testators declare to be their joint last will and testament, desiring that after the death of either of them the same may have full force and effect, whether as will, codicil, donation among the living, gift in anticipation of death, or otherwise, as may be most practicable; notwithstanding that certain forms demanded by law or usage may not be fully observed herein, desiring the utmost benefit to be derived herefrom, and that one or two copies hereof in due form may be made and delivered as occasion may demand. Thus done and executed in New Albany at the house of the appearers, who subscribed this with their own hands (in presence of Mr Gerard Swart and Mr Jan Becker, called as trustworthy witnesses hereto); the year, month and day aforesaid. Contract of sale between Margarita Schuyler and her son Arent Schuyler of a house and lot on Parel street at Albany [486 and 487 blank; 488] On this 25th day of July 1684 appeared before me, Adriaen van Ilpendam, notary public residing in New Albany, and before the hereinafter named witnesses, Margarita Schuylers, widow of the late Philippus Schuyler, of the one part and her son Arent Schuyler of the other part, who hereby acknowledge that in love and friendship they have agreed and contracted in form and manner following, to wit: Said Margarita Schuylers acknowledges that she has sold to her aforesaid son a certain house and lot with all her rights therein and as now occupied by him, standing and lying here on the Parel-straet,1 at the sign of the Arent; which aforesaid house and lot are now delivered to the buyer free and unincumbered (saving the lord's right); for which the buyer promises to pay to the seller or her order the sum of two hundred merchantable beaver skins in two payments, whereof the first payment (being the just half) shall be due in the month of August of this year 1684 and the second payment in August 1685. Hereto the aforesaid contracting parties bind their persons and 1 Pearl street. 2 The Dutch word for “Eagle." estates, nothing excepted, subject to all lords, courts, tribunals and judges, and have subscribed this with their own hands (in presence of Mr Stephanus van Cortlandt and Mr Petrus Schuyler, hereto called as witnesses), in New Albany, dated as above. As witnesses: MAERGRIET SCHUYLER S: V: Cortlandt Quod attestor ADRIAEN VAN ILPENDAM, Not. Pub. Lease of a house from Wynant Gerritsen van der Poel to Johan nes Cuyler [489 blank; 490] On this 8th day of November 1684 appeared before me, Adriaen van Ilpendam, notary public (residing in New Albany), and before the hereinafter named witnesses, Wynant Gerritsz vander Poel of the one part and Johannes Kuyler of the other part, who hereby acknowledge that in all love and friendship they have contracted and agreed in manner following, to wit: Said Wynant Gerritsz acknowledges that he has let to said Johannes Kuyler the new house and half of the lessor's whole lot through to the rear, standing and lying here in New Albany, on the hill, next to the corner house where said Kuyler now dwells, for the space of a whole year, to begin on the first of May 1685 and to end on the first of May 1686; for which the lessee promises to pay to the lessor or his order the sum of fourteen merchantable beaver skins, but the lessor promises to cause the roof of the aforesaid house to be shingled in May 1685, likewise to make all necessary repairs on the aforesaid house. The lessee promises to pay one-half the rent in August 1685 and the remaining half when the lease expires. Hereto the aforesaid contracting parties bind their persons and estates, nothing excepted, subject to all lords, courts, tribunals and judges and they have subscribed this with their own hands (in presence of Albert Ryckman and Pieter Loockermans, called as witnesses hereto), in New Albany, dated as above. WYNANT GERREYTS V. Dr P[0]ELL As witnesses: Albert Ryckman Quod attestor ADRIAEN VAN ILPENDAM, Not. Pub. Contract of sale of the sloop Royal Oak from Meus Pietersen Hoogeboom to Hendrick Abelsen and Nanning Harmensen [491 blank; 492] On this 30th of June 1684 appeared before me, Adriaen van Ilpendam, notary public (residing in New Albany), and before the hereinafter named witnesses, Meuwes Pietersz Hoogheboom of the one part and Heyndrick Abelsz and Nanningh Harmansz of the other part, who hereby acknowledge that in love and friendship they have agreed and contracted in manner following, to wit: Said Meeuwes Hoogeboom acknowledges that he has sold and said Heyndrick Abelsz and Nanningh Harmansz acknowledge that they have bought a certain sloop called De Royael Ock,1 lying now on shore before New Albany, which said sloop with sail and rigging, free and unincumbered, the said buyers acknowledge to have already received to their satisfaction, the said buyers promising to pay therefor to the seller or his order the sum of fifty good, whole, merchantable beaver skins at eight guilders apiece and to pay the same in the two following payments, to wit, the first payment (being a just half) in the latter part of next October of this year 1684, the second (being the last payment) in October 1685; but the buyers may pay in beavers, silver money, seawan, or wheat, all as the market therefor shall then be, to be delivered free here in New Albany. Hereto the aforesaid contracting parties bind their persons and estates, nothing excepted, subject to all lords, courts, tribunals and judges, and have subscribed this with their own hands (in presence of Albert Ryckman and Jan vander Hoeven, called as witnesses hereto), in New Albany, dated as aforesaid. MEEUS HOOGEBOOM HENDRICK ABEL NANANYNG HARMSEN As witnesses: Albert Ryckman Quod attestor ADRIAEN VAN ILPENDAM, Not. Pub. Will of Jacob Gerritsen van Laer [493 blank; 494] In the name of God, Amen. Know all men by the contents of this present public instrument that in the year after the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 1684, on the 9th 1 The Royal Oak. In a bill of sale of January 21, 167, the sloop is called de Royael Lock. day of July, before me, Adriaen van Ilpendam, notary public (residing in New Albany in America), and before the hereinafter named witnesses, came and appeared the worthy Jacob Gerritsz van Laer, born in the manor of Ruynen,' also dwelling here in New Albany, well known to me, the notary, being at present a little sick of body, but able to be about and to all appearances of sound mind, memory and understanding, which appearer, considering the shortness and frailty of human life, the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time and hour thereof and wishing therefore to dispose of his temporal effects to be left behind while he yet (through God's grace) may be able, and which he does of his own free will and motion, without persuasion or misleading of anyone, has now ordained and determined this his last will and testament in form and manner following. First and foremost commending his immortal soul (whenever it shall be separated from his body) to the gracious and merciful hands of God, his Creator and Savior, and his body to a Christian burial, this appearer and testator declares hereby that he has nominated and instituted as the sole and universal heirs of all his effects to be left behind, claims and credits, nothing in the world excepted, which he shall leave whether here in this country or elsewhere, his brothers and sisters or if deceased their children in their parents' place; his oldest brother is named Jan Gerritsz van Laer, his oldest sister is named Grietie Gerrits, the second sister is named Albertie Gerrits, the third sister is named Juditie Gerrits, the fourth sister is named Roelofie Gerrits, and the children left by his late sister Geertie Gerrits jointly in their mother's place, and his youngest brother named Egbert Gerrits van Laer, and the son of his late. sister Annetie Gerrits named Gerrit Jansz Ruytingh. The testator hereby bequeaths to his aforesaid brothers and sisters or if any of them be deceased their children left behind [495] in their father's or mother's place, to each one his or her just legitimate portion 2 1 Ruinen. a former manor in the southwestern part of the province of Drenthe, Netherlands, which for a long period had its own laws and independent jurisdiction, but in 1795 was finally incorporated into the province. One of the early lords of the manor was Roelof van Laer, the second husband of Johanna of Ruinen, at whose death, in 1478, the manor came into the possession of the van Munster, or von Münster, family. See J. G. C. Joosting, Het archief der heerlijkheid Ruinen, Leiden, 1907, p. 9-10, 53-55; and De Navorscher, 1912, p. 173, 270. As far as known, Jacob Gerritsen van Laer was not related to Stoffel Gerritsen van Laer, who came from Amsterdam to New Netherland in 1659, and who like his brother, Adriaen van Laer, was a tanner and shoemaker at New Amsterdam. 2 Gerrit Jansz Ruytingh was a resident of Albany. See record of the baptism of his son Louys, June 22, 1690, Holland Society, Year book, 1904, of the residue of his estate, provided that the children left by his sister Geertie Gerrits shall first draw out one hundred guilders Holland money, over and above their aforenamed legitimate portion. Finally he, the testator, has appointed and authorized as the lawful executors of this will and administrators of his estate the worthy Jan Vynaghen, at present elder of this Reformed Church, and the worthy Maerten Crygier, junior, and therefore this testator gives and grants to the same, his chosen executors and administrators, such ample power and authority as by law and usage belongs to all testamentary executors and administrators, provided they shall receive their proper compensation for services rendered according to the customs of this country, and provided also that all magistrates and other authorities, whoever they may be, are fully and advisedly excluded, desiring that the same shall not have the least direction over the estate, but hereby excusing the same herefrom and beforehand declining their services; and in case he, the testator, hereafter, either in writing over his own hand and signature, or by word of mouth before two or more trustworthy witnesses, make any other bequests or legacies, or further disposition, or any changes, amplifications or restrictions in the aforesaid provisions, he wills and desires that these may have the same force and effect and by every one be so held and esteemed as if they had been written and set forth in this his will. All that is hereinbefore written the testator declares to be his last will and testament, desiring that the same, after his decease, may have full force and effect, be it as will, codicil, donation, gift in anticipation of death, or otherwise, as shall seem most suitable, notwithstanding that certain formalities required by law and usage may not have been fully observed herein; desiring that the fullest. benefit hereof may be enjoyed and that one or more copies hereof in proper form may be made and delivered as occasion may require. Thus done in New Albany at the house of the appearer and testator and by the aforesaid testator with his own hand subscribed (in presence of the worthy Mr Gerard Swart and the worthy Gerrit Bancker, called as trustworthy witnesses hereto), in New Albany, the year, month and day aforesaid. As witnesses: G: Swart JACOB VAN LAER Gerret Bancken Quod attestor ADRIAEN VAN ILPENDAM, Not. Pub. |