As an estate attorney, I agree completely--with both parts.  "Well and faithfully" is a common expression of the time, and the sons would have been appointed administrators because she did not have a will.  If she had had a will, the executors named in the will would have been appointed to administer her estate, not administrators.  She would only have been referred to as the executor of her husband's estate  in this document because she died before his estate administration was completed.   Barbara L. de Mare, Esq. Attorney, historian, genealogist, grandmother 155 Polifly Road--3rd floor (office) Hackensack, New Jersey 07601 (201) 567-9440 office http://historygenealogyesq.blogspot.com/ ________________________________ From: Howard Swain <hswain@ix.netcom.com> To: dutch-colonies@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2013 6:41 PM Subject: Re: [DUTCH-COLONIES] Catharin de Hooges, wife of Harmanus Rutgers Hi David, As I look at the image at the link you cite, it appears to me that it says: ...administrator for the _well_ and faithfully administring the goods ... That is, well, not will.  “Well and faithfully” seems to me to be common expression. Second, it is my impression that usually when there is a will, that an executor is appointed to manage things; but when there is no will, that manager is called an administrator. Thus it appears to me that what happened is that Harman Rutgers died and had a will and his wife Catherine was appointed executrix.  Then she died without a will, and so their two sons were then appointed administrators by the document you cite. By the way, the abstract of the will of Harman Rutgers appears to me to be found in WNYHS vol 2, p. 69. Regards, Howard hswain@ix.netcom.com From: W David Samuelsen Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2013 1:55 AM To: dutch-colonies Subject: [DUTCH-COLONIES] Catharin de Hooges, wife of Harmanus Rutgers https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-24569-26615-48?cc=1920234&wc=M9S9-K3W:748966791 It mentioned a will. ... administrator for the will and faithfully administring the goods chattles and credits of Catharin Rutgers deceased the widw and executrix of the said Herman and were adminitted administrators accordingly... I can not find HER will at all even I already indexed Queens College files (aka Albany County, NY old section) and New York County up to 1800. Her husband's will is filed with New York County and original record is in Queens College files. Any idea where her will might be? W. David Samuelsen ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DUTCH-COLONIES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message