The Will of John Ferris of Westchester, Province of New York (1715) *
In the name of God Amen the Ninth Day of May in the Year of our Lord God One Thousand Seven Hundred & fifteen I John Ferris of the Borough and Town of Westchester being Sick and weak of Body but of perfect Mind and Memory thanks be Given unto God Therefore Calling into mind the mortality of my Body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to Die Do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following That is to say first and principally I Give my Soul in to the hands of God that Gave it me and for my Body I Commend it to the Earth to be buried in Christian and Decent Manner hoping at the General Resurrection I shall receive the Same again by the Mighty power of God and as touching suching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with I Dispose of In manner and form following vizt. Imprimis I Give & Bequeath unto my Son John Ferris five shillings and to my other three Sons Samuel James and Jonathan Ferris the Sum of five Shillings apiece to be paid to them within one year after my Decease which said Legacies shall be paid by my Executors out of my personal Estate Also I Will and Bequeath unto my Son Peter Ferris All that my Housing out Housing Barnes Stables Gardens orchards &c together with my five Home Lotts and all and Singular the meadows lying at the Rear of said Lotts as also ye Lott Of Land lying betwixt the Highway that leads to Thomas Haddens Mill and the way that leads from Brunckes to Stony Brook with a fifty pound priviledg of Commonage And also all that my Land at Brunckes Containing Twenty four acres be it more or Less, But be it provided always that there shall be A Rod Square free for all friends & friendly peoples to Bury their Dead in the place where they formerly Buried without any Let Hinderance or molestation whatsoever And also I do appoint and order that my said Son Peter or his Heirs or assigns Shall Pay or Cause to be paid unto my two Daughters Pheby Burling and Hannah Mott or to their assigns the Full and Just Sum of Twenty pounds apiece of Currant Money of Newyork In manner and form following Vizt. Unto Hannah Mott ye Sum of twenty pounds within one year after my Decease and unto my Daughter Pheby Burling twenty pounds within two years after my Decease and if it should so happen that either of my said Daughters Pheby Burlin or Hannah Mott Should happen to Die before the Receipt of Such Legacys then my will & mind is that the Legacys left to either of them Shall be Equally Divided amongst her Children that should so happen to Die and if my said Son Peter or his heirs or assigns to neglect refuse or delay to pay the Legacys above Specified to my Said two Daughters Pheby and Hannah then my will and mind is that the orchard and meadow Adjoyning to the Lott of Richard Ward shall be Sold by my Executors so far as will Extend to pay the Same with Charges and no further And my Will and mind further is that my said Son Peter Shall not Sell or dispose of any part or parcel of ye Houses Lands or Tenements without the Consent of my Executors or any two of them And also I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Peter Ferris All that my fifty Acre Lott of Land lying in the Long Reach Lands So Called (provided he Defend it and not otherwise And if in Case my said Son Peter do deny or Refuse to Defend the Land then my Will and mind is that it shall be Disposed of by my Executors to any of my Children which will appear to Defend the same Gratis And my Will and mind further is that all my Debts and funeral Expences be first paid out of my personal Estate by my Executors hereafter named Then my Will and mind is that my Beloved wife Grace Ferris shall have the third part of all my psonal Estate both within Doors and without And all the Rest and residue of my personal Estate to be Divided amongst my four Daughters Vizt. Martha Pheby Hannah and Sarah And I Do Nominate authorize and appoint my three Sons John James and Jonathan to be my Executors and Feoffees In Trust of this my Last Will & Testament and I do Revoke Disannul and make void all former Wills by me made and this my Last Will and Testament to Remain in full force and virtue In Witness whereof I the said John Ferris Senr. have hereunto put to my hand and Seal this ninth Day of May in the first year of his Majesties Reign and in the Year of our Lord 1715.
John Ferris (seal)
Signed Sealed and Delivered published and Declared in the presence of us to be his Last Will and Testament
- Jeremiah Fowler
- William [can’t read]
- Daniel Clark
- William Smithn
Probated on 25 Feb. 1715/16, and Letters of Administration granted to John Ferris, James Ferris, and Jonathan Ferris, the Executors named, on 1 Nov. 1716.
* Transcribed by John A. Maltby from New York County Probate, Liber 8, p. 391-393.