Will of Thomas Potter (1835)

Will of Thomas F Potter

State of New Jersey
Mercer County
I, Richard R. Rogers, Surrogate of the County of Mercer, do certify, the annexed to be a true copy of the last will and testament of Thomas F. Potter late of the county of Mercer deceased, and that James Potter, Robert F. Stockton and Richard S. Field the executors therein named, proved the same before me, and are duly authorized to take upon themselves the administration of the estate of the Testator, agreeably to the said will.
Witness my hand and seal of office, the Twelfth day of October— A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty three.
Richard R. Rogers

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In the name of God Amen— I Thomas F. Potter of Princeton inn the County of Mercer and State of New Jersey, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following that is to say:
First, It is my will and I do hereby order and direct that all my just debts and financial expenses be duly paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my decease.
Second, I give and devise all my messuages lands and tenements with the appurtenances, situated n the County of Mercer and State of New Jersey, unto my beloved wife Sarah Jane Potter during her natural life, and after her decease to my son John Potter, his heirs and assigns forever.
Third, I give and bequeath to my said wife Sarah Jane Potter an annuity of Six Thousand Dollars to be paid to her by my Executors hereinafter named yearly and every year during her natural life; And to secure the punctual payment of the said annuity, I do hereby direct my said Executors to set a part [written above: an appropriate such part] of my estate as will yield the said sum of Six thousand dollars, which is to be reserved as a fund for the payment of the said annuity, The above bequest and devise to my said wife to be in lieu of her dower in my lands.
Fourth, I give and bequeath unto my Executors hereinafter named, and the survivors or survivor of them the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars in trust nevertheless, and for the use of my son James Potter, in order to put him upon a footing of equality with my other children for whom provision has been made by the will of their grand father the said sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars to be paid to him when he arrives at the age of twenty one; the interest in the meantime or so much thereof as may be necessary for that purpose, to be applied to his education and support.
Fifth, All the rest and residue of my estate real and personal wherever it may be situated and of whatsoever it may consist I give and devise unto my said Executors and the survivors or survivor of them in trust nevertheless and for the use of my children, John Potter, William Hubly Potter, Elizabeth Potter, Alice Potter and James Potter

and to be equally divided between them share and share alike; the shares of my said songs to be paid to them respectively as they attain to the age of twenty one, the interest in the meantime or so much thereof as may be necessary for that purpose to be applied by my Executors to their education and support; but in the ease of my said daughters, my will is that the interest of their respective shares is to be paid to them yearly during their lives, and in case they should marry not to be under the control of their husbands or liable for their debts; and upon the deaths of my said daughters their respective shares are to be equally divided among their children, but if either of them die without issue her share is to go to her surviving brothers and sister equally to be divided between them.

Sixth— I do hereby give to my Executors hereinafter unnamed and the survivors or survivor of them full power and authority to sell and convey in fee simple the whole or any portion of my real estate not herein specifically devised, and also to sell and dispose of any part of my personal estate when ever in their judgment it may be advisable to do so, and the process of all such sales to invest from time to time in bonds and mortgages, or in productive stocks as they may deem best for the interest of my estate,
Lastly— I do hereby constitute and appoint my brother James Potter, my brother in law Robert F Stockton and my friend Richard S. Field Executors of this my last will and testament, and Guardians of my children until they attain to the ages of twenty one years,
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty first day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty one
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas F Potter to be his last will and testament in the presence of us
Geo T Olmsted
Phillip Henndrickson
Peter S Voorheese

Thomas F. Potter

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