Last Will & Testament of Benjamin WILLIAMS (1792): Essex Co., NJ Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Nina Mack (HISTMOM@aol.com) Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/njfiles.htm ********************************************************* 7814 - 7817 In the name of God Amen I Benjamin Williams of the Township of Eliz'th and County of Essex and State of New Jersey, being in good health and of a Sound disposing Mind & Memory; Thanks be to God therefore _ Knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to die _ do this seventh day of November, in the Year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred ninety two; make and publish This my last Will & Testament in name & form following _ First it is my Will, & I do hereby ordain that all my just debts & funeral Charges be paid _ Item I give and bequeath unto Sarah my beloved Wife the one equal third part of my personal Estate, as her Right of Dowry, also I give and bequeath unto my said Wife the whole Use, income & improvement of my real Estate until my eldest son Marsh Williams arrives to the age of Twentyone years, if she remains my widow. also I give my wife one two year old Mare of a grey cloure(?) _ and further, in order to enable her the better to educate and support our Infant family, Item I give and bequeath unto my four sons, Marsh Williams, David Williams, Abraham Williams and John Williams all my real Estate, lands and tenements, to them, their Heirs & Assigns forever, to be divided when my oldest Son Marsh Williams shall arrive to the age of Twenty one years, reserving the same for the use of my Wife as above said, to be divided as followeth _ Item I give and bequeath unto my eldest Son Marsh Williams that part of my home plantation, on which I now live _ Beginning at the West corner of my plantation on which my Buildings now stand, at a Stone by the brook at the Caun??ay, being a corner between me and Ephraim Marsh Thence running a Course as the line runs along the Road that leads to Rahway, all it comes by the Barn of Daniel Baker, on as far as to take in the Orchard fronting my Barn thence till it comes to the North east corner of said orchard from thence a course parallel with the first line along the Road till it comes to the line of Ephraim Marsh; from thence along said line to where it first began, be it more or less; also the brook, field across the Road before my Door, containing six or seven acres be it more or less _ also five acres of Wood land which I bough(as written) of David Mills _ the remainder of my home Plantation to be Equally divided between my three sons, David, Abraham & John in quanity & quality when my oldest son Marsh arrives to the age of twentyone years _ But in case of either of my Sons dying before age, not leaving lawful Issue his or their part or parts to be equally divided among the survivors to be held by them their Heirs & Assigns as a sure state of Inheiritance forever _ Item, I give and bequeath unto my Son John Williams all my salt marsh or Meadow in Rahway meadowes reserving the same for the use of my Wife as above said till my son Marsh Willimas comes of Age _ Item _ I give and bequeath unto my four Sons Marsh Williams, David Williams, Abraham Williams and John Williams, their heirs and Assigns forever all my Right of Lands lying in the Miamies, Columbia Township to be equally divided among them _ Item I give unto my eldest Daughter Sarah Williams the privilege of living in the house which I now live in during her life _ (Except she should marry) and privilege of Five. Also, I give unto my daughter Sarah, sixty pounds lawful Money out of my moveable Estate _ Item, I give unto my daughter Nancy Decamp, the Sum of five pounds lawful Money. Item, I give unto my daughter Margaret Williams the Sum of Sixty pounds lawful Money _ Item, I give unto my daughter Betsy Williams the Sum of Sixty pounds lawful money to be paid unto each of them , as each of them shall arrive to the age of Eighteen years, _ And my Will is if either of my daughters should die before marriage, or under age leaving no lawful Issue, then in such case her, or either of them their legacies to be equally divided among the survivors. Should there be any overplus of the moveables after paying the Debts & Legacies that remainder to be divided among my four Sons equally _ And I do hereby constitute ordain and appoint my truely friend, Ephraim Marsh, and James Ross Exq'r Executors to this my last Will and Testament _ Revoking & disallowing all my other Wills Testaments & Executors, Ratifying and confirming this to be my last Will and Testament _ In Witness where of I have here unto sett my hand and seal the Day and year for it above written _ N. B. I also give the use of my Nigro Joseph, unto my wife for the term of Ten Years Sealed Singed & Delivered in the Presence of , Benjamin Williams Daniel Baker Henry Baker David Rogers Daniel Baker & Henry Baker Witness to the written Will being duly sworn did depose & say that they saw Benjamin Williams the Testator therein named Sign & Seal the same and heard him publish Announce & declare the written writting to be his last Will & Testament and that at the doing thereof the said Testator was of sound disposing Mind & Memory as far as these depondents know & as they verily believe and that they signed their names as wittness as to the said Will in the presence of this Testator & in the presence of each other. Daniel Baker, Henry Baker _ Sworn this 25th of June 1793 before me Attest ???? The foregoeing Will being proved probate was granted by his Excellency Richard Harrell ? Ephraim Marsh & James Ross Esq'r Executors therein named they being duly swprn well and totally to perform the same, Exhibit a true & perfect Inventory and render a recent and true Account when thence _ unto Lawfully required given under the/???? Seal this Day & Year Aforesaid Bower Reed Reg. Campi