WILL: Alexander Thompson; Pittstown, Rensselaer co., NY surname: Thompson, Mushel, Meeshel, Stewart, submitted by Karolyn Campbell (Campbelldo @ aol.com) ************************************************************************ 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.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Will of Alexander Thompson 1806 Pittstown, Rensellaer County, New York Vol 2 page 402 Transcribed by Karolyn Campbell 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 Lansingburgh in the County of Rensellaer on the ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six, before Manson Douglas Esquire Surrogate of our said county, the last will and testament, Alexander Thompson late of the Town of Pittstown, in the County of Rensellaer and State of New York deceased (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) was proved 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 and 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 the administration of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased and any way concerning his will is Granted unto Nancy Thompson Executrix and Josiah Masters and John Thompson 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 Alanson Douglas Esquire, Surrogate of the County at Lansingburgh the ninth day of October in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six -- Aln. Douglas A copy of the last will and testament of Alexander Thompson with the proof thereof recorded October 10th 1806 -- In the name of God Amen, I Alexander Thompson of Pittstown in the County of Rensellaer and State of New York, farmer, do make and declare this my last will and testament. First, I resign my immortal soul into the hands of Almighty God, hoping for mercy and believing in a remission of any sins by the merits of my Redeemer and my body I commit to the dust from whence it came to be buried in a decent manner -- Second, whereas I agreed with my beloved wife Christa Stewart Thompson at the time of our marriage not to interfere nor use or enjoy any of her estate by reason whereof I have never received any benefit therefrom and whereas my said wife further agreed to accept such a sum of money in lieu of dower as I should in my discretion think proper to give her. I do therefore in pursuance of such agreement and the love I bear toward my said wife give and bequeath unto her the sum of four hundred dollars together with all her wearing apparel. and also one cow, one feather bed, one pair of blankets, one pair of sheets and two coverlets such as my Executors shall see fit for her -- Provided nevertheless on payment of the said sum of four hundred dollars and delivery of the articles above specified my said wife shall execute a full and complete discharge of all her right of dower to my estates which I presume from the Justice of the case and according to our agreement she will cheerfully do -- Third, I will and bequeath unto Christa Mushel [or Meeshel] my step daughter one cow. Fourth, I give and devise unto my Grandson John Thompson, the reputed son of William Thompson deceased, all my right and title to fifty acres of land purchased of Thomas Prendergrast by the late Alexander Thompson Jun. being part of the lot which Volkert P. Dow [or Daw] leased to John Cooper. Also ten acres of woodland to be surveyed and taken off from my wood lot from the northwest corner in a square as near as it can be. To have and to hold the said pieces of land unto the said John Thompson his heirs and assigns forever. Provided nevertheless and upon this condition that if my said grandson John Thompson should die without lawful heirs and after his decease the same shall descend to Nancy Thompson my daughter and I hereby give and devise the same after such decease and without lawful heirs as aforesaid to my said daughter Nancy Thompson her heirs and assigns forever. The above two pieces of land is given to my said Grandson for the love I have for him, and for the labor and services he has done in my family and for me. Fifth, I give and devise unto my only child and daughter Nancy Thompson and to her heirs and assigns forever my Wood lot (except that before devised to John Thompson) with my home farm being lot number four, and the grass farm being lot number six. Finally, and lastly, I give, devise, will and bequeath unto my said and only child Nancy Thompson and her heirs and assigns forever all of my real and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever not particularly mentioned before -- Also -- I do hereby appoint my daughter Nancy Thompson Executrix, my Grandson John Thompson and my trusted friend Josiah Masters Executors of this my last will and testament -- And do hereby revoke all former wills of any time before made by me. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the tenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and six Alex Thompson LS Signed, sealed and declared in presence of us who have subscribed our names in his and presence of each other and the word "hundred" in the second clause wrote on an erasure before signing. Josiah Masters Nicholas Groesbeek Charles Shepard State of New York, Rensellaer County, be it remembered that on the ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six, personally appeared before me Alanson Douglas Esquire, Surrogate of the County of Rensellaer, Charles Shepard one of the subscribing Witnesses to the will of Alexander Thompson late of the town of Pittstown in the County of Rensellaer deceased, who being duly sworn declared that he did see the said Alexander Thompson sign and seal the preceding written instrument purporting to be the last will and testament of the said Alexander Thompson bearing date the tenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six, and heard him publish and declare the same as and for his last will and testament. That at the time thereof he the said Alexander Thompson was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the knowledge and belief of him the said Charles Shepard -- and that the said Charles Shepard together with Josiah Masters and Nicholas Groesbeek the other witnesses to the said Will did subscribe their hands and names to the said will as witnesses thereto in the presence of the Testator and each other. Aln. Douglas