Will of Edward Gaskill
August
22,1785
Courtesy
of Doctor James Stephens
My cousin from the same
grandfather John Francis Stephens
Married to Mary Ellen
Weekley
The will of Edward Gaskill, Lucretia's father, is a very important
document relating to the STEPHENS
history. The will, among other things,
gives proof of the maiden name of Lucretia, proof of the marriage of Lucretia
Gaskill to John STEPHENS, and names
the children of John and Lucretia. This
will also gives proof that Lucretia died before 22 August 1785. An abstract of Edward Gaskill's New Jersey
will is as follows:
22 August 1785. Gaskill, Edward, of
Springfield,
Burlington County; will
of. Son, Job, 1/2 of land and plantation adjoining land of Samuel Barker;
he paying L250. Son, Barzillai,
L550. Son, Thomas, the other 1/2 of
land and plantation; he paying L300.
Grandsons, John Stevens, Jr., James Stevens, Apollo Stevens and Stacy
Stevens (sons of John Stevens and Lucretia, his late wife, my dec'd daughter),
each L5, when 21. Residue and remainder
to the 3 sons: Barzillai, 1/2 part and Job and Thomas, each 1/4 part. Executors--sons, Job and Thomas.
Witnesses--Joseph Biddle, Sarah Biddle and Stacy Biddle.
Proven Sept. 13,
1796.
SPRINGFIELD,
BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
The following is a transcription from a photocopy of the original Will
#11666C, recorded
13 September 1796, in
Burlington County, New Jersey. Lib. 35,
page 419.
In The Name of God Amen, this Twenty
second Day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred Eighty
five. I, Edward Gaskill of Springfield in the County of Burlington of
Western Division of New Jersey Being of
sound Mind and Disposing Memory at this
time for the Disposing of the Worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to
bless me with Do Make and Ordain this and No other to be my Last Will and
Testament hereby Revoking all others by me Heretofore Made and first it is my
will that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid by my executors there
after named. - Item I give and Bequeath
unto my well Beloved son Job Gaskill
and to his heirs and assigns forever one moiety or equal half part of all my
Land and Plantation in Springfield afforesaid lying on the North and Westerly
side of the following Lines of Division
Viz Beginning at a State Corner
to his meadow in the line of land late Samuel Barker standing North Fifty five
Degr. West three Chains and Ninety
seven Line from a Stone by a Stump Corner to said Barker's land and running
then North forty seven degrees and a half
East four chains and ninety five Links to a Stake then South Sixty five
degrees East twenty Eight Line then North fifty degrees and three quarters East
fourteen chains and seventy seven links to a large Water oak then North sixty
nine degrees East Eleven Chains and
Eighty two links to a Stake standing twelve links North from a Black oak
Sapling then a northwesterly course to Thomas Antrams Line to as to Divide My
said land into Two Equal Parts the one of which Lying as afforesaid I give unto
my said son Job Gaskill and to his
heirs and assigns for Ever with and upon his or their paying unto my son Barzillai Gaskill or to his heirs or
assigns Two hundred Fifty Pounds in Gold or Silver within six months after my
decease. Item - I give and bequeath
unto my Well Beloved son Barzillai
Gaskill and to his Heirs and Assigns forever Five Hundred and fifty Pounds to be paid unto him by his Brothers
as herein directed. Item - I give and
bequeath unto my well Beloved son Thomas
Gaskill and to his heirs and assigns forever One Moiety or Equal half Part
of all my Land and Plantation in Springfield afforesaid Lying on the South and
Easterly side of the abovesaid Line of Division with and upon his or their
Paying unto my Said Son Barzellai Gaskill or to his heirs or assigns Three
Hundred Pounds in gold or silver within six months after my decease. --
Item - I give and Bequeath unto my well
beloved Grandsons John Stevens, Jun.,
James Stevens, Appollo Stevens, and
Stacy Stevens, sons (of John Stevens & Lucretia his late wife, my Daughter Deceased) to each of them five
Pounds Money as afforesaid to be Paid unto them by my said executor out of my
Personal Estate when they shall arrive Respectively to the age of twenty one
years or within six months after my decease.
Item - I give and Bequeath all the Residue and Remainder of my Estate
whatsoever one half Thereof unto my said son Barzellai and one fourth unto my
said son Job and one fourth to my said Son Thomas and to their Respective Heirs
and assigns for ever And Lastly I do
hereby ordain and appoint my said sons Job
Gaskill & Thomas Gaskill or
the survivor of them to be Executors to Execute this my said Last Will and
Testament.
his
Edward
Gaskill (His Seal)
mark
Signed Sealed & Published by the
said Edward Gaskill to be his Last Will & Testament in the Presence
Joseph Biddle
Sarah Biddle
Stacy Biddle
Burlington County
Sarah Biddle and Stacy Biddle two of
the witnesses to the within will who being duly affirmed according to Law, did declare and say that they saw Edward
Gaskill the Testator therein name and sign and seal the same and heard him
publish pronounce and to declare the within writing to be his last will and
testament, and that -?- doing thereof the said Testor was sound and of disposing
Mind and Memory as far as the affirmants know and as they verily believe and
that Joseph Biddle the then Subscribing Evidence, was present at the same time,
and signed his name as witness to the said will together with these affirmants
in the presence of the said Testator.
Sarah Biddle
Stacy Biddle
Taken before me at Burlington the
thirteenth day of September, 1796.
Wm. Griffith
Burlington County
Job Gaskill
and Thomas Gaskill Executors in the
within Testament named being duly affirmed according to Law, did declare and
say that the within Instrument contains the said last will and testament of
Edward Gaskill the Testator therein named, so far as they know and as they
verily believe that they will well and verily perform the same by paying first
the debts of the said deceased and then
the legacies in the Said Testament specified s far as the good Chattels and
Credits of the Said deceased can thereunto extend and that they will make and
exhibit into the Purarative(?) Office at Trenton a true and perfect Inventory
of all and -?- the goods chattels and Credits of the said Deceased that have or shall come to their knowledge
or possession or to the possession of any other person or persons for their
use, and under a -?- and -?- account when thereunto lawfully required.
Job Gaskill
Thomas Gaskill
Taken before me at Burlington the
Nineteenth day of September, 1796.
Wm. Griffith
NOTES
The above transcription was completed from a photocopy of the original
will of Edward Gaskill which was obtained from New Jersey by Mrs. LaNora
Nyquist, and kindly supplied to Dr. James Stephens.
The original spelling of the words in the will was followed as closely
as possible.
Dr. James F. Stephens 18
February 1988
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