Document: Will of Philip Jansen Ringo

In the year after the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, one thousand six hundred and forty-six, the 18th day of October, before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared Philip Jansen Ringo, from Vlissingen,[1] who declared that reflecting on the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the hour thereof and therefore being desirous to anticipate such uncertainty by certain testamentary disposition, he first commends his soul when it shall be separated from his body into the hands of Almighty God and his body to a Christian burial. He, the testator, after revoking all other previous testaments, codicils, donations and other instruments of last will which have been made by him before the date hereof, coming then to the disposal of his means and effects which Almighty God has granted him in this world, he, Philip Jansen aforesaid, gives and bequeaths to Antony Crol, his partner, all his means and effects which they have together in company, according to the agreement thereof mutually signed, dated the 17th of October. Therefore he, the testator, declares his last will and testamentary disposition to be that his above mentioned faithful friend and partner shall after his death possess all the means and effects which as above mentioned belong to them in company, those which Antony Crol now takes with him to Holland as well as those which Philip Jansen retains here. He, the testator, expressly stipulates that after his death Antony Crol shall pay to the poor two hundred guilders out of the testator’s property which he shall leave behind. He, the testator, requests that after his death this his testament and last will may take effect before all courts. In witness hereof signed by Philip Jansen and the subscribing witnesses, the 18th of October anno 1646, in New Amsterdam.

Philip Iansen
Adriaen van Tienhoven
Jacob Hendricksz Kip
Cornelis van Tienh.