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 4
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came to Brookhaven in 1658. On May 8, 1668, he purchased a home lot of Richard Smith at Setauket. Many of his descendants remain in Brookhaven and neighboring towns. "Dayton's Creek," on the south side of the island, was named from him. It is east of Bellport and now called " Osborn's Creek."
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Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 57
ther to give a just & true account in & concerning the sd administration before me or such Judge or Judges as may be thereunto appointed at or before the first day of June next ensuing the date hereof. Witness my hand & seal at Brookhaven this nine- teen day of November Anno Dom. 1691.
WILLIAM SMITH
THOMAS HELME Cler.
By ye Honoble Coll. William Smith Judge of their Matyes Prerogative Court wthin ye County of Suffolk on Long Island in ye Province of N. York in America-To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting Know ye that whereas Henry Ludlam " late of Southampton in ye County aforesd departed this life on the twenty fifth of October Anno Dom 1691 leaving no Executor and Henry Ludlam ye eldest son of ye sª deceased for certain causes him there- unto justly moving hath prayed that ye administra- tion of the goods & chattels of the said deceased may be granted to him ye sd Henry Ludlam son of ye sd deceased I therefore by virtue of ye power & author- ity to me given reposing special trust & confidence
20 Henry Ludlam lived at the Watermill in the town of Southampton, on the homestead now owned by Samuel Corwith, and was the owner of the watermill. He was the son of William Ludlam, whose will was the first one recorded in the New York Surrogate's office. He had a brother Joseph who removed to Oyster Bay, and was the ancestor of the families bearing the name of Ludlam. The descendants of Henry who remained in Southampton have changed the name to Ludlow.
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in you Henry Ludlam abovesd have nominated con- stituted & appointed & by these presents do consti- tute and appoint you Henry Ludlam abovesd administrator of all & singular the goods chattels & credits of the sd Henry Ludlam deceased with full power to ask demand receive & recover all & singu- lar the goods chattels leases debts & credits whatso- ever to ye sd deceased abovesd belonging or in anywise appertaining by all lawful ways & means w'soever In ye first place paying those debts whereby ye sd deceased stood obliged in ye time of his death so far as the lawful goods & credits of the sd deceased may to this Extend you taking your oath truly to adminis- ter the same & to make or cause to be made a true & perfect inventory of all & singular ye goods chattels debts rights & credits to ye sd deceased belonging which shall or may come to your hand possession or knowledge & further to give a just & a true account in & concerning the sd administration before me or such Judge or Judges as may be ap- pointed thereunto at or before ye first day of June next ensuing the date hereof-Witness my hand & seal this twenty seventh day of November Anno Dom. 1691.
WILLIAM SMITH THOMAS HELME Cler.
By the Honoble Coll. William Smith Judge of their Matyes Prerogative Court within ye County of Suffolk
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on Long Island in ye Province of N. York in America-To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting-Know ye that whereas Charles Sturmy2 late of Northsea belonging to South Hampton in ye County abovesd departed this life ye 24 day of Dec. Anno Dom. 1691 leaving no Executor and Deborah the widow & relict of ye s' deceased for certain causes her hereunto justly moving hath prayed that ye ad- ministration of ye goods & chattels of ye sd deceased may be granted unto her ye widow & relict of ye sd deceased. I therefore by virtue of ye power & authority to me given reposing special trust & confi- dence in you Deborah abovesd have nominated consti- tuted & appointed & by these presents do con- stitute & appoint you Deborah Sturmy abovesd Ad- ministratrix of all & singular ye goods chattels & credits of Charles Sturmy aforesd deceased with full power to ask receive recover & demand all & singu- lar ye goods chattels leases debts & credits whatso- ever to ye deceased abovesd belonging or in anywise appertaining by all lawful ways or means whatso- ever-In ye first place paying those debts whereby ye sd deceased stood obliged in ye time of his death as far as the lawful goods & credits of ye said de- ceased may to this extend You taking your oath truly to administer the same and to make or cause to be made a true & perfect inventory of all & singular the debts goods & chattels rights & credits to ye said
21 Charles Sturmy lived at Northsea, in the town of Southampton, on the homestead of the heirs of Capt. Joseph Harris.
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deceased belonging which shall or may come to your hands possession or knowledge & farther to give a just & a true account in & concerning ye sd sd admin- istration before me or such Judge or Judges as shall be thereunto appointed for this County at or before the first day of July next ensuing the date hereof.
Given under my hand & seal this 31st day of Dec. Anno Dom. 1691.
WILLIAM SMITH
THOMAS HELME Cler.
In ye name of God Amen. I Jonas Wood22 of Huntington in ye County of Suffolk upon Long Island in ye Province of N. York in America Yeo- man being in perfect memory though weak & sick of body calling to mind the uncertainty of this present life do hereby publish & declare this my last Will & Testam' in manner & form following-
22 Jonas Wood was a resident of Southampton as early as 1648, and was known as " Jonas Wood of Halifax," to distinguish him from another of the same name. In the Southampton Records he is men- tioned as the son-in-law of " Mr. Stickland of Hempstead." He removed to Huntington, where he was among the foremost citizens. His daughter Elizabeth married Isaac Platt, and her sister Phebe married Epenetus Platt, brother of Isaac. Hon. Silas Wood, the his- torian, was his descendant, and a full account of the family may be found in the edition of the " Sketches of Long Island " edited by the late Alden J. Spooner.
John Lumm, one of the witnesses, originally lived at Northsea in Southampton. His home lot was on the west side of the street of Northsea, next north of the road that runs west. It now belongs to the heirs of Lewis Scott and still bears the name of " Lum's Lot." He went to Huntington.
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Imprimis-I commit my soul unto God hoping for salvation by the alone merits of Jesus Christ & faith in his name & my body to a decent burial- As for my outward estate in ye World I dispose of it as followeth-I give to my son Jonas Wood three acres of land lying at Cow Harbour which lyes next my son Epenetus Platt his lot there-and one acre of hollow be it more or less lying Southward & four acres of Meadow either at Quoviak or at Tan- tannentatauket to be set forth there to ye best con- veniance of ye said Jonas & John Wood my sons if they can agree of it betwixt themselves if not at ye judgment & with the advice of two honest men in- differently chosen between them all which aforesd lands & meadows with all fences waters water courses libertys & easements thereto belonging I do hereby give to my said son Jonas & to his heirs & assigns for ever-
Item-I give to my said son Jonas all my chirur- geons instruments & all my concernments of that kind as salves papers for directions &c. and one half of my wearing clothes-
Item-I give to my son Jonas eight pounds in country pay to be paid out of my estate by my Executor by forty shill. a year and the first payment to be within one year after my decease-
Item-I give my son Isaac Platt four acres of meadow which was my fathers be it more or less lying on ye neck called Josias Neck & to his heirs & assigns forever-
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Item-I give my daughter Elisabeth my great bible
Item-I give my son Epenetus Platt ten pounds to be paid in five years by forty shill pr year in country pay or to his heirs Executors adm" or assigns & the first paymt. to be made by my Executor within one year after my decease-
Item-I give to my daughter Phebe one pewter flagon or Tanker of beaten pewter-
Item-I give my son in law Isaac Platt eight pounds to be paid in country pay by my Executor in four years by forty shill p year and the first pay- ment to begin within one year after my decease-
All ye rest of my land meadows houses barnes orchards gardens foulds back sides libertys ease- ments or appurtenances in any wise pertaining with all ways waters water courses fences woods under- woods libertys of commonage bite of mouth & Tur- barre with all my right title interest & claim that I now have to lands layed out or yet to lay out or might or may have to any lands or meadow (not before disposed on) pertaining to my three hun- dred pound right according to ye customs of ye Town of Huntington with all my whole per. sonal estate to be to ye use of John Wood my son his heirs & assigns forever-And I do here- by appoint ye så John my sole Executor of this my last Will & Testam' --
In Witness whereof I have hereto set my hand & seale this 20th of Feby. in ye fourth year of ye reign
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of James ye 2d over England Scotland France & Ireland King &c. 1688-
JONAS WOOD [Seal]
Sealed signed & delivered in ye presence of us EPENETUS PLATT JAMES SMITH JOHN LUMM
Memorand. that it is my Will & mind that my Executors shall give to M' Jones twenty shill in country pay within one year after my decease as witness my hand-
JONAS WOOD
Witness EPENETUS PLATT JAMES SMITH JOHN LUMM
By ye tenor of these presents Know ye that on ye 15 day of April 1692 at Brookhaven in ye County of Suffolk on Long Island in ye Province of N. York before Coll. William Smith Judge of ye Prerogative Court in ye County abovesd was proved & approved the last will & Testamt of Jonas Wood of Huntington deceased at Huntington on ye 12 day of June 1689 in ye County abovesd who having by his said Will & Testam' nominated & appointed John Wood his son his sole Executor (as by the copy of ye said Will hereunto annexed may appear) for ye well & faithful administration of all & singular ye goods chattels &
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credits of ye sd deceased You shall a true full & faithful inventory of all & singular ye goods chattels & credits that did any ways belong or of right apper- tain to ye said deceased at ye time of his death bring in & deliver to me or such other Judge or Judges as shall be appointed for the County abovesd at or before ye 15 day of Octob. next ensuing ye date hereof and then & there to render a true plain & per- fect account of your having executed and performed your duty herein according to ye tenor of ye sd Will & the laws of this Province-Sworn before me ye day & year abovesd Witness my hand & seal-
WILLIAM SMITH
THOMAS HELME Cler.
SOUTH HAMPTON July ye 24 Anno 1689 The last Will & Testam' of Obadiah Rogers23 of Southampton in ye County of Suffolk is as followeth -- I give & freely bequeath my soul to God that gave it to me & my body to ye Earth from whence it was taken with decent burial as to my worldly estate- First, I give to my eldest son Obadiah Rogers the land lying about his now dwelling house with all ye
13 Obadiah Rogers was the son of William Rogers, a very early settler in Southampton. His homestead was on the east side of the main street of Southampton, and next north of " meeting-honse lane." It remained in the possession of the family from the original laying out in 1648 till within a few years, when it was sold to Dr. John Nugent, and was the home of seven generations. The " Ox Pasture " was the tract of land in Southampton village on the south side of Hill Street, between the town pond and the " Head of Creek," next Shinnecock
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land adjoining to it westward of his said house to an old ditch that divides that lot & ye lot that the wind- mill stands upon I also give him a fifty pound com- monage throughout the bounds of this Town-I also give him the five acres of land at or about ye head of ye Creeke in ye Ox pasture that he now hath in pos- session-I also give to him ye one half of ye six acre close in ye bottom of Captains Neck -- Also I give to him ye half of ye upper close in Capt. Necks with ye half of ye seven acres lying in ye first neck-Also I give to him ye half of ye 30 acres lying Eastward of Mr. John Howells home lot-Also I give to him ye half of ye 40 acres lying on ye Mill Necke-Also I give to him one third or an equal part of all my out meadows at Quogue or Occaboak Also I give him that bit of land being about two acres at long Springs all & every of these premises I do freely give & be- queath to Obadiah Rogers my son to him & ye male heirs of his body but if it please God to withhold male issue from him and he die without then ye land Hills. The windmill stood on the east part of the home lot, which extended to Old Town Street.
Samuel Johnes, one of the witnesses, and known as " Deacon Samuel," lived on the west side of the main street of Southampton, and was the son of Edward Johnes, one of the first settlers. His ancient house, one of the oldest in the town, was a landmark for more than two centuries. The elegant residence of Mrs. Clara J. Romaine stands on its site.
Obadiah Sale, the other witness, lived at one time on the lot now the burying ground in Southampton. In the will of William Russell of Southampton, dated August 27, 1678, he mentioned "my beloved brother Ohadiah Rogers." From this it is supposed that Mary, the wife of Obadiah Rogers, was sister of William Russell.
Zachariah Rogers married Ruth, daughter of Lewis Jessup.
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to return to ye next heir or to be divided between his two other breathern if living they allowing to his daughters if any such living twenty pounds a piece- Also I give him ye one half of ye Wind Mill whiles fit for use & then to remove it -- I give to my second son Jonah Rogers the two twenty acre lots that lye upon calf neck with houseing fencing & orchard be- longing Also I give to him ye twenty acres at Hog Neck & one acre belonging to ye same of meadow- Also I give to him a fifty pound commonage with one third of all out meadows Also I give to him one acre of land at ye east end of ye Mill lot adjoin- ing to an old ditch between him & Obadiah-These and all & every of them I freely give & make over to my son Jonah to him & ye male heirs of his body but if he shall die without any son to heir his lands then ye land to return to ye next male heir or to his other brother or brethren that shall be then living but if he shall leave a daughter or daughters behind him they he or they that shall so heir his land shall give to every of them twenty pounds current pay Also I give to him two steers com 4 year old, two cows com 3 year old two cattle of 2 year old & ye gray mare-
41y I give to my youngest son Zachariah my now dwelling house & barn with orchard garden & the shop & tools & ye home lot & ye mill lot only one acre of land given to Jonah next to ye ditch across ye upper end Also I give him ye half of ye two closes in Captains neck equally to divide with his
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brother Obadiah-I give him also half ye seven acres in ye first neck to divide with Obadiah-Also I give him half of ye Cow pasture with Obadiah-I give him also half ye land lying on ye Mill neck with Obadiah-I give him two acres of land lying beyond the Parsonage butting to ye pond-I give him also one fifty pound commonage and one third of all out meadow that is at Quagucanantuck or Occobaucke all & every of ye premises-I give to my son Zach- ariah & to ye male heirs of his body but if he have no son & die without a male heir then the lands to return to his brethren or their son or sons they paying twenty pounds to his daughter if any be surviving at his death & so to all & every of them then living-
5ly I give to my daughter Mary ten shillings in currant pay more than she hath had as see in ye 55th page of my book ---
6ly I give to my daughter Sarah deceased her two children William Hackleton & Sarah Campbell each of them forty shillings in current pay-
7ly I give to my daughter Elizabeth twenty pounds to be paid at ye day of her marriage & ten pounds more in current pay when her mother sees she can spare it --
Sly I give to my daughter Patience twenty pounds at ye day of her marriage & ten pounds more when her mother sees fit-
gly I give & bequeath all my goods & chattels to my well beloved wife Mary Rogers with full & sole command thereof to pay debts & legacies with as
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also for her comfortable livelihood & notwithstand- ing gifts are made to my sons I have reserved to her & do give to her during her life with my children to hold & to enjoy one third part of all lands & of every parcel of such lands for her comfortable liveli- hood as also ye best room in ye house with her bed- chamber during her widowhood. I do also make my beloved wife my Executrix of this my last will ad- joining with her the help of her youngest son Zacha- rial being left only at home with her-
OBADIAH ROGERS [Seal] Signed & sealed in presence of us undernamed SAMUEL JOHNES OBADIAH SALE (Proved June 23ª 1692)
In ye name of God Amen, I John Swazey" of Southhold on Long Island in ye County of Suffolke of ye Province of N. York being of good & sound memory & calling to mind ye uncertainty of this life & that I must yield to death when it shall please God, do make constitute & ordain this my last Will & testament hereby revoking & annulling any other or former will by me made either by word or writing-
" John Swazey was one of the original settlers in Brookhaven, and one of the six who obtained the first Indian deed. He refused to take the oath of fidelity to the Colony of New Haven in 1659. In 1666 he with others sold Plum Island to John Youngs. He removed to Southold about 1670. His descendants have changed the name to Sweezey.
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Impmis-I give my soul unto God who gave it & my body being dead to be buried & my worldly estate (my just debts being paid)-first-I give & bestow in manner and form following-
Item-I give & bequeath unto my son John Swasey my dwelling house orchard together with ye buildings fencings & other ye improvements on my home stall & all ye land by me improved southward of ye land which my said son John hath fenced in containing ye whole breadth of ye land as far as ye Southbay & half ye other lot Westward of it being a second lot with half ye share of Meadow commonly called Horton's Meadow & half another share of Meadow at a place called ye great Meadow and also all my implem's of husbandry & other tools-
Item-I give & bequeath to my son Joseph Swazey one hundred acres of land upon which he is settled lying Westward of my son John's land & northward of my sd son Joseph's home lot & half ye share of ye great meadow whereof I gave my son John ye other half and two lots of meadow lying on ye other side of ye river which was formerly John Youngs and also ye other half of ye lot Westward of it (whereof ye other half I have given to my son John) & my horses in ye woods to be equally divided between my three sons-
Item-I give & bequeath to my .son Samuel Swazey ye land now in ye occupation of my son John lying between my son Joseph's & the home stall which by these presents I have given to my son John
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& ye other half of ye share of meadow called Hor- ton's Meadow with this condition or limitation that my said son Samuel shall not have power to sell alien or dispose of any part or parcel of ye said land hereby granted to him so that if he shall decease without issue ye right of inheritance of ye said land shall be to ye next proper heir also I give to him half my cattle & ye bed & furniture which he lyeth on-
Item-I give to my daughter MMchetabell Aldridge & to ye heirs of Peter Aldridge deceased one hundred acres of land lying on ye northside of ye land given to my son Joseph if there be so much land there be it more or less-
Item-I give to my two younger daughters Sarah & Mary Swasy ye other half of my cattle to be equally divided [between] them.
Item-1 give & bequeath to my four daughters namely, Abigail Mehetable Sarah & Mary all my household goods to be equally divided between them.
Item-My will is that in consideration of ye land given to my sons John & Joseph they shall pay to my two younger daughters Sarah & Mary ye sum of twenty pounds current pay of ye County that is to say ten pounds a piece to each of my younger daughters within two years after my decease-
Item-My Will is that Besse my servant shall be free & set at liberty at my decease & she shall have the bed she lyeth on-
Lastly-I do hereby nominate & appoint John
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Tuthill of Southhold and John Hallet to be the Executors of this my Will & testamt.
In Witness hereof I do hereunto set my hand & seal ye 20th of May 1692. JOHN SWAZY (Seal)
Witnessed by us THOS HELME JOSEPH TOOKER
By ye tenor of these presents Know ye that on ye 12th day of Nov. 1692 at Brookhaven in ye County of Suffolk in ye Province of New York before Coll. William Smith Judge of ye Prerogative Court in ye County aforesd was proved and approved ye last Will & testamt. of John Swasey deceased at Southhold in ye County aforest on ye 10th day of June 1692 who by his sª Will & testamt. did nominate & appoint John Tuthill Senr. & John Hallocke his Executors as by ye sd Will may appear You shall a true full & faithful Inventory of all & singular ye goods chattels & credits that did anywise belong or of right apper- tain to ye sª deceased at ye time of his death bring in & deliver to me or to such other Judge or Judges as shall be appointed for this County at or before ye 12th day of May next ensuing & then & there render a true plain and perfect acct. of your having Exe- cuted & performed your duty herein according to ye tenor of ye said Will & ye laws of this Province- Sworn before me the day & year aforesaid-Witness my hand & seal-
WILLIAM SMITH
THO. HELME Cler.
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In ye name of God Amen-I John Sammis 25 of ye town of Huntington upon Long Island within ye County of Suffolk & Province of New York in America Yeoman being sick in body but having my perfect memory have made this my last Will & tes- tamt. in manner & form following-
First-1 give & bequeath my soul to God my maker & Redeemer and my body to ye Earth from whence I was taken and all my worldly endowments in manner & form following-
Imprimis-I give & bequeath unto my son John all my lands at ye Cove unto ye new pasture with all ye meadow land that I have there belonging or ap- pertaining to me & also one hundred pound right of commonage that I bought of Joseph Bayley of Hunt- ington to remain to him & his heirs for ever-Also a young horse of 3 or 4 years old & also a yoke of steers come three years old & one cow & a gun y' was Hunrians & y' gun that was Johns to one of my other sons & also a coverlid-
Item-I give & bequeath to my son Silas my dwelling house & so much of my orchard as specified from ye West End unto a White oak bush on ye West side of my barn & so across unto brook or end of ye fence of Epenctus Platt that turns to ye nor- ward only Silas to allow unto his mother in law during her widowhood half of my dwelling house & half ye
25 John Sammis was one of the early settlers in Huntington and owned No. I of the ten farms. His children, John, born September 13, 1673; Silas, born November 2, 1676; David, born October 4, 1691; Isaac, born March 14, 1682. His descendants are numerous.
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benefit of ye orchard and also half a hundred pound right of commonage & a yoke of steers 3 or 4 year old & a young horse comes two year old & a cow only my will is that my son Silas shall pay to his two youngest brothers Isaac & David fifteen pounds a piece when they accomplish ye age of one and twenty years but if either chance to die then ye sd. fifteen pounds to be divided equally between ye surviving brethren also to Silas a square barrel gun-
Item-I give & bequeath unto two of my other sons Isaac & David what remains of my orchard & home lot equally to be divided between them only my Will is that David shall have that end where ye barn is & half a hundred pound right of Commonage each of them to my son David More one young cow come four year old & two steer or Bull calves an Iron pot that came from Southhold & a fire lock musket, more to my son Isaac two cows & a grey mare colt
Item-I give & bequeath to my son Jeremiah my new pasture at ye Cove which is on ye Eastermost side of ye West Neck with half a hundred pound right of commonage-
Item-All other of my lands in ye hills near my house improved laid out or granted I give & bequeath to my four sons Silas, David, Isaac & Jeremiah equally to be divided between them and whereas there is a spring in part of ye said lands my will is that either son shall have the benefit of ye water as well as his lands- Also my will is that these four sons shall have ye meadow land & swamp commonly
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