1753 Will - John Reeves
Introduction
New York Willis and AdministrationsBook 19, p6
Transcript
In the Name of God Amen I John Reeves of the Town of Southampton in the County of Suffolk and Colony of New York Blacksmith being weak of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all Men Once to dye do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors 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 demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. And first I will that all those debts and duties I do owe in right to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shall be well and truely paid or caused to be paid within convenient time after my decease by my executors (2dly) I give and bequeath to my son John and to his heirs and assigns forever all the east side of my home Lott as it is now divided between him and his Brother Nathan with all the buildings thereon and all the appurtenances thereunto belonging (3dly) I give and bequeath to my Son Nathan and to his heirs and assigns forever all the west side of my home lott as it is divided above said with all the buildings thereon and all the appurtenances thereto belonging (4thly) I give to my son John and to my son Nathan and to their heirs and assigns forever all my lands meadows and commonage to be equally divided between them excepting my red Creek Meadow (5thly) I give and bequeath to my son Stephen the sum of four pounds current money of New York and also my meadow at Red Creek to be freely possessed and enjoyed by him during his natural life and then to return to my son John and to his heirs and assigns forever (6thly) I give to my son Abraham and to my son James each of them the sum of ten shillings current money of the above said Colony (7thly) I give to my son Charles the Bed and furniture he useth to lie on and my wearing apparel and further I will and ordain that my sons John and Nathan shall comfortably maintain my son Charles equally between them during his natural life or cause it to be done by their heirs (8thly) I give and bequeath to my daughter Abigail Cooper the sum of five pounds current money of this Province also I give my said daughter all my household goods and all my moveable effects to be found in my house I likewise constitute make and ordain my son John sole executor of this my Last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every other former Testaments Wills Legacies bequeasts and executors by me in any wise before named Willed and bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament I witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twentieth day of February in the year of Our Lord 1753.John Reeves (LS)
Signed Sealed published and pronounced and declared by the said John Reeves as his Last Will and Testament in presence of us the Subscribers
Ephraim Hildeth
John White
Stephen Rogers
Suffolk County JS Be it remembered that on the twentyeth day of February One thousand seven hundred and fifty four personally came and appeared before me Maltby Gelston Surrogate of the County Ephraim Hildreth and John White both of Southampton in said County and being duely sworn on their oaths declared that they and each of them did see John Reeves sign and seal the within Written Instrument purporting to be the Will of the said John Reeves bearing date the twentieth day of February 1753 and heard him publish and declare the same to be and contain his Last Will and Testament, that at the time thereof he the said John Reeves was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the knowledge and belief of them the deponents and that their names subscribed to the said Will are of their respective proper hands writing which they subscribed as witnessed to the said Will in the Testators presence. And that they the Deponents saw Stephen Rogers the other Witness to the said Will Subscribe his name as a witness thereto in the Testators presence.
Maltby Gelston Surrogate
James DeLancey Esq his Majestys Lietenant Governoure and Commander in Chief, in and over the Province of New York, and the Territories depending thereon in America. To all to whom these presents shall come or may concern Greeting. Know ye that at Suffolk County on the twentieth day of February last, before Maltby Gelston Esq being thereunto delegated and appointed the Last Will and Testament of John Reeves deceased, (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) was proved, and now approved, and allowed of by me; the said deceased having whilst he lived, and at the time of his death, Goods Chattels and Credits within this province, by means whereof the proving, and Registing (sic) the said Will, and the Granting Administration of all and singular the said Goods Chattels and Credits, and also the Auditing allowing and final discharging the Account thereof doth belong unto me: And that Administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased, and any way concerning his Will was Granted unto John Reeves the sole Executor in the said Will named, being first sworn well and faithfully to Administer the same, and to make and exhibit a true and perfect Inventory of all and Singular the said Goods Chattels and Credits, and also to render a just and true Account thereof when thereunto lawfully required. In Testimony whereof I have caused the Prerogative Seal of the Province of New York, to be hereunto Affixed the fourteenth day of March one thousand seven hundred and fifty four.
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