Document A.19 · probate abstract · transcription: verbatim
Honeyman, Calendar of New Jersey Wills Vol. III 1751–1760 (NJ Archives 1st Series Vol. XXXII), p. 72 — the published abstract of Samuel Coryell of Bridgewater's 1760 will, naming "cousin Elias van Court" an executor.
- repository
- Published archival abstract
- collection
- Honeyman, A. Van Doren, ed., Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Administrations, etc. = New Jersey Archives, First Series, Volume XXXII (= Wills Vol. III, 1751-1760).
- identifier
- p. 72 — the same page as Emanuel Coryell's 1758 guardianship, [A.18]
- date
- 1760-01-17
What is transcribed: The complete Samuel Coryell entry on p. 72. The rest of the page is not transcribed here.
People named
| As written | Role | Identified as | What this document says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coryell, Samuel | testator | Samuel Coryell ?–1760 | residence: Bridgewater, Somerset Co., New Jersey occupation: tavernkeeper probate: 25 Feb 1760 |
| David Coryell | executor | David Coriell ?–1742 possible | |
| Elias van Court | executor | Elias Van Court Jr 1719 | |
| William Riddel | witness | ||
| Asa Kelly | witness | ||
| William Kelly | witness |
What this document records
It names no child
THE ABSTRACT NAMES NO CHILD AND NO WIFE. It devises the "worldly estate" to children whose names are not given, to be brought up by the executors. ⇒ this entry cannot test Santos's roster (Michael b. 1758, Joseph b. 1755, John, Daniel) and cannot say whether Samuel's wife was a Van Court — which is the question that would make "cousin" precise. The recorded copy at Lib. G p. 128 should carry both; see todo.
The date supersedes santos
THIS ABSTRACT DATES THE WILL 17 JANUARY 1760; SANTOS DATES IT 15 JANUARY 1750. Santos's Coriell-Coryell Family p. 170, via [I.44] §6, gives the same will-body substance a decade earlier. The catalog reads Santos's date as a 1750/1760 transcription slip — the tell being that Santos elsewhere dates this same Samuel "b. ~1700, d. after Jan 1760", which contradicts his own will date. The alternative — two Samuels, two wills — requires an entirely unattested 1750 will. Argued on Samuel Coryell, not asserted here.
Which elias van court
THE "cousin Elias van Court" MUST BE THE SON, NOT THE FATHER, AND THE ARGUMENT IS PURE ELIMINATION: Elias Van Court Sr died 23 August 1750 ([A.16]), nine and a half years before this will. ⇒ the only Elias available is Elias Van Court Jr Elias Jr, baptised 1719 ([F.67]), aged about 41 — age-plausible for an executor. This is the catalog's only attestation of Elias Jr after 1750. How he is Samuel's "cousin" is NOT settled — the word was elastic in 1760 usage; three readings are set out on Elias Van Court Jr.
Transcription and notes
Provenance, the fact that no child or wife is named, the 1760-versus-Santos's-1750 date, and
the elimination argument identifying Elias Jr are all in the source: and coverage: headers and
are not repeated here. The people are argued on [p.1911] and [p.1910]; the wider
Cooper–Coryell–Van Court network this document belongs to is set out on [p.1].
Verbatim transcription
1760, Jan. 17. Coryell, Samuel, of Bridgewater, Somerset Co., tavernkeeper; will of. Devises "worldly estate" to children, names not given, who are to be brought up by the Executors, brother David Coryell and cousin Elias van Court. Witnesses—William Riddel, Asa Kelly and William Kelly. Proved Feb. 25, 1760. Lib. G, p. 128.