Greene County New York Abstracts of Wills, Book AA

Copied by Matthew Tooley

Greene County New York abstracts of wills, Book AA, copied from the records at the Surrogate Court in Catskill, N.Y.

VAN ORDEN, William, County of Albany, yoeman, of perfect mind and memory, left will, Wishes to be decently buried, funeral charges and interment to be paid immediately by son Hezekiah. Estate and effects to be disposed of. Daughter Temperance, wife of John Beerkans, 150 pounds of lawful money within five years after death of deceased. If she dies before this is done, whole amount to be left to children and be equally divided among them share and share alike. To daughter Hannah wife of James Millikin, lot of land with house on east side of Katenkill in the Baracen and District and all woods for her and her children. Rest of real and personal estate to my son Hezekiah Van Orden and appoint him sole executor. Signed Apr. 26, 1806 William Van Orden. Witnesses: John Desmond and James Moore, James Tattersall. May 30, 1808, p. 1

DU BOIS, Hubartus, Town of Catskill, yoeman, left will. Wants debts and funeral expenses paid. To daughter Catherine land situated in Town of Catskill where she now lives. Boundaries given. Rest of real estate to daughter-in-law Catherine, widow of John DuBois, and to grandson Peter Du Bois. To daughters Rachel and Rebecca $500 derived from money received from sale of lands. Appoint son-in-law Michael Phillips and friend Samuel Van Vechten executors. Signed Mar. 18, 1806 Hubartus (his mark) Du Bois, L. S. Witnesses: Barent Du Bois, John Bogardus, and Egbert Bogardus. p. 4

VOOGD, John G. of Prattsburgh, deceased, left will. To beloved wife two of best beds, bedsteads, bedding and curtains and furniture. -- desk, two tables, six chairs, looking glasses, spinning wheels, German books, other household furniture, six silver teaspoons, pair of silver sugar tongs, and house in which Esq. Backus now resides, said house to be fixed for my wife so that she may in it with appurtenances during her natural life and improvement of lots 33, 34 and 35, 36, 37 in Union Street west of store now occupied by Henry Ritter during her natural life. My Negro boy Tom instead of being bound out shall serve my wife and her only until day of her death or he reaches age 21. To John Jacobi, son of Peter Jacobi of City of New York, $200. To my friend Ambrose Spencer of City of Hudson $300. To friend Henry Ritter $300 and watch. To good friend Henry Deul fourteen sheep. To Marie Schram, daughter of William Schram $50. Negro woman Mary and Negro man Harry be freed and manumitted as soon after death of testator as possible. To Mary $40 and ten sheep; to Harry $60 and ten sheep together with wearing apparel. To Negro girl Elizabeth $30 when she is 21 years of age. To Negro boy Tom $30 to be paid when 21 years of age. Free and manumit Negro boy Ben now bound out to Peter Ritter of City of New York when he is 23 years old. Negro boy Robert bound to Charles F. Davis of this place until he is 23. Negro girl Elizabeth bound to John Wager until she is 21. Negro boy Tom when he is 21 and Negro boy William now bound out to John Wager until he is 23. Executors to give to grown servants a decent and suitable suit of mourning out of estate. Appoint good friends Ambrose Spencer and Ritter, executors. To each of them gold mourning ring and decent suitable suit of clothes. Executors to sell at public auction rest of personal estate not specifically given. Detailed instructions as to care of Wife Hannah. To Dulcina Backus and Henry Well $2500. All wearing apparel to my Negroes. Signed July 26, 1802 John G. Voogd, L. S. Witnesses: Dulcina Backus, Andrew Backus, Daniel Radsman. Recorded Jan 15, 1811. p. 8

DARROW, Nicholas of Catskill, left will asking that just debts be paid. To wife Catharine all personal and real estate. Appoint wife executrix. Signed Apr. 29, 1813 Nicholas (his mark) Darrow. Witnesses: M. G. Schum (illegible), Samuel Fawke and Casparus Buchanan. Recorded May 27, 1813. p. 14

COATES, Edward, Town of Catskill, deceased, left will with Stephen Root, John Remsen, and Levi Brooks witnesses. To beloved wife Jane Coates, all real and personal estate for her sole use during her natural life. She is to be executrix to sell and to dispose of property during her lifetime. At her death any remainder to be divided among three children, viz. John Coates, Edward Coats, and Jane Welch, wife of William Welch. Appoint son Edward Coates and son-in-law William Welch executors after death of wife. Signed Edward Coates Dec. 24, 1820, p. 16

DAY, Stephen, late, Town of Catskill. Orrin Day, executor. Witnesses: H. Hill, Jr., Nath'l Ealls and John Adams. To beloved wife Diminiz (?) use and enjoyment of personal estate -- moveable estate -- all interest and dividends, stock as long as she remains widow. To children and grandchildren (illegible). To heirs of my legal son Ira, deceased, one share; to Orrin one share; to legal heirs of my son Philp, deceased, one share; to son Russel one share; to heirs and children of daughter Electa, wife of John C. Johnston, one share to be equally divided between them; to daughter Julia, wife of Henry McWhitney one share; to daughter Nancy, wife of James Powers one share; and to daughter Betsey, wife of Revd Thomas Runsow, one share. Rest of estate to be divided into eight shares so that legal heirs of Ira, Orrin, Philo shall each have 1/8th greater portion than that of daughter and children of Electa. Next there is listed from his memorandum book the amounts Stephen has advanced to each of his children. He then lists property, wharfs, buildings, and homes and how he wishes these to be disposed of. Appoints Orrin Day executor. In case he dies before testator, he asks son-in-law James Powers to be executor. Signed Dec. 14, 1819 Stephen Day, L. S. Recorded Sept. 18, 1824. p. 18

PREVOST, Augustine, late, Town of Granville. To excellent and dear wife Ann during her life farm on which testator resides containing 260 acres of land--this to descend to children with exception of Frederick Jacob and his heirs. Also to wife Anna all stock of horses, horned cattle, sheep, swine, together with all slays, sleds, carriages, harness, and farming utensils; also all household furniture, plates, knives, beds, etc., together with all Negro slaves or servants. Also to said wife Anna one equal share with all my children of property at Natchez. To my unfortunate son Frederick Jacob sum of one shilling, his late contract (conduct?) having given testator just cause to cut him off from receiving and inheriting anything greater of estate. (Explanataion follows) Appoint dear wife Anna executrix and friend Francis Panton, City of New York, and son-in-law Samuel W. Dexter and Abijah Reed, Esq. executors. Executors are to pay wife Anna $150 of which $50 to be paid to Eliza Backus as a small token of my esteen, remaining $100 to be held in trust for son Frederick Jacob which may be given to him at discretion of his mother. Signed Nov. 20, 1816 Aug. Prevost, L. S. Witnesses: Silas Rockwell, Elikim R. Ford, Henry Smith. Recorded Sept. 6, 1825, p. 23