1757 Will - John Dickerson

Introduction

Signed 03 December 1757
Proved 23 May 1758 in Suffolk County, NY
Recorded in Office of Records at New York in Volume 21, Page 110

Transcript or Summary

(From the Office of Records book)
In the name of God Amen I John Dickerson of Southold in the County of Suffolk and Province of New York being under weak and Languishing circumstances as to body but of sound minde and memory and calling to mind the uncertainty of this transitory life do make and ordain this as my last Will and Testament n manner and form following First I give & bequeath to my indeared Wife Abigail the use and improvement of all my Estate both Real and Personal to have and to hold for and during the time she shall continue my Widow Item I give bequeath & devise to my sons John Dickerson & Selah Dickerson after the Expiation of my Wife Intrest all my lands Tenements & Hereditaments on Shelter Island and att Southold in the county aforos'd lying and being Eastward of Mattetuck Creek and likewise all my Personal Estate to have and to hold to them there heires and assigns for for ever Shear and shear alike equally without any pretence or advantage of Survivorship Item I Will Order and direct that my s'd Sons John and Selah equally between them In consideration of the Legacies hereby given to them respectively shall pay all such debts as are Justly oweing by me and likewise provide and take care for the suport and maintainance of their Sister Deborah fitting and Sutable for her Item I give and bequeath and devise to my Son William Dickerson after my Wifes Interest their in a certain tract of land with the Hereditaments and appurtenances scituate and being in Southold aforos'd on the West side of the Farm formerly William Allbersons four lotts to have and to hold to him and his heirs and assigns forever Item I Will order and direct that my Son William In consideration of the Legacies hearby given him shall pay into the hands of my Executors for and towards paying my Just debts the sum of thirtie pounds Currant money of New York within one year next after his Mother decease and my Will and desire is that if either of my Sons William John or Selah shall neglect or refuse paying the Legacies or debts respectively ordered for them to pay in manner aboves'd that then my Executors and Executrix joyntly together or upon the death refusal or neglect of either the other Executors or Executrix shall sell so much of my lands given to each or either of my s'd Sons which shall so refuse to pay as Order'd to whom I give full power to do the same Lastly I constitute and appoint my Wife Abigail and my Friend Samuel Terry Executors of this my last Will and Testament desireing the same may be performed according to my true intent and meaning In Testimony whereof I have herunto sett my hand and Seal this third day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven.

Signed Sealed published and declared by said John Dickerson the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament In presence of Abijah Corey, Robert Hempsted, Barnabas Horton.

Suffolk County ss, Be it Remembered that on the twenty third day of May one thousand seven hundred & fifty Eight personally came & appeared before me Samuel Landon Surrogate of the said County Abijah Corey & Barnabas Horton Yeoman & Robert Hempsted Esq'r all of said County & being duly sworn on their Oaths declared that they and each of them did see John Dickinson Sign & Seal the within written instrument purporting to be the Will of said John Dickinson bearing date December the third one thousand seven hundred & fifty seven & heard him publish & declare the same to be and contain his last Will and Testament that at the time thereof he the said John Dickinson was of sound disposing mind & memory to the best of the knowledge and belief of them the deponents and that their names subscribed to the said Will are of thier respective proper Hands writing which they subscribed as Witnesses to the said Will in the Testators presence.


James De Lancey Esquire his majesty's Lieutenant Governor 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 Known Ye that at Suffolk County on the twenty third day of May last before Samuel Landon Esquire being thereunto delegated and appointed the last Will and Testament of John Dickerson 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 Registring the said Will and the granting Administration of all and singular the said goods Chattel 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 said goods Chattels and Credits pf the said deceased and any way concerning his Will is granted unto Abigail Dickinson one of the Executors 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 true and just account thereof when thereunto required In Testimony whereof I have caused the Prerogative Seal of the Province of New York to be hereunto affixed the seventeenth day of October one thousand seven hundred and fifty Eight.

Commentary

Last name spelled "Dickerson" in the will, "Dickinson" in the proving, and both in the Governor's approval.

Family members named:
Abigail, wife and Executrix
John Dickerson, son
Selah Dickerson, son
Deborah, sister of John and Selah (presumed daughter)
William Dickerson, son

Other individuals named:
William Allbersons, former landowner
Samuel Terry, friend and Executor
Abijah Corey, witness
Robert Hempsted, Esquire, witness
Barnabas Horton, Yeoman, witness
Samuel Landon, Surrogate of Suffolk County
James De Lancey Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Province of New York

Additional information gleaned:
John Dickerson resided in the Town of Southold, Suffolk County, NY

Source

Record entry, Office of Records at New York, Volume 21, page 110:
New York Probate Records, 1629-1971, images, FamilySearch, New York > Wills and administrations 1749-1760 vol 17 and 19-21 > image 725 of 913; county courthouses, New York.

Original:
Now in Queens College Library, Flushing, N. Y.