Transcript of Capt. Richard Sackett's will dated 14 December 1744.
"In the name of God amen the fourteenth day of December one thousand seven hundred and forty four I Richard Sacket of Dover in Dutchess County in the province of New York Yeoman being sick and weak but of perfect mind and memory for which thanks be given to Almighty God notwithstanding calling to mind the mortallity of my Body as knowing it is appointed for all men once to Dye do make and ordain this my last will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that made it and my Body I Recommend to the Earth to be Buried in a Decent Christian manner at the Discretion of my Executors nothing doubting at the Glorious Morning of the Resurrection I shall Receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give bequeath demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.
Imprimus when all my just debts are paid I give and bequeath to Margery Sacket my Welbeloved Wife all my Household Goods Debts and Moneys due to me and all my Moveables and Chattles During the term of her Widowhood and to be disposed of by her at her decease and I also give and bequeath to her the said Margery Sacket the use and improvement of my Homelot House and Orchard with all my other improvements which I now do or may any wise improve during her Widowhood and after her Decease then to return to my son John Sacket.
Secondly I give and bequeath to my Eldest son before any Division be made Richard Sacket two hundred acres of land over above his equal Shear as being my Eldest son.
Thirdly I give and bequeath to my Welbeloved Wife fifty acres of land to be at her disposing as she shall see good for her proper use I give and bequeath to my Welbeloved son John Sacket after my Wife's Decease my House homestead and Orchard together with all my Meadows and all what lands I now Improve or shall or may improve to him the said John Sacket and all my Books to my son John Sacket I also give to my Welbeloved son Josiah Crego and to the heirs of my Daughter Mary Dean Deceased and to My Daughter Catherine during her Widowhood and then at her Marriage or decease to be equally divided between her Children and likewise give to my sons Richard Sacket and John Sacket the whole of my Remaining Estate excepting what I have bequeathed as above said to each of them an equal Share or fifth to be divided among them Viz To Josiah Crego the heirs of Mary Dean and Catherine Margeson and Richard Sacket and John Sacket and each of them are hereby obliged to be at their equal part or proportion of what charges shall or may arise in dividing and in defending the title of the said land if any dispute should arise and if any of them shall neglect or refuse to be at their equal proportion in bearing of the charges as above then my Executors shall have power to sell and dispose of so much of their part of the lands as shall answer the charges of their part of which so arising Returning the Remainder to them or their heirs if any be so neglecting further I do by these presents make and constitute and ordain to be my Executors after my decease my welbeloved wife Margery Sacket and my welbeloved son Richard Sacket and my welbeloved son John Sacket of all and singular my lands Messuages and Tenements by them freely to be possessed and enjoyed forever and I do utterly disallow revoke Disallow all and ever an unknown date other Will and Testament by me made or Executors by me any ways named or Willed or bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and every article herein Specified and bequeathed to be my last Will and Testament and no other
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and date before mentioned and after my Decease and my Wifes Decease hagar shall have the liberty to Chuse which of my two sons she will live with
Richd Sacket [seal]
Witness before us whose names are underwritten to be my last Will and Testament
Henry [his mark HN] Nase
William [his mark X] Hunt
Josias Crego