Abstracts of Wills on File in the City of New York Surrogate’s Office 1660-1680

Sample Last Will and Testament

Abstracts of wills on file in the surrogate’s office city of New York 1660-1680. From May 1787 to the present, county surrogate’s courts have recorded probates. However, the court of probates and court of chancery handled estates of deceased persons who died in one county but who owned property in another. An 1823 law mandated that all probates come under the jurisdiction of the county surrogate’s courts. Each surrogate’s court has a comprehensive index to all probate records, including the unrecorded probate packets. Interestingly enough, there are wills existing and on record at the Surrogate’s Office in New York City for the time-span of 1660-1680. Genealogical extracts of these wills have been provided below.

Will of Balthazar De Hart, – 1671

Whereas Mr. BALTHAZAR DE HART, of this city, merchant, did in his will appoint Jan Hendricks Van Bomnmell, Jacob Teunison Kay, and Mons. Jacques Cousseau his executors, they are confirmed. July 24, 1671. LIBER 1-2, page 84 “Whereas BALTHAZAR DE HART, by his last will, did appoint Jan Hendricks Von Brommell, Jacob Teunison De Kay, and Jacques Consseau as his executors, and whereas his brothers and heirs, Daniel, Matthias and Jacobus De Hart have petitioned that they may have the administration of his estate.” It is granted August 9, 1675. LIBER 1-2, page 116 Matthias De Hart and Jacobus De … Read more