The will of Pierre Billiou, dated 9-11-1699, probated in New York, 1-6-1702 is recorded in Liber 7, page 79, with several errors made by the copyist.
Elmer G. Van Name in 1958 transcribed the original will as follows:
In the name of God, Amen.
Bee it known and manifest unto whom these presents shall come that I Pierre Billiou, of the County of Richmond in the Province of New York, yeoman, considering the frailty
of this present Transitory life, the Certainty of Death and the uncertain-time and hour thereof, being at this present in good health, Sound memory and understanding, have made,
ordained and declared, and hereby make and ordain these present to bee my last will and Testament in manner and forme hereinafter Expressed, hereby revoking ~d annulling all and
all former Wills and Testaments by me heretofore made and declared willing and required these presents only to be my last free and uncontrouled Will and Testament.
Imprimis I do bequeath my Soule into the hands of my moat merciful God and Creator, hoping and only trusting for mercy and Salvation and the Pardon of my manyfold Sins in and throh
the Meritorious Death and Passion of the Blessed Son God my Redeemer, and my body to the Earth there to bee decently Interred, according to the Discretion E~. "Executors named in
the hope of a glorious resurrection at the last Day and as for ~t Temporall Estate the Lord of 0a Mercy has been pleased to bestone
Item: I do give unto (my) welbeloved wife Gerritje Biljou the Sume of Tenn Pounds (L10) Currant Money of this Province and also do give and confirme to her the Sume of ffivetteen pounds
per annum during her natural life the which per ante-nuptial contract I did engage to her And my Will and pleasure is that my Executors before any division bee made of my Estate Shall
give in Sufficient Security to pay the same yearly and every year during her natural life afore said.
Item: I do give unto my welbeloved Wife Gerritje Biljou aforesaid during her natural life and for her use all and Singular my-household Stuffe & furniture, none excepted, of my house
belonging or thereto apurtening.
Item: I Give and bequeath unto my Eldest son Isaac Biljou the Sume of Twenty ffive pounds currant Money for this Province and his birthright.
Item: I Give and bequeath unto the Two Children of my Son Jacob Biljou Deceased the Sume of One hundred Pounds Currant money of this Province, that is to say ffifety Pounds to each of
them, I having Sufficiently done for their ffather in his life time.
Item: I Give and bequeath unto the four Sonns of my Daughter Catharin Lawfully on her begotten by Richard Curtis a Certain Tract of land adjoining to Daniel Lake in the County of
Richmond aforesaid, being Eighty ffour Acres or there-abouts bee it more or less, to be equally divided or Sold Amongst them for ever without any trouble or Incumbrances of all or
any of my children.
Item: I Haveing Payd a certain morgage of the Sume of One Hundred and Twenty pounds Currant Money of this Province unto Paul Richard of the City of New York, Merchant, which he had
on a Certain piece of land belonging to Nicholas Larzilliere deceased, late the husband of my Daughter ffrancoyse who is since Intermarried with John Morgan, which piece of land
lyeth in Richmond aforesaid, whereby all the Interest, Title, claime and demand of the Said piece of Land is devolved upon my Selfe and Whereas Nicholas the Son and heir of the
said Nicholas Larzilliere is heir at Law to the Estate of his Said Father whom I had on the marriage with my Daughter ffrancoise Sufficiently Provided for, My Express will and
pleasure (is) that my Said Daughter shall enjoy the benefit of the Said Morgage untill Such time that her Said Son shall bee of age and take possession of Said Land and then the
Said Nicholas his heires or Executors shall well and truely pay or cause to be made the Said Sume of One hundred and Twenty ffive pounds in equall Proportions unto the Children of
my said Daugh-ter his Mother without any distinction whether they be begotten of his Own father or of John Morgan, I thinking that he is Sufficiently Provided for by his father throh
my Means And my Will and pleasure is that my Said Daughter ffrancoise shall have the income of the portions of her Children untill they bee Severally of age or Marryed.
Item: My Debts, funerall Charges and the aforesaid Legacyes being payd and the yearly pension of my Wife Secured, I do Constitute (and) Apoint heires to the remnant or remainder of my
Estate both reall & personall, actions & Creditts, none excepted, but what are heretofore Mentioned, to be equally divided without any Manner of Distinction, My Son Isaac Biljou, My
Daughter Marie's (Arent Prael's Wife) who is deceased, her seaven Children, Martha the Wife of Thomas Stillewill and Chretienne the Wife of Abraham Marlet (I conceiving to (have) already
Sufficiently given to the rest of my Children), that is to say, One quarter part to my Son Isaac Biljou or to his children in case of his Decease, One quarter part to the Seaven Children
of my Daughter Marie the late wife of Arent Prael or their heires, One Quarter part to Martha the Wife of Thomas Stillwell or to her Children in case of her Decease, And One quarter part
to Chretienne- the Wife of Abraham Marlet or to her Children in case of her Deacease to (be) equally divided by them in ffour equall sharee ~ divisions but with this express condition
that before any Dividend bee made of my Estate which whether they be lands or Tenements, I do hereby declare to bee goods and Chattles, they shall give Security to my Said Wife Gerritje
to pay or cause to be payd unto her yearly and every Year the sume of ffiveteen Pounds Currant Money of this Province as by this my last Will & Testam't I have given & Bequeathed unto
her during her naturall life.
Item: Whereas by this my last Will and Testam't I have given unto my Wife Gerritje Biljou all my household Stuffe & furniture belonging to my Howse during her naturall life, My Will and
Pleasure is that after her decease what is left of same shall bee equally shared and Divided by my Children or their Children in the respective places of their ffathers or Mothers in
manner and forme following: That is to Say, One Seaventh part thereof to my Son Isaac Biyou or his Children in his Stead; One Seaventh part thereof to the Children of my Son Jacob Biljou
deceased; One Seaventh part thereof to the Children of my Daughter Marie deceased Lawfully begotten by Arent Prael; One Seaventh part thereof to the Children of my daughter Catharin
Deceased Lawfully begotten by Richard Curtis to whom which Children is to bee understood to bee given what heretofore was in this Testament said to be given to the Mother; One Seaventh
part thereof to Chretienne the Wife of Abraham Marlet or her Chil-dren in her Stead; and One Seaventh part thereof to ffrancoys the now.wife of John Morgan or to her Children in her Stead.
Lastly: I do hereby appoint my Trusty & Welbeloved friends Abraham Gouverneur Esq. of the City of New York, Jacques Pouillon of the County of Richmond, Esq.. & Jasper Nissepat of the City
of New York. Merch't. or the Survivors of them to bee the only Executors of this my last Will & Testament, giving & hereby granting unto my Said Executors or the survivors of them the
full & Soul just & ample Powers as all Executors by the Law doth appurtain & belong.
In testimony whereof the said Peter Biljou hath hereunto set his hand & Seale in New York this 11th Day of Sept. in the Elleventh Year of his Ma'ties Reigne 1699.
Signed Sealed ~ Published in the presence
of (being in two sheets of paper)
Nicolaa Jamain
Drner Ceratt
Jacob Thibou
PIERRE BILLIOU (Seal)
New York, July the 6th, 1702. The within named Jacques Pouillon, Executor of the last Will and Testament of Peter Bilyou lately dec'd appeard and was sworn to ye due Execution of the
within written Will.
Coram me
Jo: Bridges Sur.
Appeared the ftfth of this instant Jan'y 1702 the within named Nicholas Jemaine one of the witnesses to the within written will and was sworn to the due Publication of it.
Coram me
Jo: Bridges Sur.
Appeared this sixth day of January 1702 Abraham Gouverneur (who by an Act of Renunciation refus'd the Executorship of the within written will), and was sworn as A witness to the due
Publication of it.
Coram me
Jo: Bridgea Sur. R. Milward Prs.
This (widow) Gerritje was the widow of Jan Spiegelaer of Flatbush and she entered into an antenuptial agreement with Peter Billiou on January 17, 1695/6 indicating their intention
to marry. The antenuptial agreement is confirmed in Pierre Billiou's will, but it is clearly distinguishable from the will. It is recorded in a Book of Patents and Deeds.
She signed as Gerretye spiegelaers. He signed as peter billiou.
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