Case Name: Watts and LeRoy, Appellants v. Public Administrator in the City of New York. 4 Wend. 168
Court: New York Court for the Correction of Errors
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1799
Citations: 1 Lock. Rev. Cas. 559
Docket Number: 
Parties: Watts and LeRoy, Appellants v. Public Administrator in the City of New York. 4 Wend. 168.
Judges: 
Reporter: Lockwood's Reversed Cases
Volume: 1
Pages: 559–560

Head Matter:
Watts and LeRoy, Appellants v. Public Administrator in the City of New York. 4 Wend. 168.
Execution of Will of Personal Estate before the Revised Statutes.
The testator, John G. Leake, died, leaving a paper drawn up by himself, with his name in the beginning of it, in a fair hand, engrossed on conveyancing paper, with a seal attached thereto, with a disposition of both real and personal estate to a large amount, manifesting deliberation and foresight in its provisions : this testamentary paper was found in an iron chest among his valuable papers, without signature, having an attestation clause not witnessed.
The appellants, Watts and Le Roy, named as executors, propounded it as a will, and applied for letters testamentary.

Opinion:
The surrogate held it an incomplete testamentary paper, and rejected it as a will, and committed the administration to the public administrator. On appeal, the Chancellor affirmed the decision of the surrogate. But,
The Court of Errors held, that this instrument, so prepared by the testator, though not formally executed, was a good and valid will of the personal estate therein mentioned, according to the common law, as generally understood and received in England and this country on 19th April, 1775, when the common law was adopted as a part of the law of the State. Decrees of surrogate and Chancellor, reversed—¿ 17 to 9.
TI'T Since January 1,1830, by Revised Statutes, a will of personal as well as real estate is void, unless subscribed at the end of the will, in the presence of at least two attesting witnesses.