Source:The WILL of Mathias Houshill (son of Kasper) 1778

"In the Name of God, Amen. The 31st day of October in the year of Our Lord 1778, I Mathias HOUSHILL of the Township of Amwell in Hunterdon County being very weak in body but in perfect mind and memory blessed be God for it. Therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and that it is appointed for all men once to die. I 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 gave for my body I recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a decent like and Christian manner at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall same by the Almighty of God and as touching such worldly with what it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose the same in the following manner and form. IMPRIMUS It is my Willd and I do Order that all my Just debts and funeral charges be forthwith paid and satisfied.

Item: I order that my beloved wife Matalaina, during the time that she remains my Widow shall have a good & sufficient maintenance from my Homestead whereon I now dwell from my Son Cobus to which I leave my Homestead and to his heirs for ever, and my Son Cobus HOUSHILL and his Heirs shall pay unto my Wife Matalaina Yearly and by the Year the full sum of six pound of current lawful money. Likewise my wife to have her bed and furniture belonging for her own property one chest with chairs one corner cupboard and the largest looking glass one table one Spinning Wheel one of the best pewter basons one pewter Tankard two pewter plates two chairs one tea kettle and tea cups four pewter spoons and to have the use Storeroom and Cobus to provide wood at all times when wanted and to have the use of the kitchen fire for her own cooking, and other matters and to have the best of the pewter teacups at the on choice of them.

Item: I bequeath unto my Eldest Daughter Mary BELLIES and to her Heirs One Hundred and fifty pounds.

Item: I bequeath unto Daughter Francis WILLIAMSON and to her heirs one Hundred and fifty pounds.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my Grandson Mathias HOUSHILL sixty pounds to him and his heirs the aforementioned legacies is to be paid in one whole year after my decease.

Item: I bequeath unto my Son John HOUSHILL and his heirs the sum of ten pounds for his birthright and as touching the real estate my Son Cobus HOUSHILL on his heirs interest must pay unto John HOUSHILL and his heirs one Hundred and forty pounds in ten years after my decease and as for the Legacy of Mathias HOUSHILL above mentioned if he should die before he comes of age the said legacy shall equally divided between Rebecca, his sister and brothers John Jasper and their heirs likewise, if there should be an Overplus after matters are discharged fully, the same shall be equally divided among my Sons and Daughters. Likewise, I Ordain Constitute and appoint Mathias HOUSHILL and my son Cobus HOUSHILL exctrs of this my Last Will and Testament revoking all former Wills before made or done by me satisfying and confirming this and no Other to be my Last Will and Testament. {signed} Mathias HOUSHILL {Seal}

Signed Sealed published pronounced in the presence of us the Subscribers Seald and Deleverede in the presence of us Guisberd GULICK Thomas SUTTON Mathias HOUSHILL James STOUT

Guisbert GULICK one of the witnesses of the within will being duly sworn did depose and say that he saw Mathias HOUSHILL the Testator , therein named Sign and Seal the Same and heard him publish pronounce and declare the within Writing to be his last Will and Testament and that at the doing thereof the said Testator was of Sound and Disposing mind and Memory as far as this deponent Knows and as he Verily believes and that Thomas Sutton, Mathias Houshill and James Stout the other Subscribing Evidence was present at the same time and Signed the Same as Witnesses to the said Will together with this deponent in the presence of the Said Testator Guisbord Gulick Sworn before me the 21st of December 1778 Moore Furman Surrogate The foregoing Will being provd Probate as granted by his Excellency Gov Livingston with Mathias Houshill & Jacobus Houshell having first been Sworn well and truly to perform the Same Exhibit a true and perfect Inventory and render a Just and true Account taken thereof lawfully required Given under the Perogative Seal the day and Year foresaid. Bowes Reed Esq

Matthias and Jacobus HOUSHEL Acc’t

The Account of Matthias and Jacobus HOUSHEL executors of Mathias HOUSHEL Deceased is as Settled and approved of before M. FURMAN and a Surrogate and a Luictus …. Issued under the register… the 5th Day of April Anno Domino 1783. Bowes REED, Reg."

See an Image of the WILL HERE.