In the name of God, Amen. I, Jacob Visher, of Albany, being of sound mind. All debts to be paid. I leave to Gertrude Swits, daughter of Major Isaac Swits, the house and lot where I now live, “and she is to keep and maintain my Negro wench, ‘Deijaen,’ with food and clothing, and allow her to store her clothing in the [g]arret during her life, and to live in the back kitchen and sleep in the cellar.” I leave to Gerritt Van Vrankie, carpenter, of Albany, £100. Of all the rest of the real and personal estate I leave 1/3 to the heirs of my sister (then deceased), Hester Swits, viz., Isaac, Susanah, wife of Cornelius Van Ness, and Anna, wife of Hendrick Beekman; 1/6 to the children and Egbert; 1/6 to Polly, wife of Jacob J. Lansing, and 1/3 to Gertrude, wife of Martin Beekman. My Negro man and woman are to be free, and my executors are to give security that they shall not be a burden upon any town, according to Act passed October 29, 1730. I make Isaac Swits, Jacob J. Lansing, and John Beekman executors, and I give to each of them £50 for their trouble. Dated November 10, 1762. ![]() notes Transformed by JP first posted 10/10/04; recast and revised 11/30/17 |