), if she survives me.

I give and bequeath One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) to each of the following persons, provided that in each instance the beneficiary survives me:

The fact that I make no provision in this Will for the relatives not mentioned herein reflects no oversight on my part.

For their many acts of kindness to me, I give and bequeath to each of the following persons the sum set before that person's name, provided that in each instance the beneficiary survives me:

In appreciation of his many years of friendship to me, I give and bequeath to DANIEL FRANZ of Augusta, Maine, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), if he survives me. In the event that he should not survive me, I make the same gift in equal shares to the sons of the said DANIEL FRANZ who survive me.

XII

I give and bequeath to RALPH CLINE, SR., of St. George aforesaid, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), if he survives me. In the event that he should not survive me, I make the same bequest to his wife, MIRIAM, if she survives me.

XIII

For the many acts of kindness to me, I give and bequeath the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) to MARY DAVIS, of St. George aforesaid, if she survives me. In the event that she should not survive me, I make the same bequest to her husband SIDNEY DAVIS, if he survives me.

XIV

For the many acts of kindness to me, I give and bequeath the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) to SIDNEY DAVIS, of St. George aforesaid, if he survives me. In the event that he should not survive me, I make the same bequest to his wife, MARY DAVIS, if she survives me.

I give and bequest to KIRK DRESSER of Norwell, Massachusetts, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), if he survives me. I authorize my Executor to accept the receipt of his father in his behalf for payment of said bequest. It is my request that said bequest be placed in the beneficiary's savings account.

XVI

I give and bequeath to each of the following persons the item or items of personal property set opposite that persons name provided that in each instance the beneficiary survives me:

To the said MARY HOLMES my beaded shadow box and my Italian girl statute.
to BEVERLY BORDEN, daughter of the said Mary Holmes, my string of carved ivory beads.
To WILLIAM THON, of St. George aforesaid, the oil painting of a fish shack which was given by him to my late husband, Howard F. Phinney, and myself.
To STUART C. BURGESS, of Rockland aforesaid, my cardinal and monk picture.
To LOUISE N. BURGESS, of Rockland aforesaid, my sandwich glass Last Supper plate.
To the said RICHARD D. WATERMAN, M.D., my Chinese chest on teak wood stand.
To the said DORA O'HARA my jade necklace and bracelet to match.
To FRANKLIN HILLS, of Melrose, Massachusetts, my steeple Terry clock with birds and fountain.
To MAUDE HILLS, of Melrose aforesaid, my long Swiss music box with inlaid case.
To PAUL JONES, M.D., of Union, Maine, my pair of binoculars and my brass ship's clock. In the event that he should not survive me, I make the same bequest to his wife, LOUISE JONES, if she survives me.
To ELIZABETH NAUMER, of St. George aforesaid, my Red Boy pin and bracelet to match.
To HANNA-LAURA WALTERS, of St. John's, Newfoundland, my double gold chain necklace and identification bracelet, in appreciation of her many acts of kindness to my late sister Margaret Ford Walters.
To the said DELORES NORDSTROM my pansy broock with diamond in center.
To my niece, the said ANNIE WALTERS GOVER, my solitaire diamond engagement ring in square setting.
To my niece, the said MARY WALTERS GOVER my solitaire diamond ring in round setting.
To GRACE HANDY, of St. George aforesaid, my oblong crystal glass paper weight with picture of two women under glass and also my Queen Victoria china mug.
To EDITH MacNEIL my cameo brooch.
To the said ANITA NORDSTROM my black cameo brooch surrounded by pearls.

XVII

I give and bequeath the remainder of my tangible personal property to the said JEAN E. SVENNINGSEN, absolutely. Without imposing any trust whatsoever upon the said gift, I express my confidence that she will see that certain persons receive designated items as tokens of my affection for them.

XVIII

I give and bequeath to UNITY SCHOOL OF CHRISTIANITY, located at Unity Village, Lee Summit, Missouri, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) to be used in the advancement of their good work.

XIX

I give and bequeath to the SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH (commonly known as the Ridge church) located at Martinsville, in St. George aforesaid, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00); and also one watercolor by Joseph Barbour depicting that church and the cemetery. This gift is made as a memorial to my late husband, Howard F. Phinney, and myself.

I give and bequeath to the TENANTS HARBOR BAPTIST CHURCH, located in St. George aforesaid, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) as a memorial to my late husband, Howard F. Phinney, and myself.

XXI

I give and bequeath to the ADVENT CHURCH OF PORT CLYDE, located at St. George aforesaid, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) as a memorial to my late husband, Howard F. Phinney, and myself.

XXII

I give and bequeath to the SALVATION ARMY OF AMERICA the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) to be used by it in, and limited to, its splendid work in the Rockland, Maine, area.

XXIII

I give and bequeath to KINNEY-MELQUIST POST NO. 34, American Legion, located in St. George aforesaid, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) provided that the said Post is in existence and holding regular meetings at the time of my decease.

I give and bequeath to AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY UNIT NO. 34 of the Kinney-Melquist Post, located in St. George aforesaid, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), provided that the said Auxiliary Unit is in existence and holding regular meetings at the time of my decease.

XXIV

I give and bequeath the sum of Five Hundred Dollard ($500.00) to OCEAN VIEW GRANGE, NO. 463, P. of H., located at Martinsville, in St. George aforesaid, provided that the said Grange is in existence and holding regular meetings at the time of my decease.

XXV

I give and bequeath to INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF ST. GEORGE, a body corporate and politic located at St. George aforesaid, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) to be expended by it for such municipal purposes as may be designated by the St. George Volunteer Firemen's Association.

XXVI

I give and bequeath to the said INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF ST. GEORGE the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) in trust nevertheless, the income therefrom to be expended each year (a) to provide a box flowers to be placed on each Decoration Day at the monument of the Howard F. Phinney lot located in the South Parish Cemetery in St. George aforesaid; and (b) any unexpended balance for the maintenance of the said cemetery lot.

XXVII

Since the deaths of my sisters it has been my intention to provide by will a residuary gift which will both memorialize our family and advance research into the causes of cancer and the treatment of cancer. I have now come to believe I can best accomplish that goal by making such a gift to an institution in my home county, where the population is older and the incidence of cancer is said to be higher than the national averages.

Therefore, I give, devise, bequeath and appoint the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, of whatever nature and wherever situate, which I may own or to which I may be entitled at my death, and which has not been heretofore disposed of in thiw Will, to PENOBSCOT BAY MEDICAL CENTER, a corporation located at Rockport, Knox County, Maine, to be added to its endowment funds and known as "The Anna Elizabeth Ford Lewis, Josephine Ford Hanson and Florence Ford Phinney Fund." It is my request, but not my stipulation, that the income from this fund be used for the acquisition of equipment, and materials and tools of research, beyond that usually available to Maine hospitals, for the detection and treatment of cancer, as well as for research in oncology and cancer-chemotherapy.

XXVIII

I direct that each and every devise, legacy or appointment provided in this Will shall be paid to each of the several beneficiaries free from any and all contributions toward inheritance, estate or death taxes; and that my Executor shall pay, in the same manner and from the same funds as the ordinary expenses of administration, all such taxes that may be payable with respect to such devises, legacies and appointments, or which may be levied against any property or interest I may have, the ownership or title to which is transferred by my death, and to which taxes my estate may be subjected.

XXIX

In the event any of the beneficiaries named in this will should directly or indirectly, jointly or severally, institute, promote, aid, abet or voluntarily take any part in any contest over the probating of this Will, or over the validity of any of the provisions hereof, I direct and will that such beneficiary or beneficiaries shall thereby forfeit and lose all and every right or interest bequeathed to him, her, it, or them hereunder and such forfeited right or interest shall become a part of my estate and disposed of as provided herein for the dispositions of such residue.

XXX

I nominate and appoint STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, a duly organized corporation located at Boston, in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts as sole Executor of this, my Last Will and Testament.

I authorize my Executor at any time and from time to time to sell any or all of the property of my estate at such price and upon such terms as it shall deem expedient, without first securing the order or approval of any court whatsoever.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, the said FLORENCE P. PHINNEY, hereunto set my hand and seal to this, my Last Will and Testament, typewritten upon ten sheets of paper, upon the margin of each of which I have written my initials, this third day of January, A.D. 1975.

Florence P. Phinney

On this third day of January, A.D. 1975, Florence P. Phinney declared to us, the undersigned, that the foregoing instrument was her Last Will and Testament, and she requested us to act as witnesses to the same and to her signature thereon. She thereupon signed the said Will in our presence, we being present at the same time. And we now, at her request, in her presence, and in the presence of one another, hereto subscribe our names as witnesses. And we and each of us, declare that we believe this testatrix to be of sound mind and memory.

A. True Hall

J. Glenn O'Neil residing at Union, Maine

Constance P. O'Neil residing at Union, Maine

Codicil to Florence's Will...

BE IT REMEMBERED

That I, FLORENCE P. PHINNEY, of St. George, in the County of Knox and State of Maine, testatrix in a Last Will and Testament dated the third day of January, A. D. 1975, and witnessed by A. True Hall, J. Glenn O'Neil and Constance P. O'Neil as subscribing witnesses, do make, publish and declare this, my First Codicil to my said Last Will and Testament.

I have a platinum, diamond and sapphire cross dinner ring which my late husband had made to give me on our first wedding anniversary. The large diamond in the center matched the engagement ring which he had given me. I direct that my Executor sell this ring, which has been very close to me in my lifetime, and add the proceeds from that sale to the residuary gift to PENOBSCOT BAY MEDICAL CENTER made by me in my said Last Will and Testament, these proceeds to be a special gift from me to aid the work of PENOBSCOT BAY MEDICAL CENTER in the prevention of, and treatment for, cancer.

I ratify, reaffirm and republish my said Last Will and Testament dated the third day of January, A.D. 1975, as modified by this First Codicil thereto.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, the said FLORENCE P. PHINNEY, hereunto set my hand and seal to this to this, the First Codicil to my Last Will and Testament, typewritten upon two sheets of paper, upon the margin of each of which I have written my initials this first day of July, A.D. 1975.

Florence P. Phinney

On this first day of July, A.D. 1975, Florence P. Phinney declared to us, the undersigned, that the foregoing instrument was the First Codicil to her Last Will and Testament, and she requested us to act as witnesses to the same and to her signature thereon. She thereupon signed the said Codicil in our presence, we being present at the same time. And we now, at her request, in her presence, and in the presence of one another, hereto subscribe our names at witnesses. And we, and each of us declare that we believe this testatrix to be of sound mind and memory.

Constance O'Neil

A. True Hall residing at St. George, Maine

Richard A. McKilbr--- residing at Hope, Maine