In the name of God, Amen, I, Casper Shaver, of Upper Hardwick, in the county of Sussex, in the Province of New Jersey, Yeoman, being sick and in a low state of health but of perfect understanding, mind and memory, and considering the uncertain continuance of my life and the many dangers and accidents it is liable to, and being desirous to leave the small estate which God has been pleased to bless me with, in my family with as much peace and union as may be, and that I may have no cares of this world to entangle me at my going out of it, I do make this my last will and testament in manner as followeth, viz: and first, I resign my soul to the most Merciful God that made it in hopes thro' the alone merits of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to have a joyful resurrection to life eternal in heaven. And my body I commit to the grave to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named. And as for my temporal goods I give, devise and dispose of as follows.
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First. I give unto my beloved wife Catherine her choice of any two rooms on the lower floor in the house where I now live. Also the choice of two rooms above, and as much beds and bedding and household furniture as she shall think necessary for her use. Also one riding horse or mare, side saddle, and two cows and to be kept on the place she now lives on at the expense of said place as they keep their own. It is my will and order that my loving wife have also after my decease the privileges of the orchards to use as much apples as she stands in need of at her discretion. And my son or sons to make her as much cider as she wants for her own use, and as much of the garden as she shall think necessary.
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I also order my said three sons Peter, Abraham and Isaac to pay out of my estate each of them annually, yearly and every year, the sum of twelve pounds in gold or silver during her widowhood or bearing my name. or if she should see cause to alter her condition after my decease she must be denied all the aforesaid privileges. but in case my said widow should see cause to alter her condition and marry I do order she be paid yearly and every year, four pounds money as aforesaid a piece by my three sons for her support during her life.1 And to have one bed and furniture sufficient for said bed and cupboard, one chest of drawers and kitchen furniture, and at her decease all the aforesaid chests and furniture to return to my aforesaid three sons.
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margaret A. [Shaver] Roy a certain tract of land lying on the South side of the Road leading from Sussex Court House to East Town purchased from John Corson containing one hundred and sixty-eight acres.
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I also order my three sons, Peter, Abraham and Isaac to pay unto my aforesaid daughter Margaret after my decease, the sum of Fifty-seven pounds within one year after my decease to be equally paid by them that is to say, nineteen pounds apiece money as aforesaid. It is my will that my executors pay out of my estate in the first place the several sums of money or legacies respectively, that as follows to my son Abraham's son Casper, the sum of Twenty pounds in gold or silver. Also the sum of Forty pounds money aforesaid unto Mary Caroline Roy. Also twenty pounds money as aforesaid unto Catrin Shaver daughter of my son Peter Shaver money as aforesaid. Also twenty pounds to Mary Shaver daughter of Abraham Shaver money as aforesaid. All which said sums I order to be paid to those my grand-children by my executors when they come of age. It is also my will that if any of said children should die before they come of age their part of said legacies be equally divided amongst my heirs.
I do also give and bequeath for a charitable and pious use the sums of money as followeth:
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Fourteen pounds 2 I give and bequeath unto the Dutch Meeting House to be on interest, and said interest annually to repair the breaches of the aforesaid house. It is also my desire that the frame school house built near the aforesaid Dutch Meeting House for the use of both Dutch and English learning be finished by the aforesaid estate and assistance of the neighbors. Said money for said houses to be paid out of my moveable estate and said school house to be kept in repair by said estate twenty-five years, accidents of fire excepted.
It is my will and order that after my decease the remainder of my real estate consisting of both lands and mills be equally divided amongst my three sons Peter, Abraham and Isaac, according to quantity and quality as they can agree when all debts and lawful demands are discharged according to this my last will and testament, to them and their heirs forever.
It is also my will and order that my moveable estate be equally divided between my son Peter, Abraham, Isaac and my daughter Margaret to them and their heirs forever.
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Lastly I make, constitute and appoint my three sons Peter, Abraham and Isaac, Executors of this my last will and testament.
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this nineteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four.
CASPER SHAVER. (L. S.)
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by the Testator to be his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have in the Testator's presence and at his request hereunto set our names.
Isaac Pettit,
Thomas Hunt,
Wm. Hankinson.
N. B. The riding horse or mare and cows within mentioned it is my will my wife shall have during her life.
That is, $10 by each, or $35 in all.