Will of John Winder – 1675

“Whereas Mr. JOHN WINDER, merchant, and Alderman of this city, deceased, did make a nuncupative will, and did leave his whole estate to his wife Sarah, and proof having been made,” she is made administratrix, September 29, 1675. Nuncupative will of JOHN WINDER. “I leave my whole estate to my wife, and to her disposing.” In presence of us undersigned witnesses, September 27, 1675. Anthony Brochholst, John Laurence, Sr. LIBER 1-2, page 122

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.