USA > New York > Suffolk County > Early Long Island wills of Suffolk county, 1691-1703. an unabridged copy of the manuscript volume known as "The Lester will book;" being the record of the Prerogative court of the county of Suffolk, New York, with genealogical and historical notes > Part 12
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given to my son Gideon to be part of his half abovesd And furthermore I give to my sd son Gideon a first lot of upland in the Oyster pond upper neck bounded by ye land of Benjamin Horton to ye Eastward and by ye land of Richard Brown to ye Westward & in length reaching from ye Sound or North sea South- ward to ye harbor also my will is that my son Jonathan when he shall attain to ye age of twenty one years that he shall with the best assistance that he can get divide all the lands that is dividable between himself & his brother Gideon into as many parcels as is most convenient in my son Jonathan's judgment and having so done my son Gideon or his heirs shall take their choice which part or parcels he or they will have for their share-Item-It is to be noted that I have ordered a piece of land to my now dwelling house bounded as followeth : beginning at a large white oak ye same tree where my son Gideon began as abovesd so along by the harbor to a black oak tree which is ye bounds between John Tuthill and myself and from thence to ye Northeast corner of John Tuthill his land lying by the harbor side and from thence Eastwardly twenty and nine rods more or less to a white oak marked on ye Southside with ye letter Y and from thence on a streit line to crooked black oak also marked with the letter Y on the Northerly side which is a corner bounds between my son Gideon and my son Jonathan and from thence upon a strait line down to ye first white oak men- tioned by the harbor which parcel of land thus set
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out for my son Jonathan or his successors in lieu of that already set out to my son Gideon-
Item-My will is that my son Gideon his heirs or assigns shall pay or cause to be paid unto my sons Joseph & David ye sums of thirty pounds a piece to each of them when each of them comes to legal age of twenty-one years-Also my will is that my son Jonathan his heirs or assigns shall pay or cause to be paid unto my sons Joseph & David ye sum of thirty pounds a piece to each of them when my son Jonathan shall come to ye age of twenty & three years of age all these payments in this my will are to be paid in current money of this Province-
Item-My Will is for ye security of these pay- ments aforesd in manner & form before willed that if either Gideon or Jonathan or Gideon's heirs that are to pay their brothers Joseph and David their respective sums before willed them shall neglect or refuse to pay the same upon reasonable demand then I do retract from him that maketh default by not performing ye provision required ye one half of ye land so designed him both in quantity and quality excepting ye lands affixed to the respective houses and if Gideon & Jonathan shall make default of pay- ment as is willed them then I retract from them both half ye land intended them and by this my last will & testamt. do give & bequeath it to such son & sons as shall thus be refused and neglected to be paid the money hereby given them and to their respective heirs and assigns forever that half of land so
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retracted-Item-My will is that if Jonathan shall die under age then his land shall go to my son Joseph with ye same reservations & priveleges as it was Jonathans if Joseph shall die under age then ye land shall go in like manner to my son David if Joseph shall die under age then Jonathan to pay to David ye sum of threescore pound current money of this Province-If either Joseph or David shall die under age then Gideon and Jonathan to pay three score pounds current money of each of them to ye survivor-But my son Gideon not to pay out money to such brother as shall succeed his brother Jonathan in his land such successor to divide ye land also as Jonathan might-Item-My will is that if my beloved wife should die before Jonathan comes to ye age of twenty-one years then my son Gideon or Guardian or Guardians chosen by my son Jonathan shall let out for the only advantage of my son Jonathan until he comes of legal age my meaning is the land which I gave him by this my present will- Item-My will is that if my well beloved wife Sarah Youngs shall neglect or omit at or before her death to dispose of them by will & testamt. as aforesd then my mind & will is that it shall be equally divided that is to say what shall be left undisposed of to my three daughters or such of them as shall be living at their mothers death my meaning is of my moveable estate so left undisposed of by my wife-Item-My will is that my son Gideons chimneys and two floors belonging to the house now given him in this my
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now will be finished with my estate he only assisting with his own hands finally my will is & I do hereby nominate constitute & appoint my dearly beloved wife Sarah Youngs and my son Gideon Youngs to be Executrix and Executor and my will is that my son Gideon shall have no power to act without ye consent of his mother but that my wife shall have full power to act as Executrix without ye consent of my son if he will not concur with his mother-And in confirmation of this my last will & testamt I do hereby make null & void all former wills and do to these presents affix my hand & seal this twenty second day of December in ye year of our Lord Christ one thousand six hundred ninety & nine-
GIDEON YOUNGS [Seal] Signed sealed & owned in ye presence of us JOHN TUTHILL THOMAS TERRY JOSEPH YOUNGS SAMUEL YOUNGS WALTER BROWN
By ye tenor of these presents know ye that on ye 22 day of Feby. Anno Dom 1699 at ye Manor of St. Georges in ye County of Suffolk before ye Honoble Coll William Smith Judge of the Prerogative Court in ye sd County was proved & approved the last Will & testamt of Gideon Youngs late of Southhold in ye sd County deceased on ye 31 day of Decem. Anno Dom 1699 who by his sd Will did nominate Sarah
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his wife and Gideon his son Executors of his said will to whom was granted the sd administration-
In ye name of God Amen-I Robert Patton 66 of Southampton in ye County of Suffolk on ye Island of Nassau in ye Province of New York being in perfect memory & understanding do make this my last will & testamt. first I bequeath my soul to God that gave it me and my body after dead to a decent burial to ye earth from whence it was first taken and for my worldly estate I dispose in manner & form following-First I give unto the Revd. Mr. Joseph Il'hiting ten pounds to be paid by my executors- Secondly I give unto Mr Samuel Burts eldest son of N. York ten pounds to be paid by my executors- 3dly I give unto William Herrick ten pounds to be paid by my executors-4by-I give unto Thomas Herrick ten pounds to be paid by my executors- 5l-I do give unto Sam' Cooper ten pounds to be paid by my executors-6ty-I do give unto Ephraim Topping my shop now standing upon ye land of Tho. Topping-Lastly-after yt my debts are paid and a decent burial the rest of my estate I do give unto my
66 Robert Patton was the village tailor in Southampton in the olden time. His home lot was on the east side of main street next south of the house of late Colonel Benjamin H. Foster. The house of Josiah Foster lately stood on it. It is a small piece of land in the northwest corner of the original home lot of Lieutenant Richard Post. A store owned by Captain Daniel S. Havens stands on it. The executors of Robert Patton sold it to Obadiah Sale.
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two executors namely William Herrick & Sam? Cooper whom I do constitute & appoint to sell & dispose of my house & land that I bought of Samuel Butler to pay the legacies I do order my Executors to pay to Margaret Marsher in Scotland ten pounds if demanded I do order my executors to pay unto William Patton in Scotland twenty pounds if de- manded by the sd Margaret Marsher & We Patton- And William Herrick & Samuel Cooper I do appoint & constitute to be my said Executors & adminis- trators of this my last will & testamt. In Witness whereof I have hereunto fixed my hand & seal in Southampton ye 25 of April 1700.
ROBERT PATTON [Seal]
Signed sealed & declared by Rob Patton to be his last will & testamt in presence of JOSIAH HOWELL MANASSEH KEMPTON THO. TOPPING
By ye tenor of these presents know ye that on ye 21 day of May Anno Dont 1700 at ye manor of St. Georges in ye County of Suffolk before ye Honoble Coll. William Smith Judge of ye Prerogative Court in ye County abovesd was proved & approved the last Will & testamt of Robert Patton late of S'hamp- ton in ye sd County decd on ye 12 day of May Anno Dom 1700 who by his sd last Will & testamt. did nominate and appoint William Herrick & Samuel Cooper his Executors to whom was granted the ad-
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ministration of the all & singular the goods & chattels of ye sd. deceased-
In the name of God Amen. I Mary Halsey 67 late relict of Thomas Halsey of ye town of S'hamp- ton late deceased being very sick & weak in body but in sound memory Expecting every day to put off this mortal body do make & ordain this to be my last will & testamt. in manner & form following-I give & freely bequeath my soul to God who at first gave it to me and my body after decent burial to ye earth from whence it was taken and for my worldly estate I dispose of it as followeth, (viz)-Ist I give & bequeath unto my grandson Ammy Resco one two year old heifer & four sheep-2ª I give & be- queath unto my four grandaughters namely Mary Hand Eunice Howell Elizabeth Moore & Zerviah Howell each of them twenty shillings in money one silver spoon one pr. of sheets one pewter plate two napkins one pillow drawer and one sheep-3ª I give & bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Moore ye best rug & a white kersey blanket & a new chest-4th I give & bequeath unto my daughter Hannah Howell a brass kettle, hetchill, Iron skellit, a green rugge a white fitted blanket, a pr. of stillyards & an iron
67 Thomas Halsey, the husband of the testatrix, lived in Southampton village on the homestead of late Thomas Nicoll White. " Ammy Res- coe " the grandson was son of Ammiruhami Ruscoe, who lived at Mecox. He was the ancestor of Horace Ruscoe, a well known resident of Huntington.
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bound chest-5th I give & bequeath unto my daugh- ter Phebe Halsey three pound in money one silver spoon one pewter plate one sheep one pr. of sheets one pillow drawer two napkins and nine of ye fif- teen cattle in ye hands of my son Nathaniel Halsey in proportion for value that is to say nine fifteenths of the sd fifteen cattle and two beds and two bolsters and two pillows one of the beds she hath in posses- sion and the other feather bed I now lie on and great bedstead a green rug a great iron kettle and peile trammell & warming pan and iron mortar & a frying pan a brass skillet & a great chest and a little chest & a pair of tongues -- 6th I give & be- queath unto my daughter Abigail Howell three pounds in money one silver spoon one pewter plate & one sheep one pr. of sheets one pillow drawer two napkins a brass pot and a trammell & peile in Nathaniel's hands the two last particulars-7th I give & bequeath unto my son Nathaniel Halsey one feather bed one iron pot and cupboard & a great table and half ye grindstone all in his hands already the other half of the grindstone I give unto my son Josiah Halsey-Sth I give unto my five sons namely Josiah, Isaac, David, Jeremiah and Nathaniel Halsey five cattle in ye hands of the sd Nathaniel Halsey to be equally divided between them and my timber chain to be used amongst them five-9th my will is yt. all other household stuff belonging to me of what nature or kind and wheresoever to be found to be divided between my daughter Phebe Halsey &
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Abigail Howell equally and that my wearing apparel linen & woolen & silk to be equally divided among my five daughters namely Mary Howell, Sarah Moore, Hannah Howell, Phebe Halsey & Abigail Howell-10th I do by these presents constitute ordain & appoint my sons Isaac & David Halsey Executors of this my last Will & testamt. to receive all my estate & first pay all my just debts and then the abovesd bequests and legacies and the rest of my estate to be divided equally between my two Execu- tors four pound of the sd money above bequeathed is in ye hands of my son Nathaniel Halsey -- And for ye full confirmation of this my last will & testamt I have hereunto set my hand & seal in S'hampton aforesd this IS day of December Anno Dom 1699. her
MARY HALSEY 9/ [Seale] mark
Signed sealed & declared to be her last Will & testamt. in presence of
CHRISTOPHER FOSTER
BENJAMIN HOWELL MATTHEW HOWELL
By the tenor of these presents know ye that on ye 21 day of May Anno Dom. 1700 at ye Manor of St. Georges in ye County of Suffolk before the Honoble Coll. William Smith Judge of the Prerogative Court in ye sd County was proved & approved the last will & testamt. of Mary Halsey late of S'hampton in ye sd. County deceased on ye 20th day of Dec" Anno
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Dom 1699 who by her said Will & testamt. did nominate & appoint her sons Isaac & David Halsey her Executors to whom was granted the administra- tion of the goods & chattels of ye sd deceased.
In the name of God Amen. I Richard W'odhull68 of Brookhaven in the County of Suffolk being weak in body but of sound memory thanks be to God calling to mind ye uncertain state of this life do make & ordain this & none other to be my last will & testamt. in manner following-First I commit my soul into ye hands of Jesus Christ my merciful Re- deemer and my body being dead to ye earth to be decently buried-Item to Richard Wodhull my eldest son I give my house and all my home lands adjoining to it with all other the buildings orchards fencings and other the improvements thereon made & all my land in ye old field & in ye Little Neck and my meadow at Conscience and all my meadow & upland in the fire place neck at South and twenty acres of land at Selliers lot in New- town and ten acres of meadow in Porriges neck at ye South and half an accommodation of common-
66 Richard Woodhull was one of the most illustrious of the early set- tlers of Brookhaven, and the leader of the settlement. His wife was Temperance Topping of Southampton. So much has been written concerning him in the " History of Suffolk County " that it seems need- less to repeat it here. His place at Setauket was the home of three generations. "Oldfields" is the neck north of Setauket, next the sound. "Crassum's Neck" is on the South Bay at the village of Brookhaven. Snake neck is on the east side of Carman's River.
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 209
age all which lands and meadows with the buildings & improvements abovesd I give to my said son Richard to have & to hold ye same to him & his heirs forever-Item to Nathaniel Wodhull my son I give my land & meadow at ye south in Crossums Neck with ten acres of meadow in ye Westward part of Snake Neck with half an accommodation of com- monage-To Have & to Hold the said lands & mead- ows to him my sd. son Nathaniel his heirs & assigns forever-Item-to John Wodhull my son I give the Easternmost part of Snake called Porridge neck with all ye lands & meadow therein contained (Except ye ten acres of meadow before given to my son Richard ) also to my said son John I give ten acres of meadow in ye westward part of Snake neck and half an ac- commodation of commonage to have & to hold the same to him my sd son John his heirs & assigns for- ever-Item-to Josiah Wodhull my son I give ye Westermost part of Snake neck containing the land and meadows there (Except ye twenty acres of meadow given to my son Nathaniel & John) and half an accommodation of commonage to have & to hold ye sd land & meadow to him my sd son Josiah his heirs & assigns forever-Item-My Will is that if my sd sons John & Josiah shall not enjoy ye land in Snake neck then I give to them in like manner the twenty acres at Newtowne near to ye land late belong- ing to Peter Whitier and the rest of my land at Newtown (Except what I have given to my son Richard) to be equally divided between them and in
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case either of my said sons shall not agree in the division of the land or meadow before given them then they shall chose indifferent persons to divide the same and in case either or any of my sd sons shall die without issue then the survivors shall in like manner divide the part of the deceased among them the surviving brethren equally-Item-to Dorothy Wodhull I give forty pounds current money to be paid her out of my moveables at such time as she shall be of age or married-Item-to Temperance Wodhull I give forty pounds current money to be paid likewise out of my moveables at such time as she shall be of age or married. Item-to Temperance Wodhull my beloved wife I give a third part of my moveables and the whole improvement. & managemt. of all my estate until such time as my children aforesd shall be of age. And the rest of my move- ables not hereby disposed of my just debts & legacies first paid I give & dispose to be equally divided be- tween my four sons-Lastly I do hereby nominate & ordain my beloved wife Temperance Wodhull to be sole Executrix of this my last Will & testamt. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & fixed my seale the 13th day of Oct. Anno Dom 1699.
Memorandum-It is my will that in case my two sons John & Josiah shall enjoy ye land in Snake neck at South, then my son Richard shall enjoy all my land at Newtown before mentioned to be given to my said sons John & Josiah.
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Witness my hand & seale ye day & year abovesd RICHARD WODHULL [Seale].
Signed sealed & declared to be ye last Will & testamt of ye sd testator in ye presence of-
RICHP FLOYD THO. HELME
ARTHUR FUTHY
By ye tenor of these presents know ye that on ye 28th day of May Anno Dom 1700 at ye Manor of St Georges in ye County of Suffolk before the Honoble IV" Smith Judge of the Prerogative Court in ye sd County was proved & approved the last Will & testamt. of Richard Wodhull late of Brookhaven in ye County abovesaid deceased on ye 18th day of Oct. 1699 who by his sd last will did nominate & appoint Temperance Wodhull his sole Executrix to whom was granted the administration of all & singular the goods & chattels of ye sd deceased.
In ye name of God Amen I Samuel Clark 69 of S'hampton in ye County of Suffolk & Province of
6º Samuel Clark was the son of Samuel Clark of Northsea, who died in 1677. " The home lot in town," left to son Elisha, is on the east side of Northsea road, north of the railroad, and lately owned by Captain Jesse Halsey. The land on "west side of Northsea path " is about thirty rods north of Seponack road. He lived at North Sea on the homestead of late Austin Rose, now Edson Jennings. His next neigh- bor on the south was Charles Sturmy, who owned the homestead of late Captain Joseph Harris.
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N. York upon ye Island of Nassau yeoman being now in perfect strength of memory though weak in body and not knowing ye time of my departure do constitute & appoint this to be my last Will & testamt. in manner as followeth-
Imprimis-1 freely give & bequeath my soul to God that gave it me and my body after dead to decent burial to ye earth from whence it was taken at first & for my worldly estate I give as followeth- First-1 give & bequeath to my son Eliphalet all that my lot of land lying & being on ye east side of a pond commonly called the long pond with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging as it is described by its dimension upon ye town record & one hundred pound allotmt upon hog necke as it stands to me upon ye record & all the meadow yt I am possessed of at little Noyeck & all my meadow Eastward as far as our town bounds go & one cow & calf & half a fifty pound commonage all the which above men- tioned particulars I freely give unto my son Elipha- let & to his heirs for ever-2dly_I give & bequeath unto my son Elisha my home lot in town with all my land adjoining to ye land that was John Pinny upon ye West side of Northsea path & one half of my home meadow lying at ye rear of my home lot at Northsea and my meadow in homeses hill cove on ye west side of the path & I give him two acres of meadow yt lyeth in Cow Neck between George Harris & Joseph Smith and about Eight acres of land lying on ye West side of Cow Neck John Davice
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lying on ye North side & William Jennings on ye South side & my lot of Sedge meadow at the thorn tree with half a fifty pound commonage & one cow & calf all which I do give to my son Elisha & to his heirs forever-3dly-I give & bequeath to my son Samuel a fifty pound commonage & all my housing and barns & orchards & all my lands & meadow belonging to me that is not given already the half of all at my decease & ye other half after his mothers decease or marriage & all my carpenters tools the which I freely give to my son Samuel & to his heirs for ever, further my will is that if any one of my sons above mentioned shall die without a true & lawful heir of their bodys then his lands that doe soe decease I do give it unto my son John Clarke and his heirs forever-4ly I do give unto my daughter Susannah Clarke ten shillings money-51-I do give to my daughter Rachel twenty pounds current money to be paid to her when she shall be eighteen years of age or on ye day of her marriage when she requires it-61-I give unto my daughter Mary twenty pounds current money to be paid her when she shall come to ye age of eighteen years or on ye day of her marriage when she shall require it-7'y- I give unto my son John forty pounds current money to be paid him when he shall come to ye age of twenty one years. Sly-I do give unto my daughter Ester twenty pounds to be paid her when she shall be eighteen years of age or on the day of her mar- riage when she shall require it -- I give & bequeath
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all my moveable estate unto my son Samuel & unto my well beloved wife Sarah Clarke for to bring up the smaller children and if she dies a widow then she may dispose of twenty pounds to whom she sees cause amongst my children & if my wife marryeth again then my son Samuel to pay her twenty pounds and to Enjoy all my moveable estate and I do appoint my son Samuel Executor of this my last Will and my beloved wife Executrix during widowhood & to ad- minister upon my estate and to pay all my just due & legacies-This my last Will & testamt. Signed & sealed with my hand this 4th Oct. at
Northsea belonging to S'hampton. SAMUEL CLARKE [Seal]
Signed & sealed in presence of SAME COOPER JOHN MALTBIE THE SAYRE
By ye tenor of these presents Know ye that on the twenty first day of August Anno Dom. 1700 at Southampton in ye County of Suffolk before the Honoble Coll I'm Smith Judge of the Prerogative Court in ye sd County was proved & approved the last will & testamt. of Samuel Clarke late of North- sea belonging to S'hampt aforesd deceased on ye first day of March Anno Dom 1699 who by his sd. Will & testamt. did nominate and appoint Samuel Clarke his son & Sarah his wife Executors of his sd Will & Testamt. and (the sd Sarak for certain causes her
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 215
thereunto moving did renounce ye burthen of execu- torship) so that the administration of all & singular the goods & chattels of ye sd decd was granted to ye said Samuel Clarke son of ye sd deceased-
By ye Honoble. Coll. William Smith Judge of Prerogative Court in ye County of Suffolk-To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting Know ye that whereas Alexander Bryan late of Mil- ford in ye Colony of Connecticutt departed this life leaving no Executor and Sibilla ye wife of ye sd de- ceased having taken out letters of administration in ye sd Colony of Connecticut on her sd husbands estate and given power to William Whiting of Hart- ford to dispose of & secure for her use certain negroes & other the estate of the sd deceased within ye County of Suffolk of the Province of New York- And ye sd William Whiting for certain causes him thereunto justly moving hath prayed that ye adminis- tration of all & singular the goods chattels & credits of ye sd deceased whin ye County of Suffolk may be granted to him ye sd William Whiting to whom was granted ye sd administration on ye 27th Sept. Anno Dom 1700-And ye sd William Whiting on ye twenty sixth day of August Anno Dom 1701 did ex- hibit an acct. in & concerning ye sd administration before Coll. William Smith abovesd which was allowed & approved of by the sd Sibilla who prayed that ye administration of ye sd estate of Alexander
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Bryan deceased may be granted to her to whom ye same was granted on ye 27th day of Sept. Anno Dom 1701.
By the Honoble Coll William Smith Judge of ye Prerogative Court in ye County of Suffolk-To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting Know ye that whereas Thomas StevensPlate of S'hampton in ye County of Suffolk departed this life on ye 26th day of November Anno Dom. 1700 leaving no Exec- utor and Elisabeth Stevens the widow of ye sd de- ceased for certain causes her hereunto moving hath prayed that the administration of ye goods & chattels of ye said deceased may be granted to her ye widow abovesd to whom was granted the sd administration with full power &c. on ye 11th day of Decr. Anno Dom. 1700.
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