WILL: Nathan Gillett; Chatham, Columbia co., NY surname: Gillett, Bishop, Hopkins, Harris, Pitts, Sim, Wilsey, Wilber, Reynolds submitted by Mary Zednick (mzednick @ 3rivers.net) ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Surrogate's Court, Columbia County, New York, Volume G, page 229 LDS microfilm #0479113 Last Will and Testament, and Probate of Nathan Gillett (1741/42 - before September 29, 1834) State of New York Columbia County, Ye Be it remembered that as a Surrogate Court held in and for the County of Columbia at the Surrogates office in this City of Hudson on the 29th day of September 1834 before Abraham A. Van Buren Surrogate came David S. Reynolds named as executor in an Instrument in writing purporting to be the last Will & Testament of Nathan Gillet deceased and produced to the said court due proof affidavit of the leagal Service of the Citation heretofore issued by this Court to the next of kin of said deceased to attend the probate of said will on this day, there being no widow & thereupon no person appearing to oppose the probate thereof the said Court now proceeds to take testimony in regard to the validity and due execution of said will which said will and testimony is as follows to wit The Last will and Testament of Nathan Gillett of the Town of Chatham in the County of Columbia. I Nathan Gillett of the Town of Chatham County of Columbia & State of New York considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being now of sound mind and memory Blessed be Almighty God for the Same do make and publish this my last will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) First I direct that the expenses of my last sickness and of my funeral together will all my just debts Shall be paid in preference to any device or legacy herein contained. Second I give and bequeath to my daughter Mercey the widow of Richard Bishop ninety dollars I having paid her in my life time one hundred and ten dollars & took her receipt. I also give and bequeath to the heirs of my daughter Elizabeth late the wife of John Hopkins the Sum of two hundred dollars to be equally divided between them share and share alike. I do also give and bequeath to my daughter Hannah the wife of John Harris the sum of two hundred dollars. I also give and bequeath to my daughter Alice the wife of Samuel Pitts the sum of two hundred dollars. I also give and bequeath to my daughter Temperance widow of the late James Sim two hundred dollars. I do also give and bequeath to my daughter Ruth the wife of Henry Wilsey the sum of two hundred dollars. I also give and bequeath to my daughter Lydia the wife of Isaac Wilber one eighth part of my property, that shall be left remaining after all my debts and legacies shall be paid I having given her in my life time two hundred dollars and took her and her husbands receipt thereof. I also do give and bequeath onto my daughter Sarah the wife of David S. Reynolds the sum of two hundred dollars which abovesaid sums or legasies I order to be paid to the several legators by my executor within eight months after my decease. The residue of my personal property not yet disposed of after all my debts and expenses of settling my estate is paid I give and bequeath to the above named heirs my daughter Hannah one share, to my daughter Mercey one share to the heirs of my daughter Elizabeth one share to my daughter Alice one share to my daughter Temperance one share to my daughter Ruth one share to my daughter Lydia one share to my daughter Sarah one share that is one eighth part to each of them. Lastly I do hereby appoint my son in law David S. Reynolds executor of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. The above instrument consisting of one sheet was subscribed by Nathan Gillett the Testator Nathan Gillett. N. Y. in our presence and was declared by him to be his last will and Testament and we at his request have signed our names hereto as witnesses. Levi Pitts Edward White Columbia County, Ye Levi Pitts of the Town of Chatham in said county being duly sworn deposes and says that he was acquainted with Nathan Gillett deceased I his life time that he was at the time of his death an inhabitant of the Town of Chatham in said county, that this deponent is a subscribing witness to the instrument now shown to him bearing date the fifth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two and purpose being to be the last will and Testament of the said Nathan Gillett decd. That this deponent and Edward White subscribed said instrument as witnesses in the presence and at the request of the said Nathan Gillett & in the presence of each other. That this deponent saw the said Nathan Gillett execute the said Instrument and heard him declare the same as his will at which time the said Nathan Gillett was of sound and deposing mind and memory of full age & under no restraint according to the Best of the Knowledge & belief of this deponent. That after the execution of the said will it was left in the possession of the said testator. That this deponent wrote the said will at the request and agreeably to the dictation of the said testator. Sworn Sept. 29 } Levi Pitts 1834 before me } A. A. Van Buren Surrogate Columbia County Ye David S. Reynolds of the Town of Chatham in said county being duly sworn says that after the death of Nathan Gillett deceased this deponent found the will of said deceased referred to in the above deposition of Levi Pitts in a trunk of the said deceased & that said will remained in the possession of this deponent unaltered until he deposited the same in the office of the Surrogate of the County of Columbia for probate. Sworn Sept. 29 } David S. Reynolds 1834 before me } A.A. Van Buren Surrogate Whereupon I the said Surrogate being satisfied upon the proof aforesaid of the genuiness and validity of said will do therefore order that the same be admitted to probate and that --- --- thereon be granted to the executor therein named after the expiration of thirty days from the time of making this order if in the mean time no objections to the appointment of said executor be made and filed with me. Done this 29th day of September 1843 A.A. Van Buren