- Will of Daniel Bray, Written: April 12, 1813 -
Proved: Dec 17, 1819
In the name of God, Amen. I Daniel Bray of the township of
Kingwood, in the county of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey, Being weak in body, but of sound and perfect mind and memory, Blessed by Almighty God for the same, Do make and Publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. - And first all my debts, of which there are but few, and none of magnitude, are to be punctually and speedily paid, and the legacies hereinafter bequeatherd, are to be discharged as soon as circumstances will permit, and in the manner directed.
Item, to my dealy beloved wife Mary Bray, I give and bequeath the use, profit and benefit, of all that Part of my Plantation purchased by me of James Drake, Together with all the buildings thereon, to reside upon, and dwell in, while she remains my widow; - The residue of my real estate consisting of a farm given or devised to me by
Dennis Wolverton (my wife's father) whereupon my son Jonathan Bray now resides and a lott of Land purchased By me from Henry Hone, and likewise one other lott of Land purchased from Jonathan Rittenhouse, hereinafter named within as short a Term after my decease as they may think proper. The money arising from the sale thereof, to be divided equally between my children that survive me, sons and daughters to share alike. As a further provision for my beloved wife I give and bequeath to her, one horse saddle and bridle, and two cows, all of which she may use for herself from my whole stock. Of my household and kitchen furniture she may select and retain any quantity required for her comfort and convenience, and likewise of the provisions then on hand. The money due to me upon Bonds, Notes and book accounts, I order and direct one hundred Dollars to be applied for purpose of purchasing Tombstones for the graves of myself and wife with such inscriptions
thereon as my executors may think proper to direct, the duty of Procuring and placing them I desire my executor to perform in due time after the decease of myself or wife.
The money that may be on hand at the time of my decease I order and direct to be divided and distributed in equal shares between my wife and all my surviving children as soon after my decease as may be convenient. And all the sums due upon Bonds and Notes and books accounts, except one hundred Dollars already appropriated, to be distributed and or paid in the same manner, that is, in equal shares to my wife and all my surviving children, as soon after my decease as those sums can be collected.
The Privileges herein granted and the sums of money ordered to be paid to my wife is meant to be in lieu of her right of dower and it is expected she will receive it as such. I give and bequeath to each of my grandsons, Daniel B. Rittenhouse, son of Edward Rittenhouse, twenty dollars, and to Daniel B. Rittenhouse, son of Jonathan Rittenhouse, the like sum of Twenty dollars, to be paid to them when they attain the age of twenty-one years. If either of them should die under that
age, let the survivor take both sums, if both die under that age, then my will is that these two sums be equally divided and paid to my own sons. I further devise and direct that my wearing apparel be equally divided between my sons.
All the rest of my personal property consisting of stock and farming utensils and household goods not bequeathed already to my wife I direct and order to be sold and the money arising therefrom to be equally divided between my surviving children which at present are John Bray, Jonathan Bray, Andrew Bray, Wilson Bray, and Daniel Bray, daughters Elizabeth Rittenhouse, Delila Rittenhouse, Hannah Blackwell
and Susan Bray.
And further it is my will and I do hereby order that soon after the decease of my wife or whenever she ceases to remain my widow the homestead farm upon which I now reside, already described, and is the same purchased by me from James Drake, the use of which has been herein given for her support, the whole of this farm with the improvements therein is to be sold by my executors or the survivor of
them and likewise the personal property bequeathed to her by me, all the money arising from the sale of this last described real and personal Property, as well as what sums may remain due to her or in her hands of the legacies herein above given to her by me are to be equally divided or paid in equal shares to my children above enumerated sons and daughters to share alike, which with all other legacies herein named, for their use, I give and bequeath to them,
their heirs and assigns forever. And if it should so happen that if any of my children should die before me the heirs of such deceased, shall notwithstanding receive all the benefits of the bequest in the same manner as if he or she was actually living at the time. Having herein authorized and directed my executors to sell my real estate I do hereby authorize them to convey or give title for the same, which
to all intents and purposes whatsoever, Shall be as good and effectual as any Deed or Deeds which I myself could now give or at any time could have given.
And lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my well beloved son John Bray of the city of Philadelphia and my esteemed son-in-law Edward Rittenhouse and my friend John Waterhouse, both of the Township of Kingwood in the County of Hunterson and State of New Jersey, Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twelfth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirteen.
Daniel Bray (seal)
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Daniel Bray to be his last Will and Testament, in the presence of me, who have herein subscribed our names as witnesses in the Presence of the Testator and likewise in the presence of each other.
James Scott
William Bonham
David Lake
Proved Dec. 17, 1819, Hunterdon Co., Vol. 3, Page 253, Trenton File 1641 S, which is in error under Sussex County. It should have been filed under Hunterdon.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mfludvigsen&id=I5644
|