Document A.1 · administration bond · transcription: verbatim

Administration bond and administrators' sworn statement, estate of Benjamin Cooper, Hunterdon Co., N.J., 5 February 1795 — probate file 1704J.

repository: Hunterdon County Surrogate, Flemington, N.J.
identifier: Probate file 1704J; filed Liber 35, folio 168 (per the page-4 endorsement)
date: 1795-02-05

What is transcribed: Pages 4 and 5 of file 1704J: the bond proper, and the administrators' sworn/affirmed statement with its endorsement. The rest of the file is other entries ([A.2], [A.3], [A.4]).

People named

As written	Role	Identified as	What this document says
Benjamin Cooper	deceased	Benjamin Cooper 1741–1794	death: before 5 Feb 1795, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey
John H Cooper	administrator	John H Cooper
John Dawes	administrator
Dennis Wyckoff / Dennis Wickoff	fellowbondsman
Richard Howell Esqr	obligee
R. Throckmorton	official

What this document records

Heirs

NAMES NONE. An administration bond names the obligors, the obligee and the deceased. It states no relationship between any of them and creates no list of next of kin. ⇒ this document cannot answer who Benjamin's children were, and that is structural.

Wyckoff spelling

THE SAME MAN IS SPELLED TWO WAYS ON THE SAME SHEET. The opening recital reads "Dennis Wyckoff"; the signature block reads "Dennis Wickoff". Both are transcribed as written and neither is corrected. [A.6], the published abstract of this same estate, prints "Wickoff".

Liber discrepancy

THE ENDORSEMENT SAYS LIBER 35, NOT 36. Page 4 reads "filed in Lib 35 folio 168". [A.6], the Calendar of NJ Wills abstract of this estate, cites "Lib. 36, p. 168". Same folio, different liber. Recorded as a conflict between the two documents; neither is corrected here, and which is right is not asserted.

Transcription and notes

Provenance, the three alternate scans, and what this document structurally cannot say are in the source: and coverage: headers and are not repeated here.

Data from the document (page 5, the bond proper):
Opening: "Know all Men by these Presents, That we John H Cooper and John Dawes both of the Township of Lebanon in the County of Hunterdon in the State of New Jersey and Dennis Wyckoff of the Township of Tewksbury in the County of Hunterdon aforesaid."
Obligee: "His Excellency Richard Howell Esqr, Governor of the said State, Chancellor & Ordinary in the same."
Bond sum: "two hundred and seventy five Pounds, lawful Money of said State."
Date: "fifth Day of February, Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and ninety five / 1795."
Condition of obligation names the deceased as "Benjamin Cooper, late of the County of Hunterdon aforesaid."
Inventory deadline: "on or before the fifth Day of August next ensuing."
Signatures at bottom right: "John H Cooper", "John Dawes", "Dennis Wickoff".
Witness (lower left): "R. Throckmorton" (Surrogate).
Data from the document (page 4, the administrators' sworn statement):
Endorsement top right: "Benjamin Cooper Intestate 1704J Flemington 1795 filed in Lib 35 folio 168." [Correction to earlier records: liber is 35, not 36.]
Body: "John H Cooper, one of the Administrators within named, being duly sworn on the holy evangelists of almighty God, and John Dawes the other Administrator within named, being duly affirmed according to law, did severally declare, that Benjamin Cooper the within named died without a will, as far as they know and as they and each of them verily believe; and that they will well and truly administer all and singular the goods, chattels, rights and credits of the said Deceased which have or shall come to their hands or possessions, or to the hands or possession of any other person or persons for their use; and that they will make a true and perfect Inventory of the said Goods, Chattels, Rights and Credits, and exhibit the same into the Prerogative Office of New-Jersey and render a just and true account of their administration."
"Sworn & Affirmed at Flemington the 5th day of Feb 1795 — Before me — R. Throckmorton, Surrogate."
Signed: "John H Cooper" and "John Dawes."