[S1284] Collections of The N.Y. Historical Society 1902 (1903), 140-142.In the name of God, Amen. I, Sophia Teller, widow of Andries Teller, late of New York, and executrix of his will, Being aged and infirm, but thanks be to God, of sound memory, for the future peace and quiet of the children of my son, OlofT Teller, and my grandchild, Andries Teller, the only representative of my eldest son, Andries Teller, deceased, do make this my last will and Testament. Whereas my husband by his will, dated May 18, 1700, did give to his eldest son, Andries, then in full life, but soon after deceased, the sum of £25, and also all that lot of land with appurtenances, lying over against the house we did then live in, next to the house and ground of Robert Livingston, on the Condition that I was to enjoy the use of ½ of the same. And it so happened by the pleasure of Almighty God that my eldest son, Andries Teller, died in 1702, and my daughter Margaret died unmarried, so that there remains only Andries, the son of Andries, our eldest son, and OlofT, our youngest son, to share the estate. And whereas my father, OlofT Stephense Van Cortlandt, in his life, by his deed, dated April 22, 1672, did make over to my late husband, and myself, his daughter Sophia, a certain house and lot of ground, in New York, to the north of the Wall or strand, having to the west the lot and ground of Charles Bridges, to the north, that of Jolyn Verghen, and to the east a certain narrow lane, and to the sonth the afore mentioned Wall, being 24 feet wide, and 54 feet 8 inches long, Dutch wood measure. And whereas the said Oloff Stevense Van Cortlandt, on the 4th day of January, 1681, did purchase a certain house or tenement, to the northward of said house and ground, from Josyntie Verghen, situate between the house and lot of Charles Bridges and the aforesaid certain narrow lane ; which he did likewise give unto the said Andries and Sophia. And whereas my son Andries, nor his son Andries, have had the said legacy of £25, I hereby bequeath, that after my funeral charges and just debts are paid, that my grandson, Andries Teller, shall have the said sum. And whereas my son, Oloff Teller, hath lately departed this life, leaving behind him several children. And as I have taken into consideration, that the house and other erections built upon the lot over against the house and lot that my deceased son lately lived in, and was devised to my eldest son, Andries, were built by the estate of my son Andries. And the lot of land whereon the house I now live in, fronting Duke street, with the other house and ground adjoining backward and fronting Dock street ; and the tenement that was purchased from Verghen, are of much less value, than the lot on the south side of the Strand. And it being considered that the houses and lots on the north side of the Strand, was the proper estate of my husband and me, and are of much greater value, than the bare lot of ground on the south side of the strand, adjoining to the house and ground of Robert Livingston, lately deceased. And as it may prove troublesome for my grandchild, Andries Teller, and the children of my son Oloff, to hold any real estate, as tenants in common, I hereby devise and bequeath to the children of my son Oloff, all that lot of land between Duke street and Dock street with all the houses. And I leave to my grandson, Andries Teller, all that my ½ of a certain lot of land, formerly purchased by Mr. Oloff Stephense Van Cortlandt from Peter Stoutenburgh and Jan Vinge, executors of Rachel Van Tienhoven, lying at a place sometime without the City Gate, on the west side of the highway, and on the south side of the land of Jan Vinge, containing in breadth at the highway or east side, 18 rods and 7/16 of a rod, and on the west the like measure. To him the said Andries Teller, and his heirs and assigns. The said lot of land is to be valued by indifferent men, and if one half of the sum it shall be valued at, do amount to the sum of £200, then the devise shall be deemed a sufficient equivalent to the devise of the lot between Duke street and Dock street, left to the children of my son Oloff. But if the value do not amount to £200, the difference is to be made up by the children of my son Oloff. All the rest of my estate is to be sold, and I leave ½ to my grandson Andries, and the other half to the children of my son Oloff. And I reccomend to them to maintain the love, peace, and kindness to one another, as they will expect the blessing of Almighty God. I make my grandson Andries, and my friend, Frederick Van Cortlandt, and Mr. Stephen Bayard, executors.
Dated September 20, 1728. Witnesses, G. Du Bois, Coenradt Ten Eyck, Abraham Santford. Proved, October 1, 1729.