Will of Adam Van Alen, 17 Oct 1748

          Town of Kinderhook, Columbia Co., NY

          Transcribed by Jane Wood    Oct 2003

          Webpage by Cliff Lamere    29 Oct 2003

           

           

          There were two cover pages for the will.   They said the following: 

           

          [first cover page]

              Van Alen, Adam, Yeoman of Kinderhook, Albany 21 Jan 1748/9      Albany   AV39

           

          [second cover page]

              Last Will and Testament of Mr Adam Van Alen [esquire?]

              Proved 20 Jan 1748,9

              Recorded    

           

          [written sideways on the second cover page]

              Will of Adam Van Allen 1748.9

           

          The dates on the cover pages were double dates.  It was caused by a difference between the Julian Calendar used by the English until 1752 and the Gregorian Calendar adopted by the Dutch much earlier (1582 in the Catholic provinces of Holland and Brabent in the Netherlands, and 1700-1701 for the remaining Protestant provinces).  The date above can be interpreted as 1749 in today's calendar (Gregorian).  Read my webpage "Julian and Gregorian Calendars - Effect on Church and Civil Records".  It gives some history of the two calendars and describes why a person born in New England and New Netherland on the same day could be recorded as born on different days, different months and even different years.

           

          The will was apparently on three pages.  It contains the signature of Adam Van Alen in three places, once in the appropriate place and two other times which appear to be at the bottom of the first two pages.

           

          At the end of most paragraphs in the will, a line was drawn following the last word of the paragraph.  Their purpose may have been to prevent anything from being added to the will at a later date.  The lines have been included below.

           

          Source of photocopy:  LDS microfilm (number unknown).  The recorded will is at the Columbia County Surrogate's Court, Hudson, NY, presumably in will book AV, page 39.  However, this photocopy was of the original will.  The will books that I have seen at that Columbia Co. Surrogate's Court did not have cover sheets recorded, but the original wills which I looked at did have them.

           

          -- Cliff Lamere

           

           

          All of the people mentioned in the will of Adam Van Alen are in the following alphabetical list.  Maiden names are shown in square brackets [  ].  If there is no name between the brackets, then the maiden name was not obvious in the will.  The testator is marked with **.

           

          People mentioned in the will

           

          Collins, Edward

          DeLametter, Isack

          Hoes, Sacharyas

          Lansing, John

          Van Alen, Abraham

          Van Alen, Adam **

          Van Alen, Jacobus (son & brother)

          Van Alen, Johannis

          Van Alen, Lena

          Van Alen, Maria

          Van Alen, Sarah

          Van Alen, Tryntie [ ]

          Van Renselaer, John, Capt.

          Van Slyck, Thernise

           

           

           

           

           In the Name of God Amen I Adam Van Alen of Kinderhook in the County of Albany  Yeoman being Weak in body but Sound Disposing memory thanks be to the Almighty God, Do make this my Last Will and Testament in manner and forme following that is to say _________________

           

          first of all     My funeral Charges and Debts being first paid, I give Devise and Bequeath my real and personall Estate in Manner and forme following _________________

           

          Secondly     I give Dwife and bequeath all and Singular my farme, grist mills and appurtenances thereunto belonging, my plantation or farme where I now Dwell with all and Singular the Houses Outhouses barnes, Stables, Orchards, Lands, pastures, Water Courses, Dams, and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or Anywise by me Enjoyed  or reputed as part or parcel thereof unto my beloved Wife Tryntie Van Alen for and During her Naturall Life if so Long She remain my Widdow and no Longer _________________

           

          thirdly     I give Devise and bequeath my farme at Claverack Which I Lately bought of Isack DeLametter with all and Singular the houses, out houses, Barnes, Stables, Orchards, and gardens and All and Singular the Lands and appurtenances thereunto belonging or reputed as part or parcel thereof as the same is now in my possession as Tenant to Capt. John Van Renselaer Lord of that part of the Mannor of Renselaerwyck called Claverack unto my Said Wife Tryntie Van Alen for and During the Terme of her Naturall Life if so Long She remain my Widdow and no Longer _________________

           

          fourthly     I give Devise and bequeath all and Singular my other real Estate be it in the County of Albany or Elsewhere none Excepted unto my Said Wife Tryntie Van Alen for and During the Terme of her Naturall life if so Long She remain my Widdow _________________

           

          fifthly     I give Devise and bequeath all and Every part and Parcell of my personall Estate goods and Chattells nothing Excepted unto my beloved wife Tryntie Van Alen During her Naturall life if so Long She remains my Widdow in order to be a further Support to her Maintainance and the Education of my children and if need be for the Uses aforesaid to Sell all or any Part thereof with the Advice of my other two Executors of this my Last Will hereafter named or the Survivor of them.  She being in this my will hereafter also Nominated one _________________

           

          Sixthly     After my Wifes Decease or remarriage I give devise and bequeath All and Singular my reall Estate Either in the County of Albany or Elsewhere into my beloved Sons (that is to Say ) Johannis Van Alen, Jacobus Van Alen, and Abraham Van Alen, to them their Heirs and Assigns for Ever Share and Share _________________

                                                                                                                              ADAM: V: Alen

          Seventhly     After my said Wife’s Decease or Remarriage I give Devise and Singular my goods and chattels and all and Singular my personall Estate unto my six children ( that is to say ) Johannis, Jocobus, and Abraham, and Sarah, Maria and Lena or the Survivors of them if Dying without Lawful issue _________________

           

          Eightly     Notwithstanding the Last Dwife to my six children in the words above said I give Devise and Bequeath unto my aforesaid three Daughters ( viz ) Sarah, Maria and Lena, and to Each of them respectively the sum of fifty Pounds for an outset over and above their Equal Share of my Personal Estate to be by my aforesaid Wife Tryntie paid to them on the Day of Either of their Marriage, and to be raised out of the rents issues and profits of my Real Estate, but in case that prove Deficient then out of my personall Estate giving Power to my Executors hereafter Names or the Survivors of them to Sell and Dispose of so much thereof as will satisfy the above Last mentioned Legacys.  _________________

           

          Ninthly     If any of my aforesaid Sons shall happen to Dye before he attain to his full age of Twenty one years or Without issue ( no Division having been made of my Estate. )  It is my will and Pleasure in such case that his share Do Devolve on the Survivor or Survivors of my Said Sons, and in case they should all three Dye before attaining the age of Twenty one years or without issue then and in such case it is my will that all my real Estate shall fall and Devolve on my three aforesaid Daughters or the Survivor or Survivors of them Share and Share alike to hold the same as Tenant in common.  _________________

           

          Tenthly     It is my will and pleasure that seeing I have not as yet any Indentures from the said John Van Renselaer for my farme aforesaid at Claverack Occationed by reason of my sickness and Infirmity not being able to travel that in case my Heir at Law he be the first, Second, or third Son, after my Decease or his representave Should in any wise receive title for my aforesaid Lands at Claverack or claim the Same to himself and not Equally Divide the same amoung my other son or sons then and in such case it is my will and pleasure that that son so representing me as Heir at Law and taking that advantage Shall be utterly debarred from and of any part or parcel of my call and personall Estate before mentioned or any other Estate that at the time of my decease did belong or appertain to me by any Wayes or means whatsoever ______________

           

          Eleventhly     After my wifes Decease or remarriage I give Devise and Bequeath unto my Eldest Son Johannis the Choice of my Negro slaves he nevertheless sharing Equally with my other children as to the remainder of my Personal Estate.  _________________

           

                                                                                                                     Adam V.alen

          And Lastly     I do nominate Constitute and appoint my Beloved Wife Tryntie, my Beloved Brother Jacobus Van Alen, and my friend Edward Collins, to be Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, and I Do hereby revoke and make void all and Every former Will and Wills or Testaments by me made Either by Word or Deed, allowing this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament.  In Wittness Whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and seal this seventeen Day of October, one Thousand Seven Hundred and forty Eight.

                                                                                                                       Adam. V.alen

          Signed Sealed published and Declared by the Testator to be his Last Will and Testament in the Presence of us the subscribing witness

          John Lansing

          Sacharyas Hoes

          Thernise Van Slyck

            

           

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