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 Abraham Jossling – 1670

ABRAHAM JOSSLING, Nashua. “Being’ very sick.” Leaves to wife (not named) one house in Nashaway, with land thereto belonging, To eldest son Abraham, “one farm that Goodman Kittle lives on.” “And Good wife I would not have you remane where you are with any of my children, but my desire is that my children may be put out to Trades where they are.” Leaves to son Henry 20 shillings, ” and I desire him to be kind to his brothers, and to take one of them to himselfeto learn his trade, as he hath promised me.” Dated March 16, 1669. … Read more