Middlesex County, New Jersey Wills

Charles Jolley Will Listed in Will Book, New Jersey Archives:
In the name of God, Amen. On the 24th day of January in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty Seven. I, Charles Jolley of Perth Amboy, in the county of Middlesex, Yoeman, being sick and weak in body but perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God for it. Calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say, principaly and first of all, I give and do recomend my soul in to the hands of God who gave it and and my body to be buried in a Christian like and decient manor at ye direction of my executors nothing doubting that at the general resurrection I will receive the same again by the mighty power of God. And as touching such worldly estates wherewith in it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give and divise and dispatch in the following manor and form; In primy, I give and bequeath unto Jane, my dearly beloved wife the sum of twenty five pounds currant money of ye province above mentioned, at eight shillings ye once to be levied out of my estate and one mare together with an equal share of all my creatures after debts are paid with three of my sons hereafter mentioned and also one bed and chest and iron pot and her wearing clothes and four acres of tillable land during her lifetime or widowhood.
ITEM: I give and bequeath to my eldest son, John all of my land, meadows, and penements(sic){tenemants?} on ye north side of ye home at ye leer end of ye field where I now live and also all ye meadow below the longest point of open land to ye gullies that lead to the river freely to be passe and enjoyed by him and his heirs forever (two words illegible) during his mother's life.
ITEM: I give all ye remaining part of my land and meadows to be equally divided in quanity between my two sons, Andrew and Charles to be possessed and enjoyed by them and their heirs and assigns forever. Also my sons, John, Andrew, and Charles to have equal shares of all my creatures with their mother, share and share alike after debts are paid.
ITEM: It is further my will and pleasure that my son, Archibald and my daughter Margaret be put out to learn trades and to get after my decease that each of them have a cow and a calf to be put out to ye hiasus and further my will is after debts are paid that my son, William have a cow and a calf.
And further it is my will and pleasure that if my children should not agree to live together, that their part be sold and put to use for them by my executors. And I hereby consitute make and ordain my executors of this will and testament, my true and loving wife, Jane, my eldest son, John and James Abraham Jolley*, and I do hereby disalow and revoke and disanull all and every other former wills and testaments in witness there of I hereby set my hand and seal. Charles (his X mark) Jolley Witness: William Cook; John and Sarah White.

*Note: John and James Abraham Jolley was an error of the clerk. It should have read John Jolley and James Abraham. James Abraham was the husband of Janet Jolley, she is not mentioned in the will because she was already married and her husband was one of the executors and quite wealthy as well. Charles died May 09, 1728 Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Charles and son, John are my direct line. Submitted by Sara Hemp (cryssara AT merr.com)

©2006, K. Torp
Genealogy Trails