WILL: John Pierce; New York City, New York co., NY surname: Pierce submitted by Donna Barnes (barnesd at chartermi.net) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm Submitted Date: October 1, 2004 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/nyfiles/ File size: 7.0 Kb ************************************************ Source: Sampubco photocopy New York Co. Will Book Vol.41, Pages 105-107 Written: July 17 1788 Recorded: September 3 1788 In the name of God Amen I John Pierce of the City of New York being weak in Body but sound in memory do this 17th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred and eighty eight make and publish this my last will and Testament in manner following (that is to say) first I give to my beloved wife, Ann Pierce the whole of my houshold firnature, I give to my son John Pierce his heirs and assigns forever, the whole of my lands lying in the State of Georgia, which my Executors, or in case of the death of one of them, the Survivor, is authorised to sell and execute good and sufficient deeds of Conveyance for the same at any time before my Son comes of age if it shall be thought necessary or advisable for his benefit. I give to my five sisters Nancy Pierce, Susanna Peirce, Ruth Pierce, Sally Pierce and Polly Pierce and my two Brothers, Timothy Pierce and James Peirce their heirs and assigns forever all my lands lying in the town of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut together with the live stock and farming utensils to be equally divided among them.. I give to my four eldest sisters, two cases containing Bells edition of the British poets and all my books which are now in Litchfield to remain the property of such of them as remain unmarried. The residue of my estate to be divided into three equal parts which I give and bequeath in the manner following (that is to say) To my beloved wife Ann Pierce the one third part to my son John Pierce the one third part and to my four oldest sisters Nancy Pierce, Susanna Pierce, Ruth Pierce and Sally Pierce the other third part thereof to be equally divided among them. The income of the Estate which I give to my son, I leave at the disposal of my Wife so long as she shall continue a widow and in case of her marriage I leave it at the disposal of my Executors to be applied as they shall think most beneficial for him. I also invest my Executors (or in the case of the death of one of them , the survivor) with a discretionary power of applying any part of the Estate which I leave to my son to the purpose of defraying the expences of his Education if it shall be found necessary. And in case of my sons death before he comes of age, all that remains of the Estate that I have bequeathed to him I give in the following manner Vizt To my beloved wife Ann Pierce "her heirs and assigns forever" the one third part thereof, and the remaining two third parts thereof I give to my before mentioned Five sisters and two Brothers Vizt, Nancy Pierce, Susanna Pierce, Ruth Pierce Sally Pierce, Polly Pierce Timothy Pierce and James Pierce their heirs and assigns forever to be equally divided among them, and to enable my Executors to make this distribution in case of my sons death it is to be understood that they are authorised to sell the Lands in Georgia and give good and sufficient Deeds of Conveyance for the same if they or the survivor, in case of the death of one of them thinks proper. I make and ordain my friends Docts Samuel Bard and Jonathan Burrall the Executors of this my will in trust for the intent and purposes in this my will contained. Jno. Pierce [L.S.] Signed Sealed and delivered by the said John Pierce as and for his last will and Testament (the words "her heirs and assigns forever" being previously interlined) in presence of us Susanna Bard, Jon'th Burrall, Peter Reizer? Witnesses present. City and County of New York Ss Be it remembered that on the third day of September One thousand seven hundred and Eighty eight personally came and appeared before David Gelston Surrogate of the said County Susanna Bard and Jonathan Burrall of the said County and being duly sworn on their oaths declared that they and each of them did see John Pierce sign and seal the preceding written Instrument purporting to be the will of the said John Pierce bearing date seventeenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty eight and heard him publish and declare the same as and for his last will and Testament that at the time thereof he the said John Pierce was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the knowledge and belief of them the deponents and that theirs names subscribed to the same will are of their respective proper hand writing which they subscribed as witnesses to the said Will in the Testators presence, and that they the deponents saw Peter Reizer the other witness to the said Will subscribe his nane as a witness thereto in the presence of the Testator. David Gelston The People of the State of New York by the Grace of God Free and Independent To all to whom these presents shall come or may concern Send Greeting: Know Ye that at the City and County of New York on the day of the date hereof before David Gelston Esqr Surrogate of our said County the last will and Testament of John Pierce deceased (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) was proved and is now approved and allowed of by us and the said deceased having whilst he lived and at the time of his death Goods Chattels or Credits within this State by means whereof the proving and registering the said will and the granting administration of all and singular the said Goods Chattels and Credits and also the auditing allowing and final discharging the account thereof doth belong unto us the administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased and any way concerning his Will is granted unto Doctor Samuel Bard and Jonathan Burrall the Executors in the said will named they having first duly sworn well and faithfully to administer the same and to make and exhibit a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the said Goods chattels and Credits and also to render a just and true account thereof when thereunto required. In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of office of our said Surrogate to be hereunto affixed Witness David Gelston Esquire Surrogate of the said county at the City of New York the third day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty eight and of our Independence the Thirteenth. David Gelston