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The Last Will and Testament of William STITES - 1727 pg.70In the name of God Amen the fifth day of May in the thirteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George over Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith etc. and in the year of our Lord Christ seventeen hundred and twenty seven I William Stites late of Long Island in New York Colony now residing in Elizabeth Town in Essex County and Province of New Jersey being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to almighty God therefore calling unto mind the mortallity of my body & knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye have made & ordained this my last Will and Testament Principally & first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of almighty God that gave it and of my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a Christian like decent manner at the discretion of my executors herein after named nothing doubting but that at the generall resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as for the worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following form and manner Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my son Hezekick (this name was misspelt and then partly corrected by overwriting but the "ick" on the end was left, but is must be the first son Hezekiah) one pair of four year old stears when he shall come to the age of twenty one years of his life Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary all the remainder of my whole estate both real and personall & I do hereby make & appoint my beloved wife Mary my executrix and my beloved son John executor of this my last Will and Testament & do hereby revoke disanull & make void all other Testaments or executons whatsoever heretofore by me mentioned or made ratifying allowing & holding for same? this & no other to be my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal the day month and year first above written William Stites his mark (seal) Signed sealed declared published & pronounced to be the last Will and Testament of William Stites in the presence of us the subscribers John Blanchard jun'r., William Denman Simon Searing pg. 71 Newark 14th Sep'r 1727 Personally appeared before me Michael Kearny Esq. Surr' appointed by his Excellency William Burnet Esq. Cap't. Gen'll & Gov'r in Chief Ec. William Denman one of the evidences to the with in mentioned last Will & Testament who being sworn on the holly Evangelist of almighty God did depose that he saw William Stites the Testator within mentioned sign seal publish & declare the within written as his last Will and Testament and that he was at the time of sound mind & memory as far as he knew or believed & saw the other evidences sign it as such .... &c. Mich. Kearny Surr' Newark 14th September 1727 Then appeared before me Michael Kearny Surr' appointed at Sup'?? Mary Stites who being sworn on the Holy Evangelist to the true & faithful performance of the office of an executrix Mich: Kearny Surr' Pg. 71 (written along the left hand side margin) Amboy 29th November 1727 Then personally appeared before me Mich. Keary Simon Searing one other of the evidences to ye will in mentioned last will who being sworn on the Holy Evangelist deposet? that he saw William Stites the testator will in mentioned ..... seal publish & declare the same to be his last Will & Testament and that he was of sound mind & memory as far as he knew or believed. Mich. Kearny Surr Amboy 27 Jan 1732 Then letters of administration were granted by his Excellency William Cosby Esq. Captain General and Commander in Chief of New York etc., unto John Stites admon of all and singular the goods chattels rights and credits of Mary Stites late of Elizabeth Town in Essex County deceased, hereby duely qualifyed thereto befor Mich: Kearney Regr & Surr' The part of the will containing Hezekiah's corrected but imperfect name :-  New Jersey Wills, Book B, page 70. [LDS film 522735] |