Note
Thomas Additon of Leeds (1794-1869), on 10 April
1855 sold for $2000 two pieces of land including 90
acres and buildings to son Thomas Jefferson Additon
[8:314], who then mortgaged the property back to the
father [19:219]. However, the mortgage would be
cancelled and the son would own the property if the
son would perform the conditions "contained in a
bond for the 'maintainance' [sic] of the said Thomas
Additon + wife during their natural lives." The
father and mother lived 14 and 16 years more,
respectively.
On 3 September 1886, Thomas Jefferson Additon (1832-
1897) entered into a similar agreement with his son
Elwin E. Additon. Thomas J. sold for $2000 to Elwin
his 90-acre homestead farm and another piece of
land, together with buildings [120:592]. Elwin
mortgaged it back for $2000, with the stipulation
that he could pay $4000 or fulfill conditions of a
bond [120:594]. This bond, registered in the
Registry of Deeds [140:455], provided that the
mortgage would be cancelled and Elwin would own the
property if he shall well and faithfully maintain
and support the said Thomas J. Additon and Rosilla
S. Additon wife of the said Thomas J. Additon during
their natural lives and the life of the survivor of
them, in sickness and in health, and shall furnish a
suitable horse and carriage on the farm, for the use
of said Thomas J. Additon and Rosilla S. Additon
during their and each of their lives, and shall
carry on the farm where all the parties hereto
reside, in a proper and husband-like manner, furnish
one half of the seed, pay one half of the money
taxes, and all the highway taxes from year to year,
(the said Thomas J. Additon to pay the other half of
the money taxes and furnish the other half of the
seed) and shall give to the said T. J. Additon one
half of the products of said farm and one half of
the income of the growth of the stock upon the farm
from year to year, after deducting the support of
the parties hereto; and after the decease of said
Thomas J. Additon, shall furnish all the seed and
pay all the taxes, should the said Rosilla S.
Additon survive the said Thomas J. Additon and shall
furnish the said Thomas J. and Rosilla S. with one
undivided half of "thouse" [sic] on said farm, and
shall do their cooking when they desire it, and
furnish wood for their fire, prepared for the stove
and in good order for use; and shall furnish a home
for Annie S. Additon, daughter of said T. J. and
Rosilla S. Additon, so long as she remains
unmarried; and after the decease either of the said
Thomas J. Additon or Rosilla S. Additon, the said
Elwin E. Additon shall pay all taxes, and furnish
all the seed, and shall give to the survivor one
quarter of the net income of the farm and stock and
at the decease of both said Thomas J. and Rosilla S.
Additon, all stock, carriages, horses, and farming
utensils, to be and remain the property of the said
Elwin E. Additon. And at the decease, severally, of
the said Thomas J. and Rosilla S. Additon, the said
Elwin E. Additon shall furnish them with suitable
burial. . . .
Annie married one year later. Thomas J. lived
another eleven years; his wife, another nineteen.
Elwin Everett Additon (1864-1942) moved to North
River Road in Auburn in 1922 after his buildings in
Leeds burned the year before. He farmed with his son
Orland, who died in 1931 leaving five orphaned
children, who then were raised by their
grandparents. Elwin's son-in-law Charles Meade then
joined him in operating the farm.
Elwin also made inheritance of part of his estate
conditional, this time in a will [File 22812]. Upon
his death in 1942, among other provisions, he left
to Charles K. and Louise M. Meade the homestead,
tools, equipment, supplies, and thirty head of
stock, provided (1) they "shall provide for my
beloved wife, Mary A. Additon, a home together with
comfortable care and maintenance" during her
lifetime, and (2) they would furnish the five
children of son Orland "a home for each and every
one of them if they desire it until they
respectively reach the age of twenty-one years, and
furthermore, provide each and every one of them with
such care, support, and clothes as may be necessary,
and a high school education or its equivalent. . .
." Meade's mother-in-law lived another 10 years. The
youngest of Orland's children reached age 21 in
eight years. [Sources in Androscoggin County deeds
and prob ate records].