Last Will and Testament Hazael Shepard Town of Pittstown |
In the Name of God Amen, I Hazael SHEPARD of Pittstown in the County of Rensselaer in the State of New York, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, being in good health of Body and of sound mind and memory, Blessed be Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say:
1st, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Anna SHEPARD all that shall remain of the household goods and wearing apparel that she brought with her at the time of our marriage and the wearing apparel that she shall make and get during our cohabitation together and also one good Feather Bed and Beding sufficient for the same, two good Cows, one Riding Horse and Ten Good Sheep, all to be such as she may choose at and after my decease, to be and remain hers as long as she remains my Widow.
Secondly, I also give and devise to my said wife Anna Shepard the use and occupation of all and singular the lot of Land Leased by Volkert P. Dow to Timothy Millard and all the buildings thereof together with the Stove in the house as long as the said Anna Shepard shall remain my Widow after that time I give and bequeath the two Cows, Riding Horse, Bed and Beding, the Ten Sheep and household goods to my two sons Charles SHEPARD and Giles SHEPARD their heirs, executors, administrators or assigns forever to be equally divided between them.
Thirdly, I give and bequeath to my two Sons, Charles Shepard and Giles Shepard their heirs and assigns all the rest and residue of my personal estate, Farming Tools, household goods and wearing apparel, surveying Instruments and Chain and all and every of them that shall remain at my decease (my just debts being first paid) to be equally divided between them the said Charles Shepard and Giles Shepard their heirs and assigns.
Fourth, I give and devise the said lot of Land leased by the aforesaid Volkert P. Dow to Timothy Millard (after Anna Shepard my Wife shall cease to be my Widow) to my son Charles Shepard his heirs & assigns forever.
5th, I give and bequeath to my eldest daughter Betsey the wife of James OLMSTED Two Dollars.
6th I give and bequeath to my Second Daughter Mary W. Wife of Stephen HUNT Two Dollars.
7th I give and devise to my two Sons Charles Shepard and Giles Shepard their heirs and assigns forever all the Lands that I have and hold in a tract granted by Letters patent to Nathaniel Williams, Abiah Bugby, John Boardman, Joseph D & Roger Letson, and Hazael Shepard equally as tenants in Common.
Lastly I do will that my Executors hereinafter named do see that all my just debts be paid out of my estate. And I do hereby appoint Anna Shepard my Wife Executrix, Robert Wood and Charles Shepard all of Pittstown, my Executors to this my last Will & Testament.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty-fifth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Sixteen.
Hazael Shepard (LS)
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Signed Sealed published and delivered by the abovenamed Hazael Shepard to be his last will and testament in presence of us who have hereunto inscribed our names as Witnesses.
Walter Van Vechten
State of New York
Be it remembered that on the twenty-eighth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen personally appeared before me Benjamin Smith Esquire Surrogate of the said County of Rensselaer, D. S. Benway one of the subscribing Witnesses to the Will of Hazael Shepard late of the town of Pittstown in the said County deceased, who being duly sworn declared that he did see the said Hazael Shepard seal and execute the annexed written Instrument purporting to be the last will and testament of the said Hazael Shepard bearing date the twenty-fifth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen and heard him publish and declare the same as and for his last Will and Testament, that at the time thereof he the said Hazael Shepard was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the knowledge and belief of the said D. S. Benway and that he the said D. S. Benway together with Walter Van Vechten & William Woodward the other witnesses to the said Will severally subscribed their hands and names to the said Will as Witnesses thereto in the presence of the Testator and of each other.
Ben. Smith
The Letters Testamentary granted unto Charles Shepard Executor upon the last Will & testament of Hazael Shepard deceased.
Recorded July 28th 1819.
The people of the State of New York by the Grace of God free and Independent, L. S., To all to whom these presents shall come or may Concern send Greeting:
Know Ye, that at the City of Troy in the County of Rensselaer on the twenty-eighth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Nineteen before Benjamin Smith Esquire Surrogate of our said County, the last Will and testament of Hazael Shepard late of the town of Pittstown in the County of Rensselaer and State of New York deceased (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) was proved and is now approved and allowed by us, and the said deceased having whilst he lived and at the time of his death Goods, Chattels or Credits within this State (by means whereof the proving and registering the said Will and the granting Administration of all and singular the said Goods, Chattels and Credits and also the auditing allowing and final discharging the account thereof doth belong to us) the Administration of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said deceased and any way concerning his Will is granted unto Charles Shepard one of the Executors in this said Will named, he being first duly sworn, will faithfully to Administer the same and to make and exhibit a True and perfect Inventory of all and singular the said Goods, Chattels and Credits and also to render a just and true account thereof when thereunto required. In Testimony Whereof we have caused the seal of Office of our said Surrogate to be hereunto affixed.
Witness Benjamin Smith Esquire Surrogate of the said County at the City of Troy the twenty-eighth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Nineteen.
Ben. Smith
D. S. Benway
William Woodward
Rensselaer Co. Sg.