New York City Wills 1766-1771 (Ancestry.com):

Tami, Chris. New York City Wills, 1766-1771. Orem, UT: Ancestry, Inc., 1999. Original data: Abstracts of Wills on File in the Surrogate’s Office, City of New York, Vol. 7, 1766-1771. Collections of the New York Historical Society, Vol. 31. New York: New York Historical Society, 1899. )

Page 428.--In the name of God, Amen. I, RENE HET, of New York, merchant, being somewhat infirm of Body this April 1, 1754. "After my death and burial, which I desire my executors may be due and Decently performed after the manner of the French Protestants in the City of New York," all debts and funeral expenses to be paid. "I leave to my loving daughter Mary, wife of William Smith, Counsellor at Law, the Picture of my dear wife and her mother, deceased."

"I leave to my grandchildren, the sons and daughters of said William Smith, Esq., and Mary, his wife, a bond given to me by Rhoderick Pattchuk, for which Isaac De Peyster is special Bond."

"I leave to my grandson, Joshua Het Smith, son of said William Smith, Esq., my silver hilted sword, and two French Bucaneer Guns, and one pair of French pistols, and my silver headed cane and my best muff."

The rents of my present dwelling house, in which I now live, in the Vly, in New York, and the rents of my Plantation in King street, in New England, late in occupation of Capt. William Smith, are to be put at interest for the use of Blanche Smith and Sarah Smith, children of said Capt. William Smith and my dear daughter, Sarah Smith, his late wife, deceased, until they are of age or married, and then I devise the said house and my Plantation and all my estate to the said Blanche and Sarah, but if they both die, then to the sons and daughters of said William Smith, Esq. My daughter, Mary Smith, is to have the direction of my funeral.

"My wearing apparell and my household stuff may not and shall not be sold, but be put up and reposited in a Room, or some other place, for the use of my grandchildren."

I make my friends, Simon Johnston, Esq., of New York, Recorder, John Thomas, of Rye, one of the General Assembly of the Province, and Derrick Lefferts, of New York, merchant, and Peter Clopper, merchant, executors.

"NOTE.--Before signing hereof, the Silver hilted Sword afore mentioned is stolen away."

Witnesses, Francis Foy, Henry Ritter, Charles Johnston. Proved, November 8, 1768.

NOTE.

Rene Hett was one of the Huguenot Colony in New York. He had two daughters, Mary, wife of Hon. William Smith, and Sarah, wife of Capt. William Smith. On May 10, 1730, Rene Hett and his wife Blanche gave to William Smith, Attorney at law, in consideration of an intended marriage between him and their daughter, Mary Hett, a house and lot, bounded east by Queen street, west by lot of Peter Newkirk, south by lot formerly of George Heathcote, and north by Capt. Giles Shelley. This is now No. 179 Pearl street. The house and lot "in the Vly," where Rene Hett lived, is now No. 216 Pearl street. Blanche Smith, daughter of Capt. William Smith, married Jedediah Chapman, of "Orangetown, Essex Co., N. J.," and had two surviving children, Robert Hett Chapman and William Smith Chapman. They sold to Nicholas Carmer, September 7, 1791, the house and lot where Rene Hett had lived, bounded north by Queen street, east by lot formerly of Capt. Brandt Schuyler, south formerly Abraham De Peyster, west by lot formerly of James Emott, with an alley in the rear leading to "formerly West street, now Fletcher street." The daughter, Sarah Smith, probably died unmarried.

Hon. William Smith, who married Mary Hett, was one of the most distinguished men of his time. He was born in England, 1696, and came to America in 1715. He was Member of Council, 1753, and in 1763 was made Judge of Supreme Court. He was described as "a Gentleman of great Erudition and the most elegant Speaker in the Province." He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church in New York. He died Wednesday, November 23, 1769, in the seventy-third year of his age, and was buried in the graveyard attached to the Presbyterian church on Wall street. He left a large family, one of whom was William Smith, the Historian of New York. The residence of Hon. William Smith was the southeast corner of Broadway and Exchange place. His son, Thomas Smith, was living there at the time of the Revolution. Among other property, Hon. William Smith was the owner of several large lots in the Cheesecock's Patent, in Rockland Co., N. Y. At the south end of one of these lots stands the famous "Treason House," where Arnold and Andr? held their meetings. The place was then owned by Thomas Smith, but was occupied by his brother, Joshua Hett Smith, who was the unhappy dupe of the two conspirators. The principal representative of this distinguished family, now living in New York, is Charles Bainbridge Smith, a well-known lawyer. Hon. William Smith appears to have left a will, but it was never probated, and seems to have been concealed by one of his family. He was one of the counsel and strongest supporter of John Peter Zenger, the printer. SEE APPENDIX.--W. S. P.