Transcription of the Last Will and Testament of John Rattoome (1744-1823)

John Rattone’s Will

State of New Jersey} I John Heard, Surrogate of the County of Middlesex, do
County of Middlesex} certify the annexed to be a true copy of the last Will and
{SEAL} Testament of John Rattone, late of the County of Middlesex, deceased, and
that Thomas Rattone and Mary Watson the Executors therein named,
prove the same before me, and are duly Authorized to take upon themselves the
stration of the Estate of the Testator, agreeable to the said Will.
Witness my hand and seal of Office the twenty first day of November in
the year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and twenty three.
John Heard.
In the Name of God, Amen, I John Rattoone of the City of Perth Amboy
in the State of New Jersey, being of sound mind and Memory do make this my last Will
and Testament: - Item, it is my will that all I owe at my decease be justly paid.
Item, I order and direct my Executors to Manumit according to Law all my colored
Servants. The Male at the age of twenty five years and the Females at the age of Twenty
One years. - Item I give and devise to by Daughter Mary Watson her Executors and
administration in trust as herein after mentioned. All the Real Estate in the City of Perth
Amboy that I may be possessed of at my decease and Twelve thousand dollars
in the Banks and Insurance Companies in the City of New York, at par(?), and if
there should be any deficiency of the above sum due me at my decease, in the
Banks and Insurance Companies, in New York, it is to be made up out of the first monies
arising from my Estate, also the one equal half of the remaining part of
my Real and Personal Estate with power to alter and change the said stock and
the monies that she may receive from the remaining half part of my Estate to vest in such
Banks or Insurance Companies in the City of New York, of in the Public
funds of the United States or to loan the same on Bond and Mortgage on Real
Estate as she may think, proper with power to alter and change the same as
she may think advisable. All which I give to my daughter Mary Watson
her Executors and Administration for the support of herself and her children that
may not otherwise be provided for, Amelia Gulick, Anna Matilda Watson,
John Rattone Watson, Isabella Dunham Watson, and Georgeann Carter Watson,
and should by said daughter Mary Watson, marry again her husband shall
not intermeddle with any of the money arising from the Real or Personal pro
-perty as above devised, neither shall the same, or any part thereof be subject or liable for
any of his debts or Contracts whatsoever, neither shall it be liable or subject to
any Contract or Debt that my daughter Mary Watson may make - Item it is my will that
after the decease of my daughter Mary Watson, all the aforesaid
device be applied towards the Support of my Grand Children hereinafter mentioned
that are not otherwise provided for, until the youngest of the survivors attain
the age of Eighteen years, after which all the aforesaid devise, Interest, Dividends,
on Bank and Insurance Stock and Rents that may remain due is to be
equally divided between my Grand Children, Amelia Gulick, Anne
Matilda Watson, John Rattoone Watson, Isabella Dunham Watson,
Georgeann Carter Watson or the survivors of them, share and share alike. –
Item, it is my will that no part of the aforesaid devise to my Grand children
shall be subject to any debts or Contracts that either of them shall make
but when divided the share of each shall be paid to each of them or order
and not to any other person. - Item I give and bequeath to my son Thomas
Rattoone in trust and herein after mentioned. All the monies arising from
the remaining half part of my Real and personal Estate, the said one half to be
paid in like manner as the other half is paid, all which I give to him in
Trust for the support of his Children, with power to vest the same as he may

think proper and to alter and change the same as he may think advisable for the support
and benefit of his children that are not otherwise provided for. - Item I order and direct
that after the decease of my son Thomas Rattoone that all the Real and Personal property
remaining of the aforesaid devise be divided between his lawful issues share and
share alike when the youngest of the survivors shall have attained the age of Twenty One
years. Item it is my will that no part of the said devise in Trust to my son Thomas Rattoone
be subject to any debt or Contract that either of my Thomas Rattoones Children may
make, and when divided the share of each shall be paid to each of them or order only.
Item, Whereas inconveniences may arise on Account of my son Thomas Rattoone living so
far from Perth Amboy, I do hereby empower and authorize my daughter, Mary Watson
her Executors and Administrators to execute any deed or deeds for Lands in the County
of Monmouth in the State of New Jersey that I was entitled to the time of my decease.
I also empower her to fulfill all Contracts that I may make in said County of Monmouth
and dispose of all the Rights to unlocated land or to locate the same in the eastern
Division of the State of New Jersey that are due me at my decease or by any Warrant
that by be issued after my decease for Unlocated Land in said Eastern Division.
Item, it is my will that the equal half part of all the money arising from any deed
of Conveyance or Sale of Rights be paid to my son Thomas Rattoone which he is to
apply as part of the first before mentioned. - Lastly I do hereby Constitute and
appoint my son Thomas Rattoone Executor, and my daughter Mary Watson, Executor
of this my Last will and Testament, vesting them or the survivor of them, their Executors
and Administrators with full power to sell all the Real and personal Estate. That I shall
die seized and possessed of excepting my Real estate in the City of Perth Amboy which I
have otherwise disposed of in the fore part of my will as soon after my decease as they
may think advisable. - In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal
this twenty third day October, in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred
and twenty three. -

Signed, Sealed and delivered by the within named }
John Rattoone as his Last Will and Testament in the } John Rattoone {S}
presence of us, who have signed our names in his }
presence, and in the presence of each other. -

Robt Arnold - James Skinner - Lewis Golding
James Skinner and Lewis Golding two of the witnesses to the within will being duly
Sworn did severally depose and say that they saw John Rattoone the Testator therein
named, sign and seal the same, and heard him publish, pronounce and declare
the within writing to be his last will and Testament, and that at the doing the said
Testator was of sound and disposing mind and memory as far as these deponents know
and as they verily believe, and that Robert Arnold the other subscribing witness was
present at the same time and sign his name as witness to the said will together with
these deponents in the presence of the said Testator.

Sworn at Perth Amboy the 21 November 1823 } James Skinner
before me. John Heard Surrogate} Lewis Golding
Thomas Ratoone and Mary Watson, Executor and Executrix in the within testament
named, being duly sectoral did severally depose and say that the within instrument
contains the true last will and testament of John Rattoone the testator therein named
so far as these deponents know and as they verily believe, and that they will well
and truly perform the same by paying first the debts of the said deceased and then
the Legacies in the said testament specified so far as the goods shall and credits
of the said deceased can thereunto extend, and that they will make and exhibit unto
the Surogates office at New Brunswick a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular
the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased, that have or shall come to their

knowledge or possession or possession or to the possession of any other person or
persons for their uses, and under a just and true account, when thereunto lawfully required -
Sworn at Perth Amboy } Thos. Rattoone
the 21st day of November 1823} Mary Watson
before me - John Heard }
Surrogate }

Probate Records and Indexes, Pages 645-647
New Jersey. Surrogate's Court (Middlesex County)
Probate Place: Middlesex, New Jersey
Notes: Wills, Vol A-B, 1804-1824

Transcribed by Anne Lindgren
February 24 2024