Richard Porter was born on 5. Apr. 1708 at Readington Twp., Hunterdon County, New Jersey. He married
Anne (Unknown) c 1735 at New Jersey. Richard Porter married an unknown person on 17. Nov. 1749 at Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Richard Porter left a will on 31. Dec. 1786 at Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
In the name of God amen.
I Richard Porter of Hunterdon County in the State of New Jersey being sick and weak, but of sound mind and memory make this my last will and testament. In the first place I recommend my soul into the hands of God who gave it, hoping for mercy of my sins and pardon in and through the merits and mediation of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and my body. I order to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretin of my executores hereafter named and my worldly estate I order to be disposed in the following manner.
FIRST, I order all my just debts and funeral charges to be paid, I order all my estate both real and personal to be sold by my executors when they shall think it will be most beveficial for my estate. I give unto my loving wife Catherine twenty pounds per year as long as she shall continue my widow which sum I order my executors to pay her yearly and I also give unto my said wife her choice of one bed and furniture. I order that my wife lives in my dwelling house until sale in made of my estate if she chooses all which I give her in lue of her dower. I further order that if my wife lives in my house as aforesaid and is supported as usual that she does not receive the twenty pounds mentioned before, until sale is made of my estate. I give unto my daughter Nancy McCrea thirty pounds. I give unto my daughter Catherine Faulkner eighty pounds. Both said legacies I order my executors to pay as soon as the money can be raised by the sale of my estate. I also order that the residue or remainder of my estate, after paying any debts, legacies off and every necessary expense, be equally divided among my four sons, William, James, Nathaniel, and John after paying James and John fifty puounds each more than their equal proportion.
LASTLY, I constitute order and appoint William Porter, James Porter, Nathaniel Porter and John Porter my aforesaid sons executors for this which I declare to be my last will and testament, hereby authorizing and empowering my said executors to sell and dispose of my estate both real and personal and sign seal and deliver proper conveyances to the purchaser or purchasers as I might or could do were I personally present. In testimony thereof I have hee unto set my hand and seal this thirty first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty six.
Signed, sealed, published, and
delivered by the testator in
the presence of us to be his
last will and testament.
Richard Porter
Thos. Berry
Mathias Lane
John Taylor
Thomas Berry, one of the witnesses to the written will, being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God did dispose and say that he saw Richard Porter the testator herein named sign and seal the same and heard him publish, pronouce and declare that the within writing to be his last will and testament; and that at the doing thereof the said testator was of sound and disposing mind and memory as far as the depondent knows and as he verily believes and that John Taylor and Mathias Lane, the other subscribing, evidences were present the same time and signed their names as witnesses to the said will together with this deponent in the presence of the said testator.
Signed the 26 April 1787 Thos. Berry
Before M. Furman, Surr.
William Porter, James Porter, Nathaniel Porter and John Porter executors in the within testament, being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, did dispose and say that the within instrument contains the true last will and testament of Richard Porter the testator therein named so far as they know and as they verily believe, that they will well and truly perform the same by paying first the debts of the said deceased, and then the legacies in the said testament specified so far as the goods, chattels and crdits of the said deceased can there unto extend and that they will make and exhibit into the prerogative office a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased that have or shall come to their knowledge or possession or to the possession of any other person or persons for their use, and render a just and true account when there unto lawfully required.
Signed the 26 April 1787 William Porter
Before M. Furman, Surr. James Porter
Nathaniel Porter
John Porter
The final inventory for the estate totaled: 413 pds, 17 shs, 9 pence.
*The above will was copied from:
LDS Film #0461825
Hunterdon Co., NJ
1787--1789
Vol. II -- Index of Wills.
He died on 5. Apr. 1787 at Bedminster Twp., Somerset County, New Jersey, at age 79. He was buried at Lamington Burying Ground, Bedminster Twp., Somerset County, New Jersey.