The Last Will and Testament of Johannis Fort

Johannis Fort Will

As transcribed by Ginny from:
Collections of the New York Historical Society for the Year 1905
Abstracts of Wills on File in the Surrogates Office, City of New York.
Volume XIV - June 12, 1786-February 13, 1796 [AML-LH]
Page 342 of Liber 39
Page 91 of Volume XIV

Page 342.-September 8, 1786. JOHANNIS FORT, Precinct of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York, to my wife Rebekah, bedding and her wearing apparel; Also the improvement of the equal undivided half of the farm on which I now live; Also the proportion of the profit of the grist mill, she paying one half of the necessary expense while she remains my widow; Also the use of the residue of my personal estate; at her death or marriage, the same to be divided between my two sons, Abraham and John T., or their heirs; to my eldest son, Abraham, my large Dutch Bible for his birthright; Also one lot of land which I purchased of Marcus VanBonsell; Also the lot which I purchased of Robert Roseboon and others; Also the lot I purchased of Johannis Lansing; Also the equal undivided half of a certain lot (which I purchased in company with William Jacokes, late of Poughkeepsie Precinct, deceased) of Oliver Delancee; Also my two black slaves, Foot and Sip, to him, his heirs forever; to my eldest daughter, Elizabeth, wife of James Bussing, £100, to be paid to her equally by my two sons, or heirs, one year after my decease; to my daughter, Hannah wife of Aaron Low £100, to be paid two years after my decease equally by my two sons; to my daughter Deborah, wife of Casparus Westervelt, £100, to be paid three years after my decease equally by my town sons; to my daughter Franantije, wife of Andrew Low, £100, to be paid four years after my decease equally by my two sons; to my daughter Aleda, £100, to be paid five years after my decease by my two sons; to my son, John T., all the residue of my real estate; Also four horses, one yoke of oxen, three cows, bedding and furniture, to him, his heirs forever; Also my two black slaves, Teurc and Frank. I appoint my son Abraham, Casparus Westervelt, Samuel Mathers, executors.

Witnesses, Benjamin Westervelt, farmer; Gilead Hunt, Jonathan Elderkin, farmer. Proved October 16, 1786