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 7
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2ly I give unto my eldest son Ephraim my dwell- ing house & housing with my home lot ye sd house stands on here adjoining to ye main Street of ye town & my close on ye southside of ye path as we go to ye Water Mill that I had part of lot Burnat being 25 acres or upwards & my close of land at Halsey's Neck on ye East side of ye path being about eleven acres & a half & ye two acres over ye way between Thomas Coopers deceased land & Thomas Topping & all my meadow at North Sea & a lot of meadow at Potunke and a hundred of meadow & upland at Ogdens Neck all which premises of hous- ing & lands & meadows I give unto my son Ephraim aforesd forever only ye use of which is hereafter reserved for my wife, and a fifty of com- monage-
41 James White lived in Southampton. His home lot, left to his son Ephraim, is on the west side of Main Street, and now owned by Edwin C. Halsey. It was bought of Job Sayre about 1688. The home lot left to son James is on the west street of Southampton, next south of the house of late Captain Mercator Cooper. The house of Amelia Hendrickson stands on it. This in the earliest days is mentioned as the "home lot of widow Briggs." The land at Old Town, bounded north by John Jessup, etc., is now the land of heirs of Colonel Benja- min H. Foster.
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Early Long Island Wills.
31y I give & bequeath unto my second son James White my home lot between Samuel Cooper & Ichabod Cooper & my close of land at ye old town bounded North by John Jessups land, East by Major Howells land & South by Joseph Piersons land & West by ye highway & 12 acres in ye great plains two w'of in ye first neck & five in Halseys Neck Eight acre lots & one acre & half in Capt. Neck ten acre lots & one acre & half in oxpasture South division & two acres in a wood lot in ye North division in ye oxpasture and a lot of salt marsh meadow at Aquabogue & fifty pound lotment in Ogdens Neck of upland & meadow and all my meadow at Shinecock & Seponnuck with a fifty pound commonage throughout all which land & premises I give unto him my said son James forever except what I shall reserve for ye use of my wife-
41y-I give and bequeath unto my third son Steven White all that my hundred of land at Saggaponnuck being about 20 acres & a lot of land in Hogneck & a lot of meadow belonging to sd Hogneck division near Easthampton line all which sd. land & meadow I give unto him ye said Steven forever when he comes to ye age of twenty-one years.
51-I give unto my son Charles White all my Smiths tools & ten pound in current money of this Province-
6's-I give unto my daughter Sarah White 30 pounds in current money of this Province aforesd --
7-I give all ye rest of my moveable estate to my
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. III
well beloved wife Ruth with one third part of ye use of all my lands before demised during her natural life for my childrens bringing up & her comfortable subsistance & ye other two thirds to go into ye hands of my sons at 21 years of age as above expressed and if any of my sons depart this life ye land to return to ye next male heir of him or them so deceased and my will is that my well beloved wife Ruth shall be sole Executrix of this my last will & testamt. & I do appoint & pray Steven Strat- ton, Samuel Cooper, & Thomas Tapping to be over- seers of my children & for to see my will exe- cuted-In Witness whereof I have set to my hand & seal in Southhampton this ISth of June Anno Dom 1694.
JAMES WHITE [Seal]
Signed sealed & acknowledged to be his last will and testamt. in presence of us JOSEPH TOPPING SAM' WHITEHEAD
MATTHEW HOWELL Justice
By ye tenor of these presents Know ye that on ye Ioth day of Oct. 1694 at Brookhaven in ye County of Suffolk in ye Province of N. York before Col. William Smith Judge of ye Prerogative Court was proved & approved ye last will & testamt. of James White deceased at Southhampton in ye County aforesd on ye 21st day of August Anno Dom. 1694 who by his said Will did nominate & appoint Ruth
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his wife his sole Executrix for ye well & faithful administration of all & singular ye goods chattels & credits of ye sd deceased to whose care & trust was committed ye same being duly sworn to execute & perform her duty herein according to ye tenor of sd will & ye laws of this Province.
In ye name of God Amen I John Ingersoll + of Huntington Sen' being sick of body but in my memory & knowledge have made this my last Will & testamt. in manner & form following first-I be- queath my soul to God my maker & redeemer & my body to ye Earth from whence I was taken-
Imprimis-I give & bequeath to my son John my ould lot of land next to Beeld lot & ten acres as I have laid out under ye hill and an hundred & fifty pound right of commonage & y' piece of meadow land next Joseph Veales & a piece of fresh meadow near ye bridge & that forty-five acres in ye top of ye hill that leadeth to ye cove I give him one 3ª part of it all lands & meadows to remain to him & his heirs forever ---
Item-I give & bequeath to my son Simon thirty rod of land in ye breadth adjoining to my son Johns lot it to run ye whole length of my lands & twenty eight rod in breadth at ye rear and one third part of
42 John Ingersoll was an early resident in Huntington. His children were John, born May 11, 1674; Jane, born June 9, 1676, and Simon, born August 31, 1678.
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the forty five acres on ye hills aforesd-Also one half part of my meadow at ye beach & one half part of my meadow near my house with an hundred & fifty pound right of commonage to remain to him & his heirs forever-
Item-I give & bequeath to my son Daniel all that lands & meadows that I purchased of Jonas Valentine with all profits thereupon with an hundred pound right of commonage to remain to him & his heirs forever, but if either of my sons chance to die with- out lawful issue then his part of lands & meadows so given shall be equally divided between those that survive of my sons-
Item-I give & bequeath to my daughter Jane that lot which I have in Huntington purchased of Benja- min Jones with an hundred pound right of common- age & all ye right of meadow & upland that I have upon Sompoams to remain to her & to her heirs for- ever & whereas ye half part of my meadow at ye beach & ye half part of that at home I have given to my son Simon ye other half part of both pieces of meadow I bequeath to my son Daniel only both my sons Simon & Daniel shall winter for their Mother each of them one cow & six sheep either of them yearly so long as their Mother live if she desire it of them-
Item-I give & bequeath to my loving wife Jane Ingersoll my dwelling house & orchard & six or eight acres of land adjoining to my house & barn which dwelling house orchard barn & land abovesd to
Early Long Island Wills.
remain & be at my wifes disposal forever and whereas there is winter grain upon ye ground my will is that my son to whom I have given ye land shall have one third part & ye other two thirds to be equally divided between my wife my other two sons & my daughter Jane for to see all things herein con- tained done & performed according to ye true intent & meaning of this my last Will and testamt. I have appointed my loving wife to be my executrix and she to have power to choose one whom she please to assist her in it for ye ratification hereof I have here- unto set my hand & seal ye first day of Nov. in ye 6th year of ye reign of our sovereign Lord & Lady William & Mary King & Queen of England Scot- land France & Ireland Defenders of ye faith &c. & in ye year of our Lord 1694.
JOHN INGERSOLL [Seal] Signed sealed & published in ye presence of JOHN PAGE NATHANIEL FOSTER JOSEPH BAYLY
By ye tenor of these presents Know ye that on ye 27 day of Nov. 1694 at Brookhaven in ye County of Suffolk in ye Province of N. York before Col. WVm Smith Judge of ye Prerogative Court was proved & approved ye last Will & testamt. of John Ingersoll deceased at Huntington on ye 7 day of Nov. Anno Dom. 1694 who by his said last Will & testamt. nomi- nated & appointed Jane his wife his Executrix for ye
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well & faithful administration of all & singular ye goods chattels & credits of ye sª deceased to whose care & trust was committed ye same being duly sworn to Execute & perform her duty herein according to ye tenor of the said Will & ye laws of this Province-
By ye Honoble Col. William Smith Judge of ye Prerogative Court in ye County of Suffolk in ye Province of New York in America. To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting Know ye that whereas James Topping #3 late of Southampton in ye County abovesd departed this life on ye 18th day of May Anno Dom 1694 leaving no Executor and Abigail his widow for certain causes her hereunto justly moving hath prayed that ye administration of all & singular ye goods & chattels of her deceased husband may be granted unto her ye widow of ye said deceased I therefore by virtue of ye power & authority to me given reposing special trust & confidence in you Abigail aforesd have nominated constituted and appointed & by these presents do con- stitute & appoint you Abigail widow of ye deceased administratrix of all & singular ye goods chattels & credits of James Topping aforesd dec. with full power to ask receive demand & recover all & singular ye goods chattels leases debts & credits w'soever to ye sª deceased belonging or in anywise appertaining by all lawful ways & means w'soever-In ye first place " James Topping was son of Elnathan Topping, and lived at Sagg.
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paying those debts whereby ye sd deceased stood obliged at ye time of his death as far as ye lawful goods & credits of ye sd deceased may to this Extend you taking your oath truly to administer ye same & to make or cause to be made a true & perfect inven- tory of all & singular ye goods & chattels debts rights & credits to ye sd deceased belonging which shall or may come to your hands possession or knowledge & further to give a just & true acct. in & concerning ye sd. administration before me or such as shall be appointed thereunto at or before ye sixteenth day of Oct. next ensuing.
Dated at Brookhaven ye 16 of April 1695-
In ye name of God Amen March ye 16 168; I Nathaniel Brewster# in County Suffolk on Long Island being weak in body but of sound & good memory calling to mind my frailty & ye uncertain estate of this uncertain life do make & ordain this my last Will & testamt. by these presents revoking & annulling any former will made by me either by word or writing & yt. this only is to be approved my last will & testamt. & none other-
Imprimis-I commit my soul unto God my
"Nathaniel Brewster was the first minister of Brookhaven. The question as to his ancestry at present attracts much attention, but re- mains unanswered. His son Timothy was town clerk for twenty-three years, and his son Daniel for twenty-six years following. On October 24, 1665, the town bought for Rev. Mr. Brewster the house and lot of Matthew Prior. His ministry is an important chapter in the history of Brookhaven.
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Creator in sure & certain hopes of ye Resurrection to life & immortality by ye merits of Jesus Christ & my body to be decently interred at ye usual burying place of ye sd town of Brookhaven as my Executor hereafter shall appoint & my worldly goods I give & bestow in manner & form following-
Item-To Timothy my son I give & bequeath ye dwelling house I now live in the home lot belonging to it & ye buildings fences & other improvements thereon containing about nine or ten acres more or less & a six acre lot in ye old field joining to Capt. Tookers lot on ye one side & to Benjamin Smiths on ye other side & a five acre lot in ye little neck and five acres at Newtown & twenty acres in Georges Necke & half an acre of Meadow at ye old mans & half ye meadow at ye west meadow & half ye fifty acre lot in Mount Misery & half ye meadow & upland at ye south which meadow & upland at ye south is to be equally divided between Timothy & Daniel Brewster-
Item-To Daniel my son I give & bequeath the house home lot & other improvements purchased of John Roe & two 3 acre lots in ye old field five acres in ye little necke and five acres at ye old mans near Andrew Millers the seventeen acres to be laid out the half of ye fifty acre lot in Mount Misery half ye meadow at ye West meadow, & half ye meadow & upland at ye South.
Item-To John Brewster my eldest son I give & bequeath fifty acres of land laid out in ye plains as
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Early Long Island Wills.
in ye records may appear and in case the sd John be deceased or shall not otherwise dispose of it within seven years it shall return to & be equally divided between my sons Timothy & Daniel before named-
Item-To my two grandchildren Daniel & Abigail Burr I give and bequeath ten shillings a piece-
Item-To Sarah my wife I give and bequeath all my household goods and chattels whatsoever together with my books & ye husbandry queares and tools with full & free ordering & disposal of all ye stock I now possess as horses cattle sheep swine &c. whom with ye assistance of my two sons Timothy & Daniel I constitute & ordain to be the Executrix of this my last Will & Testamt. to perform all things pertain- ing to ye office of an Executrix to pay ye abovesd leg- acys & to give & provide portions for all my daugh- ters at her discretion out of ye improvements of ye stock aforenamed & with the assistance of my se two sons always provided that there be referred to my sd Executrix a good & competent maintenance out of ye improvements of the lands willed and bequeathed to my sons Timothy & Daniel above named as also ye full & free use of ye house home lot orchards gardens and other improvements thereon which are bequeathed to my son Timothy-
In confirmation whereof I do hereunto set my hand & seal the day and year above named.
NATHANIEL BREWSTER [Seal]
Signed sealed and delivered in presence of THO. HELME ZACH. HAWKINS
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By ye tenor of these presents know ye that on ye 3ª day of May 1695 at Brookhaven in ye County of Suffolk in ye Province of New York before Col. WT'ill" Smith Judge of ye Prerogative was proved & approved the last will and testamt. of Nathaniel Brewster decd at Brookhaven in ye County aforest on ye day of Anno Dom. 168 who by his said last will & testamt. did nominate and appoint Sarah his wife to be his Executrix as by ye sd will may appear for ye well and faithful administration of all & singular ye goods chattels & credits of ye said deceased to whose care & trust was committed ye same being duly sworn to execute & perform her duty herein according to ye tenor of ye said Will & ye laws of this Province.
By ye Honoble Col. W" Smith Judge of ye Pre- rogative Court in ye County of Suffolk of ye Prov- ince of New York in America. To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting Know ye that was Christopher Youngs Sen' 45 late of Southhold in ye County of Suffolk departed this life on ye 31 of July Anno Dom. 1695 leaving no Executor and Mary his widow & Benjamin son of the se deceased for certain causes them hereunto justly moving have prayed that ye administration of ye goods and chattels of ye said deceased may be granted unto
45 Christopher Youngs was son of Rev. John Youngs. He married Mary, daughter of Lieutenant John Budd.
F
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them ye sd widow & son of ye sd deceased, I there- fore by virtue of ye power & authority to me given reposing special trust & confidence in you Mary & Benjamin abovesd have nominated constituted & appointed you Mary ye widow & Benjamin ye eldest son of ye sd deceased aforesd and by these presents do constitute & appoint you joint administrators of all and singular ye goods chattels and credits of ye sd Christopher Youngs deceased with full power to ask receive demand & recover all & singular ye goods & chattels leases debts & credits w'soever to ye sd deceased belonging or in anywise appertaining by all lawful ways & means w'soever in ye first place paying those debts w'by ye sd decd stood obliged at ye time of his death as far as ye lawful goods & credits of the sd decd may to this Extend you taking your oaths truly to administer ye same & to make or cause to be made a true & perfect inventory of all & singular ye debts goods & chattels rights & credits to ye sd decd belonging or in anywise appertaining which shall or may come to your hands possession or knowledge & further to give a just & true acct. in & concerning ye sd. administration before me or such other Judge or Judges as may be appointed thereunto at or before ye 20 day of March next ensuing-
Given under my hand & seal the 20th day of Sept. Anno Dom. 1695.
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Manor of St. Georges in County Suffolk March ye 14 1693. This day was presented to Col. William Smith Judge of ye Prerogative Court for ye se County ye last Will & Testamt of Peter Silvester46 late of Shelter Island in ye County aforesd decd as also a petition from Mrs. Elizabeth Sylvester Executrix appointed by ye said Will praying ye same might be proved & approved by ye sd judge-A supplication was also read made to ye sd Judge by Mr. Giles Sylvester brother to ye said Peter deceased praying the sd Will might not be proved for yt. his brother at ye time of ye publishing ye sd will had not animum testandi & prays time to prove ye same & to have a copy of ye sd Will-Ordered that if ye sª Giles Sylvester have a copy of ye will & if he shall at or before ye 20th of instant March give sufficient security to make good all costs charges & damages that may acrue to ye Executor or others concerned in ye sd Will for or by reason of ye delaying ye pro- bate thereof if he shall not prove anything material to invalidate or make null ye same that then further time shall be allowed him to prove his allegations- That if he neglect or refuse to do the same then due proof being made on ye 20th instant March the pro- bate shall not be longer stayed. That Mr. Giles Sylvester & Elisabeth his sister have sent them a copy of this order and that ye Executrix & those
46 Peter Silvester was son of Captain Nathaniel Silvester, who died about 1680. Shelter Island was purchased by Captain Silvester and John Booth in 1652.
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that prove ye said Will have notice then personally to appear before the Judge at ye Manor of St. Georges aforesd and that an inventory of the testator's goods and chattels be then exhibited to this Court and that if none be already made Justice Mapes have power to appoint two or more honest men of ye neighborhood to inventory & value ye same in con- pany of one two or more of ye testators creditors or legatees if they will see ye same.
Province of New York County of Suffolk Manor of St. Georges March 21 1695 A supplication was this day produced from Mr. Giles Sylvester of Shelter Island to Col. W. Smith Judge of ye Pre- rogative Court of this County praying a further time may be allowed him to give security to prove his allegations why ye last Will of his late Brother Peter Sylvester ought not to be proved according to a former order of this Court expired ye 20th of instant March & praying that his security pursuant to said order may be taken at Southhold-Ordered &
decreed that unless security be given according to ye former order of this Court the Probate cannot be stayed if ye partys concerned therein pray it of this Court & produce sufficient testimony to prove ye same but that until such proofs be offered Mr. Giles Sylvester have time to object against it giving security as afores" but that said security must be given in this courte. An Inventory of ye Testators personal estate was also exhibited to this Court amounting to [216. 175. 7ª. Ordered y' ye sd. inventory be
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returned & yt ye appraisers do upon yr oath declare yt. they have duly & truly apprized ye sd goods at a just value according to their conscience & best understanding.
Ordered yt. Mrs. Elizabeth Sylvester named Co- Executrix in ye sd. Testators Will have ye custody of ye goods in ye sd inventory contained (if she desire ye same) she giving security to this Court- That in case ye sd Will be not allowed of ye sd goods shall be forthcoming to be disposed of according to law as this Court shall direct And yt those parties concerned in ye Probate of ye sª Will have time until ye 21 of April next ensuing to prove ye same and that Mrs Elizabeth & M Giles Sylvester have both copies of these orders-
The last Will & Testam' of me Thomas James 47 Preacher of ye Gospel & Minister of Easthampton in ye County of Suffolk upon the Isle of Nassau
47 Rev. Thomas James was son of Rev. Thomas James of Lincoln- shire, England. He came to America June 5, 1632, and settled in Charlestown, Mass. From there he went to New Haven and came to Easthampton before April 22, 1651. His salary as preacher was at first £45 a year, and his lands were to be free from taxes. This was after- ward increased to 650. His knowledge of the Indian language caused his services to be in great demand as interpeter, and he prepared a catechism for their benefit. The town ordered that his grist should be the first ground at the mill, and he was allowed half of the dead whales cast upon the shore. He also had a home lot and a share in the land. These lands he sold to Lyon Gardiner, "Lord of the Isle of Wight," in 1659 for 4500, he retaining the use during life. His parsonage lot on the east side of the street and opposite the burying ground has re- mained in the Gardiner family ever since, and is now owned by heirs of
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Early Long Island Wills.
alias Long Island within ye Province of New York as followeth-first I having given long since my soul to God & Christ do continue the same & my body to the grave whence I expect its glorious resurrection to life again at ye last day my estate as followeth-
First-I give to my eldest daughter Sarak wife of Peregrine Stanbrough (having already given her more than any of the rest of my children) I say I give to her four score pound in cash current of this Province to be paid by my Executors after my decease a month or less after-Also I give her an Equal part with the other of my children of my moveable goods both within doors & without also yt. small part I have in ye ship called ye Speedwell being half a quarter- Also ye feather bed I lye upon & ye green rug with it. Second-1 give to my 2ª daughter Mary wife of John Stretton an hundred pound (in cash of this Province ) after my decease, also an equal part with ye rest of her sisters of my goods-
Third-I give to my daughter Hannah wife of James Dyment an hundred pound in cash of this Province after my decease, also an equal division of my goods with ye rest of her sisters-
Samuel B. Gardiner. His nextdoor neighbor on the north was Lion Gardiner. Tradition states that he was buried at his own request fac- ing the west, contrary to usual custom, that he " might face his con- gregation at the day of judgment." His tombstone bears the follow- ing : " Mr. Thomas James dyed the 16th day of June in the yeare 1696. He was Minister of the Gospel and Pasture of the Church of Christ." His wife, Katharine Blux, whom he married September 2, 1669, was probably a relative or connection of Rev. Robert Fordham of Southampton.
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Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 125
Fourth-I having very lately delivered to my son in law Thomas Harris in behalf of his wife my fourth daughter Ruth an hundred pound in current money of this Province upon some condition do by this my Will confirm it absolutely to her my daughter Ruth after my decease. Also I give to her an equal part with ye rest of her sisters of my goods. Also I give her over & and above my feather bed now in ye larger chamber with ye furniture to it. Legacys to be paid by my executors out of my estate as followeth-1. To my grandchildren Mary Stan- brough & Mary Stretton I will fifty pound a piece or to each of them so much viz : fifty pound in cash of this Province-Also I give each of them a feather bed two pair of sheets to each of them coverlid blanket & bolster-1 also give to each of them a cow & six sheep -- Also to each of them an iron pot of ye bigger sort, also to each of them two a pewter platter of a middle size & to each of them a silver spoon-2. I will twenty pound in cash current of this Province to my daughter in law Anne Howell now wife of M' Abraham Howell of Southhampton- Provided she ye sd Anne nor any other of her rela- tives or friends bring in no after reconing upon account of her first husband my son Nathaniel deceased & a full discharge be given to my Executors of all. 3-I give to my eldest grandson John Stan- brough ten pound in Cash or equivalent after my de- cease-4. I give to my two daughters in law ye one of them Mary ye wife of M' John Mulford ye other
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Elizabeth ye wife of AI' Joseph Osborn to each of them ten pound in Cash of this Province or equiva- lent to be paid by my Executors after my decease. 5. I constitute & ordain Peregrine Stanbrough John Stretton James Dyment & Thomas Harris my sons in law to be co. or joint Executors of this my last will & testamt. 6. As for what debts is owing me from this ye town of Easthampton either former arrears or for last year or this present year amounting to above seven score pound in pay I say what is not paid before my decease I give to my Executors to be dis- tributed to all my grandchildren (Excepting them whose names are here mentioned in this my will) by my four daughters to be equally divided amongst them when they come to age only this, that if ye town freely & readily will take ye best & speediest way they can for ye discharge of ye debts aforesd or their Trustee then I give to ye town aforest twenty pound out of ye sd debts towards ye maintenance of a good schoolmaster in this town, otherwise not. 7-I desire my two sons in law M' John Mulford & M' Joseph Osborn to be the overseers of this my last Will for ye due performance of ye same also to be assistant to my Executors for ye gathering in what debts I shall leave at my decease for which I give & allow to each of them three pounds out of ye said debts, for ye ratification & confirmation of this my last Will & Testamt. I do set to my hand & fix my seal Jun ye 5 Anno Dom. 1696 & in ye 8th year of his Maty. King William ye 2ª of Great
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