1776 Will - Bethuel Reeve
Introduction
Dated: 25 Jul 1776, Southampton, Suffolk County, New YorkProbated: 3 Jul 1782, Suffolk Surrogate Court
Recorded: New York Wills and Administrations Liber 35, p88
Transcript
In the Name of God Amen, I Bethuel Reeve of Southampton in the County of Suffolk and Colony of New York Shomaker and Tanner, being infirm of Body but of sound mind and memory thanks be given to God for it; but calling to mind the mortality of the Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, I 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 to God that gave it, and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be Buried in Decent Christian Burial at the discression of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the Genneral Resurection 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 and dispose of the same in the following manner and formFirst I give and bequeath unto my wellbeloved wife Mary Reeve, two thirds of my real estate, that is lands and buildings to be improved of one half of my lands and buildings to be improved by her as long as she remains my widow, also I give her one third of all my moveable estat, also I give her one Feather Bead with a reasonable Furniture.
Item, I give to my Eldest Son Joel Reeve one third of my lands and buildings to improve said Lands and Buildings from the last of next March to the Term of Three years following if he improves it personally, and then the improvement of one half of my Lands and Buildings as long as your mother remains my Widow, otherwise to be void, and further on consideration of these above Improvements fulfilled that then I give to him the the one half and one sixth part of all my lands and Buildings. To him and to his Heirs and assigns forever on consideration that he fulfils the above improvements faithfully and truly, otherwise this to be void, and furthermore if he be taken away by Death within the abovementioned three years time and leaves any Heirs Lawfully begotten by him, they shall possess the above mentioned premisses.
Thirdly Item I give to my two sones namely Jeremiah Reeve and Silas Reeve all the lands and tenements Remaining behind to be equally Divided between them two, to them and to their heirs and assigns forever, and further if they should ever sell, I will that they give their Brother Joel the first offer of it.
Fourthly Item I give to my other two sons namely Daniel and Zebulon Reeve Twenty pounds each current money of New York.
Fifthly Item I give to my two Daughters namely Keturah Reeve and Bethiah Reeve Twenty pounds each of them and further if the above mentioned cash does not hold out so much I will that what there is left may be equally divided between the said fore namely, Daniel, Zebulon, Keturah and Bethiah Reeve, and if there be anymore I will that it may be divided also equally between the same fore.
And lastly I do make and ordain this my son Joel Reeve and David Haines Foster of Southampton to be joint and sole executors of this my last Will and Testament, to receive my just dues and to pay my just debts and I do hereby utterly dissolow revoke and disanul all other former testaments Wills legacies and Bequests and Executors by me in any wise before named willed and bequeathed Rattifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this Twenty fifth day of July in the year of our Lord Christ, One thousand seven hundred and seventy six.
Signed Sealed published pronounced and Declared by the said Bethuel Reeve as his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us the subscribers.
Bethuel Reeve (LS)
John Lun, David Lum, David Haines Foster
Suffolk County } SS. Be it Remembered that on the third Day of July one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, personally came and appeared before me Nathan Woodhull Junior Surrogate of the said County, David Haines Foster and David Lum, of the County aforesaid, yeoman, and being duly sworn on their oaths Declared that they did see Bethuel Reeve, sign and seal the within written instrument, purporting to be the will of the said Bethuel Reeve, bearing Date the twenty fifth Day of July one thousand seven hundred and seventy six, and heard him publish and Declare the same as and for his last Will and Testament; that at the time thereof he the said Bethuel Reeve was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the knowledge and Belief of them the Deponents; and that their names subscribed as witnesses to the said Will are of their Respective proper hands writing, which they subscribed as witnesses to the said Will in the Testators presence. And that they the Deponents saw John Lum the other witness to the said Will, subscribe his name as a witness to the said will in the Testators presence.
N. Woodhull Junr Surrogate