1757 Will - Jonathan Reeve
Introduction
Morris County, New JerseyWill Records 130N
27 May 1757
Transcript
In the Name of God Amen This twenty seventh of May Anno Domini 1757.I Jonathan Reeve of Morris Town in the County of Morris and Province of New Jersey Carpenter being very sick, and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God therefor, and calling to mind the mortality of my body, as knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament that is to say Principally and first of all I recommend my soul unto the Hands of God that gave it and my Body I recommed to the Earth to be buried in Christian decent burial at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall recieve 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
Imprimis I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth my Dearly beloved wife after my just Debts and Funeral charges be paid...household goods bills bonds debts and moveable effects To have and to hold unto her in lieu of her thirds during her natural life or her remaining my widow
Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Nathan one third part of that tract of land on which my house stands, and which I purchased of Isaac Smith, extending south east to Capt Sam Days south east corner, and from thence north east twelve chains along sd Days line, and thence south east, so far that a south west line shall cut off one full third part of sd Smiths tract - To have and to hold with the Buildings and all the Appurtenances thereof to him his heirs and assigns forever - I also give to my well beloved son Nathan and to his heirs and assigns forever all that tract of land which I bought of Col John Alfard out of which he is to pay the after mentioned legacies to my three daughters
Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son John one third part of all the lad purchased of sd Smith Begining at sd Nathans corner in sd Days line, thence extending North East along sd Days to sd Days corner, & from thence south east so far that a south west line shall take off one full third part of all sd tract, To have & to hold with and singular the appurtenances thereof to him his heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Samuel the remaining third part of sd Smiths tract with all and singular the appurtenances thereof to have & to hold to him his heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath unto mmy well beloved Daughters Martha, Mary, & Rachel, each of them respectively, Fivety pounds current money of New Jersey at 8 shillings per oz. to be paid out of my son Nathans portion, when they shall respectively arive at the age of eighteen - but if either of them should die before that age then the surviving sisters or sister to share the sd cota or cotas of the deceased - and all the remainder of my moveable estate I give to my three sons, equally to be divided between them after my wifes decease, or next marriage, and in case any of my sons shall die in their non-Age, my will is that his or their portion go to the surviving Brother, or brethren, equally to be divided between them, and it is my will that the rents of all my real estate if needed, go to the bringing up of my children till Nathan be of Age, and if any then remain, tis to be equally diided among my three sons.
Item I constitute make and ordain my dearly beloved wife Elizabeth and my trust friends Thomas Cleverly, and Capt Saml Day, both of Morris town afd yeomen, my sole executors of this my Last will and Testament - and my will is that my three sons be bound out to trades by my executors, as in their prudence they shall profer. And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disanul all and every other former Testaments, wills, legacies, bequests, and executors, by one in any wise before named willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hands seal the day and year above written.
Jonathan Reeve
Signed Sealed Published Pronounced
& Declared by the sd Jonathan Reeve as
his last Will & Testament in the presence
of us the subscribers
Stephen Hedges
Silas Day
Timo Johnes
Be it Remembered that on the twenty first day of October one thousand seven hundred and fifty nine Before me Thomas Barton duly authorized personally came Stephen Hodges & Silas Day two of the above witnesses who being sworn upon the holy Evangelists do Depose that they were present and saw Jonathan Reeve the testator in the foregoing will named sign and seal the same and heard him publish pronounce and declare it to be his last Will and Testament and that at the doing thereof he was of sound mind & memory to the best of their knowledge and as they verily believe and that at the same time Timothy Johns warrant and signed as a witness together with them the Depons in the Testators presence.
Be it also Remembered that at the same time Elizabeth Reeve Tho Cleverly & Samuel Day the executors above named came before me & were qualifyed by taking the oath of Executors as appointed by Law
Thos Barlow