Public Record 

Bergen County Wills

 

 

re: J. Hendrick Gesner (1681-1748) Will of 30 October 1745. 
     Proved 16 July 1748

"In the name of God. Amen. Oct. 30, 1745.

I, Hendrick Gesner of Tappan, Orange Co., being sick, my executors are to sell my personal property to pay my debts. I leave my wife Elizabeth all my estate for life, but in the case she be willing that my estate should be sold, then from the proceeds my son John shall have £150, and the rest to remain in my wife's hands for her support.  After her death I leave to my son John all real estate remaining, except one Negro woman, which I leave to my daughter Gerittye, wife of Jacob Valentine. I make my wife Elizabeth, and trusty friends  Isaac Blauvelt and Johannes Ferdon, executors."

Witnessed by Johannes Waldron, Gerritt Erickson, and Johannes Vleirboom.*

* Anthon Temple Gesner: The Gesner Family of New York. 1912.  
Reprinted on CR-ROM by Quintin Publications, Inc. Pawtucket, RI 02860-4555

re: Estate of Robert Sneden (Jr),  (1710-1756)


"Samuel Lawrence of New York City, and Mary hw, late Mary Sneden daughter of Robert Sneden, dec'd.
To
George Calhoun of Rockland, Orange Co., yeoman,
Aug 30 1765 A. Sep., 1765.
con. ?.50.
 

Recites: That Henry Ludlow and Mary his wife, in consideration of £250, conveyed to Robert Sneden by deed dated Jul. 28. 1752 a certain lot in Rockland, Orange County, containing 120 acres, That Robert Sneden died intestate and That Abraham Sneden, son of Robert Sneden, became heir to all the land that Robert Sneden acquired
from the said Ludlow, That Abraham Sneden for the love and affection he bore his mother, his brothers and his sisters, did by deed dated Mar. 5. 1765, convey to his said mother, Mary, widow of Robert Sneden, and to his brothers and sisters,
Charity Sneden,
Dennis Sneden,
John Sneden,
Mary Sneden,
Robert Sneden,
Jesse Sneden,
William Sneden and
Samuel Sneden,
nine-tenths of the above premises which descended to him the said Abraham - one-tenth to each, Samuel Lawrence and his wife formerly Mary Sneden now convey their one-tenth of the said 120 acre lot."

DEATH: He was dead before March 5, 1765 when a deed from Abraham Sneden to his mother and siblings regards lands inherited from his father, Robert Sneden.

PROBATE: Administration of his estate was granted to his son, Dennis Sneden, December 26, 1766. Bonds were posted by Dennis and John Sneden, both of Orange County, "farmers," and Abraham Sneden of New York City, "boatman."

 

re: John Ryker (1690-1783) Will of 21 June 1765

21 June, 1765. John Ryker of Orange Township, Orange County, New York. (Proved 28 October, 1783 in Bergen County, NJ.)
First I Will that all my Lawful Debts shall be paid out of my Movable Estate at a Convenient time after my Decease.

I Will and Bequest unto my Eldest son, Abraham, the sum of £10 for his Birthright and further I give and Bequeath unto my loving wife Gertie all my Hole Estate Both Real & Personal During her life Unmarried and Further I Will and Bequeath unto my Loving son Abraham Ryker the House and Lot of Land Together with the Orchard and the full and Equal half of the Saw Mills and the full and Equal third part of my Salt Meadows. Together with the full and Equal half of all my Remaining lands and Swamps to be equally Divided Between my two sons Abraham and John so that the Hole of the Lands of my son Abraham must not contain more than the full half of all my lands in Orange County after the forty acres of my Loving son Grades [Gerardus] is taken off my farm Whereon I now live to him the said Heirs and Assigns forever. And I hereby Give and Bequeath to my said son John Ryker the full and Equal half of all my saw mills and the House wherein I live in Together with the Barn and Orchard and the full and Equal third part of my Salt Meadow. And also the full and Equal half of all my Remaining Land and Swamp which I hold in Orange County to be by them the said John and Abraham Divided after my son Grades Ryker has his forty acres of Land and Swamp out of my said farm where I now Dwell to him the said John Riker his Heirs and assigns forever. And I Give and Bequeath unto my younger son Grades Ryker the House and Lott of Land Whereon he now Dwells Together with forty acres out of my farm or lands which I hold in Orange County so that the Hole of the Land of my son Grades does not Exceed forty Acres of Land and Swamps. And also one full and Equal third part of my Salt Meadows to him the said Grades Ryker his Heirs and assigns forever. And Further it is my Will that my said three sons shall after the Decease of my Loving Wife or her Remarriage make the Division of the Lands and Swamps in Proportion of their Rights as it shall best suit Each and every one of them. 

And I hereby Give and Bequeath all my Moveable Estate to be Equally Divided amongst all my Children Namely Abraham, John, and Grades, Deborah, Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth and Catharine. And I further hereby Give and Bequeath unto my Loving five daughters, Namely Deborah, Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth & Catharine to them their Heirs and assigns forever the full and just sum of £105 Current Lawful money of New York to be paid to them or their Heirs or assigns in Manner and form following that is to say my son Abraham Ryker shall pay or Cause to be paid unto my Loving daughter Deborah the wife of Daniel Martine or her Heirs of assigns the sum of £20 money as aforesaid. And unto my loving daughter Margaret the wife of Cornelius Blauvelt to her Heirs or Assigns the sum of £20 of like money. And my son John Ryker shall pay or Cause to be paid unto my Loving Two daughters Namely to Mary the wife of Johannes Bell to her or her Heirs the sum of £20 of Like money. And to Elizabeth the wife of Abraham Blauvelt to her or to her Heirs or assigns the like sum of £20 of Like money. And my son Grades Ryker shall pay or Cause to be paid unto my loving Daughter Catharine the sum of £25 of Like money to here and her Heirs or Assigns Provided that all the Legacies and Bequests Serially shall be paid within one Year after the decease or Remarriage of my Loving Gretie. 

And lastly, I nominate and appoint my Loving son Abraham Ryker and my Loving son in law Daniel Martine to my my sole Executors of this my last will and Testament Hereby Revoking all former wills by me made. In witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the Day and Year first above written.

John Riker [his mark]

Witnesses-Jacob Conklin, Jacob Conklin, Jr., Thomas Outwater.

NJ Archives, 1st series, Volume 35, Wills VI, p. 339
Lib. 25. p. 288.
Proved Bergen, New Jersey.

Original will in possession of Riker descendents.
Transcribed by Linnea Foster

Note: Between the time John Ryken wrote his will (1765) and the time that it was proved (1783), the NJ-NY Boundary dispute had been settled (1769) so that the will was proved in New Jersey then had jurisdiction of the Ryker lands.

 

re: Rebecca Van Wickle renunciation in favor of Richard Van Wickle to administer the will of Frederick Van Wickle, 1819.

Westchester County Surrogate Court Record issued 18 May 1819 on the estate of Frederich Van Winkle of Greenburgh, NY.

Renunciation of Rebecca Vanwickle
-- filed 21 April 1819 --
Frederick Vanwickle;
Harvey White, Esq., Surrogate of the County of Westchester, Berkshire Post office 

"Know all men by these presents that I, Rebecca Vanwickle widow of Frederick Vanwickle ___? do hereby renounce Letters of administration on the Estate of the said Frederick Vanwickel and request that Letters of administration on the estate of the said deceased may be granted to Richard Vanwickle and Elijah Sloat as witness of my hand and seal, dated this 19 day of March 1819. "X"  Rebecca Vanwickle her mark; Notary present - Daniel Odell (?)

Electronic copy of this record courtesy of Ruth Harvey via 8 Jan 05 email

 

re: David A. Haring will, 1802

9 April 1802 (recorded 24 Jan 1804, Bergen Co. R:308) Samuel G. Verbryck and John D. Haring, executors of the Last Will and Testament of David A. Haring late of Harington Township, dec'd, conveyed to Maria Haring, widow of said deceased, of same place, for $384.69, 7-2/4 acres, 30 rods, meadow and woodland in Harington Township beginning at SW corner of Abraham Ryker, whereas said David A. Haring was in his lifetime and at the time of his death seized of [said] real estate. Bounded N by Abraham Ryker; S by John A. Haring; E by land belonging to heirs of David Haring, dec'd; W by meadowlands belonging to heirs of Abraham Haring, dec'd. Signed by Samuel G. Verbryck, John David. Haring. Witnessed by James Blacklidg, Abraham A. Haring.

 

re: Jacob Sneden will, 1862

Page 1

IRufus R. Pauling  Surrogate of the County of Bergen, do Certify the annexed to be a true copy of the last Will and Testament of   Jacob Sneden ——  late of the County of Bergen, deceased, and that   Cornelia Ann Sneden——— , the executrix therein named, proved the same before me, and   is  duly authorized to take upon  herself   the administration of the Estate if the Testate  is  ...{5¢ US Revenue Stamp}... agreeably to the said Will.

          Witness my hand and seal of Office, the  tenth  day of   April —  in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and   sixty three (1863)

                                         R. R. Pauling

Page 2

In the name of God, Amen! I Jacob Sneden of the Township of Harrington in the County of Bergen and the State of New Jersey, being of sound mind memory and understanding do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following by,

First: I do hereby order and direct that my just debts and funeral expenses be first paid and satisfied

Second: I give to my wife Cornelia Ann Sneden the whole of my personal property of every kind and wherever situated for her own proper use so long as she shall remain my widow.

Third: I give to my wife Cornelia Ann Sneden the whole of my real Estate where ever situated during the time that she shall remain my widow, and I do hereby authorize and empower my said wife to sell and convey and give a good title for the same, as much of my mountain land lying separate from the homestead farm and at a place commonly known as Turkey Ridge as may be necessary to build a house for my said wife on the other portion of my land

Fourth: After the marriage or death of my said wife I hereby order and direct that the property remaining of every kind shall be equally divided between all of my children share and share alike_

Fifth: I hereby constitute and appoint my beloved wife

Page 3

 Cornelia Ann Sneden executive of this my last will and Testament—
       In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twelfth day of May one thousand eight hundred and sixty two
                                   Jacob Sneden  {seal}
signed sealed, published and declared as his last will and testament by the testator in our presence who at his request and in his presence have here to set our hands as witnesses—

The word land on the tenth page line of the first page was inserted before signing and sealing— | Moses J. Taylor
| Joseph Dubois
| Abraham Riker

Jacob Sneden Will p

     
 

[Top of Page]