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Note: Page 524.--In the name of God, Amen, May 14, 1754. I, JONAH HALSTEAD, of Orange County, being weak in body. I leave to my eldest son Caleb 20 shillings, in full bar to his claim as eldest son. I leave to my wife Martha the possession of the house where I live, with the privilege of the kitchen and cellar, while she remains my widow. And my sons, Caleb, Jonah, and John, are to provide her two good cows, "well kept, both summer and winter. Also a horse and side saddle and bridle, "and a full sufficiency of all the lawful necessaries of life, in sickness and in health." "I leave to my son Benjamin 12 yearly, and I request it of all my children, and leave it as a charge, to treat him with utmost and kind tenderness, and after the decease of his mother to live with one of his brothers or sisters." I leave to my daughter Martha 18, and 2 cows, and a bed, etc. To my daughter, Sarah Gurney, 3. To my daughters, Hannah Coe and Abigail Vandervoort, wife of Nicholas [s/o Paul Vandervoort & Neeltje Staats, b abt 1723] 5 shillings each. I leave to my wife as much household furniture as she thinks proper. To my son Benjamin a bed and chest. To my son Jonah a horse and plough and cart. To my son John a horse. All my real estate I leave to my sons, Caleb, Jonah, and John, as follows: Caleb is to have the farm on which he lives, and he shall not endeavor to take any advantage of his other brothers, and shall pay 4 yearly to Benjamin for his support. I leave to Jonah the place where I now live, which is favored with many conveniences that the place of my son John has not, "and I enjoin him as a father to assist his brother John in his settlement, and let him have apples and cyder for his family for 12 years after his beginning to settle his place for himself." I give to my son John the farm where he now lives. To my son Benjamin my wearing apparell. I make my three sons and my son-in-law, John Coe, executors.
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