Will & Inventory of Richard Rounsevall, Sr. Hunterdon Co, NJ 1775 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Donna Evans Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/njfiles.htm ************************************************ Hunterdon County Wills 971 J Will & Inventory Richard Rounsevall Sr. 1775 Recordd. in No. 17 fol. 254 In the Name of God, Amen. I Richard Rounsavell senior of the Township of Amwell: County of Hunterdon, and western division of the province of New Jersey, Yeoman, taking into consideration the uncertainty of this my last will and Testament. That is to say, Principally and first of all, I give and renounce my soul into the hand of Almighty God who gave it, and my body I recommend to the Earth - to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named, nothing doubting but that at the general resurrection I shall receive the same by the mighty power of God. And touching on such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, demise, and dispose of the same in manner and form following. First, My will and order is - That my beloved wife Ann Rounsavell shall have and enjoy half the produce of all my plantation on which I now live in the same manner and form in which I now enjoy it during her natural life. Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved Son Benjamin Rousnavell the sum of five shillings sterling to be paid by my Executors in one year after my decease. Item, I give and devise unto my beloved Son Richard Rounsavell all my said plantation on which I now live, except one hundred and two acres hereafter devised, to hold to him the said Richard Rounsavell his heirs and assigns for ever. Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Henry Rounsavell one hundred Acres of Land, being part of my said plantation - beginning at a stone standing in Edward Taylor's line, which was there fixed by myself in the presence of said Edward Taylor and Jacob Larew, thence south seven degrees east along the East side of my said plantation untill it intersects the line between me and John Young, to hold to him the said Henry Rounsavell his heirs & assigns for ever. Item, I give and devise unto my beloved Daughter Mary wife of Cornelius Bowman the sum of Twenty pounds proclamation money, to be paid unto her the said Mary Bowman by my said sons Richard and Henry three years after the death of my said wife Ann Rounsavell. Item, my will and order is - that my beloved Daughter Hannah Rounsavell be maintained out of the produce of my said plantation; and that after my Widow's decease - my said sons Richard Rounsavell & Henry Rounsavell shall be equally at the expense of maintaining my said Daughter Hannah during her natural life. Item, I give and devise unto my Daughter Jane Danesdale widow - two Acres of Land - being also part of my said plantation - beginning at a Birch Tree standing near the north side of a Brook on the west side of my said plantation in a line of an ancient survey of the whole tract - thence east to a small sapling - thence south extending one chain to the southward of the log house in which she now lives - thence west three chains to the King's highways - thence north to the place of beginning - including said house and Garden and all appurtenances thereunto belonging: to hold to her the said Jane Danesdale her heirs and assigns for ever Item, my will farther is - that in case my said son Richard Rounsavell should die before me - then I give and devise all my said plantation, excepting the one hundred and two acres already devised, unto the Heirs of my said son Richard to them to hold, theirs Heirs and assigns for ever. Item my will also is -that in case my beloved Son Henry Rounsavell should die without issue - then I order that the said one hundred acres already devised to him the said Henry Rounsavell be sold at the discretion of my Executors, and the money arising from the sale thereof to be equally divided between the surviving Legatees. Item, My Will farther is - that in one year after my Widows decease - all my moveable Estate be sold - and what remains after my just debts are paid be equally divided between the surviving Legatees. Lastly, I constitute, make and ordain my beloved wife Ann Rounsavell Executors and my Friend Edward Taylor Executor of this my last will and Testament, hereby revoking and disannulling all and every other former Testaments by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of march in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy three 1773 Richard Rounsavell --- Sealed and declared by the above named Richd/ Rounsavell to be his last --- presence of us, who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses --- said Testator Martha Boyd (mark) Tunis Quick Junr. William Frazer Martha Boyd and Tunis Quick two of the witnesses to the within will being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, did severally depose and say - that they saw Richd. Rounsavell the Testator therein named sign seal the same and hear him publish pronounce and Declare the within writing to be his last will and Testament and that at the doing thereof the said Testator was of sound and disposing mind and memory as far as these Deponents know and as they verily believe and that William Frazer the other subscribing Evidence was present at the same time and signed his name as a witness to the said Will together with the Deponents in the presence of the said Testator. Martha Boyd (mark) Tunis Quick Sworn at Amwell the 11th Day of Dec. 1775. Before me William Frazer Surr: Edward Taylor sole Executor in the within Testament named being duly sworn n the holy Evangelists of Almighty God, Did depose and say - That the within Instrument contains the true last will and Testament of Richard Rounsavell the Testator therein named so far as he knows and as he verily believes; that he will well and truly perform the same by paying first the Debts of the said Deceased and then the Legacies in the said Testament specified, so far as the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said Decd. can thereunto extend, and that he will make and exhibit into the prerogative office at Burlington a true & perfect Inventory of all an singular The Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased that have or shall come to his knowledge or possession or the knowledge or possession of any other person or persons for his use and render a just and true account when thereunto lawfully required. Edward Taylor Sworn at Amwell the 11th Day of December 1775. Before me William Frazer Surr. Samuel Furman and George Trout the appraisers of the within Inventory being duly sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God the said Inventory set down and specficifed were by them appraised according to their just and true respective rates and values after the best of their judgment and understanding, and that they appraised all things that were brought to their view for appraisement. Samuel Furman George Trout Sworn at Amwell the 11th Day of December 1775. Before me William Frazer Surr: Edward Taylor soled Executor of the last will and testament of the within named Richard Rounsavell Deceased, being duly sworn according to Law did depose and say that the within writing contains a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and credits of the said Deceased as far as have come to his knowledge or possession or the possession of any other person Edward Taylor Sworn at Amwell the 11th Day of Dec. 1775. Before me William Frazer Surr: Inventory of the Goods Chattels Rights and Credits of Richard Rounsavell late of the Township of Amwell County of Hunterdon Decd. taken and appraised this 7th Day of Dec. 1775 by Samuel Forman and George Trout. Purse and apparel 9. 9. 0 Women's apparel 4.14.6 4 Horses 52 Heifer 1.15 17 Sheep 6.16 Farmer's Utensils 6.11 Houshold Goods 18.12. 5 1 Steer 8 Derrick Hogland's Note 20 John Rounsavell's Note 13.13 Accounts 1. 1. 6 Sundry Farmers Utensils in Company 8.14 2 Hatchels & spade & Clevices &c. .12 165.18.5 Samuel Furman George Trout