Appointed executor of estate of his maid, Neeltie Jan de Vries
Three weeks before she died in the Gulden Hoofd, Leeuwenhoek's family maid Neeltie Jan de Vries appointed Leeuwenhoek as executor of her estate. 21 October 1691 was a Sunday, so she must have been very sick and Leeuwenhoek's nephew Adriaen must have come to his house. Heijndrick van Kroneveld, his next-door neighbor and printer, was one of the witnesses. Neeltie signed with a mark, indicating that she was illiterate.
ONA inv. 2427, fol. 1014 Adriaen Leeuwenhoek, notary
In den name des Heeren Amen, op huijden den XXIe Octob. 1691 compareerde voor mij Adriaen Leeuwenhoeck nots. publijcq (etc.) Neeltie Jans de Vries, ongehoude dogter wonende aen de westsijde van de Hipolitusbuurt (etc.) sijnde sieckelijck van lighame te bedde leggende (etc.).
Heeft voorts sij Testatrice tot voogd over hare minderjarige erffgenamen en andre toeversigt behoevende erffgenamen gesteld en gecommitteerd, soo als sij doet bij desen Sr Anthonij van Leeuwenhoeck, alwaar sij Testatrice altans als dienstmaagd is wonende (etc.).
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In the name of the Lord Amen, sincerely the XXIst of October. 1691 Adriaen Leeuwenhoeck compared nots for me. public (etc.) Neeltie Jans de Vries, an unmarried daughter living on the west side of the Hipolitusbuurt (etc.) was sick and laid to bed (etc.). She has also appointed and committed Testatrice as guardian of her minor heirs and other heirs in need of care, as she does with his Sr. Anthonij van Leeuwenhoeck, where Testatrice already lives as a maidservant (etc.).
