WILL: Alexander Hamilton; New York City, New York co., NY
surname: Hamilton

submitted by W. David Samuelsen (no relation)
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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