“Whereas CLAAS MELISE, late an inhabitant of this city, was by an unhappy accident, returning in his sloop, from Virginia to this city, struck over-board into ye sea, by which means he is departed this natural life.” Upon request of his widow, Gretie Ancus, that John Poppers and Hendricks Van Bommell, might be appointed the administrators, they are so confirmed, July 12, 1672. Children are mentioned but not named. LIBER 1-2, page 94
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.