102 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



WILL OF STEPHANUS VAN CORTLANDT. 



Know all men by these presents, that, I, Stephanus Van Cortlandt, of the city 

 of New Yorke, merchant, being distempered in body, but of good, sound and 

 perfect memory, praised be Almighty God therefore do mate, publish, and de- 

 clare : this my last will and testament, (this 14th day of Aprill, in the year of 

 our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, one thousand seven hunched, in the 

 twelfth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord William Third, King of Eng- 

 land, Scotland and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c.,) in manner and form fol- 

 lowing, that is to say, I bequeath my soul into the hands of the Almighty God 

 my Heavenly Father, from whom I received it, and by whom of his meer grace 

 I trust to be saved and received into His eternall rest, through the menitts of my 

 dear Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ. My body, in hopes of a joyful resur- 

 rection, I committ to the earth, to be buried in such decent manner and form as 

 any Executrix hereafter named, shall think fit and convenient and touching the 

 Distribution of what temporal Estate it hath pleased God to endow me withal 

 in this world, I dispose of the same as folloeth That is to say Imprimis I will 

 that all such Depths as I shall happen to owe to any Person or Persons at my 

 Decease shall be truly Paid by my Execrutrix. 



Item I devise and bequeath unto my eldest son Johnannes Van Cortlandt 

 (After the decease of my beloved wife) all that Neck and Part of my land on 

 the East Side of Hudson's Eiver at the Entering of the Highlands just over 

 against a certain place called Haverstroo and is known by the Indians by the 

 name of Moanagh being to be Separated and Divided from my other lands on 

 that side of the river called Appamapagh by a certain Creeke called Moanagh 

 and bounded on the other side by the other side of the Creeke that runs between 

 my land and the land of Rich Abrams and others together with the meadows 

 that lies on the said Neck and all the buildings and other improvements made 

 or to be made on the said land according to the agreement by mee made 

 to the several persons now settled therein (which agreement my will is that my 

 said Executrix, my said son and overseers herein after named, shall take care and 

 se that the same be fully observed, performed and kept according to the true in- 

 tent and meaning thereof). To have and to hold the said Neck of land and pre- 

 mises with the appurtenances to the said Johannes my Son and his heirs forever. 



Item. — I do give Devise and Bequeath all my other houses, lands, mills, tene- 

 ments, pastures, meadows, and their appurtenances and other Real Estate what- 

 soever — and where so ever it be (after ye Decease of my s ' dear wife) unto my 

 Eleaven children by name, Johannes, Margaret, Ann, Oliver, Mary, Philip, 

 Stephannus, Gertrude, Elizabeth, Katherine and Cornelia and to such other chil- 

 dren as it shall please God to bless me with (who is and are to share and Inherritt 

 with those above named) to have and to hold to them their heirs and assignes 

 respectively, and it is my Desire and Appointment that the same houses, lands, 

 and premises be Either Equally Divided amongst them my said children, or 

 that they hold or enjoy the same in Common Amongst them as my s d children 

 and provisors and guardians hereafter named shall judge and think most effec- 

 tuall and proper for ther best advantage, use, and benefit. 



Item. — It is my will and appointinent and Direction that upon a Division of 

 my s d houses lands and mills and other Real Estate my Sons accord 3 to their 

 priority of Birth shall have the first choyce alwayes allowing to the value of 



