An Eighteenth Century Lease Opp

OF SIGNATURE

signed and witnessed but which was superseded by the will she made fifteen months later. The signature on the will that has just been found is, with the seal, reproduced herewith.

In general provisions Madam Brett's two wills are much alike. The one which has now been acquired by this society as a gift from Mr. Scheilds can be abstracted as follows:

Testator :-Catharyna Brett of Rumbout Precinct, Dutch ess County, widdow, aged and infirm;

To eldest son, Francis, £100; negro wench, Molly; the farm Thomas Waters lives on, adjoining his farm on the south side of the Fishkill, about 100 acres; and one-half of remainder of real and personal estate;

To son, Robert Brett, and his five children (Matthew, Francis, Rombout, Sarah and Robert) the Other equal onehalf of remainder, each to have one-sixth;

To two youngest grandsons, viz., Theodorus, son of Francis Brett, and Robert, son of Robert Brett, the farm on which Tima Scouten lives and that part rented to Teunis Van Vlackren, where he and Simeon Scouten live;

Land to be divided into two parts: one-half for Francis; one-half for Robert and his five children

Executors may sell land to meet expenses of estate and to pay legacies;

Old negro, Sam, to be cared for; Wench, Cohan, to chose her own master.

Executors: Son, Francis Brett; friends, Colonel JohnBrinckerhoff, Captains Peter DuBois and Eleazer DuBois of Rumbout Precinct.

Witnesses: Elizabeth Duncan, James Duncan, Seth Cur, -

tis.

An Eighteenth Century Lease

The land of Dutchess County was taken up for settlement under two legal forms of conveyance. One was the deed in fee simple, which conferred an absolute title. The

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