Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09102

Author/Creator: Leathes, William (fl. 1708)

Place Written: s.l.

Type: Manuscript document signed

Date: 26 April 1708

Pagination: 2 p. : docket

Summary of Content: ”In the name of God Amen I William Leaths of the City and province of New York Sadler being very Sick and weak in Body but of perfect mind & memory...ordaine this my last Will and Testament...I give & bequeath unto my Servant Wan the Spanish Indian boy now living with me his freedom provided he serve my Loving wife. Seven years after my Decease.” Includes the signatures of witnesses and sealed with red wax bearing the imprint of a skull and crossbones.

Historical Era: Colonization and Settlement, 1585-1763

Full Transcript: In the name of God Amen I William Leaths of the City and province of New York Sadler being very Sick and weak in Body but of perfect mind & memory & knowing it is appointed for all Men once to dye do make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say) First I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it; and for my Body I commit it to the Earth to be buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named, nothing doubling but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same against And as touching such Worldly Estate where will it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life I give, devise, and Dispose of the same in manner following. I give and bequeath into Sarah - , Sleigh the window of Charles Sleigh late of the City aforesaid Marrimer Twenty pieces of Eight Item I give & bequeath to the Reverend Mr Daniel - , Bandet now Minister to the French Congregation of New Rochel in the County of West Chester in the Province aforesaid Twenty pieces of Eight Item I give and bequeath unto Alexander my apprentice Twenty pounds to be paid him at the Expiration of the time of his Apprenticeship. Item I give & bequeath to my good friend the Reverend Mr John Thomas the now Minister of Hempstead on the Island of Nassaw in the said Province my Grey horse. Item I give &, bequeath unto my Servant Wan the Spanish Indian boy now living with me his freedom provided he serve my Loving wife. Seven years after my Decease: Item I give and bequeath unto my Wifes God daughter Martha Ludlow five pounds. Item I give and bequeath unto my Loving Wife Susannah Leaths all the rest, residue and remainder of all my Estate Real and Personall not herein before by me bequeathed whom with Mr Elias Nieu & Mr Gabriel Ludlow I do Constitute; make and ordain my Sole and onely Executors of this my last Will and Testament. And I doe, hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disanull and make void all and every other former Wills, Testaments, Legacies [2] and bequests by me heretofore at any time made, Rattifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I the said William Leaths the Testator have hereunto put my hand and seal the Twenty sixth Day of Aprill In the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred and Eight., , Wm. Leathes , Signed sealed & Published, By the Testators , as his last Will and, Testament in the, presence of , J: Stuats, Rich Lott, William white , , The Last Will and Testament , Of William Leathes, Proved, , [docket], The last Will & Testament , Of William Leathes made, The 26: of Aprill 1704, Moved May 4/17 : -

Keywords/Subjects: Religion, Death, American Indian History, Manumission, Latin & South America, Slavery

Sub Era: Slavery