His will deals largely with domestic affairs, yet it is a carefully conceived and well drawn document:
“I, Martin Van Buren of the Town of Kinderhook, County of Columbia, and State of New York, heretofore Governor of the State, and more recently President of the United States, but for the last and happiest years of my life, a farmer in my native Town, do make & declare the following to be my last will & testament.
“First. I direct my Executors hereinafter named, to pay without delay, my funeral expenses, & all outstanding bills. Debts, in the ordinary acceptation of that term I owe none, & hope to leave none.
“Secondly. I direct that no account shall be taken of advances by me heretofore made to either of my sons, and that they shall be considered as settled, with the exceptions of a bond I hold against my son Abraham for two thousand dollars, and also a note against my son John for four thousand eight hundred and fifteen dollars, which were agreed to be considered as business transactions strictly, the amount due on each at my death (the interest having been punctually paid to the present year) is to be charged to them respectively, and deducted from their share of my estate. The like charge and deduction shall be made in respect to any future payments by me or by my estate in cases where I have made myself liable as surety for either of my sons, but in which nothing has yet been paid by me.
“Thirdly. In consideration of advances which I have made to my sons Abraham & John, whilst none have been made to my son Smith Thompson, I bequeath to the latter all my personal chattels and effects, excepting therefrom all the debts that may be due to me, and stocks that I may own at my death, and also my wine & stock on my farm. My miscellaneous library is intended to be included in this bequest, but not my law library, which I bequeath to my son John.
“Fourthly. I give to my grandson Singleton Van Buren a gold snuff box, presented to me with the Freedom of the City, by the corporation of the City of New York and to my grandson Martin, son of Abraham, the marble bust made of me by Powers, which I had previously presented to his mother, & now transfer to the son by her direction. I give to my grandson Martin, Son of my son Smith Thompson, a silver pitcher presented to me, some years since by my old and always sincere friend Benjamin F. Butler.
“Fifthly. I direct my executors to expend four hundred dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, in obtaining a copy of the bust of me by Powers, which copy I give to my grandson Edward Livingston Van Buren.
“Sixthly. I direct my executors to lay out five hundred dollars for keep sakes for my grand son Travis Van Buren, and for my grand daughters Anna, Ellen, Catharine & Eliza Van Buren.
“Seventhly. I request my executors to regard themselves as standing towards my best of sisters Dirike Van Buren, if she shall survive me, in the relation I occupied when living, & to omit nothing in the way of pecuniary advances that may contribute to her comfort, out of my estate.
“Eighthly. I direct my executors to pay to my niece Christina Cantine two hundred dollars & to each of my nieces Lucretia Van Buren & Jane Ann Van Buren the sum of one hundred dollars: and I give and devise to my nephew Martin Van Buren son of my brother Lawrence, & to his heirs and assigns forever, all my interest in a small dwelling with the lot on which it stands adjoining his father’s house conveyed to me by the latter as security for money lent, but the latter devise is upon condition that his father relieves me or my estate from my remaining securityship to the State of New York.