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 15
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Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 251
are bequeathed -- Item-I do give devise and be- queath unto my two sons Jonathan & David my grandson Caleb Horton all my wearing clothes to be equally divided between them three-Item-I do give & bequeath unto my son David Horton the feather bed I lye on after my wife Hester is remar- ried or deceased which shall first happen together with furniture shall there belong to it-Item-My will and mind is yt all my just debts shall be truly paid & also all necessary charges yt may arise about ye premises to be paid by my executors out of my moveables estate yt is not yet already bequeathed or disposed of by any contract or this my last Will & testamt. saving grain & provisions necessary for my wife & those yt shall remain in ye family -- Item I do give devise & bequeath unto my five daughters & one grandchild (viz) Mary ye wife of Nathaniel Terry Hannah ye wife of Ensign John Booth Hester ye wife of Jonathan Mapes Abigail ye wife of Benjamin Moor & Phebe my youngest daugh- ter & Barnabas Horton my grandson all my movea- ble goods and chattels of what kind or nature soever within doors or without except what is given & bequeathed by contracts or aforesd in this my last Will and Testamt. & it is to be understood that my beloved wife is to have her choice first of ye house- hold goods for her use during her natural life or widowhood according to our agreem' before mar- riage & afterward that part is also to be equally divided between my five daughters & grandchild
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Early Long Island Wills.
aforesd & my mind is that my widow shall have ye use of ye warming pan during her widowhood & what estate or goods my wife Hester brought with her or have brought since or shall hereafter bring of her own estate or yt was her's together with all her wearing clothes of what sort soever she or any of her children shall have free liberty to take & dispose of ye same at their will & pleasure & to remove them at or before or after her decease without any molestation --
Item-It is my mind & will yt my Executors may be careful to preserve ye timber on Davids and make use of none but what may be of pure necessity until he come to enjoy it himself-Item-I do hereby make authorize & appoint my son Jonathan Hor- ton and Nath' Terry & John Booth to be my whole & sole Executors of this my last Will & testamt. & do hereby revoke & call back all former wills & bequests & do by these presents appoint this only to stand in force for my last Will & Testamt. Witness my hand & seal this 30th day of Dec' 1699.
sign
The usual 6 of
CALEB HORTON [Seal]
Signed sealed & declared by Caleb Horton to be his last Will & testamt. in presence of us
THOMAS MAPES JOHN GOLDSMITH STEPHEN BAYLEY
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 253
By ye tenor of these presents Know ye that on ye 14th day of Oct. 1702 at ye Manor of St Georges in ye County of Suffolk before Coll William Smith Judge of the Prerogative Court in ye sd County was proved and approved the last Will & Testamt of Caleb Horton late of Southold in ye sd County Hus- bandman deceased Oct ye 3ª 1702 who by his sd Will did nominate & appoint his son Jonathan Hor- ton Nathaniel Terry & John Booth his Executors 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 John Corwin Sen" 83 of Southold in ye County of Suffolk & Province of New York being aged but in health of body & of a sound & perfect memory do make this my last Will & Testamt. as followeth, First I bequeath my spirit to God that gave it & my body to be decently buried in hope of ye resurrection again with Jesus Christ at ye last day &c. And for my worldly estate after my just debts & funeral charges paid I do bequeath as followeth-Impmis I give & bequeath to my eldest son John Corwin one hundred acres of land lying & being at Mattetucke be it more or less ye land of Jonathan Reeve on ye West also one first lot of meadow at ye deep creek & all my meadow at ye other side of Peaconnucke river & also a third lot of
83 John Corwin was son of Matthias Corwin and made freeman of Connecticut in 1662.
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upland ag' ye Indian field & one first lot of upland on ye North side of ye highway near ye fresh meadow & a third lot of upland on ye Southside of Hog neck & one lot of Creek thatch at ye Indian Necks all & every part of upland & meadow as above recited I do give grant & bequeath unto my said son John Cor- woin his heirs and assigns for ever to Have & to Hold in his & their own proper right forever &c. as also one lot of commonage to him as aboves! &c. aly I give & bequeath unto my second son Matthias Corwin my dwelling house barne & home lot, also one & twenty acres of Woodland on ye Northside of S'hold near ye cleft & eighteen acres of upland at ye backside lots & a third lot of meadow Eastward from John Budds & a third lot of meadow at ye head of ye Millpond & a second lot of meadow in pine neck Also one lot of meadow creek thatch in Indian Neck & one lot of commonage all which housing barn & lands & meadows I give & bequeath unto my second son Matthias Corwin & to his heirs & assigns forever to possess & Enjoy in his and their own proper right forever &c. 3") I give & bequeath unto my youngest son Samuel Corwin one hundred aeres of upland more or less lying & being at Mattetucke East from ye land of Jonathan Reeve as also one first lot of meadow at ye deep creek & a second lot of creek thatch at ye Indian Neck together with one lot of commonage to him my sd son Sam' Corwin to have & to hold to him his heirs & assigns for ever &c. As also I give one first lot laid out at ye Wading River with half ye common-
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age belonging yet undivided &c. 41y I do give & bequeath to my daughter Sarah now ye wife of Jacob Osman one cow to be delivered by my Execu- tor hereafter mentioned-5ly I do give & bequeath to my daughter Rebecca now ye wife of Abram Osman one cow to be delivered after my decease- 6'y I give & bequeath to my daughter Hannah Cor- win one young cow or cow kind-zly I give & bequeath to my daughter Abigail Corwin one young cow or cow kind-S'y I give & bequeath to my grand- child Sarah ye daughter of Jabez Mapcs one cow all which is to be delivered after my decease by my Executor hereafter mentioned & my horse & my plow & plow irons I give to my son Samuel Corwin & all my sheep to be equally divided between my two youngest sons & all my daughters equally &c. & what carpenters tools I leave to be equally between my three sons &c I give my Oxen & cart & wheels & one plow with irons & ye bed I lye on to my son Matthias Corwin &c. And all ye rest of my move- able goods I give to my two youngest sons Matthias Corwin & Samt Corwin equally to be divided-Also I do make & ordain my second son Matthias Cor- win my sole Executor to see this my last Will & testamt. duly performed & this I declare to be my last Will & testamt. as witness my hand & seal this 26 day of Nov. 1700. JOHN CORWIN [Seal] Signed & sealed as witnessed by us-
JOSHUAH WELLS
JAMES REEVE STEPHEN BAYLY
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Early Long Island Wills. 255
By ye tenor of these presents Know ye yt on ye 14th day of Oct. 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 John Corwin late of Southold in ye sd County decd on 25th day of Sept. 1702 who by his sd Will did nominate & appoint Matthias Corwin his son his sole Executor to whom was granted ye administration of all & singular ye goods chattels & credits of ye sd deceased-
In ye name of God Amen ye 19th day of May in ye year of our Lord Christ 1702 I Abram Corey of Southold in ye County of Suffolk & Province of N. York in America, Cooper, being in reasonable health & strength of body but of perfect mind & sound memory thanks be given to God therefor calling unto mind ye mortality of ye body & knowing yt it is appointed for all men once to die do make & ordain this my last will & testamt (that is to say) principally & first of all I give recommend my soul into ye hands of God yt gave it & for my body I recommend it to ye Earth to be buried in a Christian like & decent manner at ye discretion of my Execu- tors nothing doubting but at ye general resurrection I shall receive ye same again by ye mighty power of God & touching ,such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give devise & dispose of ye same in ye following manner
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 257
& form after my just debts & funeral charges paid- Impmis I give devise & bequeath unto my well be- loved wife for ever to dispose of at her own discretion that bed we lye on with all furniture thereunto belonging & all household stuff of what kind or nature soever Excepting bedding that came to me by her father & what I shall hereafter & herein dispose of to our children-Also I give to my beloved wife one cow one mare ten sheep two swine &c. and to remain in ye best room in my house so long as she continues my widow also to possess all yt land called Brushes Neck as it is now Enclosed & half my barn & also one third part of ye fruits of both my orchards at Hog neck & at ye town & also ye use of yt ground on ye Northside my town lot lying to grass & ranging from ye Northeast corner of my sd house to ye Northwest of ye barn of Richard Benjamin & what land my wife do se cause to improve my two sons Abram Corey & John to till it gratis yearly & every year during her widowhood she finding seed & diet during ye time they work for her & my son Abram to keep all that fence at ye town in good repair & my son John to keep that in repair at Brushes neck & both to provide firewood for their mother upon equal charge during her widowhood- Item-I give devise & bequeath unto my eldest son Abram Corey all my housing orchard & home lot in ye town & all yt land I formerly purchased of MI- Budd lying in ye Calves Neck & also all my land in ye Northside division & all my meadow land at
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Early Long Island Wills.
Corchaugue & half my right of commonage, Hog Neck excepted, all & every part & parcel of ye above recited premises I do hereby absolutely give & be- queath unto my sd. son bram Corey & his heirs & assigns forever &c. Also I give unto my sd. son Abram one horse kind one cow two working cattle six sheep two swine one feather bed halfe my wear- ing clothes & half my implemts of husbandry & half my tools of all sorts w'soever &c. I do devise will & bequeath unto my second son John Corey & his heirs & assigns forever all my housing barn orchards together with all my land in Hog Neck both divided & undivided with all my meadow land at ye south harbor To Have & to Hold yt to him my sd son John Corey & his heirs & assigns forever Also I give my son John Corey one horse kind one cow two working cattle six sheep two swine one feather bed & half my wearing clothes & half my implements of husbandry & half my tools of all sorts also one iron pot & pot hooks & one iron tramell &c. I do will devise give & bequeath unto my daughter Mary now ye wife of I'" Bradly besides what I lent her at her first marriage one cow five sheep & half my land in pine neck to her & her heirs & in case she die without issue of her body ye sd land after her decease and ye decease of her husband ye land to return to my son Abram Corey & his heirs &c. Item-I do will give devise & bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth now ye wife of Samuel Hutcheson besides what she has already had one good sheep
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&c. Item-I do will devise give & bequeath unto my daughter Dorothy Corey one feather bed and furniture one iron pot one iron trammell one pair of tongues one brasse kettle & my best cupboard & half my pewter dishes & one cow five sheep & also half my land in Pine Neck to her & ye heirs of her body & for want of such issue ye sd land to return to my son John Corey & his heirs & I do hereby order yt my two sons Abraham & John to maintain my sd. daughter Dorothy with diet & house room gratis until ye day of her marriage &c. Item-I do will give & bequeath unto my grandson Elijah Hutcheson one horse colt-Item-I do will give & bequeath unto my nephew Patience Mayhew if she shall remain with my executors till she come to age according to custom then my will is she shall have five sheep besides what I gave her already and also twenty shillings current money to be paid by my Executors to my sd. Nephew Patience Mayhew &c. Item-My mind & will is that neither of my two sons Abram Corey nor John Corey shall have any power to alienate nor Exchange any part or parts of their lands willed to them by me until they arrive to ye full age of twenty five years except with each other- Lastly-I do hereby constitute ordain & appoint my well beloved wife Margaret Corey & my two sons Abram & John Corey Executrix & Executors no ways doubting but they according to their power will faithfully endeavor to so see or cause to be done this my last Will & testamt duly performed fulfilled &
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Executed according to ye true intent & meaning thereof & this I Abraham Corey do declare to be my last Will & testamt & do hereby revoke renounce & make utterly void all former wills or any other Executor whatsoever but what is herein named & ordained by me as witness my hand & seal ye day & year first above written.
ABRAM COREY [Seal] Abraham Corey did in ye presence of us ye sub- scribers declare ye above written instrument to be his last will and testamt. witnessed by us
DAVID YOUNGS JOSHUA YOUNGS STEPHEN BAYLEY-
By ye tenor of these presents Know ye yt on ye 14th day of Oct. 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 and approved ye last Will & testamt of Abram Corey late of Southhold in ye sd County deceased on ye roth day of Sept. Anno Dom 1702 who by his sd last will did nominate & appoint Margaret his wife & Abraham Corey & John Corey his Executors to whom was granted ye administra- tion of all & singular ye goods chattels & credits of ye sd deceased-
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 261
In ye name of God Amen I John Woodruffe &+ of ye town of Southampton in ye County of Suffolk & Province of N. York on ye Island of Nassau hus- bandman being in health of body & of perfect mind & memory thanks be given unto God therefor & knowing its appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will & testamt, that is to say, principally & first of all I give & recommend my soul into ye hands of God yt gave it & for my body I commend it to ye earth to be buried in a christian like & decent manner at ye discretion of my Ex". And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise & dispose of in ye following manner & form-Impmis to my dearly beloved wife Hannah I give & bequeath one third part of all my moveable estate after my just debts are paid &
84 John Woodruff was the youngest son of John Woodruff, Sr., who was one of the earliest settlers in Southampton. John Woodruff, Sr., married a daughter of John Gosmer, one of the original Founders, and his oldest son, named John, was adopted by his maternal grandfather and went with him to Elizabethtown, N. J., and was the ancestor of the families of the name of Woodruff in that State.
John Woodruff, Sr., had another son also called John, who remained in Southampton, being a curious instance of a man's having two sons of the same name living at the same time. John Woodruff, Sr., died in May, 1670.
The homestead of John Woodruff, left to son Samuel, was sold by him to Francis Pelletreau, April 12, 1728. The ancient house, which stood till within a few years, was the last house on Long Island that retained the old-fashioned rhomboidal panes of window glass once in general use, and for this reason it was known as the "House with Diamond Windows." The place is now the homestead of Josiah Foster.
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funeral charges are deducted & ye one half of my dwelling house being ye east end thereof and one half of my barn & half my home lot and one third part of my land at Sebonnucke & one third part of my close adjoining to ye town pond all which parts of my housing & land as above mentioned to be unto my sd wife Hannah during her widowhood & upon her marriage or decease to return to such as I shall hereafter in this my last will & testamt be- queath unto-Item-I give & bequeath unto my eldest son Samuel Woodruffe my house barn & home lot with all ye land adjoining thereunto running as far Eastward as ye first cross fence yt separates ye upper end of my land yt fronts to ye old town highway containing in all with ye home lot aforesd about eleven acres of land and all my aforesd close of land adjoining to sd town pond & all my land at a place commonly known by ye name of Sebonnucke & all yt my two acres of land or meadow adjoining to Mr. Stephens his land lying in a place called Captains Neck & also my lot of meadow at Shinnecock & ye one half of my two lots of meadow at a place commonly known by ye name of Aquabaugue & a hundred pound alotmt of meadow at Seponucke ly- ing by ye plum beach all which housing & barn & parcels of land & meadow as above mentioned I give unto my son Sam' Woodruffe & the heirs of his body either male or female forever & for want of such heir to be equally divided between my three sons namely Benjamin Woodruffe Nath. Woodruffe
1
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 263
& Isaac Woodruffe & their heirs reserving only to his mother such part of sª housing & land as is given to her during her widowhood aforese & I also give him my sd. son Sam' three quarters of a fifty pound alotmt of undivided lands & commonage with priveleges thereunto belonging-Item-I give & bequeath unto my son Joseph Woodruffc ye sum of twenty pounds current money of sd Province to be paid him by my Executors hereafter named- Item-I give & bequeath unto my son Benjamin Woodruffe his heirs & assigns forever all ye re- mainder of my home land fronting to ye old town highway aforesaid running westward to ye aforesd land given to Sam" part of it fronting to ye highway over ag' Joseph Hildriths house & all yt my close of land lying in ye ten acre lot & a gore acre of land & a lot of meadow lying in Halseys Neck & two lots of meadow upon ye beach & my lot of meadow land adjoining to Obadiah Rogers in ye aforesd Cap- tains Neck and a hundred & fifty pound alotmt of meadow lying near the Cold Spring at Scbonnuck aforesd & ye one half of my aforesd two lots of meadow at Aquabogue all which I give to my aforesd son Benjamin his heirs and assigns forever-Item -I give unto my two sons namely Nathaniel Woodruffe & Isaac Woodruffe all yt my three pieces of land & meadow adjoining or to them belong lying to ye eastward of said town namely twenty six acres of land adjoining to ye East side of ye long pond & a forty acre lot of land adjoining to
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Scuttle hole & all my land & meadow being a whole neck commonly known by ye name of Brushey Neck to be equally divided between them by indifferent men when my så. son Nathaniel comes to ye age of twenty one years all which three parcels of land & meadow 1 give unto them my said sons Nathaniel Woodruffe & Isaac Woodruffe their heirs & assigns forever to be equally divided as aforesaid but if either of them shall depart this life before they come to ye age of twenty one years then my will is that my son Jonathan Woodruffe shall have his part deceased to him & his heirs forever & if all my sd three sons namely Nathaniel Isaac & Jonathan shall depart this life without heirs then my will is yt ye aforest three parcels of land given to them as above b: equally divided between my two sons before men- tioned namely Joseph & Benjamin & their heirs forever-I also give unto my three sons namely Benjamin Woodruffe Nathaniel Woodruffe & Isaac Woodruffe & their heirs for ever each of them a three quarter part of a fifty pound alotmt of undivided land and commonage throughout ye bounds of ye sd town-Item I give & bequeath unto my sd son Jonathan Woodruffe ye sum of twenty pounds in current money of this province to be paid him by my Executors when he comes to ye age of 21 years-Item-I give and bequeath unto my four daughters namely Sarah Davis, Hannah Woodruffe, Abigail Woodruffe & Elizabeth Wood- ? uffe each of them ye sum of ten pound in current
1
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 265
money of the sd Province to be paid them as they come to ye age of 21 years by my Executors-Item -- My will is & I do hereby constitute make & ordain my sd wife Hannah & my sd son Samuel Woodruff joint Executors of this my last Will & testamt to Execute fulfil & perform all & every article & clause herein contained according to ye true intent & meaning hereof & I do hereby utterly disallow revoke & disannul all and every other former Testamt wills & legacys requests & Execd by me in any ways before this time named willed & bequeathed ratifying & confirming this & no other to be my last will & testamt. In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal in S'hampt. aforesd this 14 day of January Anno Dom 1700 alias 1701.
JOHN WOODRUFFE [Seal]
Signed sealed published & declared by ye sd John Woodruffe as his last will & testamt in ye presence of ye subscribers (viz)
JEREMIAH JAGGER SAMUEL JAGGER MATTHEW HOWELL
These are to certify yt on ye Ist day of April 1703 came before Isaac Arnold Esq Judge Josiah Hobart & Thomas Helme Esq's Justices of ye Common Pleas at Southampton in ye County of Suffolk Matthew Howell Esq. Jeremiah Jagger & Sam' Jagger wit-
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nesses to ye last will of John Woodruffe deceased and upon your oaths declared yt they saw ye testa- tor John Woodruffe sign seal & declare ye same to be his last will and yt he was at ye same time of disposing mind-
ISAAC ARNOLD
THO. HELME Cler
[The following is in different handwriting from all of the preceding. ]
In the name of God Amen I Nathaniel Norton 85 being unsound in body but of good & perfect memory thanks be to Almighty God & calling to remem- brance the uncertain state of this transitory life do make constitute ordain & declare this my last Will and testamt in manner & form following revoking & annulling by these presents all & every testament & will heretofore by me declared either by word or writing & this is only to be taken for my last will & testamt. & none other-Imprimus -- Being penitent for all my sins past most humbly desiring forgive- ness for the same by the mediation of Jesus Christ my Redeemer I give & commit my soul unto Almighty God my Creator Redeemer & Preserver in whom by the merits of Jesus Christ I trust &
85 Nathaniel Norton came from Southampton to Brookhaven and bought a house and lot of Captain John Platt in 1668. He was a car- penter and built the new meeting house at Setauket in 1669.
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 267
believe assuredly that I shall be saved have full & free remission of all my sins & be raised up to life & immortality at the day of the general resurrection & my body I submit to be buried in such place & decent manner as it shall please my Executors here- after named to appoint. And now for the settling of my temporal estate & such goods chattels & debts as it hath pleased God in mercy to bestow upon me I do give and bestow in manner following willing & ordering that all those debts & duties which I owe to any person or persons whatsoever in right or conscience shall be well & truly paid & contented or ordained to be paid in convenient time after my decease by my Executors hereafter named-Item- to Isaac and Nathaniel my eldest sons I give my home lot to be divided as followeth, to my son Isaac the house garden & orchard with what buildings shall be raised thereon & all the land from the East side of the orchard unto the highway westward over against Abram Dayton's house & the remainder of the lot eastward of the said orchard I give to my son Nathaniel & the swamp or meadow joining to the Creek within fence I order & dispose it to be equally divided between my sd sons Isaac and Nathaniel & also all my land either in the old field or little neck to be equally parted between them & likewise my four shares of meadow at the oldmans-Provided that if either of them shall die before marriage the survivor shall have all-
Item-to George & Jonathan my younger sons I
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Early Long Island Wills.
give all my land & meadow at Mount Misery & at the south side to be equally divided & shared between them-Provided that if either of them should decease before marriage the survivor of these two sons shall enjoy all his brothers part as is before Expressed-
Item-to my three daughters Mary Sarah & Hannah I give to each of them at the day of marriage twenty-five pounds which is to be paid as followeth-Isaac my eldest son shall pay or cause to be paid the sum of twenty five pounds to Mary my eldest daughter in good current passable pay at the day of her marriage & likewise my son Nathaniel to Sarah my daughter shall pay ye sum of twenty- five pounds at the day of her marriage & Hannah's portion of twenty-five pounds shall be in like manner paid at the day of her marriage by my wife, provided that if either Isaac, Nathaniel or my wife shall not be capable of the payment of the said portion at the day of their marriage abovesaid then they shall have time to pay five pounds p. annum-Item-to my beloved wife Mary I give & dispose all my other moveable estate as household goods utensils horses of any kind cattle sheep swine &c with the furniture & guears belonging to them with the full & free use of the house such land as she shall have occasion for-Moreover I constitute order & appoint my sd wife to be my lawful & sole Executrix of this my last will & testamt to receive & pay all my just debts to see to & take care that the abovesd legacies
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