1789 Will - Stephen Reeves
Introduction
Suffolk County, New York Surrogate's CourtWill Liber A, p143
Dated: 9 Jul 1789
Proved: 25 Dec 1789
Transcript
In the Name of God Amen I Stephen Reeves of the Town of Southampton in the County of Suffolk and State of New York being of sound mind and memory, thanks be to God therefor but calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for man once to die do make this my last will and testament and principally I recommend my soul to God and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial and as touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with I give in the following mannerImprimis I will that my just debts be paid out of my moveable estate
2dly I give to my Nephew John Reeves my house barn out houses and home lot also give to him my lot of land known by the name of Gilberts lot also my ten acres be it more or less also give to him my meadow at Shinnecock and my Commonage. Also a piece of woodland about six acres joining the fresh pond which I bought of Jonah Howell also all my woodland lying at Long springs also give to him all my moveables of every kind except what is hereafter given, the same to the said John Reeves his heirs and assigns forever
3dly I give to David Reeves my close at head of the Creek also the remainder of my woodland lying up on the east side of North sea path, to the said David Reeves, his heirs and assigns forever
4thly I give to my friend Elizabeth Smith twenty pounds in money and her choice of one of my cows also give to her the one half of my pewter plate also one large silver tablespoon and two silver teaspoons also her choice of any six of my chairs that is she has six
Lastly I make John Reeves and William Herrick Executors to this my last will and testament and I do hereby utterly revoke every other will or wills by me before made and confirm this and none other to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of July Anno Dom 1789 This fourteenth year of the Independence of the United States
Stephen Reeves (LS)
Signed Sealed and pronounced in presence of
Hugh Gelston
Abraham Sayre
Stephen Bishop
Suffolk County } SS Be it Remembered that on the twenty fifth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine personally came and appeared before me Thomas Tredwell Surrogate of the said County Hugh Gelston yeoman and Abraham Sayre Blacksmith both of Southampton in the County aforesaid and being duly sworn on their oaths declared that they and each of them did see Stephen Reeves sign and seal the within written Instrument purporting to be the will of the said Stephen Reeves bearing date the ninth day of July last and heard him publish and declare the same as and for his last will and testament, that at the time thereof he the said Stephen Reeves was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the knowledge and belief of them the Deponents and that Stephen Bishop and the Deponents severally subscribed the said will as witnesses thereto in the Testator's Presence
Thomas Tredwell