WM. MAJOR WILL, MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY Copyright (c) 2001 by Stewart J.A. Woolever, Jr. (sjaw@citlink.net). ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submittor has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ************************************************************************ # 14791 L Middlesex Surrogate's Office. LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF William Major Late of the County of Middlesex,deceased _____________ Proved in Surrogate's Office of Middlesex County November 18,1879 and sworn to me by Jonathan Major of South Brunswick the sole Executor therein named and probate granted by me, William Reiley Jr Surrogate ___________ Recorded,November 18,1879 In Middlesex Surrogate's Office, in Book J of Wills page 258 William Reiley Surrogate. In the name of God Amen! I WILLIAM MAJOR of South Brunswick in the County of Middlesex and State Of New Jersey.Being in possession of my usual health, and sound in mind memory and undertaking at the same time fully aware of the uncentainly of life and the certainty of death do make and publish this as my Last Will and Testament in manner following that is to say. First It is my Will and I do order that all my just Debts and Funeral Expence be paid as soon as conveniant after my decease by my Executor. Item # 1 It is my Will that in case my Wife CATHERINE shall live and remain my widow after my decease, she have full possention of so much of the Dwelling House in which we now live as may be necessary for her use,and I do hereby give and bequeth to her all the Household goods and chattels that she may wish and that shall be necessary for her comfort and convenance in housekeeping and the produce of the Land of said Homestead farm that shall be realized from the crops,as the ---- clear money from Rent as may be the case,after paying repairs,taxes and necessary outlays on said farm for her support and maintances. ________ Item # 2 I hereby give and bequeath to my son JONATHAN MAJOR, the Homestead Farm on which I now live together with and including all the several Lots on Track of Land lying in the vicinity either ajoining the same or otherwise of which I may die siezed of and also the Northwesterly part of the Lot of Land formerly belonging to the late JONATHAN PROVOST,being the one half lenth of the Town Lots according to the Map of said Tract to the amount of Twenty Acres,on the condition that he the said JONATHAN MAJOR shall during the lifetime of his mother,Farm of cause to be Farmed ,the said Homestead Farm in a proper manner,and pay over or cause to be applied to her use,a just and proper share of the value of all such crops and produce of said Farm,for the maintance,support and expences of Her my said Widow,in such case during her natural lifetime, and at the time and after her decease,it shall belong to Him the said JONATHAN MAJOR in full, for which this shall be a good and sufficient Title. ______ Item #3 I give and bequeath to my Daughter FANNY,now the wife of HENRY RULE,The amount of Five Thousand Dollars,that may at the time of my decease be in my possession in the Savings Bank,and in Government Bonds ,or otherwise invested at a just appraisment,which said amount I do order paid over without delay,on her making a Legal Release to my Executor for the same,as her claim in full against the same. ______ Item #4 I give and bequeath to WILLIAM RULE my Grandson the sum of Two Hundred Dollars to be paid to him on his arriving at the full age of Twenty One Years,and I do give the same in the custody and charge of his father the said HENRY RULE until such time,and hereby authorize my Executor to in trust the same to the full keeping of the said HENRY RULE by his making a proper Release for the same. _____ Item#5 I give and bequeath to my Grandson JOHN MAJOR son of my son JONATHAN MAJOR the sum of Two Hundred Dollars to be paid to him at the time that he shall arrive at the full age of twenty one years,until which time the same shall be under the control of his father,and then paid ti him without reserve or delay. _____ Item #6 I give and bequeath unto my soninlaw HENRY RULE the South Easterly part of the aforesaid Wool Lot formerly belonging to JONATHAN PROVOOST,being the amount of Twenty Acres,adjoining a certain Lot now belonging to Him,the said HENRY RULE, as sole and conveyed to him by me from the same tract. _____ Item # 7 If any Residue shall remain after all the afore said items are taken and disposed of,I give and bequeath the same to my son JONATHAN MAJOR. _____ Item # 8 I hereby Constitute and appoint my Son JONATHAN MAJOR my Executor of this my Last Will and Testament made this twenty ninth day of December Eighteen Hundred and Sixty Nine. Signed Sealed and Published and Declared The said William Major William Major [seal] as his Last Will and Testament in our presence,who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses. John Basteda Martin Thompson William L.Basteda State of New Jersey} Middlesex County,ss;} ______ Be it Rembered,That on this Eighteenth day of November A.D.eighteen hundred and seventynine,personally appeared before me William Reiley Jr,Surrogate of the said County of Middlesex,William Basteda one of the witnesses to the annexed Will, who being by me duly sworn according to Law,on his oath says that he saw William Major the Testator therein named,signed and seal the same, and heard him publish,pronounce and declare the same to be his last Will and Testament,and that at the doing thereof,the said Testator was os sound disposing mind and memory as far as he knows and as he verily believes and that Martin Thompson & John Basteda the other subscribing witness present at the same time,and signed their names as witnesses to said Will,together with deponent in the presence of the Testator. Sworn and subscribed at New Brunswick,in said County this 18th day of November A.D.1879 before me William Reiley Jr Surrogate ___________ State Of New Jersey Middlesex County,ss: Be it Rembered,That on this Eighteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy nine,personally appeared before me William Reiley Jr,Surrogate of the County of Middlesex,JONATHAN MAJOR the Executor in the annexed Testament named,who being by me duly sworn according to Law,on his oath says that the annexed instrument contains the true last Will and Testament of WILLIAM MAJOR,the Testator therin named,so far as he knows and as he verily believes that he will well and truley perform the same by paying first the debts of said deceased,and then the legacies in said Will specified,so far as the goods and chattels of said deceased can thereunto extend,and that he will make and exhibit into the Surrogate's Office,of the County of Middlesex,a true and perfect inventory of all singular the goods,chattels,and credits of said deceased that have or shall come to his knowledge or possession,or to the possession of any other person or persons for his use,and render a just and true account when thereunto lawfully required. Sworn and subscribed before me this 18th day of November Anno Domini 1879 Jonathan Major [ seal ] William Reiley Jr Surrogate