WILL WRITTEN BY  JOHN STEPHENS 

DATED 2 JAN. 1787

Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey

Courtesy of Doctor James Stephens

 

     The following is a transcription from a photocopy of the original Will #5955M,

     recorded 23 March 1787, in Monmouth County, New Jersey.  Lib. 29, page 303.

 

I, John Stevens, of the Township of Upper Freehold, in the county of Monmouth, and in the State of East New Jersey, Blacksmith, being weakly of body, but of a perfect and sound mind and memory, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in form following.  First of all I will that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be made by my executors.  Item, it is my will that my saw mill shall be sold by my executors.  Beginning at the lower post of the saw mill on the East side running about a chain and a half nearly an East course to the great road then along the great road almost a South  course about a chain and a half then down into the channel of the creek then down the creek to the saw mill race then up the race to the place of beginning being about two or more acres more or less.  Item, I give and bequeath unto my son James STEPHENS a lott of land Beginning in the line of John Antram about half a chain West of first run next the house where I live running pretty near a South course at the first long ridge that runs through the field to the horse pasture to the ditch bank then along by the side of the new meadow near about East five chains then nearly a North course to the line of John Antrim, then along Antrim's line to the place of Beginning, be it three acres more or less to him and his Heirs lawfully begotten when he arrives at the age of twenty-one.  Item, I give and bequeath to my son Apollo STEPHENS another lott of land adjoining his Brother James, lying to the Eastward, running nearly the same course to the Right-hand bar post going into the Island Meadow, then near a North course to John Antrim's line, to him and his Heirs lawfully begotten when he arrives at the age of twenty- one years.  It is my will that those two lots shall be equally divided according to quantity and quality.  It is my will adjoining this last lot that there shall be a rod and a half in width to be for a road, laid out for a road to John Antrim's line for the privilege of my sons that have a back part of my plantation.  Item, I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Stevens a lott of land beginning in Antrim's line at the East corner of the land running partly South East to a fence running between the middle meadow and the island Meadow, then along that fence nearly a South Course nearly two chains to a Stake in that fence, then nearly a West course to the corner of that lane, then to Antrim's line, to him and his Heirs lawfully begotten when he arrives at the age of twenty-one years.  Item, I give and bequeath unto my Son Edward a Lott of Land Beginning at a Stake in the fence between the Island meadow and the middle meadow, running near an East course to the upper meadow fence where the ditch runs under the fence, then a North course up the fence to John Antrim's line, then down Antrim's line towards the saw mill till it comes opposite the fence that runs between the Island meadow and middle meadow, then down that fence to the place of beginning, to him and his Heirs lawfully begotten.  Item, I give and bequeath unto my son John Stevens a lott of land beginning at a Black Ash, a corner for John Antrim and running along the line of Thomas Shinn, twelve chains to a corner of Eber Decois then near a West course four chains to a stake, then nearly a North West course, making of it two chains at the line of John Antrim, then along Antrim's line to the place of beginning, to him and his Heirs lawfully begotten when he arrives at the age of twenty-one years.  Item, I likewise give and bequeath unto my son John Stevens the house and land adjoining where John Steward (or Shepard ?) now lives, beginning at a gum tree by the Mill pond, then straight across the road, near an East course one chain and  an half, then a South course in the field, to run that course until it comes to the Orchard, to take in two rows of Apple trees, then through the Orchard down to the Mill pond, then down the Mill pond to the place of beginning, to him and his Heirs lawfully begotten forever.  Item, I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Stevens the House and Lot wherein William Fenton now lives to him and his Heirs lawfully begotten when he arrives at the age of twenty-one years.  Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel Stevens the house that I now live in beginning on John Antrim's line about a half chain length West of the little run next the house then running nearly South to the ditch bank at the horse pasture then along the side of the new pasture nearly about East then ten chains more or less to a Bass post then a South course up that fence to the woods near an East course to a bass post about four chains more or less then up that fence by the side of the woods near a South Course to run into the field till it comes opposite the bass to be near a West course then cross the field to the bass then near a South course to a Black Oak corner to me and Israel Woodward with all the rest of my land and improvements which I have not before willed away lying West of my Plantation to him and his Heirs lawfully begotten forever.  Item,  I give and bequeath to my son Stacy Stevens all the remainder part of my plantation which I have not bequeathed before lying to the South East of my plantation to him and his Heirs lawfully begotten when he arrives at the age of Twenty-one years.  Item, I give unto my beloved wife Fanny STEPHENS two rooms in the house which she may choose, privilege of the kitchen and cellar and the pump during she remains my widow, likewise the goods she brought along with her,  with a cow which she may choose, the cow to be kept winter and summer by my son Samuel.  Samuel to cut her firewood, to haul it to the door and Samuel to have the benefit of Stacy's place until Stacy comes of age and likewise Samuel shall pay unto her ten pounds yearly out of his place and Stacy's as long as she remains my widow, and if my moveables is not sufficient to pay my debts then the Saw Mill to be sold and the overplus if any to be equally divided among my children and for the just execution hereof I do appoint my loving Son Samuel Stevens, Executor and my beloved wife Fanny Stevens Executrix of this my last Will and Testament.  In Witness hereof I have set my Hand and Seal this Second Day of January Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Seven, 1787.

              Signed  John STEPHENS   His Seal

 

Signed Sealed and pronounced to be his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us the subscribers:

     John Antrim

     Wm. French

     Thos. Walling

 

  John Stevens Last Will and   Testament

 

John Antrim and Thomas Walling two of the witnesses to the within will being duly affirmed did declare that they saw John Stevens the holder therein named sign and seal the same and heard him publish pronounce and declare the within writing to be his last will and testament and that at the doing thereof the said testator was of sound and disposing mind and memory as far as these arriants know and as they verily believe, and that William French the other subscribing evidence was present at the same time and signed his name as a witness to the said will together with these affirmants in the presence of the testator.

 

Affirmed at Monmouth the 23 day of March 1787 -

     Before Mr. Thos. Henderson, Surrogate

Samuel Stevens Executor .......most of this paragraph is not legible, but it deals with Samuel affirming that he will prepare a "true and perfect inventory,...etc."

Affirmed as above

     Before me  Thos. Henderson, Surrogate

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(NOTE:THE AUTHORS PHOTOCOPY OF THE JOHN STEPHENS ESTATE MATERIALS DOES NOT CONTAIN THE PARAGRAPH BELOW, BUT THE MATERIAL IS COPIED FROM A TRANSLATION OF THE MATERIAL WHICH HAS A NOTE STATING THAT IT WAS COPIED BY JAMES
LINN AND IS "NOW IN THE POSSESSION OF MRS. HOME STEPHENS MCALLISTER.")

The foregoing will being proved Probate was granted by his Excellency William Livingston Esquire unto Samuel STEPHENS executor in the said will named he being first duly affirmed well and truly to perform the same, exhibit a true and perfect Inventory, and render a Just and true Account when thereunto lawfully required Given under the Provogative(?) seal the day and year above said.

 

     Bowes Reed  Register

     Follows a statement that the will was copied by James Linn, Register of provogative(?) Court June 22, 1820.

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