Middlesex County

Thorn, William ~ Will

Transcription (by Patrick R. Webb kailani-genealogy@stanfordalumni.org):

Source: Photocopiesciting 1781-83 West Jersey Recorded Wills, Book 24, pp. 67-8
Microfilm 19 (Trenton, NJ: State Archives)
 
Abstract: William Thorn of Piscataway gives proceeds from sale of personal estate
to wife Elsey. Enough land to be sold to cover debtsand funeral expenses. Any
profits remaining from said sale;2/3 to mother Margaret Thorn "as long as she
remains my Father's widowunmarried" and remaining 1/3 to be divided equally between
William's sisters Catharine Thornand Prudence Runyon. Remainingland at either
mother Margaret's death orremarriage to be divided equally in quality and quantity
between his said two sisters. Dated Sept. 4, 1782, proved Feby 21,1783. Executors:
friends David Vail of Somerset Co.and Taylor Webster of Essex Co. Witnesses:
Rachel Laforge, Elijah Pound[Quaker], John Runyon [no relation to Prudence stated]

-- p. 67 --
In the Name of God Amen. I William Thorn of Piscataway County of Middlesex
and Eastern Division of New Jerseybeing sick & weak in body, but of sound & disposing
mind & memory, thanks be givento Almighty God therefor. Callingto mind the frailty
of human Nature & theuncertainty of this Life, do make & ordain this to be my last
Will & Testament. Principally & first of all Irecommend my Soul into the Hands of
God who gave it me, and my Body tothe Earth to be decently Buried at the discretion
of my Executors herein after Named,and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it
hath pleased God to bless me inthis life I give Devise and bequeath in the following
manner and form Imprimus my will& pleasure is and I do hereby Order that all my
Personal Estate be sold by myExecutors as soon as may be with conveniency after my decease
and the money arising from such salI give & bequeath unto my beloved Wife Elsey
Thornforever, in lieu of her right of Dower & power of thirds to be paidto her as soon as conven
iency will admit of after Sale asaforesaid by my Executors as aforesaid. Item my will
& pleasure further is & Ido hereby Order that so much of my Land be sold by my
Executors as may be necessary topay my just Debts & funeral Expenses & that my
Executors will & truly pay thesame, then the remaining part of my Lands after such
Sale is made as aforesaid. I givedevise & bequeath as followeth Two thirds of the profits
thereof I give & bequeath untomy beloved Mother Margaret Thorn as long as
she remains my Father's widowunmarried & the remaining one third parts
of the profits as aforesaid I give& bequeath to be equally divided between my two
Sisters Catharine Thorn &Prudence Runyon share & share alike. Item my will &
pleasure is and at the Death orotherwise Remarriage of my said Mother let which
may first happen, I give devise& bequeath all my Lands that is not Sold by
my Executors as aforesaid unto mytwo aforesaid Sisters Catharine Thorn & Prudence
Runyon to them their Heirs &assigns forever to be equally Divided between them
share & share alike as well in Quality& in Quantity. And Lastly I dohereby
nominate Constitute & Appointmy trusty & Esteemed Friends David Vail of the
County of Somerset & TaylorWebster of the County of Essex Executors of this my last
Will & Testament to see thesame performed giving & Granting to my said Executors
or the survivor of them full powerand Authority in & about the promises to
make such sales & Divisions asis above ordered & directed & pay my just Debts &
Funeral Expenses as aforesaid,& the Legacy herein given to my said Wife & Also given
Such Tittle for my Lands by themsold as aforesaid as shall be just & Reasonable
in my Name holding for Good &Effectual whatsoever my said Executors or survivor
shall Lawfully do in & aboutthe same. And I do hereby revokeDisannul &
make ? all former & other Willsby me at any time heretofore maid Notify
ing & Confirming this & noother to be my last Will & Testament In Witness
-- p. 68 --
whereof I the said William Thorn have hereunto set my Hand and seal this fourth Day of September in the Year ofour Lord one thousand seven Hundred & Eighty two 1782 William Thorn LS SignedSealed published pronounced & declared by the Testator/ with the words inLieu of her Right of Dower & power of thirds underlined / to be his last
Will & Testament in presence ofRachel Laforge Elijah Pound, John Runyon                John Runyon one of the witnesses to the within will being duly sworn onthe Holy Evangelist of Almighty God does depose & say that he saw WilliamThorn the Testator therein Named sign & seal the same and heard him publishpronounce & declare the within writing to be his last Will & Testamentand that at the doing thereof the said Testator was of sound & disposingmind & memory as far as I know and as I verily believe and that I ElijahPound being one of the People called Quakers do Affirm & say I heard himpublish pronounce Declare the within Writing to be his last Will &Testament & that at the doing thereof The said Testator was of sounddisposing Mind & Memory as
far as I know & as I verilybelieve and that I saw William Thorn the Testator therein Named sign & sealthe same and signed our names as witnesses to the said will together in thepresence of the said Testator Sworn at New Brunswick Feby 21 1783 befor Robert
Hude(?) Surrogate The foregoingWill being proved Probate was granted by his Excellency William Livingston Esqrunto David Vail & Taylor Webster Executors in the within Will Named beingfirst duly Affirmed will & truly to perform the same Exhibit a
true Inventory & Render a just& true Account when thereto Lawfully Required Given under the PrerogativeSeal the Date
abovesaid 

Bowe? Reed Reg'r