1749 Will - David Reeves
Introduction
New Jersey Will Records 6, p267(Original in Salem County, New Jersey Will Records 750Q)
14 Nov 1749
Transcript
In the Name of God Amen the fourteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty nine I David Reeves of Allaways Creek on the County of Salem and Province of West New Jersey yeoman being very sick and weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be GIven to God thereore calling to mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for man once to dye do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament this is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul to God that gave it hoping through the merits death & pasion of my Saviour Jesus Christ to have pull & free pardon of all my sins and to inherit everlasting life and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently Buryed at the discretion of my executor hereafter named nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such Worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give demose and dispose of in the following maner and form that is to sayFirst I will that all these debts that I do owe in right and conscience to any person whatsoeever shall be well and truly contented and paid in convenient time after my decease by my Exr hereafter named
Item I Give and Bequeath and Demise unto my oldest son David Reeves all my lands and meddows that lye on the Est side of Salem Road at the uper side and also my house and the south part of the lands that lyes on the west side of the road above the house to a small white oak that stands in the uper end of that meddow by the house and near the road that leads to Salem from thence South Westward to a white oak standing on the swamp known by the name of the Fork Swamp thence the same line? to a Gum, standing in the said swamp thence upon a strait line to a reed oak standing nye the east end of the tide Bank thence along the tide bank till it come to the little Creek thence down the said little Creek to the mouth where it emptys it self into the big Creek as also fifty acres of salt marsh lying below Jonathan Waddington's uper end of my tract of salt marsh at that end near the main land to hould to him his heirs and assigns forever as also my negro man Peter and my negro Gearl Dinah to be at his disposal forever
Item I give & demise and Bequeath to Joshua Reeves my Grand son all the remaining poart of the land that lies on the west side of Salem road bounding on the road southerly till it comes to the forementioned white oak by the road in the uper end of that meadow by my new dwelling house thence southwesterly to the forementioned gum in the swamp thence upon the aforementioned strait corse to the reed oak by the end of the tide Bank thence along the said tide Bank to the said little Creek thence down the said Creek to the mouth as aforesaid all that is in the west side of the said Bounds or line to be for and continue to him his heirs and assigns forever as also the remaining part of my salt marsh not before bequeathed to be for him the said Joshua his heirs and assigns forever my will is that my Daughter in law Bethany (?Perthany) Reeves shall take care of the said lands and marsh till my said Grandson comes to age or until she marys my will is that it shall not be rented out nor the timber destroyed my more then for the Plantations us(e) and my Molata May branch to be for him when he comes to age
Item my will is that my negro woman Cate shall be free after my decease but if she have more children they shall not be free
Item my will is that the remaining part of my moveable lot be equally divided between my two granddaughters Mary Reeves my son Davids daughter and Elizabeth Reeves my son Joshuas Daughter when they come to the age of eighteen or marriage except my cattle horses and sheep which my son David shall have if he will defray? my debts of charges and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disanull all and every other former Testament and wills & Bequests and Executors by me in any time before this time named willed & Bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day & year above written.
David Reeves (Seal)
Signed Sealed Published pronounced & declared by the said David Reeves as his last will and Testament in presence of us the subscribers James Cromey Saml Perry Elizabeth (her E mark) Cromey. Salem This 2d day of December 1749 personally appeared before me Nicholas Gibbon surrogate of the County of Salem James Cromey and Elizabeth Cromey who being sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God did depose that they saw David Reeves the Testator therein named sign and seal the same and heard him publish pronounce & declare the within written instrument to be his last will and Testament and that at the doing thereof the said Testator was of sound & disposing mind memory and understanding so far as they verily believe and that at the same time Samuel Perry the other evidence was present and signed his name as a witness to the said will together with these deponents in the presence of the said Testator James Cromey Elizabeth E Cromey her mark Sworn before me Nichs Gibbon Surrogate
Be it Remembered that the last will and Testament of David Reeves being duly proved as above said Probate & Letters Testamentary were Granted by his excellency Jonathan Belcher Esqr Governor of the Province of New Jersey &c unto Thomas Paget sole executor in the said Will named being duly sworn well & truly to perform the said will & exhibit a true and perfect inventory and render a just account when thereunto lawfully required. Given under the prerogative seal of the said province at Burlington the twenty fourth day of February Anno Dom 1749
Cha Read Regr