1788 Intestate Will of Johannes Henselbecker

1788 Intestate Will of Johannes Henselbecker


Following are the two pages of the will of Johannes Henselbecker or Henselpecker (depending on how one writes or hears that Germanic b/p combination). John Henselbecker was the administrator for the intestate will of Johannes Henselbecker. Dates on the will, from what I can determine are the 22nd of February, and the 22nd of August, 1788. Other names include Albert VanVoorhase, Catherine Miller and POSSIBLY Abraham Westervelt, as the notary/judicial signator/preparer of the will.

NOTE: This Johannes and John are of the family which likely remained and continued to prosper in Bergen County, New Jersey, after the rest of the clan emigrated to Loyalist Land Grants in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada, following the Revolutionary War. Likely changing the family name to Packer, at a later date. Wherever you see "??" it is due to my own inability to make out what was written. Anyone familiar with wills of this period in history, who is aware of the language of the day, is MORE than welcome to offer ideas on what words or phrases might have been missed during my transcription, and can e-mail me at: jedh@jedh.com


Bergen County in the State of New Jersey, John Henselbecker as the Administrator within named? having duly sworn According to law did depose and say that Johannes Henselpecker within named? died without a Will as far as he knows and on ?? ?? ?? and that he will well and truly administer all and singular the goods chattels rights and credits of the said Deceased, which have and shall come to his Hands or Possession or to the Hands or Possesion of any of the Person or Persons for His Use and that he will make a True and Perfect Inventory of the said goods Chattels Right and Credits and paid ?? the ?? into the Prerogative office at Burlington a just and true account of his administration ?? these Presents have fully ?? Sworn at Bergen on the 22nd of February 1788 before me, (signature of) Abr. Westevelt Admor (signature of) Johannes Henselbecker

(On same page perpendicular to the above, signatures of John Henselpecker Albert Van Voorhase, "Bergen 1788" and the description of the document: Johannes Henselbecker - Intestate - Bergen 1788 ??? Granted - Recorded in Lib (NJ?) 34, Page 257 - Examined

On the other page, the following appears:

Know all Men by these Presents, That We John Henselpecker and Albert Van Voorhase, both of Bergen County in the State of New Jersey are held and firmly bound unto his ?? William?? (Livingston??) of the State of New Jersey in the sum of Two Hundred and Forty Pounds, Proclamation Money, to be paid to the said William ???, his Successors or Assigns; to which Payment well and truly be made, We bind ourselves, our Heirs, Executors and Administrators, jointly and feverally, firmly by these Presents. Sealed with our Seals, and dated the Twentysecond Day of February Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and eighty eight.

The Condition of the above Obligation is such, that if the above-bound John Henselbecker of the ?? ?? State ?? deceased, do make or cause to be made, a true and perfect inventory, of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased, which have or shall come to the hands, Possession or Knowledge of the said John Henselbecker or in the hands of any other Person or Persons for his Use, and the fame so made, exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the Registry of the Prerogative Court, in the Secretary's Office at Burlington on or before the 22nd day of August next ensuing; and the same Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased, at the Time of his Death, or which at any Time after, shall come to the Hands or Possessions of any other Person or Persons, for his Use, do well and truly administer according to Law; and further do make or cause to be made, a just and true Account of his Administration, within twelve Months from teh Date hereof; and all the Rest and Residue of the said Goods, Chattels and Credits, which shall be found remaining upon the Account of the said Administration (the same being first examined and allowed of, by the Judge for the Time being, of the said Prerogative Court) shall deliver and pay unto such Person or Persons respectively, as the said Judge for the Time being, of the said Court, by his Decree or Sentence, pursuant to the true Intent and Meaning of an Act of Parliament, made in the 22d and 23d Years of the Reign of King Charles II, intitled, An Act for Settling Intestate Estates, shall limit and appoint. And if it shall hereafter appear, that any Last Will and Testament was made by the said Deceased, and the Executor or Executors therein named, do exhibit the same into the said Prerogative Court, making Request to have it allowed and approved accordingly; If the said John Henselpecker being thereunto required, do render and deliver up the said Letters of Administration, Approbation of such Testament being first had and made in the said Court; then the above Obligation to be void, or else it shall stand in full Force and Virtue.

Sealed and delivered in the presence of -

"Mark" of Catherine Miller, signatures of Johannes Henselbecker and of Albert Van Voorhase (from the signature... name later seen in records as Van Voorhees) as well as Abr. Westervelt. (signature seems that of the Court, perhaps)


This page created: 8 April 2000
Updated and Maintained by Jared W. Handspicker