MySource:SCR2005/Will of George Ring (1752 - 1818)

In the name of God, Amen, I George Ring of the town Rhinebeck in the County of Dutchess and State of New York being of sound mind and memory and in the full possession of all my mental faculties, taking into consideration the uncertainty of human life and wishing to provide for events by settling all my worldly affairs do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking and annulling all former testamentary depositions by me made of all kinds and nature whatsoever.

First in pursuance of the custom of many good and pious men and which I do highly approve and resign my spirit into the hands of a Merciful God, in whom I trust through the merits of my blessed Saviour, hereby entering my solemn profession and belief of his Divinity [406] and my hopes through him of a joyful resurrection. My body I yield to the dust from whence it was taken, requiring my Executors herein after mentioned to inter it in a decent becoming manner, as soon as propriety shall require after my decease.

Secondly, All my worldly possessions with which it has pleased God to help me, I give distribute and dispose of in the manner following to wit. To my beloved wife Maria if she shall chance to survive me, I give and bequeath for her sole use and possession during her life the whole of the western half of my present dwelling house with lower and upper rooms with their usual furniture and in the state they shall happen to be at the time of my decease; to include at least two good best, with their bedding changes, curtains, and everything thereto appertaining; I also give her my black woman, named Rheene, for her own use; Also two good milk cows to be kept supported and renewed from time to time by such of my children as shall have my homestead farm; working the care and support of said cows a charge upon said farm. Also the equal distributive share of my whole estate the same as I herein after bequeath to my children severally, all which property to be for her use and support and after her death, all this shall remain thereof to be distributed equally among those of my children to whom I hereafter give the proceeds of my estate: the above bequests to my wife, I hereby declare are intended to be and are so given to her in lieu of and in full satisfaction for her dower provided by law – But should she elect to take her dower then all the above bequeathed articles and distributive share are not to go to my said wife but revert to my estate and be subject to the division herein after specified, but whatever election my said wife may make as above, I expressly direct that she shall be at liberty to remain at my mansion house as mistress thereof; for six months next after my deceased, and for her sufficient support during that time I direct my hereinafter named Executors to provide and put up for her sole use and disposal four hundred weight of pork, with the lard thereof, and the one half of a good and well fed beef creature, and the tallow thereof, also to provide for her all other things necessary and proper for use and support during the period aforesaid.

Thirdly to my son Peter I give and bequeath a legacy of five hundred Dollars in money, one feather bed, one cow and six sheep. To my son Philip a legacy of two hundred and fifty Dollars. And to my daughter Anna Maria a legacy of four hundred Dollars in money, together with my twelve silver table spoons, & the bed which has commonly stood in my East room, commonly called a field bed, with the bedding, curtains and all things thereto appertaining. All these bequests to my three children in this section named to be over and above the distributive [407] shares of each hereinafter specified and bequeathed.

Fourthly having heretofore done considerable for my eldest son, George G., I give him ten Dollars: being with what he has already received his share of all my estate. To my two grandchildren, Moses and George, sons of my said son George G., I give a legacy of three hundred Dollars each, the said sum of three hundred Dollars to be paid to each of them when they respectively arrive at the age of twenty one years.

Fifthly, all my real property of every description and wheresoever situated, with the hereditaments and appurtenances, I give and bequeath to my two sons, Philip and Peter, in equal moieties or tenants, in common, to them and to their heirs subject to the following condition and disposition, to wit: as I value all my said real estate at ten thousand Dollars, I require it be estimated at so much, and my said two sons to be accountable for that sum as so much due my estate upon the final settlement and distribution of the whole. My personal property consisting of all my bonds, notes, accounts, stock on the farm and stock in the tannery, together with my black man and everything else whatever of a personal nature (except the specific articles above bequeathed to my wife and children), I direct to be inventoried as soon as conveniently may be after my decease, the debts to be collected and the property sold for the greatest sum that can be obtained therefore. The sum thus produced from the whole real personal property to be added and the ten thousand Dollars of real property, and the whole to constitute the general fused for the payment of all my debts, the legacies herein given and the distributive shares as herein after mentioned.

Sixthly, As the said general fund will be the whole gross proceeds of all my estate both real and personal after deducting therefrom all my debts at the time of my decease, all my funeral expenses and all the legacies above bequeathed in money, I direct the remaining of said fund to be divided into nine equal parts and to be distributed as follows, to wit: one equal part to each of my sons, John, David, Lewis, Peter, Philip, William and Conrad, and one equal part to my daughter Anna Maria. The remaining equal ninth part to my said wife Maria in case she elects to take the bequest herein made to her in lieu of her legal dower; but should my said wife elect to take her legal dower instead thereof then the last mentioned distributive share and all other property herein bequeathed to my said wife shall be equally divided between my two sons Philip and Peter whose interest in my land will be so much affected thereby.

I also direct that my said two sons Philip and Peter retain in their own hands all the sums which fall to them as their respective legacies and distributive shares out of the ten thousand Dollars to be by them paid to the general fund for my real estate, and that they pay the residue of the said ten thousand Dollars within two years after my decease.

I also direct that at [408] the expiration of one year from the time of my decease, the sums which I have hereby given to my two said Executors be put out at interest on good land security and so remain at interest until they shall respectively arrive at the age of twenty one years. And in case of the death of either of my said grandsons, before the age aforesaid, then his brother to have the shares of both; and in the event of the death of both my said grandchildren before their said age, then the said sum of six hundred Dollars hearby given to the two, to revert back to my estate, and be divided among the same persons and in the same proportion as the general fund.

Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my three sons John, Lewis, & Peter my sole Executors, of this my last will and testament, directing them in all things to conform thereunto, always bearing in mind the consideration I hereby repose in their integrity, & that they are placed in my stead to do justice to all; so that no difficulty may arise from my bounty to the objects of my affection after I am no more. Wishing them and all my children happiness, here & hereafter, I take of them & this world, a last & peaceful farewell. On Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the 28th twenty-eighth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & eighteen. George Ring [L.S.]

In the presence of John R. Bowne, William Fellows, Robert Schuyler.

Dutchess County: Be it remembered that on the thirteenth day of May one thousand eight hundred & eighteen personally appeared before me Derick B. Stockholm, Surrogate of the County, Robert Schuyler, who on oath declared that he did see George Ring sign & seal the annexed written instrument, purporting to be the will of the said George Ring bearing the date the twenty eighth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen & heard him publish and declare the same as and for his last will and testament, that at the time thereof he the said George Ring was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the knowledge & belief of him the deponent, and that John R. Bowne, William Fellows & this deponent severally subscribed the will as witness thereto in the testator’s presence. Derick B. Stockholm, Surrogate [L.S.]

The People of the State of New York by the grace of God Free and Independent to all to whome these presents shall come or may concern send greeting: Know ye that at Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County on the thirteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen before Derick B. Stockholm Esquire Surrogate of our said County the last will and testament [409] of George Ring deceased (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) was proved and is now approved and allowed of by us, and the said deceased having whilst he lived and at the time of his death goods, chattels, or credits within this state by means whereof the proving and registering the said will and the granting administration of all and singular the said goods, chattels and credits, and also the auditing allowing and final discharging the account thereof doth belong unto as: the administration of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased, and any way concerning his will is granted unto John Ring, Lewis Ring & Peter Ring the Executors in the said will named they being first duly sworn well and faithfully to administrate the same and to make and exhibit a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the said goods, chattels and credits, and also to render a just and true account thereof when thereunto required. In Testimony whereof we have caused the seal of office of our said Surrogate to be hereunto affixed. Witness Derick B. Stockholm Esq. Surrogate of the said County at Poughkeepsie the thirteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & eighteen and of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & eighteen and Independence the forty second. Derick B. Stockholm Surrogate

Dutchess County: Recorded the preceding will o George Ring with the memorandum of proof and the letters testamentary this thirtieth day of May 1818. Derick B. Stockholm Surrogate

Dutchess County: Delivered the original will of George Ring unto Lewis Ring, one of the Executors this sixth day of June 1818. N.S. The words “& Peter” interlined in the appointment of Executors on the 408 page. Derick B. Stockholm Surrogate