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In the
Name of God Amen. I Jonathan Lewis of Staten Island in the
County
of Richmond and State of New York being sick and weak of
body
but of sound mind and memory thanks be given unto God for
the
same calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing
that
it is appointed for all men once to die do make ordain and
appoint
this my last will and testament in manner following
(that
is to say) First I Commit my soul to Almighty God who gave it
hoping
for pardon of my sins through the merits of Christ my blessed
redeemer
and my body to the earth there to be buried in such de-
cent
manner as my Executors herein after named shall think fit and
as
touching such worldly estate wherewith it hat pleased
God to
bless me I dispose of the same in manner following. I will
and
ordain that my Executors of this my last will and testament
shall
dispose of all my goods & Chattels, lands, mills and tene-
ments
at any time or times and in such parts and parcels as
they
in their discretion shall think fit within the term of two
years
after my deceased except such articles as shall herein af-
ter
bequeathed or otherwise disposed of. And I do by these presents
give
grant will and transfer to my said Executors full pow-
er and
authority to grant bargain sell alien convey and con-
firm
all my lands, mills, and tenements within the County of
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Richmond
aforesaid to any person or persons and their heirs and assigns
forever
in fee simple to by all and every such lawful ways & means in the
law as
to my ^said^ Executors or their Council learned in the law shall seem
fit
or
necessary. Imprimis I give bequeath and demise to my dearly beloved
wife
Mary
Lewis my best horse and riding Chair two of my best Cows of her own
Choosing
with sufficient of my household furniture to furnish one room
together
with the sum of one hundred pounds lawful money of the State
aforesaid
to be first taken and levyed out of my estate and that in lieu
of her
dowry or power of thirds in or upon my estate I Likewise will and or-
der
that my beloved wife Mary Lewis shall have the use of my Negro wench
and
the yearly interest of the sum of fifty pounds during her life or the
time
she shall remain my widow. I will and order that my Executors
do
make use of the sum of ten pounds of my estate for the further
education
of my
son Joseph Lewis. I will and order that after my just debts funer-
al
Charges and the above mentioned dowry and legacy are paid and
legally
discharged that the remainder of my estate be divided among
my
Children in manner following (that is to say) Item I give bequeath
and
demise to my son Jonathan Lewis his heirs and assigns forever the
one
eighth part of my estate. Item I give bequeath and demise to my son
David
Lewis his heirs and assigns forever the one eighth part of my es-
tate.
Item I give bequeath and demise to my son James Lewis his heirs
and
assigns forever the one eighth part of my estate. Item I give
bequeath
and
demise to my son Israel Lewis his heirs and assigns forever the
one
eighth part of my estate. Item I give bequeath and demise to my
son
Joseph Lewis his heirs and assigns forever the one eight part of my
estate.
Item I give bequeath and demise to my daughter Sarah De-
groot
her heirs and assigns forever the one sixteenth part of my estate.
Item I
give bequeath and demise to my daughter Catharine Hutch-
inson
her heirs and assigns forever the one sixteenth part of my estate.
Item I
give bequeath and demise to my daughter Mary Lewis her heirs
and
assigns forever the one sixteenth part of my estate. Item I give be-
queath
and demise to my daughter Francis Lewis her heirs and assigns
forever
the one sixteenth part of my estate. Item I give bequeath and
demise
to my daughter Elizabeth Lewis her heirs and assigns forever the
one
sixteenth part of my estate. Item I give bequeath and demise to my
daughter
Phebe Lewis her heirs and assigns forever the one sixteenth part
of my
estate. I will and order that my Executors ^do^ pay none of the
lega-
cies
above mentioned to any of my Children until they have arrived to the
full
age of twenty one years but at any time the Executors shall have any
money
on hand being part of my estate and shall think proper to make
a
dividend thereof amongst those of my Children that are of the above
mentioned
age those of them that are under that age shall have the
Interest
of such their dividend paid yearly towards their support until
they
arrive to full age to receive such dividend or their full legacy. I
likewise
will and order that if any of my Children should die under
age or
without issue and not having received their legacy that such their
part
dividend
or legacy shall be divided among my surviving Children their heirs
and
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assigns
as above directed. I Likewise recommend to my Executors that they
at the
time of the sale of my houses and lands do reserve such part
or
parcel of my houses or lands or house and land as they in their
discretion
shall think convenient for the reception and continuing
of my
family together during the life or widowhood of my beloved
wife
Mary Lewis and after her decease or discontinuance of widow-
hood
such house and land so reserved (if any be) shall be sold as also
my
Negro wench and the money arising therefrom be divided
among
my Children in manner and form aforesaid. And Lastly
I
nominate constitute and appoint to see this my last will and
testament
performed my beloved wife Mary Lewis Executrix
my
trusty friend and brother in law David Latourette my
sons
Jonathan Lewis and David Lewis all of Staten Island and
County
aforesaid Executors of this my last will and testament
hereby
revoking disannulling and making void all other wills
by me
formerly made and declaring this and no other to be my only
last
will and testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto
set my
hand and seal this twenty eighth day of October in
the
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eigh-
ty
five 1785. Jonathan Lewis [L S]
Signed sealed published
pronounced
and declared by the said Jonathan Lewis as
his
last will and testament in the presence of us who in his
presence
and in the presence of each other have hereunto sub-
scribed
our names, John Latourette Abraham Vail Edward Hall
{Richmond
County } ss: Be it Remembered that on the fifth day
of
January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun-
dred
and eight-six personally came and appeared before
me
Adrian Bancker Surrogate of the said County Abraham
Vail
of the said County Weaver and Edward Hall of the said
County
Schoolmaster and being duly affirmed and sworn
the
said Abraham Vail on his affirmation and the said Ed-
ward
Hall on his oath declared that they did see the said
Jonathan Lewis sign and seal the above written instrument
purporting to be the will of the said Jonathan Lewis bearing
date the twenty eight day of October in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and eighty five and heard him
publish and declare the same as and for his last will and
testament, that at the time thereof he the said Jonathan
Lewis was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best
of the knowledge and belief of them the affirmant and Depo-
nent and that John Latourette together with the affirmant
and Deponent subscribed the said will as witnesses there-
to in the Testator Presence.
Adrian Bancker Surrogate
