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 14
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Early Long Island Wills.
County of Suffolk upon ye Island of Nassau alias Long Island within ye province of N. York as fol- loweth-First-I having given long since my soul to God & Christ do continue ye same & my body to ye grave where I expect its glorious resurrection to life again at ye last day-My estate as followeth-1. I give to my beloved wife Sarah half my housing & barn after my decease with a third of my land at home & a third of that where my son John now dwelleth her third to lye on ye east side next Theo- dore Piersons land she keeping up the third of ye fence I give also to my wife Eleven head of Cattle two of them Oxen ye other nine as they rise-I give her also one horse twenty sheep ye bed we lye on with all ye furniture to it or what she pleaseth-I give her her trunk & box with what is in them & ye four score pounds in money that her father willed her, forty of it being in her trunk and ye other forty pound to be paid by her son in law Jonathan Strick- land with all ye moveables in ye house yt were her fathers, saving ye books that have ye childrens names in them & three which I give to our Minister Eben- ezer White having his name in them-I give also to my wife an iron pot a warming pan a frying pan brass
lot and that of his father before him was at Sagg, on the south side of Bridge Lane, and still known as " Stanborough Lot." His wife Sarah was the eldest daughter of Rev. Thomas James. Peregrine Stan- borough was probably the first white child born in Southampton. His tombstone in the Sagg burying ground bears the inscription : " Mr. Peregrine Stanborough, Deacon in ye Parish, departed this life Jan. ye 4. 1701, in ye 62 year of his Age."
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scillet box iron-I give her also my Negroes IVill & Isabel with ye bed and bedding they lye on-2. I give to my son John Stanbrough & to his heirs forever after my decease half of my housing & barn with two thirds of my land at home & ye other third of land & housing to return to him upon his mothers decease or marriage. I give also to my son John all that tract of land lying between Col. Piersons & Capt. Toppings land-3. I give to my son James Stan- brough & to his heirs forever after my decease all yt house that his brother John now lives in & all that land lot or lots bounded with Theodore Piersons on ye east & ye highway on ye southwest & north & a fifty of commonage if my wife outlive me then she shall enjoy a third of that land above specified & after her death to return to ye sd James Stanbrough & his heirs forever-4. I give to my daughter Olive after my decease nine cattle as they rise young and old fifteen sheep one mare a bed bolster a p' of fine sheets & two other pair two blankets a rugg a cover- let one of ye chest of drawers her chest & box with what is in them ye pewter I give her, an iron pot & a brass kettle which she will one iron tranell also a woollen & linen wheel which she will-5. I give to my daughter Hannah wife to John Lupton besides what she has had that cow and ye money that son Lupton owes me & ten acres of land lying by Elisha Howells land on ye other side Sag pond & after their death I give it to my grandson Josiah Lupton & his heirs for- ever-6. I give to my daughter Mary ye wife of
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Early Long Island Wills.
Jonathan Strickland twelve acres of land lying next to that willed to my son Lupton provided Jonathan Strickland pay to my youngest daughter Anne nine pounds in current money of this Province when Anne comes of age if not six acres of ye twelve to return to Anne & her heirs forever but if he pay not my wife that forty pounds I willed to her which he is to pay according to his obligation then I give the other six acres to my son John Stanbrough-7. I give to my daughter Sarah wife of James Herricke one two year old heifer & all my land & meadow in little Hog neck which is a third of ye neck-I give to her & her heirs forever-8. I give to Eunice my daughter nine cattle as they rise fifteen sheep a bed bolster a blanket two pr of sheets a rug a coverlet lined her closet & what is in it with ye pewter I gave her & an iron pot & a brass kettle-9. I give to Elizabeth nine head of cat- tle as they rise young and old fifteen sheep a bed bolster two pr. of sheets a rug a coverlet a blanket her chest with what is in it & pewter I gave her, an iron pot a brass kettle & ye least iron kettle-10. I give to Ann my youngest daughter feathers Enough to fill a bed & bolster two pr. of sheets a rug two blankets a brass kettle an iron kettle an iron pot my chest with what pewter is in it-I give to my son James Stanbrough fifteen head of cattle with them that are his two of them oxen ye rest little & great he giving to his sister Ann nine cattle of cow kind when she comes of age as they rise-I give to James also five & twenty sheep with them he calls his he
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giving to his sister Anne fifteen good sheep when she comes of age-I give also to James the bed he lyes on a blanket & rug which his sisters leave a pr. of sheets or two pr. if there be any left he giving to Anne four pounds current money-If not to make good to her ye ware when she comes of age-I give to my son James a gun a sword a plow chain a horse chain an axe a hoe ye choice of them his chest & what is in it half of my clothes saving my cloake which I give to my son John with ye other half of my clothes & James to enjoy his own horses which he calls his-I give to my son John ye land on ye other side ye pond yt is left not already given away he paying to Olive nine pounds current money of this Province or Equivalent unto Eunice seven pounds in money or equivalent & to Elizabeth seven pounds current money of this Province-I give my daughters Olive, Sarah, Eunice, Elizabeth & Anne what money is in my chest at my decease to be equally divided amongst them-I give to my wife the Trundle bed a cotton rug blankets & sheets if there be any left & one of ye flaggons-I give to my daughter Martha ye other flaggon & to her daughter Abigail yt iron pot yt is in your possession-I give to my grandson Josiah Stanbrough a gun & sword-I give to my grandson David Lupton a gun & weaned calf & I give to Hannah Lupton's little child Sarah ye least pewter tankard-I give to Sarah Herricks child a y old heifer & to Ruth's child if she comes my wife shall give a cow & ten sheep I constitute my be-
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Early Long Island Wills.
loved wife Sarah my son John Stanbrough & my son James Stanbrough to be Co. or joint Executors of this my last Will & testamt-I desire my good friends Ebeneser White & Theophilus Howell to be overseers of this my will for ye due performance of ye same for ye ratification & confirmation of this my last Will & testamt. 1 do set to my hand & fix my seal this seventeenth of May 1699 & in ye It year of his Matyes reign King William 34 of Great Britain France & Ireland defender of ye faith whom God preserve & save-
PEREGRINE STANBURGH [Seal] Subscribed & sealed in presence of us
THEOPHILUS HOWELL THEODORE PIERSON EBENEZER WHITE
By ye tenor of these presents Know ye that on ye 24 day of Sept. Anno Dom. 1702 at ye Manor of St Georges in ye County of Suffolk before Coll William Smith Judge of ye Prerogative Court in ye sd County was proved & approved ye last Will & testamt of Peregrine Stanburgh late of S'hampton in ye sd County deceased on ye 15 day of Jan' 170; who by his sd will did nominate & appoint his beloved wife Sarah his sons John & James Stanburgh his joint Executors & ye administration of all & singular ye goods & chattels of ye sd deceased was granted to them-
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In ye name of God Amen I Henry Pierson8% be- longing to S'hampton in ye County of Suffolk on Island of Nassau in ye Province of New York being thro Gods goodness in perfect strength of memory though weak in body & not knowing ye day of my appointed change do make this my last Will & tes- tamt as followeth-First-bequeath my soul to God who gave it & my body to ye earth decently to be buried & as for yt estate which it hath pleased God to bless me with I dispose of it as followeth-I give unto my eldest son John Pierson his heirs & assigns forever my home lot with all ye housing & fencing thereupon & also all my beach close & also two lots of land in Hog neck No. 39 & No. 47 & also all my land & swamp at ye head of Sag swamp & also all my meadow at ye North side at ye great meadow & at Smith's meadow & also a quarter of a share at Mcantake one horse two oxen two cows & ten sheep- I give unto my son David Pierson to him his heirs & assigns forever all that piece of land lying in Bridgehampton on ye West side of ye street bounded with ye land of Rob' Norris Stephen Hedges & Josiah Hand on ye South ; with Sag pond on ye West ; with ye land of ye sd Norris on ye North, & with ye
80 Lieutenant Colonel Henry Pierson was son of Henry Pierson, for many years Town Clerk of Southampton. He lived at Sagg on the east side of the street, next south of the homestead of late Richard Lester. It remained in the hands of his descendants for generations, and was last owned by David Emmet Pierson. Colonel Pierson was Speaker of the Assembly for many years, and one of the most prominent men of his day. His tombstone says he died November 15, 1701, in the fiftieth year of his age.
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Early Long Island Wills.
street on ye East thereof & also all my meadows at Noyack & also one half quarter of a share at Mean- take & one horse two steers of 3 year old & two cows & ten sheep & twenty five pound in money or what shall be equivalent when he shall come to ye age of twenty one years-I give unto my son The- ophilus Peirson all yt piece of land yt I bought of M' Peregrine Stanburgh called ye Swamp Close & also two fifty pound allotments of land in Hog neck one of which was my fathers No. 41 ye other I bought of Benjamin Foster No. 26 all which said land I give unto him ye sd Theophilus Peirson his heirs & assigns for ever-Also one horse two steers two cows ten sheep & twenty five pounds in money or what may be equivalent thereto when he shall come to ye age of twenty one years & also one Eighth part of a share at MMeantake 1 give unto my two younger sons Abraham Peirson & Josiah Peirson * to them their heirs & assigns forever equally to be divided all yt piece of land which I bought of ye town of S'hampton & of Christopher Leaming called ye wood close bounded with a highway on ye south with ye land of Theophilus Howell & ye parsonage land on ye East with ye land of Cap! Topping Benoni Flint and common land on north with ye land of Robt. Norris & a highway on ye West thereof & also a fifty pound commonage throughout ye bounds of S'hampton & also four acres of land lying in S'hampton join to ye east end of ye lot of Joseph Peirson & I do give unto each of them my sd two * See note, p. 273.
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 241
sons Abraham & Josiah Peirson twenty five pounds in money one horse two steers two cows & ten sheep as they shall come to ye age of twenty one years, but if it shall please God to take away any of my sons by death before they come to ye age of twenty one years then his or their part so taken away shall be equally divided amongst those of my sons surviving-I give unto my three daughters Hannah Peirson Sarah Peirson & Mary Peirson each of them one hundred pounds current money of this Province or what may be equivalent thereto when they shall come to ye age of twenty years or at ye day of their marriage as it shall be demanded, but if any of my sd daughters shall be taken away by death before they shall come to ye age of twenty years or marriage then her or their part so taken away shall be equally divided among ye rest of my children then surviving- I do make my well beloved wife Susannah Peirson whole & sole Executrix of this my last will & testamt & my will is that my sons as they come to fitting age shall be teached to reade & write well & bound out to trades-In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand & seal this 28 day of August 1701-And I desire MI- Ebenezer White & Brother Abraham Howell to be overseers to my children & see that this my will be duly executed-
HENRY PEIRSON [Seal] Signed & sealed in presence of us
BENONI FLINT THEO. PEIRSON JNº MOREHOS
Early Long Island Wills. 242
By ye tenor of these presents know ye that on ye 2ª day of Sept. 1702 at ye Manor of St. Georges in ye County of Suffolk before Colonel William Smith Judge of ye Prerogative Court in ye sd County was proved & approved ye last Will & Testamt. of Henry Peirson late of S'hampton in ye sd. County deceased on ye 4 day of Nov. Anno Dom. 1701 who by his sd last will did nominate & appoint Susannah his wife his Sole Executrix to whom was granted the administration of all & singular ye goods & chattels of ye sd decd &c.
In ye name of God Amen I William Barker & of S'hampton in ye County of Suffolk & Province of New York Gent. being of sound and perfect health & understanding thanks be to Almighty God for ye same & knowing ye frailtyes of this life that I must die & not knowing how soon have therefore made & do ordain & constitute this to be my last will & testamt, hereby revoking & making void all former & other wills & deeds of gift by me heretofore made & sealed before ye date of these presents-Impmis I bequeath my soul into ye hands of my creator who
81 William Barker was probably the first storekeeper in Southamp- ton. His home lot was on the east side of main street, and the second lot north of Toilsome Lane. Part of this lot is now owned by Edward H. Foster and part by George R. Howell, M. A., the distinguished his- torian, whose unwearied labors to preserve the history of his native town need no praise from us. William Barker owned a warehouse on Bullshead Bay at Seponack, at the north end of the east line of Shine- cock Hills. The place is still known as " Barker's Island."
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gave it me in hopes of everlasting pardon for all my sins & iniquities committed against him in & through the meritorious death & passion of our blessed Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ-I also bequeath my body to ye earth to be decently buried & interred and as for such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to endow me withall I give & bequeath in manner & form following-Item-I give & bequeath unto my trusty friend MM Abraham Howell Gentleman of Southampton ye sum of fifty pounds current money of New York & leave one of my Executors of this my last will & testamt. Item-I give & bequeath unto my trusty friend John Wicke Seargemaker of S'hampton all my housing & land I bought of John Jagoe during his natural life & twenty pounds of current money of New York & leave him my other joint Executor of this my last will & testamt. Item-I give & bequeath unto Job Wicke son of John Wicke abovesd all my lands within ye bounds of Southampton aforesd together with ye house I now dwell in & household goods that shall be therein & after ye decease of his said father John Wicke to Job Wicke and his heirs forever ye other house-Item-I give & bequeath unto Sibill Howell daughter of Jito Howell decd twenty pounds of cur- rent money aforesd Item-I give & bequeath unto Mary Howell widow of John Howell decd a ring of five pounds aforesd Item-I give & bequeath unto Thomas Herricke five pounds as aforesd Item I give & bequeath unto John Burt son of Samuel
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Early Long Island Wills.
Burt of N. York ten pounds as aforest Item-I give & bequeath unto my cousin Anne Leaget fifty in money aforesd if living Item-I give & bequeath unto Arthur Davice apprentice to John Wicke to buy him a loom in money five pounds-Item I give & bequeath to ye poor of S'hampton five pounds in money aforesa Item-I give & bequeath to Mr. Joseph Whiting minister of S'hampton five pounds in money aforest Item-I give & bequeath all ye remaining part of my estate both real & personal my farm upon Staten Island & houses in New York after my debts & funeral expenses being paid & legacies above bequeathed are paid & satisfied I give & bequeath unto my cousin Mary Menty daughter of my Uncle Matthew Barker Esq to her & her heirs forever -- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this six- teenth day of March Anno Dom one thousand six hundred and nine alias 1700.
WILLIAM BARKER [Seal] Signed sealed & declared by MI' W'" Barker to be ye last will & testmt in ye presence of us under- written.
JOIN HOWELL THOMAS HOWELL JAMES CLARKE
By ye tenor of these presents know ye that on ye 14 day of Sept. 1702 at ye Manor of St. Georges in ye County of Suffolk before Coll William Smith
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 245
Judge of ye Prerogative Court in ye sd County was proved & approved ye last will & testamt of !I'm Barker Esq. deceased at N. York who by his sd will did nominate & appoint Abram Howell & John Wicke his Executors as per ye sd Will may appear to whom was granted ye administration of all & singu- lar ye goods chattels & credits of ye sd deceased.
In ye name of God Amen I Caleb Horton $= of Southold in ye County of Suffolk on Nassau Island in ye Province of N. York Yeoman being in good health of body & of sound & perfect memory praise be therefore given to Almighty God do make and ordain this my last will & testamt. in manner & form following-That is to say first & principally I com- mend my soul into ye hands of Almighty God hop- ing through ye merits death & passion of my Saviour Jesus Christ to have full pardon of my sins & to inherit everlasting life & my body I commit to ye earth to be decently buried according to ye discre- tion of my Executors hereafter named & as touch- ing ye disposition of all such temporal estate as it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me I give & dispose thereof as followeth-First my mind & will is yt all my just debts & funeral charges be duly & truly paid & discharged by my Executors- Item-I do devise give & bequeath unto my beloved
82 Caleb Horton was son of Barnabas Horton. He was born in 1640, and was during his life one of the foremost citizens of Southold.
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wife Hester forty shillings yearly & every year to be duly paid unto her by my Executors in goods pro- visions wheat & meal at price current as it passeth from man to man as long as she shall remain my widow & also my Executors are to cart all ye fire- wood she shall have occasion of for her use she to be only at ye charge of cutting ye same at some con- venient place on ye lands yt was mine & also she have liberty to keep 20 dunghill fowls during her natural life or widowhood all which is over & above wt is expressed & agreed upon in writing under my hand & seal bearing date ye 26 day of April 1699. I do give devise & bequeath unto my son Jonathan Horton all my lands meadows houses barn orchards gardens & yards on ye neck it now standeth on ye Southside of ye highway (excepting fifty acres more or less which I purchased of Isaac Willman of South- ampton & all my meadow I purchased of Jeremiah l'eile as low as Spring) also I give my son Jonathan all my Creak thatch purchased of M' Tuthill Sen' & Mr Thomas Mapes & also sixty acres of land more or less adjoining to ye land of John Cleaves & also two fifths of my great lot of land adjoining to ye land of Thomas Tusten on ye West & West side of said great lot that remaineth mine two fifths to be enjoyed by my son Jonathan when he shall attain to ye age of twenty years old & to his heirs & assigns for ever to enjoy occupy & improve & possess all & every part & parcel of ye abovesd premises (except what is ex- cepted) in his & their own proper right use & behoof
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provided he shall make no alienation of any part or parcel of sd land & meadow before he shall attain to ye age of twenty three years old & he my son Jonathan to duly fulfil & perform what agreem' I made with Hester my wife before our marriage & also what is herein bequeathed unto her in this my last will & testamt. & for ye better enabling my son Jonathan to perform ye injunctions abovesd to my widow I do give & bequeath unto him two oxen & two cows & one mare & one iron hake he to have his choice out of ye three & half my husbandry implements of all sorts (excepting my log chain) also I give my son Jonathan my great table & ye form belonging & my great Bible & a book upon ye deceitfulness of mans heart by Jeremiah Dike & a commentary upon ye Revelations by David Pareus & one flock bed bolster & covering belonging & one great chair & half ye hogsheads barrels & corn casks & ye loom & what tackling belongeth to ye same- Item my mind & will is yt if it soe happen that my son Jonathan die without issue then my son David & his heirs & assigns to enjoy all ye premises he died possessed of-Item-It is my Will & mind yt my son Jonathan shall live upon ye farm bequeathed to him if it happen yt I die before he come to ye age of twenty one years & make ye best improvem' that he can to defray ye injunctions laid on him but in case he shall neglect to improve ye same my Ex- ecutors shall have power to let it out to ye best advantage for ye use abovesd until he shall comply
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Early Long Island Wills.
provided they let it out but for one year at a time & what overplus may be shall be for Jonathan's use.
Item-I do give devise & bequeath unto my son David Horton fifty acres more or less which I pur- chased from Isaac Willman of S'hampton & also ye meadow which I purchased from Jeremiah Vaile so low as ye Spring up to ye highway as it was excepted above in my son Jonathan's part also three fifths of my great lot being ye Eastward part of ye sd lot ad- joining to ye land of John Reeves & bounded by ye Sound North on ye South by ye land of John Reeve & ye highway & ye land of my son Jonathan on ye West also forty acres more or less in ye Fort Neck & ye meadow I purchased from Joseph Youngs adjoining to ye sd. land & also ye meadow and Creek thatch purchased by me from my brother Joshua Horton lying in ye Fort Neck also a second lot of meadow I purchased from Coll. John Youngs deceased. Also a second lot of meadow I purchased from MI Christopher Youngs deceased lying and being in ye great meadow of Cortchaugue all & Every part & parcel of ye abovesd premises I give to my son David Horton & his heirs & assigns for ever to oc- cupy possess & enjoy after he shall attain to ye age of 21 years neither shall he alienate any part thereof until he shall attain ye age of twenty three years but in case my son David happen to die with. out any lawful issue of his body begotten in wed- lock nor any of the lands alienated then all ye sd lands & meadows to return to my son Jonathan &
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his heirs and assigns forever-Also I give unto my son David one bible & a commentary on ye ten commandments & a book entitled ye Excellency of holy carriage in evil times by Mrs. Burroughs also a sermon book by Mr. Jeremy Turner also two oxen three cows one horse my log chain half my hus- bandry implements & my small eight square table one iron hake & half ye hogshead barrels corn casks- Item-I do give devise & bequeath unto my grand- son ye eldest son of my son Barnabas Horton deceased all my right of upland in Occabaugue divi- sions & all my shares & allotm' of meadow on both sides Peaconnecke River all & every part thereof to be enjoyed & possessed by my grandson Caleb Hor- ton & his heirs & assigns forever-I do give devise & bequeath unto my daughter Mary ye wife of Nathaniel Terry one first lot of Commonage & a lot of upland in ye last division of ye old town bounds to have & to hold forever to her & her heirs & assigns forever-Item-I do give devise & be- queath unto my youngest daughter Phebe Horton a box & what is in it which was her mother's desire before her decease-Also I give her a feather bed bolster curtains & valens & two pillows with cover- ing & all furniture belonging & one iron pot which I shall appoint & one small iron pot about a quart & one brim pewter basin yt was her grandmothers & one iron hake one box iron & heaters & two cows- Item-My mind & will is that my grandson Barna- bas Horton shall be put after my decease to Willian
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Early Long Island Wills.
W'hitter until he shall attain to ye age of one and twenty years old to learn ye art & trade of a weaver & to learn to read & write in consideration thereof my executors are to deliver to William Whit- ier a cow out of my estate when he shall receive ye boy he ye sd I'hitier to return to ye boy at expira- tion of his time he is to live with him another cow as good but in case William Whittier do not see cause to accept ye boy then my Executors are to put him to some good place to be educated & brought up to ye childs benefit according to their best discretion -- Item-It is my mind & will yt my son David after my decease shall be put to Mr. Joshua W'ells to live with him until he attain to ye age of twenty one years old, MI' W'ells to profit him in his reading and learn- ing him to write & instruct him in carpenter work but if M' W'ells refuse I leave my son to disposal of my executors according to their best discretion for my sons good-Item-My mind & will is that my daughter Phebe shall live with her sister Hester Mapes until she shall attain to age to make choice of her Guardians but if Jonathan Mapes see cause not to accept I leave it to ye executors to dispose of her to one of her sisters but let Jonathan Mapes have ye first refusal & those of her sisters she shall live with may & shall have ye use of her two cows & the three cows bequeathed to David & ye use of all ye mead- ows given to David until she shall attain to ye age of fourteen years to choose her guardians they returning ye principal good again for ye use as they
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