WILL: Joseph Stephens;  Goshen, Orange co., NY 
surname: Stephens, Clark, Gray, Stevens

submitted by Lil Heselton (lhess @ shaw.ca) 
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Submitted Date: September 12, 2004
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Source: Orange County Will Book Vol I, page 389
Written: 19 June 1824
Probated: August 20 1832

As transcribed by Lil Heselton

The people of the state of New York by the grace of God Free and Independent.
To all whom These presents Shall come or may concern send Greeting. Know ye
that at the town of Goshen in the County of Orange on the twentieth day of
August in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and thirty-two
before John B Booth, Esq. Surrogate of our said County. The last will and
testament of Joseph Stephens, deceased. A copy whereof is hereunto annexed was
proved and is now approved by us and it appearing unto us that the said
deceased was at the time of his death  an inhabitant of the Town of Monroe in
said county by reason whereof the proving and registering of the said will and
the granting administration of all and singular, the said goods chattels and
credits of the said deceased and also the auditing, allowing and final
discharging the account thereof doth belong with the surrogate of the county
of Orange aforesaid. The administration of all and singular, the goods
chattels and credits of the said deceased and any way concerning his will is
granted unto Joseph S Gray, the executor in the said will named. He being
first duly sworn faithfully and honestly to discharge the duties of such
Executor.  In testimony whereof, we have caused the Seal of Office of our said
Surrogate to be hereunto affixed. 

Witness John B Booth  Surrogate of our said County of Orange at Goshen 
aforesaid  the twenty-second day of September in the year of our Lord one 
thousand eight hundred and thirty-two and of our independence the
fifty-seventh
The will:.

In the name of God. Amen. I Joseph Stephens of the town of Monroe and state of 
New York, considering the uncertainty of the mortal life and being advanced in 
age and infirm in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory. Blessed be 
Almighty God for the same. Do make and publish and declare this my last will
and testament in manner and form following: Viz:  

First I order and direct all my just debts and funeral expenses to be  paid by
my executor herein after named out of my personal estate in as short a time as
may be convenient after my decease 

Secondly I give and bequest unto my beloved wife Mary Stevens (according to
and in issuance of an article of agreement made between us before our marriage
bearing date October twenty eighth in the year of out Lord one thousand eight
hundred and nineteen) the full use and privilege of the back room of my
dwelling house and also a decent and comfortable living and maintenance out of
my estate to be provided for her by my executor herein after named as long as
she remains my widow this to be in lieu and instead of her dowry in my estate;
and further I give and bequeath to my said wife all the property she brought 
with her to me as the same now as is at my decease and one equal half of all
the linen and woolen cloth that has been made since our marriage that is in
use and wearing as the same now is at my decease belonging to me. 

Thirdly: I give and bequeath unto Pamela Clark wife of Gersham Clark the sum
of twenty five dollars, which said legacy or sum of money I will and order
shall be paid unto the said respective legatee at the expiration of three
years after my decease. 

Fourthly, I give and bequeath unto Sarah Gray, daughter of John Gray my best
bed and bedding, the best looking glass and the best large table to her, her
heirs and assigns forever. 

Fifthly :I give and devise and bequeath unto Joseph Stevens Gray, son of John
Gray all my real and personal estate to him his heirs and assigns forever. But
notwithstanding in case the said Joseph Stevens Gray dies without lawful
issue. Then and in that case I give and devise and bequeath unto Hannah Gray,
wife of John Gray, to he her heirs and assigns forever, a certain part of said
real estate which said part shall be known and described by running a line
which shall be twenty rods due south of my dwelling house as follows.
Beginning on the west side of my farm and running thence a parallel course
with the north line of my farm so as to strike the point twenty rods south of
my dwelling house, and continuing the course parallel with the said north line
to the east side of said farm  so as to come behind and contain all the
buildings north of the above mentioned described line be the same more or
less. 

Sixthly, In case the said Joseph Gray Stevens die without lawful issue as
aforesaid then and in that case I give devise and bequeath unto Reuben
Stevens, David Stevens, Jonathan Stevens, John Stevens, Daniel Stevens,
Abraham Stevens and Anna Stevens, being the children of my brother Jonathan
Stevens all the remainder of the said real estate to them their heirs and
assigns forever, to be equally divided between them share and share alike. 

Lastly I do hereby nominate ordain constitute and appoint the above named
Joseph Stevens Gray son of John Gray of the town of Monroe, executor of this
my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. 

In Witness wheeof  I have hereunto set my hand and seal the nineteenth day of
June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight 
hundred and twenty four. Joseph Stevens

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Joseph Stevens as and for 
hislast will and testament. In the presence of us and in his presence at his 
request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names
as witnesses. Absolem Vail. Abel King John B Harlow.

Orange county Surrogate Court in the matter of proving the last will and 
testament of Joseph Stevens deceased.:  Abel King and Absolem Vail of the town 
of Warwick in said County being by the Surrogate of the county duly sworn and 
examined depose and say and each for himself says that he was well acquainted 
with Joseph Stevens late of the town of Monroe in said county deceased. That
the deponent was present as a witness and did see said Joseph Stevens deceased 
subscribe at the end thereof the instrument now produced and shown to the 
deponent  purporting to be the last will and testament of the said Joseph 
Stevens deceased bearing the date the nineteenth day of June in the year of
our lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four. That such subscription
was made by the said testator in the presence of these deponents and John B
Harlow when being witness to said will. That said testator at the same time
declared the instrument so subscribed by him to be his Last will and Testament
whereupon these deponents signed their names at the end of the will at the
request of said testator and that the said testator at the time of executing
and publishing the said last will and testament was of full age of sound mind
and memory and not under any restraint. Sworn and examined the twentieth day
of August 1832 before me John B Booth Surrogate. Absolem Vail, Abel King.
Orange county Surrogate Court in the matter of proving the last will and 
testament of Joseph Stevens deceased: Hannah Gray of the town of Monroe in
said County

Being by the Surrogate of the County of Orange duly sworn and examined
declared and says that the last will and testament of Joseph Stevens deceased
as described in the preceding affidavit of Absolem Vail and Abel King was
handed to the deponent by said testator sometime in the summer of the year one
thousand eight hundred and twenty four enclosed in a sealed envelope, and that
deponent safely kept the said will in her possession until the decease of said
testator and that deponent handed the said will to Daniel Bull to read, who
took said will and retained it in his possession only until he took the said
will to the grave of said testator and read it and then returned it to said
deponent who kept the same safely in her possession until delivered to Joseph
Gray for the purpose of proving said will proved. Hannah Gray Sworn before me
this 20th of August 1832 John B Booth Surrogate

In the matter of proving the last will and testament of Joseph Stevens
deceased: 
Orange County: Daniel Bull of the town of Blooming Grove in said county being 
duly affirmed and examined by the Surrogate of said county doth affirm and say 
that he is acquainted with the handwriting of John B Harlow and that the name
of John B Harlow subscribed at the end of the testament now produced and shown
to said deponent purporting to be the last will and testament of the said
Joseph Stevens deceased bearing the date the nineteenth day of June in the
year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four is the proper
handwriting of the said john B Harlow according to the best of this deponents
knowledge and belief. And the affirmed further saith that the said last will
and testament of the said Joseph Stevens deceased and described in the
preceding affidavit of Hannah gray was delivered to this deponent as before
described and he broke the seal of the envelope and took the said will to the
grave of the said testator and read the same and immediately returned the same
to the possession of the said Hannah Gray and further with not. Daniel Bull.
Affirmed and examined this 20th of August 1832 John B Booth Surrogate
In the matter of proving the last will and testament of Joseph Stevens
deceased: 

Orange County: Joseph S Gray of the town of Monroe in said county being by the 
Surrogate of Orange County duly sworn and examined declares and says that the 
last will and testament of Joseph Stevens deceased as described in the
preceding affavit of Daniel Bull was delivered to him by his mother Hannah
Gray as described in her affidavit and that the deponent safely kept the same
until  by him delivered to the Surrogate of Orange County for probate. Joseph
S Gray 

Sworn and examined this 20th of August 1832  before me John B Booth Surrogate
Surrogate Office: I certify the proceeding to be a true copy of the original 
will of Joseph Stevens deceased of the Letters testamentary thereon and of the 
proof and examinations taken in relation therunto. John B Booth Surrogate.