Ovid Township, Seneca County, New York
18 Feb 1806
In the name of god Amen. I Henry Voorhees of the town of Ovid in the County of Seneca and State of New York being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament in maner and form following (that is to say) First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Peggy Voorhees such of my goods and chattels as she may think proper to keep for the use of herself and family and for the improvement of the farm and all the remainder of my goods and chattels may be sold by my executors hereinafter mentioned also my lot of wood land laying near Israel Knight’s to be sold for the discharging of my lawful debts & the over-plus to be put out for the support and education of my children and I do further give and bequeath unto my said beloveded wife Peggy Voorhees the full and sole improvement and use of all my real — or landed estate during her life or as long as she remains my widow except so much as has been before mentioned, and furthermore I give and bequeath all my real estate or land unto my five children in the following manner (viz) my daughters Nelly Peggy Annie and Wally Voorhees are to be made equal in share and my son Stephen Voorhees to have two shares to that of the girls one, to their heirs and assigns forever, to be divided between them in manner aforesaid when the youngest child becomes of age then to be sold and divided and lastly I do hereby ordain and appoint my said wife Peggy Voorhees my executrix, John Voorhees Joshua Coshon & Cornelius Wickoff my executors to this my last will and testament and do hereby authorize and empower my executrix and executors herein above mentioned to sell so much as they shall deem necessary or at their discretion to make deeds in fee simple to the purchaser or purchasers of said land (before mentioned). In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six.
Signed and sealed }
in the presence of }
Hendrick Venlien }
Oliver Miller. }
David Bird. }
The word (children) was interlined in the twenty second line previous to signing and sealing, likewise the twenty eight line —
Henry Voorhees { Seal }
Seneca County }
Surrogates Office }
Be it remembered that Hendirck Venlien & David Bird two of the subscribing witnesses to the preceding will personally appeared before me and being duly sworn did depose and say that they saw Henry Voorhees the testator herein named sign and seal the same and that at the doin thereof he was of sound and disposing mind and memory as far they knew and as they verily believed and that Oliver Miller the other subscribing witness was present at the same time and signed his name as a witness to the said will together with these deponents in the presence of the testator.
Sworn before me at Ovid this 10th day of March 1806 Seneca County Surrogates Office }
Jane Landford Surrogate
Be it remembered that Peggy Voorhees John Voorhees Cornelius Wickoff and Joshua Coshon executors in the preceding testament named being duly sworn did depose and say that the preceding instrument was the last will and testament of Henry Voorhees the testator therein named as far as they knew and as they verily believed that they would well and truly perform the same by applying first the debts of the said deceased and then the legacies in the said testament specified so far as the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased can hereto extend and that they would make and exhibit into the Surrogates office of said County of Seneca a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased that have or shall come to their possession or knowledge and render a just and true account of administration when thereto required.
Sworn before me at Ovid this March 10th 1806 Seneca County Surrogates Office Jane Landford Surrogate
The people of the State of New York by the grace of God free and independent:
To all to whom these presents shall come or may concern send greeting:
Know Ye that at the town of Ovid in the County of Seneca on the eighteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six before Jared Sandford Esquire Surrogate of our said County the last will and testament of Henry Voorhees deceased (a copy whereof is hereto annexed) was proved and is now approved and allowed of by us: and the said deceased having whilst he lived and at the time of death, goods chattels or credits within this State by means whereof the proving and registering the said will and the granting administration of all and singular the said goods chattels and credits and also the auditing allowing and final discharging the account thereof doth belong unto us the administration of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased and any way concerning his will is granted unto Peggy Voorhees John Voorhees Cornelius Wickoff and Joshua Coshon Executors in the said will named, they being first duly sworn well and faithfully to administer the same and to make and exhibit a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the said goods, chattels and credits and also to render a just and true account thereof when thereunto required.
In testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of office of our said Surrogate to be hereunto affixed: Witness Jared Sandford Esquire Surrogate of the said County at Ovid aforesaid the eighteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six and of our independence the thirtieth.
Jared Sanford Surrogate
Transcribed from images of the original documents by William R. Emanuel, Charlottesville, Virginia, 15 Feb 2021. Revised 12 Mar 2023.