{"product_id":"1755-colonial-germantown-will-of-dirk-jansen-certified-and-signed-by-chief-justice-benjamin-chew-1774","title":"1755 Colonial Germantown Will of Dirk Jansen—Certified and Signed by Chief Justice Benjamin Chew, 1774","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eAn unusually substantial colonial Pennsylvania probate manuscript: the last will and testament of \u003cstrong\u003eDirk Jansen, yeoman of Germantown\u003c\/strong\u003e, originally dated January 7, 1755, and officially copied and certified at Philadelphia on October 8, 1774.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWritten across three large manuscript sheets marked A, B, and C, the will records Jansen’s distribution of an extensive Pennsylvania estate among his children John, Richard, Ann Catherine, and Rebecca. The property included his Germantown residence, meadow and orchard; numerous tracts along Germantown’s Great Road; and hundreds of acres in Bucks, Lancaster, Northampton, and Philadelphia counties. The will also distributes livestock, farming implements, household furnishings, and substantial monetary bequests.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document is certified and authentically signed by \u003cstrong\u003eBenjamin Chew (1722–1810)\u003c\/strong\u003e as Register General of Pennsylvania. At the time of this certification, Chew was also Chief Justice of Pennsylvania’s highest court. A prominent colonial jurist, Chew served as longtime legal adviser to the Penn family and was the owner of Cliveden, later a principal site of the Battle of Germantown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe certification retains its large, elaborate embossed paper seal and original attachment cord. Historical sources associate Dirk Jansen with an early Germantown property later incorporated into the historic house known as Upsala, although additional title research would be required to determine whether the residence described in this will was that particular property.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an official 1774 certified copy from the original will retained in the Register General’s Office. The Jansen and witness signatures are clerk-copied; Benjamin Chew’s certification signature is original.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition is fragile, with extensive fold separation, tears, losses, staining, and detached sections, but most of the manuscript remains legible. The Chew signature and impressive provincial office seal are well preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore info...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThis is a \u003cstrong\u003ecolonial Pennsylvania certified manuscript copy of the last will and testament of Dirk Jansen of Germantown\u003c\/strong\u003e, originally executed January 7, 1755.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe three-page will was copied from the original held in the Pennsylvania Register General’s Office and officially certified in Philadelphia on \u003cstrong\u003eOctober 8, 1774\u003c\/strong\u003e, only six months before Lexington and Concord.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe certification is signed:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Benjamin Chew, Reg’r Gen’l”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt retains the large embossed paper-and-wafer seal of the Register General’s Office.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePrincipal figures\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDirk Jansen\u003c\/strong\u003e, described as a yeoman of Germantown, Philadelphia County\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChildren and beneficiaries: \u003cstrong\u003eJohn, Richard, Ann Catherine, and Rebecca\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWitnesses copied from the original: \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Bowman, Christian Warner, and John K—\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBenjamin Chew (1722–1810)\u003c\/strong\u003e, Pennsylvania’s Register General and, by 1774, Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChew was a leading colonial lawyer, longtime legal representative of the Penn family, and owner of Cliveden—the house that became a focal point of the Battle of Germantown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistorical content\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJansen’s will describes a remarkably substantial estate, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHis Germantown residence, meadow, and orchard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMultiple Germantown lots along the “Great Road or Main Street”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWoodland and additional Philadelphia County acreage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApproximately \u003cstrong\u003e400 acres at “Maxelium” in Bucks County\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApproximately \u003cstrong\u003e250 acres called “Indian Land” near the head of Perkiomen Creek\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApproximately \u003cstrong\u003e500 acres in Lancaster County\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApproximately \u003cstrong\u003e300 acres near Indian Creek\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLivestock, farming implements, household furnishings, and monetary bequests\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistorical accounts associate a Dirk or Dirck Jansen with the early property now known as \u003cstrong\u003eUpsala\u003c\/strong\u003e, near the later Battle of Germantown battlefield. One account states that Jansen probably erected the early rear portion around 1740. However, the present document does not itself name “Upsala,” so the specific residence described in the will should be presented as a \u003cstrong\u003epossible, research-worthy connection rather than a certainty\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eImportant distinction\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is \u003cstrong\u003enot the original 1755 will signed by Jansen\u003c\/strong\u003e. The Jansen signature, witness names, and written word “Seal” on page C were reproduced by the register’s clerk. The genuine autograph is Benjamin Chew’s signature beneath the 1774 certification.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePoor to fair but substantially legible:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThree manuscript sheets, marked A, B, and C\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExtensive fold separations and edge losses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarge internal tears and detached or nearly detached sections\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeveral words affected or missing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeneral toning, staining, and handling wear\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal attachment cord present\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEmbossed paper seal substantially intact and visually impressive\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBenjamin Chew’s certification and signature remain clear\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52732974399770,"sku":null,"price":2509.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_2358.jpg?v=1787409920","url":"https:\/\/www.thearchiveauthority.com\/en-ca\/products\/1755-colonial-germantown-will-of-dirk-jansen-certified-and-signed-by-chief-justice-benjamin-chew-1774","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}