Will of Johannes Pieterszen De Groot 11 Nov 1788

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Richmond, New York, United States

No. 15

In the name of God, Amen. I Johannes DeGroot of the County of Richmond and State of New York, house carpenter, having attained to a good old age, insomuch, that according to the usual course of Nature it is reasonable to conclude that my departure from this transitory state of existence is not far distant, and conceiving it to be a prudent and wise part, to order and adjust my worldly concerns, before the strings of life are broken, and while blessed with the full and unimpaired enjoyment and exercise of my mental faculties, I therefore, in compliance with the calls of reason, and in obedience to the dictates of conscience, upon the fullest deliberation, make my last will and testament, in manner and form following. Principally it is my earnest desire to resign my spirit into the hands of the God who created me, in a reliance on his Mercies, and the meritorious sufferings of my exalted Saviour Jesus Christ, that it, being released from its earthly tabernacle may be wafted into the glorious presence and fruition of my Heavenly Father.

The interment of my body I submit to the prudent management of my grandson, Garret DeGroot; requesting that no superfluous expences attend it; but that my Funeral be conducted in a decent and respectable manner, and the modern customs and rites of the Place be observed.

My estate, real and personal, I give, bequeath, and dispose of in the following manner. Imprimis, I give and bequeath unto my son, Peter DeGroot, his heirs and assigns, all my carpenter's tools and wearing apparel, of what nature and kind soever, of which I shall die possessed, to the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of my said son Peter, his heirs and assignes for ever. Item! It is my will, and do hereby order and direct, that my said son Peter DeGroot, and his family shall occupy, possess and enjoy, for a limited time, the dwelling house which I built, on the declivity of the Bank, opposite to the Barn, in which he at present resides, together with the garden spot in front of it, without the set, hindrance or molestation of any of the heirs to my estate, that is to say, until William and Garret DeGroot,the sons of my grandson Garret DeGroot, shall both have attained to the age of twenty one years, or, in case of either dying, then only during the (undecipherable) of the survivor, and that during the term above mentioned (undecipherable) the said Peter DeGroot shall be obligated to keep the said dwelling house in good tenantable repair, and at the expiration of the said term to surrender the possession of the said house and privileges accompanying it, into the hands of the heirs thereof. Item.

I give and devise unto William DeGroot, and Garret DeGroot, sons of my grandson Garret DeGroot, when they both shall have attained to the age of twenty one years, the above mentioned dwelling house, situate on the declivity of the bank, with its appurtenances together with the garden spot in front thereof, as it is now enclosed, to be to the only proper use, benefit and behoof of them, the said William and Garret DeGroot, their and each of their heirs and assigns forever, but in case either of my said great grand children above mentioned, should die under age, and without lawful issue, the share of the defunct to belong to the survivor and should it so happen that neither should live to the years of maturity, the property above devised to them, shall be at the full and free disposal of their father, garret DeGroot.

Item! All the residue of my lands, tenements, improvements, hereditaments and appurtenances, whatsoever and wheresoever, comprehending therein all my lands situate in the Manor of Castleton amounting to about twenty two acres, a lot of salt meadow lying on the western shore of Staten Island computed to be twelve acres, and the farm or plantation which I now occupy, situate on the North side of Staten Island and fronting the river Kill Van Kull, I give, grant and devise to my said grandson Garret DeGroot, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

Item! I also give and bequeath to my said grandson, my Negro Man Thomas, and his Wife Sarah, my sorrel mare, all my farming utensils and household and kitchen furniture, of what nature or kind soever, and the whole residue and remainder of my personal estate, after the former bequests shall have been fulfilled.

Item! I do will, order and direct that my said grandson Garret DeGroot, in consideration of the foregoing bequests, to pay or cause to be paid, unto my descendants underneath named, the full sum of four hundred pounds current money of New York, within the time, and in the manner hereafter directed. Previous to the payment of any part of the above monies to the legatees by my said grandson, Garret DeGroot, a bond given by me to Wilhelmus Vreeland, for the faithful payment of fifty pounds, shall be discharged and deducted from the said sum of four hundred pounds.

Item! I do further will, order and direct that my said grandson, Garret DeGroot shall, in the first place, payments to my grandson, John Cruser, and grand daughter Lana Mersereau, the sum of fifty pounds each, current money of New York, which in case of either's decease shall be equally divided among their children.

Item! The monies which shall then be left, after the payment of the above legacies and the discharge of the said bond, I do will, order and direct, my said grandson Garret DeGroot to pay to and divide equally among the other children of my sons Peter DeGroot and Robert DeGroot, or the survivors of them, share and share alike, and that my said grandson Garret DeGroot shall be allowed a term of five full years, after my decease, to pay the whole, or any of the legacies above bequeathed.

Finally, I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my loving grandson, Garret DeGroot and John Cruser, to be the executors of this, my last will and testament, charging them to see the same, faithfully performed, according to my true intent and meaning; ratifying, allowing and confirming this to be my last will and testament.

In Witness Whereof, I the said testator, have herunto set my hand and seal this eighteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight, and in the thirteenth year of the Independence of the United States of America. Johannes X DeGroot. Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Johannes DeGroot, as his last will and testament, in presence of us. Nathaniel Johnson, Elizabeth Bush, Abr(aham) Bancker. Richmond County (undecipherable) Be it remembered, that on the sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety, personally came and appeared before me Adrian Bancker, Surrogate of the said County, Elizabeth Bush, Spinster, and Abraham Bancker, Esq., two of the witnesses of the preceding will of Johannis (sic) DeGroot, who being duly sworn, on their oaths declared, that they did see Johannis (sic) DeGroot sign and seal the preceding instrument, purporting to be the will of the said Johannis DeGroot, bearing date the eighteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight, and heard him publish an declare the same as his last will and testament; that at the same time thereof, he, the said Johannis DeGroot, was of sound, disposing mind and memory to the best of the knowledge and belief of them, the deponents, and that Nathaniel Johnson, together with the deponents, subscribed the said will as witnesses thereto, in the testator's presence. ADRIAN BANCKER, Surrogate