Will (17 July 1822) and codicil (9 June 1823) of John Annin of Bernard Township, Somerset Co., N.J., docket 1999R, proved at Somerville 22 May 1824 — FHC captures, DGS 5657952 images 810-814

Transcription and notes

Provenance, why the docket was pulled, the fact that it did NOT answer the question, and the withdrawn first-pass witness names are all in the source: and coverage: headers and are not repeated here.

Data from the document — B-810 outer endorsement (verbatim)

• "John Annin Dec'd"
• "Inventory & Will"
• "declaration sealed[?]"
• "1999 R" (docket number)
• "Recorded May 22, 1824"
• "in Book C of Somerset"
• "Inventories pages 480 [?]"
• "by me J. Filley[?]"
• "Surrogate"

Will body — B-812 and B-813 (read 2026-09-13 from the originals/ captures)

Line breaks are not the document's. […] = a word not seen in any capture; [?] = uncertain.

Margin (B-812): "Recorded May 22ᵈ 1824 in Book C of Wills Pages 179 &c by me [signature] Surrogate"

"In the name of God Amen! I John Annin of the township of Bernard in the County of Somerset and State of New Jersey, being of sound mind and memory, but considering the uncertainty of life, do, after ardently desiring the salvation of my soul thro' the intercession and mediation of Jesus Christ, the Saviour, and the forgiveness of my sins by his atonement, make this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say —

Imprimis — It is my will and I do hereby order and direct my Executors hereinafter named, that as shortly after my decease as may be convenient they dispose of all my personal estate at public sale — and out of the proceeds thereof pay all my just and lawful debts —

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Joseph all the monies now due to me, or which may hereafter become due to me, from the Estate of Joseph Cross, dec'd —

Item. As to my real Estate, as well in this State as Elsewhere, I do hereby order and direct my Executors or the Survivor of them, to dispose of the same at public vendue, within two years after my decease, in such lots and parcels, as may be most advantageous to my Estate: hereby authorising them or the Survivor of them to make and execute good and sufficient conveyances for the same, which shall be as valid and effectual as if the same had been made by me in my life time: — And the nett proceeds of said sale or sales of my real estate, together with the balance that may remain of my personal Estate, I order to be divided into fourteen Equal Shares, and to be distributed as follows — that is to say, I give and bequeath to my daughter Phebe, wife of Dr. Samuel Ayers[?], one share — to my son William, two shares — to my daughter Alletta, two shares, — to my daughter Sally, wife of Robert Harriot[?], one share — to my son Jacob two shares — to my daughter Elizabeth, wife of […], one share — to my daughter Lydia wife of Gilbert B. Taylor, one share — to my daughter Jane one share — to my daughter Mary one share and to my son Joseph, two shares —

Item. If any of my sons should be within the age of twenty one, or either of my daughters be under the age of Eighteen years, at the time of my decease, my will is, and I do hereby order and direct my Executors or the Survivor of them to put out the share or shares of such child or children on good and sufficient security — And the interest to be annually appropriated to the bringing up and maintenance of such child or children — hereby giving my said Executors or the Survivor of them the guardianship of such child or children, until they shall arrive, the boys to the age of twenty one, and the girls to the age of Eighteen years —

Item. Inasmuch as some of my children are married and received some part of their portion of my estate by way of advancement, in what is called an outset — now I order and direct that the same be deducted by my Executors out of the shares of those to whom such advancements have been made: — the amount of which said advancements can be ascertained by referring to the accounts kept of the same in the book of accounts kept by me, and known by the name of the Executor Book: —

Item. Should any of my children, Excepting my said daughter Alletta, die without having lawful issue, the property hereby given and bequeathed to such child or children, shall, after their decease, be considered a part of my Estate — and be divided among the survivors or their representatives, share and share alike — the children of those who may be deceased, taking their parent's share —

Item. If any of my children or sons-in-law shall after my decease bring any account against me in my private capacity, or as an Executor of the Estate of others, I order and direct that the same be deducted out of […] such child or children […] the amount of such account shall […] his or her portion of my estate; so that [such child or chil]dren can in no way be benefitted by such account.

Lastly. I do hereby constitute, ordain and appoint my son William Annin and my friend Peter D. Vroom Junior Executors of this my last will; hereby revoking all other wills by me heretofore made, and declaring this to be my true and only last will and testament.

In testimony whereof, I the said John Annin, the testator, have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, this seventeenth day of July, in the year of our LORD, one thousand eight hundred and twenty two: 1822.

[signed] John Annin [seal]

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said John Annin, as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereto subscribed our names in his presence and in the presence of each other — [signatures] [first faint, unread] · James R. Compton · James Smalley"

Codicil — B-813 right page to B-814 (read 2026-09-13)

"Codicil to the foregoing will: I the above named John Annin of the township, county and state aforesaid, being of sound mind and memory, do on this, ninth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and twenty three, make and publish this, codicil to my last will and testament, that is to say — I do hereby order that the two shares given in my said will to my son Jacob Annin, be retained in the hands of my said Executors above named, during the natural life of the said Jacob: And I do hereby give the same to my said Executors or the survivor of them in trust, hereby directing that they do at their discretion pay the interest arising on the [same toward the] support and maintenance of my said son Jacob and his family, and also so much of the principal as may be necessary: and that after his death, the residue, if any, be distributed in equal shares among his children —

In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this ninth — day of June A.D. 1823:

[signed] John Annin [seal]

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said John Annin, as a codicil to his last will and testament, in presence of us, who have hereto subscribed our names in his presence — [signed] Willet Taylor · Richard Hall · Abraham Voorhes"

Trip-marker highlights (yellow + blue sticky tags placed during capture)

The user placed multiple in-viewer highlight markers on B-813 and B-814 at name positions. These mark hand-flagged names of interest seen during the trip — likely Cooper, Annin, or Cross surnames. The specific names cannot be read from the current stitched images at trip-marker positions.

Verbatim transcription of B-811 (added 2026-05-15 from maintainer high-res zoom)

Will witnesses + first witness deposition (John Parsells)

Left-margin witness names list: - "Willet Taylor" - "Richard Hall" - "Abraham Voorhes" (likely Voorhees)

Top-right column (John Parsells' deposition):

"John Parsells. — Being duly sworn according to law did depose and say that he saw John Annin the Testator sign & seal this Instrument of writing, and heard him publish and declare that part to which his name and seal is first affixed to be his Last Will and Testament. and that he was of sound and disposing mind and memory at the time of executing the same. and that James R. Compton & James R. [S]malley (2026-09-13: "Smalley") — the other subscribing witnesses thereto were present and subscribed their names as witnesses in the presence & at request of Testator.

Sworn at Somerville May 22d 1824 Before me — J.W. Filley Hughes Surrogate — [signature] John Parsells"

Codicil-witness deposition (Willet Taylor)

"Willet Taylor — Being duly sworn according to Law did depose & say that he saw John Annin the Testator sign & seal the Codicil by him & this his last will annexed and heard him publish & pronounce and declare the same to be his Codicil thereto and that he was of sound and disposing mind and memory at the time, and that Richard Hall and Abraham Voorhes the other subscribing witnesses were present & subscribed their names as witnesses in the presence & at request of Testator.

Sworn at Somerville May 22d 1824 Before me — J.W. Filley Hughes Surrogate — [signature] Willet Taylor"

Executors' deposition

"William Annin & Peter D. Vroom Junior Executors within named being duly sworn according to Law did severally depose & say that this writing contains the true Last Will with the codicil thereto annexed of John Annin the Testator Dec'd. So far as they Know & as they verily believe; and that they will truly perform & fulfill the same by paying first the Debts of s'd Dec'd. Then the Legacies therein specified, So far as Goods Chattels & Credits can thereunto Extend. and that they will Exhibit in the Surrogates Office of the County of Somerset, a True & perfect Inventory of all & singular the Goods, Chattels, Rights and Credits of s'd Dec'd that shall or may come to their knowledge or possession, or to the possession of any other person or persons for their use.

Sworn before me May 22d 1824 — J.W. Filley Hughes Surrogate — [signature] William Annin — [signature] P. D. Vroom Jr"