WILL: Nicholas Groesbeck; Cambridge, Washington co., NY surname: Groesbeck, Van Woert, Morris, Fort, Van Der Woerker, Van Ness, Waldron, Viele submitted by Theodore Rice (rhys12 at bluebottle.com) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm Submitted Date: October 23, 2004 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/nyfiles/ File size: 8.3 Kb ************************************************ Source: Washington County Archives Washington Co NY Will Book Vol. 6 page 208 Written: November 8 1821 Recorded: March 23 1826 Copy of the last will and testament of Nicholas Groesbeck late of the town of White Creek, County of Washington deceased. In the name of God, amen, I Nicholas Groesbeck of the town of White Creek in the County of Washington and State of New York, being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following writ. After my just debts and funeral charges are paid I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Charity daughter of Walter Groesbeck my small cherry tea table. To my daughter Catherine wife of Tunis Vander Waker I give and bequeath the sum of five dollars. To my son William I give and bequeath five dollars. To the children of my daughter Jane deceased late wife of Walter Groesbeck I give and bequeath five dollars. To the children of my son Cornelius deceased I give and bequeath five dollars. And to my son Gerrit I give and bequeath five dollars, all to be paid by my executors herein after named within six months after my decease. To my beloved wife Sarah I give and devise all that certain part or parcel of my small farm being a part of lot number thirty four, of the grand division of the Hoosack Patent, situate lying and being in the Town of Cambridge on the north west side of the northern turnpike road as the same is now in my possession. To have and to hold to my said wife Sarah and to her heirs and assigns forever. I give and bequeath to my said wife Sarah all those articles of household furniture which can be designated as such that she brought with her at the time of our intermarriage and also one cow. I give and bequeath likewise to my said wife the rents, use and occupancy of the residue of my small farm or home lot on which I now reside, together with the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging as long as she remains [cut off - probably "as long as she continues my widow"]. Also the use and occupancy of all my household furniture stores and farming utensils as long as she continues my widow and after her remarriage or decease I give, devise and bequeath to my infant daughter Harriet Maria the aforesaid residue of my small farm situate in the town of White Creek on the south east side of the northern turnpike road together with all the rest and residue of my estate (not heretofore devised) whether real or personal of every name and description to have and to hold to my said daughter Harriet Maria and to her heirs and assigns forever. Lastly I constitute and appoint my wife Sarah executrix and my friends Jacob A. Fort and Asahel Morris executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one. Nicholas Groesbeck (Initials LS in circle) Signed sealed published and delivered by the above named Nicholas Groesbeck to be his last Will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator. Catherine Van Woert, Catherine L. Morris, John Morris. Washington County (Sc.?) Be it remembered that on the twenty third day of march in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty six personally appeared before me Samuel Standish Surrogate (?) of the County of Washington aforesaid Catherine L. Morris, one of the subscribing witnesses to the will of Nicholas Groesbeck, late of the town of White Creek in the said county deceased, who being duly sworn declared that she did see the said Nicholas Groesbeck deceased seal and execute the instrument a copy of which is hereunto annexed and impressed with the (seal) of office of the said surrogate, which said instrument purported to be the last Will and Testament of the said Nicholas Groesbeck deceased, bearing date the eighth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one. That she heard him the said Nicholas Groesbeck publish and declare the same as and for his last Will and Testament, that at the time thereof she Catherine L. Morris the said Nicholas Groesbeck was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best knowledge and belief of her the said Catherine L. Morris and that she together with Catherine Van Woert + John Morris the other witnesses to the said will, did severally subscribe their names thereof as witnesses in the presence of the testator. In testimony whereof the said Surrogate hath hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal of office. Done at Cambridge, the town of Cambridge in the county aforesaid this twenty third day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty six. Samuel Standish Jr. Surrogate Washington County (Sc.?) Be it remembered that on the twenty third day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty six personally appeared before me the said Surrogate Jacob A. Fort and Asahel Morris executors in the aforesaid will named and were duly sworn to the faithful performance and execution thereof by taking the usual oath in that case provided. Samuel Standish Jr. Surrogate The People of the State of New York by the grace of God free and independent: To all to whom the presents shall come or may concern, greeting. Know ye that at the town of Cambridge in the County of Washington on the twenty third day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty six before Samuel Standish Jr. Esquire Surrogate of our said county the last Will and Testament of Nicholas Groesbeck deceased (a copy of which is hereunto annexed) was proved 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 granting administration of all and singular the said goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased and any way concerning his will, is granted unto Jacob A. Fort and Asahel Morris they in the said will named they being first duly sworn well and faithfully to administer the same, and to make and to 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 Samuel Standish Jr. Esquire, Surrogate of the said county at the town of Cambridge aforesaid the twenty third day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty six and of our Independence the fiftieth. Samuel Standish Jun. Surrogate Additional Comments: Nicholas was the nephew of Philip Van Ness, hence his connection to the Morris family. Nicholas W. Groesbeck was first married to Gertje (Charity) Waldron. All the children named except Harriet Maria were hers. Sarah Van Woert was his second wife and Harriet their child. Sarah and Harriet ended up in the Washington County poorhouse in 1830. William married Alida Viele and was living near Lassellsville, Montgomery County, NY at the time of Nicholas' death. Nicholas and Sarah lived on the southeast side of modern day Stage Road, just north of the Buskirk Bridge. The names of the roads have changed - it was Turnpike Road at the time, but the modern Turnpike Road runs a couple of miles to the east.