Charity Thomas

     Charity was born on Saturday, 3 July 1734. Charity married James Ferris II, son of James Ferris and Anne Sands, on 19 September 1753 in New York.¹ On 14 April 1747, James & his family resided on property inherited from his father at Throgs Neck, Westchester County, New York. Charity made her will on 9 September 1807 at Westchester, Westchester County, New York. I Charity Ferris of the Town of Westchester in the county of Westchester being at this time sick and weak in body, but of sound disposing mind and memory think it proper to make the following disposition and distribution of my temporal property and for that purpose do constitute and ordain this to be my last will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say: In the first place I order and direct my Executors hereinafter named and appointed to sell and dispose of in their discretion either at publick or private sale a messuage and piece or parcel of land situate on Throgs Neck in the Township and County aforesaid commonly called the "Martin Place" which I purchased at a Sheriffs sale on execution the monies arising therefrom to consider as assets in their hands for the purposes hereinafter mentioned, and I do hereby authorize them and the survivors and survivor of them to execute sufficient Grant and title to the purchasor thereof Secondly I give and bequeath to my daughter An Pell and to her assigns $250 to compensate her for extraordinary trouble and care in the management of my own and her Fathers property as and Executrix also my large silver Tankard. Thirdly I give and bequeath to my son, Edward Ferris $250 interest for his wife Elizabeth to be laid out by her in plate at her discretion for herself and her children after her death Also a good feather bed bolster and pillows to my said son Edward and his assigns Fourthly I give and bequeath to my son George Ferris and his assigns one other good Feather Bed Bolster and pillows Fifthly I give to my son James Ferris and to his assigns $250 also five cows and one score of sheep out of my share of stock on the farm and fodder for them off the said farm, until the next growth of grass after the time he shall be entitled to receive them. Sixthly, and whereas I hold an obligation or single bill against my son Thomas Ferris for the principle sum of 200 Pounds Dated 9th days of July in the year 1785 in which a considerable sum for interest is Due, now if my said son Thomas Ferris his Heirs Executors or Administrators shall pay to my Executors the sum of $250 in Six Months after my decease in such case I do hereby release the said obligation to my said son Thomas & to his heirs executors and administrators, and declare the same to be void and Cancelled. Seventhly.I give and bequeath to by daughter Abigail Harrison and to her assigns the third choice of a good feather bead bolster and pillows and also my smallest silver tankard Eightly and whereas I hold two obligations against my son David Ferris the one a Penal Bill dated the 17th day of May 1796 for the principal sum of 120 Pounds 9 Shillings and the other a Single Bill Dated the 3d day of July 1797 for principal sum of 50 Pound on both of which considerable sums are Due for interest if my said son David Ferris his Heirs Executors or Administrators shall pay to my Executors the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars in six months after my decease in that case I also release to him his heirs executors and administrators the said two obligations and declare the same to be cancelled. Ninthly I give and bequeath to my said son David Ferris and to his assigns all the remainder of my share of the stock on the Farm not hereinbefore disposed of the Farming Utensils and Crops of Grain and Hay gathered and growing on the Farm and provisions in the house at the time of my decease Tenthly I give to my granddaughter Charity daughter of my said son James $50 to be lodged in his hands in trust for her use. Eleventhly all the residue and remainder of my estate I give and bequeath to my two daughters Anne Pell and Abigail Harrison and to my aforesaid son George Ferris and to their several and respective assigns to be equally divided between them share an share alike but the share of my said daughter Abigail is to be paid to herself personally. Twelfthly with respect to my slaves it is my wish and desire and I do order and direct that they be manumitted and liberated in the manner following my wench Phebe is to be free immediately after my decease. My wench Betty and her infant child Eliza and two men Elijah and Abraham are to remain in the service of my son David as usual in the Farm for the term of one year from the time of my decease and then to be manumitted according to Law but if the Overseers of the Poor for the Town of Westchester shall after time refuse to manumit them as the Law directs then I direct my Executors to do it in such way as they shall judge most proper so that they may be actually free. My boy Israel is to live in the service and employ of my said son David as usual on the Farm until he shall be twenty one years of age and then to be free. 13thly whereas my daughter Anne Pell hath had and still must have much care and trouble as an executrix in the management of her father's estate and I being fully satisfied of her having discharged her duty as far as she was able I myself being incapable of assisting her, do for the sake of preserving peace and good will among my children after my death desire that they may be also satisfied with her conduct and come to amicable settlements with her but if any of my children who arfe legatees in the will of their father shall cause vexation in law or otherwise to my said daughter Anne Pell as an executrix aforesaid in the settlement of his or her share of the estate in such case I do order and direct my executors to withhold and retain whatever may be given by this my will to any or either of my children from such child and his or her assigns who shall cause vexation or lawsuit and distribute the same among the other legatees share and share alike.
And lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my daughter Anne Pell Executrix and my sons Edward and George Ferris Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all others before this time made by me. In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 9th day of September in the year 1807 Signed sealed published and declared by the said Charity Ferris as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us the subscribers who subscribed our names as witnesses thereto in her presence and in the presence of each other@. Charity Ferris.
Charity departed this life after 9 September 1807 in Westchester, Westchester County, New York. Her will was probated on 3 June 1816.²