WILL: Alexander Hamilton; New York City, New York co., NY surname: Hamilton submitted by W. David Samuelsen (no relation) *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** New York County NY Will Book vol. 45 page 165 Alexander Hamilton was Secretary of Treasury under George Washington. He was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr in July 1804. In the name of God, Amen I Alexander Hamilton of the City of New York, Counsellor at Law, do make this my last Will and Testament as follows: First. I appoint John B. Church, Nicholas Fish and Nathaniel Pendleton of the city aforesaid Esquires, to be Executors and Trustees of this my Will and I devise to them their heirs and assigns as joint Tenants and not as tenants in common all my Estate real and personal whatsoever and wheresoever upon trust at their discretion to sell and dispose of the same at such time and times in such manner and upon such terms as the survivors and survivor shall think fit and out of the proceeds to pay all the debts which I shall owe at the time of my decease, in whole if the fund shall be sufficient proportionally, if it shall be insuficient and the residue of any there shall be to pay and deliver to my Excellent and dear Wife Elizabeth Hamilton, Though if it shall please God to spare my life I may look for a considerable surplus out of my present property. Yet if he should speedily call me to the enternal world a forced Sale as is usual may possibly render it insufficient to satisfy my debts. I, pray God that something may remain for the maintenance and Education of my dear Wife and Children. But should it on the Contrary happen that there is not enough for the payment of my debts I entreat my dear Chkldren, if there or any of them Shall ever be able to make up the deficiency, I without hesitation commit to their delicacy a wish which is to dictated by my own. Though conscious that I have too far sacrificed the Interest of my family to public avocations & on their account have the less claim to burthen my children, Yet I trust in their magnaimity to appreciate as they might this my request. In so unfavourable an event of things the support of their dear mother with the most respectful and tender attention is a duty all the sacredness of which they will feel. Probably her own patrimonial resourses will preserve her from Indigence, But in all situations, they are to bear in mind that she has been to them the most devoted and best of mothers. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my hand thie ninth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & four. Alexander Hamilton Signed Sealed Published & declared as and for his last Will and Testament in our presence who have subscribed the same in his presence the words "John B. Church" being above interlined. Dominick T. Blake, Graham Newell, Theo B. Valleau City and County of New York ss Be it remembered that on the sixteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four, personally came and appeared before me Silvanus Miller Surrogate of said County, Dominick T. Blake of the City of New York, Esquire and Theodorus B. Valleau of said City, Gentleman who being duly sworn on their oaths declared that they heard Alexander Hamilton publish and declare an Instrument in writing purporting to be the Will of the said Alexander bearing date the ninth day of July Instant (the preceding whereof is a true copy), that at the time thereof he the said Alexander was of sound disposing mind and memory, to the best of the knowledge and belief of them the deponents that their names subscribed to the said Will as witnesses are of their own proper handswriting respectively which they subscribed as witnesses thereto in the presence of the testator. Silvanus Miller The People of the State of New York by the Grac eof 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 Silvanus Miller, Esquire, Surrogate of our said County the last Will and Testament of Alexander Hamilton deceased (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) was provoed and is now approved and allowed 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 John B. Church, Nicholas Fish and Nathaniel Pendleton the Executors in the said Will named they being 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 Silvanus Miller, Esquire, Surrogate of the said County at the City of New York the sixteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four, and of our Independence the twenty ninth. Silvanus Miller