Amanuensis Monday - Post #298: 1756 Will of Richard Cutter (1682-1756) of Woodbridge, N.J.

Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent  TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme years ago called "Amanuensis Monday."  John offers this definition for "amanuensis:" 

"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

The subject today is the 1756 will of Richard Cutter (1682-1756) of Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey:

[page 397 - right-hand page]

[pages 398-399]

[pages 400-401]

[page 402 - left-hand page]

The transcription of this record is:

[page 397, image 538, right-hand page]

[in left margin]

Richard Cutter

Will Recorded

22 Jan'y 1757

Exam'd

In the name of God Amen the twentyeth day of September

in the year of Christ One thousand Seven hundred and fifty six I Richard

Cutter of Woodbridge in the County of Middlesex and Province of East New Jersey

being sick and weak of Body but of sound and perfect mind & memory calling

to mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all

Men once to Dye Do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament –

And first I Give and recommend my Soul to God that gave it and for my

Body I commend it to the Dust to be Buried in a Christian like & decent

manner at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but I shall receive

the same again by the mighty Power of God and as touching such worldly Es-

tate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I Give Devise &

dispose of the same in manner following. Imprimis it is my will and I

do Order that all my just Debts and Funeral Charges be fully paid by my

Executors as soon as may be conveniently after my decease. Item I Give &

bequeath to my well beloved Wife Mercy Cutter the one equal third part

of all the Neat profit & Income of both my Grist Mill and Sawmill which

she shall have & enjoy for &during her natural life also I Give to my said

Wife the one half part of the priviledge use & benefit of my former Dwelling

House at the Cornfield Landing her part to be taken where she shall chuse

and also the use & benefit of the one half part of the Lands & Meadows lying

& adjoyning on the Northerly side of the said Dwelling House & on the North side

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of the said Dwelling House & on the North side of the Road that goes by

the same Bounded Westerly by the Lands herein after given to my Son

Richard Cutter Northerly by Zebulon Pike's Land Easterly in part by Will'm

Cutter's Land and partly by he great Creek including the Islands & Meadow

lying Northerly of Bradly's Creek which moiety shall remain to my

said wife during her natural life. Also I Give & bequeath to my Wife

aboves'd One Feather Bed & sufficient furniture & also the Sum or value of

fifty pounds of curr't money of this Province to be taken out of my Mo-

veable Estate in such particular things as my wife shall chuse & being

by her chosen they shall be Prized and Delivered to her by my Executors

and shall remain to her her Heirs & assigns for ever. Item I give &

Bequeath to my Eldest Son William Cutter the Dwelling House wherein he

now lives together with a piece of Land whereon it stands which Land

shall begin at a Stake planted in the line of my Land being nine Rods

westward from the great Buttonwood Tree that is near the South East Corner

of his House from which Stake it shall run eight Rods north to another

Stake planted for a Corner and from thence Easterly on a Strait line

parrallell with the front line down to the great Creek and from thence

down the said Creek as it runs to the afores'd Front line where it

joyns to the said Creek and from thence Westerly as the said line runs

to the first mentioned Stake and also the one equal half part of my Grist

Mill and Saw Mill including one half of the Stream & all the other priviledges

and Utensils to the said Mills now belonging or appartaining And also

hat Tract of Land on the South side of the Road opposite to my former

Dwelling House whereon the Barn and Orchard now stands as far West-

ward as the line of the Land I bought of Elisha Inslee together with all

that Tract of Salt Meadow which I bought of Zebulon Pike lying on the

South side of the last mentioned Land & on the North side of the Mill pond

(Excepting one acre and a half of said Meadow to be taken of the Wes-

terly end thereof which is hereby reserved for my Son Richard and

also the one third part of that Lott of Land on Strawberry Hill which I

bought of Richard Dole the said Third part to be taken off the Northerly

end of said Lott adjoyning to Zebulon Pikes Land and also the one equal

Third part of my Lott of Land call'd Ten Acres lying on the South side of

the Brook called Pike's Brook which shall be Divided to him and to his Brothers

herein after mentioned by Lott drawn for that purpose and also five acres of

Salt Meadow lying at Raraton on the Westward side of the Meadow called

Proprietors Meadow & on the North side of the Creek called Abrahams Creek

being that Meadow that was given to me by my father in law John Pike

and also the one equal third part of that Tract of Land which lyes on

and near the hill formerly called Lockhearts hill which belonged formerly

chiefly to John Whitcher with some other additions containing in all

about twenty seven acres which shall be divided to him & his two Brothers

hereafter named in quantity and quality and all abovesaid to remain

to him his Heirs and Assigns forever. Item I Give and bequeath to

my Son Richard Cutter the House and Lands which I bought of Elisha

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Insley and also that one acre & half of Salt meadow reserved as above

to be taken off the Westerly end of the Tract I bought of Zebulon Pike between

the Mill pond and the upland whereon the Barn stands and likewise the one

equal third part of that Lott of Land on Strawberry hill which I bought of

Richard Dole which third part of his shall be taken of the South end of s'd Lott

& adjoyned to his House Lott and also the one equal third part of that Tract or

Parcel of Land which lyes on & near the hill formerly called Lockhearts hill

which formerly belonged chiefly to John Whitcher with other additions con-

taining in all about twenty Seven acres which shall be Divided to him & his

two brothers as abovesaid in quantity and quality and likewise the one equal

third part of my Lott of Land call'd Ten Acres lying on the South side of the

brook call'd Pikes brook which shall be Divided to him & his two brothers by Lotts

drawn for that purpose and also one third part of that fifteen acres Lott of

Salt Marsh lying in Raraton Meadows on the South side of the great Creek which

shall be taken of the East end of the Lott and also the one equal half particular

of my Grist Mill & Saw mill including one half part of the Stream & all the

other Priviledges and utensils to the said Mills belonging or appertaining

all abovesaid to remain to him his Heirs & assigns forever. Item I Give and

bequeath to my Son Joseph Cutter all that Tract of Land lying on the Easterly

side of the Road that goe to Metuchin between the Lands of Isaac Tappen &

David Evans containing near about forty acres being one twenty two acre Lott

& a ten acre Lott Drawn in the right of John Whitcher & a small addition

taken up in a Ten pound right all adjoyning together also that Six

acre Lott of Salt Meadow lying on the West side of the highway that goes

from the upland to the bridge over the House Lot Creek in Raraton meadows

all abovesaid to him his Heirs and assigns for ever. Item I Give bequeath

to my Son Ebenezer Cutter all that my ancient Dwelling House & Land &

meadow adjoyning lying on the North side of the Road that goes from Corn-

field Landing to the Amboy Road Bounded Westerly by the Lands of my

Son Richard Cutter Northerly by Lands of Zebulon Pike Easterly on the

great Creek in part & partly by Lands of my Son William Cutter together with

an Island of Meadow lying on the North side of that Lott of Land on Strawberry

hill which I bought of Richard Dole his part shall be bounded South west

on the Road and northeast by the Lands of my Son Richard Cutter the Di-

vision lines to lye cross the whole Lott parrallel with the line of Zebulon Pike's

Land moreover I Give and bequeath to my abovesaid son Ebenezer Cutter the

one equal third part of my Lott of Land called Ten acres lying on the South

side of the brook called Pikes brook which shall be Divided to him & his two

Brothers as abovesaid by Lots drawn for that purpose the Division Lines to

run parallel with the Westermost line of said Lott, and also the one third

part of that Tract or parcel of Land which lyes on & near the hill for-

merly called Lockhearts hill being the Land which formerly belonged

chiefly to John Whitcher with other Additions containing in all about

twenty seven acres which shall be Divided as abovesaid in quantity and

quality all given to my said Son Ebenezer Cutter in this & the above sheet

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shall remain to him his Heirs and Assigns for ever. Item I Give and

bequeath to my Son Samuel Cutter the one equal half part of my sixty

acre Lott of Woodland lying in Woodbridge near the place called the

Pumpkin patch the whole being bounded Easterly and westerly by William

Browns Land northerly by the County line and Southerly by the highway

his half part shall be taken of the Easterly side of the whole Lott which

shall be Divided by number of Acres and Shall remain to him his Heirs &

assigns for ever and likewise my Will is that my Son Samuel Shall pay

to my Son John Cutter the Sum of Ten pounds of curr't money of this Province

within the space of one year next after my decease. Item I give to my

Son Ephraim Cutter the residue or Westerly half part of my sixty acre Lott

of woodland lying near the Pumpkin patch the whole being bounded

East & West by William Browns Land Northerly by the County Line and

Southerly by the highway which shall be equally Divided by number of

acres to him his Heirs & assigns for ever and likewise my Will is that my

Son Ephraim shall pay to my Son John the Sum of Ten pounds of curr't money

of this Province within the space of one year after my decease and fur-

thermore my Will is that my two Sons Samuel and Ephraim Cutters

shall have occupy and enjoy all my Priviledge Right and property

(which I have and hold by a Lease) in and upon the Plantation that was

formerly John Skinners to be by these my two Sons equally enjoyed

and the Rents and conditions of & in said Lease mentioned by them equally

paid & performed according to the Tenor of said Lease as I my self ought

to do and my Executors to be discharged from any manner of right of

having doing or paying any thing in the said Lease mentioned or

intended. Moreover I Give to my Son William Cutter all that Lott

of Woodland lying on the North side of Piscataway Road Containing

Twenty acres which was taken up in the right of John Whitcher

Bounded East by Moses Collyers Land and West by Samuel Comptons

Land to remain to him his Heirs and assigns forever. Likewise I

further Give to my Son Richard Cutter all that piece of Woodland

being Twenty Acres bounded Easterly by Alexander Edgars Land Sou-

therly by Jonathan Rowlands Land and West by Israel Thomels Land

to him his Heirs & assigns forever. And furthermore I Give to

my Son Joseph Cutter all that Lott of woodland Containing about nine-

teen Acres Bounded North by Jonathan Congers Land East by Land of

Israel Thomel & West by James Ayers his Land all to him his Heirs

and Assigns for ever. Moreover my Will is and I do order that my Son

William Cutter shall pay to my Daughter Sarah Jaqueth the Sum of

five pounds and to my Daughter Hannah Dennis the Sum of Ten pounds

and to my Daughter Esther Marsh the Sum of five pounds all in curr't

money of this Province within the space of one year after my decease,

and also my Son Richard Cutter shall pay to my Daughter Rebecka

Cutter the Sum of Twenty pounds in curr't money of this Province within

the space of one year after my deceased And also my Son Joseph Cutter

shall pay unto my Daughter Mary Baker the Sum of Twenty pounds

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of curr't money of this Province within the space of one year all to

remain to my abovesaid Daughters and each of them their Heirs & assigns

forever. And further it is my Will and I do order that my three Eldest

Sons William Cutter Richard Cutter and Joseph Cutter Shall joyntly & equally

pay and discharge all my funeral Charges the Probate of my Will and all

my other just Debts that shall be found due at the time of my decease

each of them shall pay a third part of the whole. And further it is my

Will and I do order that if any of all my Sons do bring an accompt of Debt a-

gainst my Estate after my Decease for Services done for me or mine before my

decease then the Party so proceeding and Demanding shall be forever thereupon

debarr'd & cut of from any Legacies herein given and the same shall be equally

Divided amongst all the rest of my Children. And furthermore I Give to my

Son Samuel Cutter the Westermost third part of that my fifteen Acres of Salt Marsh

lying in Raraton Meadows on the South side of the great Creek Bounded North

west on the highway & South on Parkers Pattent to him his Heirs & assigns for

ever. Also I give to my Son Ephraim Cutter the remaining third part of that

my fifteen Acres of Salt Marsh in Raraton Meadows lying & to lye between

that part given to my Sons Richard and Samuel the Division to be made

by South line runing through the whole Lott to him his Heirs and

assigns for ever. And further I Give to my son William Cutter the

one half part of those Freehold Rights which I bought of Richard Dole

the other half part of said Rights to be equally Divided between my

two Sons Richard and Joseph Cutter with all the undivided Lands

yet to be taken up or found belonging to the said Rights to them their

Heirs and assigns for ever. And further I Give to my two Sons

William and Richard Cutters all that Ten Acres of Salt Meadow

which I bought of Richard Dole lying at Redroot Landing Bounded

South by Carkis his Lott and North by John Taylors Lott to each of my said

Sons an equal part of the whole to them their Heirs and assigns for ever.

And for the better enabling my Sons William Richard & Joseph Cutters

to pay & discharge all my just Debts & funeral Charges & Legacys as abovesaid

I do hereby Give to them my said three Eldest Sons all the remaining part

of my Moveable Estate that is not before herein given away to my Wife to

them their Heirs and assigns for ever. And Lastly I do hereby nominate

constitute and appoint my three Sons William Cutter Richard Cutter and

Joseph Cutter to be my Executors of this my last Will and Testament And

I do hereby utterly revoke & disannull all & every other former Wills ^Testaments^ & Legacies

& Executors by me at any time heretofore named, Willed & bequeathed Ratify-

ing & Confirming this & no other to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness

whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day & year above written.

Signed Sealed published pronounced & Declared     }

by the said Richard Cutter this to be his last Will & }      Rich'd Cutter {L S}

Testament in presence of us the Subscribers             }

William Knt Richard Jaques Joseph + Haveland David Donham

Be it Remembered that on the twenty Second day of January One thousand Seven

hundred and fifty seven William Kent and Joseph Haviland two of the within Witnesses

personally came before me Thomas Bartow duly Authorized to prove Wills and they

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being Sworn on the holy Evangelists to do Depose that they were present and Saw

Richard Cutter the Testator within named Sign and Seal the within written Will

and heard him Publish and Declare the same to be his last Will and Testament

and that at the doing thereof he was of sound mind & memory to the best of their

knowledge and as they verily believe and that at the same time Richard Jaques

and David Donham were present and Signed as Witnesses together with

them the Deponents in the Testators presence. Tho's Bartow

Be it also Remembered that at the same time William Cutter

Richard Cutter and Joseph Cutter the Executors within named were qua-

lified by taking the usual Oath of Executors as by Law appointed.

                                                                          Tho's Bartow

The source citation for this record is:

New Jersey Surrogate's Court, Middlesex County, Wills, Liber F, pages 397-402 (images 538-541), Richard Cutter will, 1756; "New Jersey, Wills and Probate Records, 1656-1999," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 2 September 2015, images no longer available); citing original data from New Jersey County, District and Probate Courts.

Richard Cutter was married twice - first in 1706 to Mary Pike (1687-1721).  Some Cutter researchers list these children to Richard and Mary (Pike) Cutter:

*  Sarah Cutter (1707-1758)
*  Rebecca Cutter (1709-????)
*  Elizabeth Cutter (1711-1750)
*  John Cutter (1713-1759)
*  Ephraim Cutter (1715-1770)
*  Esther Cutter (1717-1784)
*  Hannah Cutter (1719-1756)
*  Richard Cutter (1721-1768)

Richard Cutter married second to Mercy Kelsey (1698-1760).  The Cutter surname book lists these children for Richard and Mercy (Kelsey) Cutter:

*  William Cutter (1722-1780)
*  Joseph Cutter (1725-1767)
*  Mary Cutter (1728-????)
*  Rebecca Cutter (1730-????)
*  Ebenezer Cutter (1732-????)
*  Samuel Cutter (1734-1759)

The will of Richard Cutter mentions all of those children, except for the first Rebecca and Elizabeth who died in 1750.  

The will says that William, Richard and Joseph are the three eldest sons.  That doesn't match the list above very well.  But the son Richard Cutter's gravestone says he died in the 46th year of his age, so born about 1722.  The gravestone for William Cutter says he died in 1780 in the 58th year of his age, so he was born about 1723.  The gravestone for Joseph Cutter says he died in 1767 in the 42nd year of his age, so he was born about 1725.  Of course, the gravestones may be wrong!

Mercy (Kelsey) Cutter also wrote a will in 1759, and mentioned only her living children - William, Ebenezer, Rebecca and Mary.  She doesn't mention Joseph or Samuel (who died in 1759).

'Tis a puzzle!  I am descended from William Cutter (1722-1780) who married Mary Kent (1726-????), and then their son, Stephen Cutter (1745-1823).  I note that William Kent was a witness to the will of Richard Cutter in 1756.  Could he be a father or a brother of Mary (Kent) Cutter?  

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Copyright (c) 2015, Randall J. Seaver

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