History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I
If he should die before he attained the age of twenty-one years, or afterwards, " not having uiade a will," he then gave the estate to such one or more of the male descendants of his brothers and sisters, and in such proportions as his wife should designate ; but if she made no such designation, he then gave the estate to Lewis Morris Wilkins, the son of his sister Isabella, on condition that he assume the name of Morris. He then gave to his nephew, Gouverneur Wilkins, twenty-five thousand dollars, to be paid to him when he should attain the age of thirty years, provided his conduct should be such as in the opinion of his executor and executrix " becomes a good citizen." His friend Moss Kent, and his widow were charged with the execution of the will. The son Gouverneur, is still living, and has made a will and the legacy was duly paid Gouverneur Wilkins. Title searchers often raise this question, and as it affects all that part of Morrisania east of Mill Brook and as far north as the Home for Incurables, near Fordham,the facts are worthy of record.
We thus find Bronx Land and the "additional" lands mentioned in the patents of Morrisania east of Mill Brook, vested in the present Gouverneur Morris. His mother enjoyed her life estate in the property until 1837, when she died and was buried under the site of the present St. Anne's Church, which, in 1841, was erected by her son Gouverneur, in remembrance of her, and with respectful regard to two other valued relations of the name was called St. Ann's Church.