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 8
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Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 127
Britain France & Ireland Def of ye faith, whom God save.
Also I give to my son in law James Dyment my share in ye horse Mill. Also I give to my son in law John Stretton w' time at my decease I have in my man Charles Jones, my Executors to make good his Indenture & to allow him 405 in pay more-
THO. JAMES [Seal]
Subscribed & sealed in presence of us CORNELIUS CONKLING SHUBAELL TALMAGE JOHN WHEELER Jr.
By ye tenor of these presents Know ye that on ye 23ª day of June 1696 at ye Manor of St. Georges in ye County of Suffolk in ye Province of N. York before ye Honoble Col. William Smith Judge of ye Prerogative Court in ye County abovesd was proved & approved the last Will & testamt. of Thomas James late of Easthampton in ye County abovesd deceased the 14th day of June Anno Dom. 1696 who by his said last will & testamt. did nominate & appoint Peregrine Stanbrough John Stretton James Dyment & Thomas Harris joint Executors for ye well & faithful administration of all & singular the goods chattels & credits of ye sd deceased as by ye copy of sd Will may appear to whose care & trust was committed ye same being duly sworn to Execute & perform their duty herein according to ye tenor of ye sd will & ye laws of this Province.
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Early Long Island Wills.
To all to whome these presents shall come Greet- ing Know ye that whereas James Chichester # late of Huntington in ye County of Suffolk departed this life on ye 29 day of Jany. 169; and David Chiches- ter his son for certain causes him thereunto justly moving hath prayed that ye administration of all ye goods & chattels of ye said deceased may be granted to him ye son of ye sd deceased-I therefore by virtue of ye authority to me given reposing special trust in you David Chichester aforesd have and do by these presents nominated constituted & appointed you David Chichester son of ye sd deceased Admin- istrator of all & singular ye goods chattels & credits of ye sd James Chichester deceased with full power to ask receive demand & recover ye same to ye sd deceased belonging or in any wise appertaining by all lawful ways & means w'soever. In ye first place paying those debts wherein ye sd deceased stood obliged at ye time of his death as far as ye lawful goods & credits of ye said deceased may to this Ex- tend You taking your oath truly to administer ye same and to make or cause to be made a true & perfect inventory of all & singular the debts goods & chat- tels rights & credits to ye sd deceased belonging which shall or may come to y' hands possession or knowledge-And further to give a just & true acct. in & concerning ye said administration before me or
48 James Chichester was son of James Chichester who was living at Taunton, Mass., 1643, and at Salem in 1650. He lived near Hunting- ton harbor before February, 1662.
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 129
such other judge or judges as may be appointed thereunto at or before ye 8th day of March next ensuing ye date hereof-
Given under my hand & seal ye 8th day of Sept. 1696
WILLIAM SMITH
THO. HELM, Clerk.
The last Will & testamt. of Maj John Howell+- In ye name of God-Amen-At Southampton in ye County of Suffolk & Province of New York ye 3ª day of April 1693 I John Howell of abovesd town & County being diseased in body but of good & sound memory thanks be to God Almighty & calling to remembrance ye uncertain estate of this transitory life and yt all flesh must yield to death when it shall please God to call, do make constitute ordain & declare this my last Will & testamt. in manner & form following revoking & disannulling by these presents all & every testamt. & testamts. will & wills
43 Major John Howell was son of Edward Howell, the leader of the founders of Southampton. The home lot left to grandson John Howell is on the east side of Southampton Street, and lately owned by Louise De Bost. The home lot of Major Howell, where he was living at the time of his death, and which he left to his son Nathaniel, was on the west side of the street, directly opposite. The homestead of his son Theophilus Howell was at Sagg, and is now the north part of the homestead of Justice G. Clarence Topping. This lot remained in the possession of the heirs of Captain Theophilus Howell till about 1856. John Howell, the son of the Major, was town clerk for several years, and died March 8, 1692. The tombstone of Major John Howell, bearing the ancestral arms, tells us he died November 3, 1696, aged 71.
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Early Long Island Wills.
heretofore by me made & declared either by word or writing and this is only to be taken for my last Will & testamt. & none other and first being penitent for my sins most humbly desiring forgiveness for ye same commit my soul to God Almighty my Saviour & my body to be decently buried by my fathers sepulchre-
I. And now for ye settling my temporal estate & such goods chattels & debts as it hath pleased God to bestow upon me-I do order give & bestow ye same in manner & form following (that is to say) first-I will y' all those debts & duties as I owe in right or conscience to any manner of person or per- sons w'soever shall be well & truly contented & paid or ordered to be paid within convenient time after my decease by my Executor hereafter named-
2-Item-I do give & bequeath unto John Howell my grandchild John's son all yt home lot of land which I formerly bought of Arthur Howell contain- ing by estimation four acres with all ye housing & fence thereupon bounded South by Joseph Fosters land North by my brother Edwards West by ye town street East by my own land as also all yt. my part or division of land in ye close in ye little plains (Except- ing nine acres of said close willed by me to his uncle Nathaniel) being by estimation eight acres more or less bounded East by ye land of Joseph Foster south by ye south sea beach as also I do hereby confirm unto him ye said John Howell all lands & meadows yt. I gave unto his father & he was possessed of
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Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 131
(Excepting always ye twelve acres where Nathaniel my son now lives on as also excepting three acres at Wukapoague & seven acres of land in ye wood close at Little Worth alias called Lawrence Hill all which lands & meadows I do hereby give grant & confirm unto ye sd In° Howell to have & to hold to him & his heirs forever -- Provided always yt ye sd Jno. Howell do relinquish all pretended title & right yt. he may or can claim any manner of ways unto that twelve acres of land with ye house housing or fenc- ing thereupon now possessed by my son Nathaniel as also ye three acres at Wukapoague & ye seven acres of land at Lawrence Hill as is above sd which and if ye sd John Howell doth not condescend unto these my will is that ye sd Jno. Howell shall pay unto his second brother Stephen Howell ye sum of two hundred pounds in current money for consider- ation of ye above twelve acres of land with housing & fence thereon now possessed by my son Nathaniel as also if he does not relinquish ye seven acres of land at Lawrence Hill to his third brother Henry then & in that case I do will John Howell to pay to his brother Henry fifty pounds-
3-I do give & bequeath unto Stephen Howell my grandchild that twelve acres of land yt. my son Nathaniel Howell now possesses with all housing & fencing thereon which I do confirm to him to have & to hold to him & his heirs forever --
4-Item-I do give & bequeath unto Henry Howell my grandchild all yt seven acres land at
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Early Long Island Wills.
Lawrence Hill with seven acres land adjoining to it at ye East side of Lawrence Hill as also four acres & a half of land adjoining to his brother Jno's home lot all which land & fencing belonging thereunto I do confirm unto ye said Henry to have & to hold to him & his heirs for ever-
5-Item-I do give & bequeath unto my second son Matthew all ye close at ye head of ye creek Westward of ye great plain whereof he now pos- sesses ye one half as also one hundred & fiftieth allotment which I had in Ogdens Neck which he has now changed & laid in Quagua Neck as also one half of that land bought of John Kerby near or at Middletown in Connecticut with his brother Theoph- ilus ye other half as also my twenty acres more or less at Scuttlehole as also two acres of land in ye ten acre lots in ye plain as also a fiftieth of Southampton commonage as also all lands I formerly gave him & meadows yt he now possesses all which I do give & grant unto him to have & to hold to him & his heirs forever-
6-I do give & bequeath unto Abraham Howell my third son all ye land y' his now dwelling house stands on being nine acres more or less as also ye equal half of all my right of land at Wakapogue excepting fifteen acres willed to my son Nathaniel out of ye whole as also twenty acres of land in ye wood close yt. he now possesseth as also one hun- dred and fifty lotment of meadow I had of Smith at Shinacocke as also a fifty meadow joining to it East-
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 133
ward with Isaac Wilman with a fiftieth of S. hampton commonage all which lands & meadow I do give & grant unto him to have & to hold to him & his heirs forever-
7-I do give & bequeath unto my fourth son Ephraim all that land his now dwelling house stands on being twenty-four acres more or less as also ye equal half of my lands at Wukapogue which his brother Abraham ye other half Reserving & Except- ing out of ye whole fifteen acres of land to my son Nathaniel as also my piece of meadow lying beyond ye long tongue at Shinacocke north of my brother Edwards meadow as also a fiftieth of Meadow in Ogdens Neck as also ten acres of land adjoining to seven acres of land willed to my grandchild Henry Howell at Lawrence Hill with half of my meadow at Occabogue ye other half I have willed to Nathaniel as also a fiftieth of Southampton commonage all which lands & meadows I do give & grant unto my sd son to have & to hold to him & his heirs forever-
8 Item-I do give and bequeath unto my fifth son Theophilus Howell all my right & title of land at Saggabonnet namely that piece of land his now dwel- ling house stands on being nine acres more or less and a fiftieth acre lot he now possesseth there East- ward of Saggabonnet as also twenty acres of land more or less adjoining to his brother in law Henry Piersons land in two places as also one acre of land I had of Jno. Cooper in ye ten acre lot as also a lot of meadow at Smiths meadow as also my lot at Hog-
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Early Long Island Wills.
neck as also my lot of meadow at Potunke as also a fiftie of S'hampton commonage as also ye one half of my land bought of Jno. Kerby near or at Middletown in Connecticutt river with his brother Matthew ye other half all which lands & meadows I do give and grant unto my said son to have & to hold to him & to his heirs for ever-
9 Item-I do give and bequeath unto my sixth son Nathaniel my now dwelling house & housing with ye land it stands on less or more as also fifteen acres of land reserved at Wukapogue from Abraham & Ephraim as also my wood close adjoining to his brother Abraham of twelve acres more or less as also nine acres of land in ye little plain adjoining to Jonathan Raynor Westward & John Howell East- ward as also a fiftieth meadow in Ogdens Neck as also two acres meadow in Coopers Neck as also my lot of meadow on ye beach as also ye half of my meadow at Occoboague with his brother Ephraim ye other half as also a fifty of S'hampton commonage provided always that ye said Nathaniel shall relin- quish unto his nephew Stephen Howell all right & title that he can or may any manner of ways claim unto ye house & lot he now possesses all which lands houses & meadows as is above specified I do give & grant unto my sd son with ye proviso foresd to have & to hold to him & his heirs forever --
IO Item-I do give & bequeath unto my five above named sons & Jno. Howell my grandson all that close of Calve Neck to be equally divided
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 135
betwixt them, all which I do give & grant unto them to have & to hold to them & their heirs forever-
11 Item-I do give & bequeath unto my eldest daughter Susannah Pierson one hundred pounds of country pay to her & her heirs she or they allow- ing what she hath already received out of it-
12 Item-I do give & bequeath unto my second daughter Prudence Howell one hundred pounds in Country pay to her & her heirs-
13 Item-I do give & bequeath unto my third daughter Abigail Halsy one hundred pound of coun- try pay to her & her heirs she or they allowing what she hath already received out of it.
14 Item-I do give & bequeath unto my grand- daughter Susannah Howell now with me twenty pounds country pay to her & her heirs-
15 Item-I do give & bequeath to my beloved wife Susannah Howell for her comfortable sustenance & living one third part of all my moveables goods & chattels reserving unto her also during her natural life one third part of all my lands yt. I have be- queathed as above notwithstanding my above grants as also reserving unto her during her natural life my now dwelling house & garden all which third part of moveables & land as above I give & grant unto her.
16 Item-Lastly I do make my beloved wife Susannah Howell & my second son Matthew Howell sole & joint Executors of this my last will &
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Early Long Island Wills.
testamt. to see it Executed in every part & point thereof as witness my hand & seal day year & place aforesª
JOHN HOWELL [Seal] Signed & sealed in presence of JOHN JEFFREY JOSEPH PIERSON MANASSES KEMPTON JNO. CAMPBELL
Paid to Col Pierson in severals as may appear upon ye book ye sum of £75. 145 o as part of his wifes portion John Howell-Know all men by these presents that I Henry Pierson of ye town of South- ampton in ye County of Suffolk & Province of New York Gent-have received & had ye day of ye making of these presents of Mrs. Susannah Howell & Matthew Howell Executors of ye last Will of Maj John Howell deceased ye sum of twenty four pounds six shillings in country pay with ye sum of seventy five pounds fourteen shillings formerly received and endorsed on said Will in full paymt. of one hundred pounds in like current pay given & bequeathed unto my wife by ye said John Howell her honored Father in his sd testamt. yt. which said sum of one hundred pound in full paymt. & satisfaction of all bequests & legacies to my sd wife Susannah & me given in ye sd testamt. I acknowledge myself fully satisfied contented & paid-
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 137
In Witness whereof I have set to my hand & seal in Southampton aforesd this 17th day of March Anno Dom. 1695.
HENRY PIERSON [Seal]
Signed & sealed in presence of us ABRAHAM HOWELL PRUDENCE HOWELL
Paid to M' Isaac Halsy ye sum of seventy one pound five shillings in severals as may appear by acct. as part of his wifes portion-John Howell- Know all men by these presents that I Isaac Halsy of ye town of Southampton in ye County of Suffolk & Province of N. York yeoman have received & had ye day of ye making of these presents of Mrs. Susannah Howell & Matthew Howell Executors of ye last Will & testamt. of Maj' John Howell ye sum of twenty one pound five shillings with ye sum of seventy eight pound fifteen shillings formerly received & endorsed on said Will in full paymt. of one hundred pound in current pay given & bequeathed unto my wife Abigail deceased by ye sd John Howell her honored Father in his sd testamt. ye which sd sum of one hundred pound in full paymt. & satisfaction of all bequests & legacies to her ye sd Abigail my wife given in ye sd testamt I acknowledge myself fully satisfied contented & paid-
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Early Long Island Wills.
In witness whereof I have set to my hand & seal in Southampton aforesd ye 12th day of May Anno Dom 169
ISAAC HALSEY [Seal]
Signed & sealed in presence of us NATHANIEL HOWELL MANASSES KEMPTON
Obit. Nov. 3 1696
By ye tenor of these presents Know ye yt. on ye first day of Dec. 1696 at ye Manor of St. Georges before Coll. IT" Smith Judge of ye Prerogative in ye County of Suffolk was proved & approved ye last testamt. of ye sd John Howell deceased (prout ante).
Know all men by these presents yt I Prudence Howell of ye town of Southampton in ye County of Suffolk & Province of N. York have received & had ye day of ye making of these presents of my honored mother & my brother Matthew Howell Executors of ye last Will & testamt. of my honored father John Howell deceased ye sum one hundred pound in cur- rent pay given & bequeathed unto me sd Prudence Howell by my sd. Father in his sd testamt. which said sum of one hundred pound in full payment & satisfaction of all bequests & legacies to me given in ye sd testamt. I acknowledge myself fully satisfied contented & paid-
In Witness whereof I have set to my hand & seal
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 139
in Southampton this 21 day of May Anno Dom 1697.
PRUDENCE HOWELL [Seal]
Signed sealed & delivered in presence of us JOSEPH FORDHAM
THEOPHILUS HOWELL
Know all men by these presents yt. we namely Job Sayre & Susannah Sayre of ye town of South- ampton in ye County of Suffolk & Province of New York have received & had ye day of ye making of these presents of our honored grandmother & Matthew Howell Executors of ye last Will & Testamt. of our honored grandfather John Howell deceased ye sum of twenty pound in current pay given & bequeathed unto her ye sd Susannah by her sd. grandfather in his sd testamt. which sd sum of twenty pound in full paymt. & satisfaction of all bequests & legacies to her given in sd testamt. We the sd Job Sayre & Susannah Sayre acknowledge ourselves fully satisfied contented & paid-
In Witness whereof have set to our hands & seals in Southampton aforesd this 27 day of December Anno Dom. 1697
JOB SAYRE [Seal] SUSANNAH SAYRE [Seal]
Signed sealed & delivered in presence of us NATHANIEL HOWELL JOANNAH COOPER
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Early Long Island Wills.
In ye name of God Amen-This 25th day of Sept. in ye year of our Lord Christ 1696 I William Wells 5° of ye town of S"hold in ye County of Suffolk in ye Province of N. York in America Yeoman being sick in body but sound in mind thanks to Almighty God therefor and calling to mind ye uncertainty of this transitory life do make constitute ordain & appoint this to be my last Will & testamt. hereby utterly revoking disannulling & making void all & all manner of wills and testamts. w'soever heretofore by me had made published & declared & that this only & none other shall be taken deemed or reputed for my last Will and testamt. in manner & form follow- ing-
Imprimis-I bequeath my soul to Almighty God from whence it came and my body to ye Earth to be decently interred according to my degree & quality by my Executrix hereafter named-
Item : 1 give & bequeath to my eldest son William ye farm I now dwell on called Quashnecke with all ye houses after my wifes interest in ye dwelling house is Expired gardens orchards lands meadows feedings pastures & appurtenances w'soever there- unto belonging as likewise my neck of land com- monly called little hog neck with half my meadow of Creek thatch adjoining to Pulls neck and also all my meadow situate & being on ye south side of Aqua-
60 William Wells was eldest son of William Wells, one of the first and most prominent settlers. He was born 1659. His wife, Elizabeth Tuthill, survived him and married John Goldsmith.
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 141
bogue River to have & to hold all ye sd houses gardens orchards lands & meadows to ye only use & behoof of my eldest son William & the issue of his body lawfully begotten forever-
Item-I give & bequeath to my second son John Wells all my three lots of upland & meadow that lies within ye north side new division within ye bounds of ye old town as also half my meadow lying & being at Kachogue Great Meadow & half my meadow of Creek thatch adjoining to Bulls' neck and also half my meadow of Creek thatch y' was laid out to me in ye last division y' was in S'hold situate & being near Pulle's neck aforesd To Have & to hold all ye said lands & meadows with all & every their appurte- nances & priveleges to ye only use & behoof of my sd son John & ye issue of his body lawfully begotten forever-
Item-I give & bequeath to my third son Henry all ye residue of my town accomodations not before bequeathed with ye other half of my meadow of Creek thatch laid out to me in ye last division situate & being near Pull's neck as also one lot of undivided common & ye other half of my meadow lying & being in Kachogue great meadow to have & to hold ye sd lands & meadow with their & every of ye priveleges & appurtenances to ye only use & behoof of my said son Henry and ye issue of his body lawfully begotten forever, and also my meadow commonly called Ketchu meadow to my sd son Henry & ye issue of his body lawfully begotten for ever --
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Item-I give to my daughter Mary twelve pounds current pay of this Province to be paid unto her ye sª Mary when she shall come to lawful age or be married, by my eldest son William or his heirs out of ye produce of ye lands & meadows before given & bequeathed to him ye said William Wells-
Item-I give & bequeath to my daughter Mary when she shall come to lawful age or be married ye sum of eight pounds of ye like current pay to be paid to her ye sd. Mary by my second son Henry or his heirs out of ye produce of ye lands & meadows before given & bequeathed to my sª son Henry Wells -I give to my well beloved wife ye full use of my now dwelling house with all ye priveleges there- unto belonging for her my sd wife Elizabeth quietly & peaceably to enjoy & dwell in during her widow- hood-
Item-I give to my well beloved wife Elizabeth all my moveables both within doors & without and also all my stock of horse kind cattle sheep & swine to ye only use & behoof of my sd wife Elizabeth so long as she shall live a widow but in case she shall marry then I give ye one half of ye said moveables & stock to my s wife Elizabeth forever, and ye other half of ye said moveables & stock to my three sons to be equally divided among them forever --
Lastly-of this my last Will & Testamt. I do appoint & ordain my well beloved wife Elizabeth to be Executrix & my son William to be Executor --
In Witness whereof I have published & declared
Suffolk County, 1691-1703. 143
this to be my last will & testamt. and have thereunto set my hand & fixed my seal in my dwelling house on my farm of Quashnecke ye day & year above written-
WILLIAM WELLS [Seal]
Signed sealed published & declared to be ye last Will & testamt. of W" Wells above mentioned in presence of
SAMEL WINES WILLIAM WHITEHAIR DELIVERANCE WHITEHAIR
By ye tenor of these presents Know ye that on ye Igth day of January 1695 at ye Manor of St. Georges in ye County of Suffolk before ye honable Col. WVm Smith Judge of ye Prerogative Court in ye sd County was proved and approved ye last will & testamt. of ye sd William Wells deceased at S'hold on ye 17th day of October 1696 who by his sd last Will did nominate & appoint Elizabeth his wife his Executrix to whose care & trust was committed ye administration of all & singular ye goods chattels & credits of ye sd deceased to Execute & perform her duty herein according to law &c.
In ye name of God Amen-ye 12th day of January Anno Dom 1695 & in ye 9th year of our Sovereign Lord William by ye grace of God of England &c
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Early Long Island Wills.
King I Phebe Plat s of Huntington in ye County of Suffolk widow being weak of body but of perfect memory do make this my last Will & testamt, in manner & form following that is to say :
First-I bequeath my soul & spirit into ye hands of Almighty God my heavenly father by whom of his mere & only grace I trust to be saved & received into eternal rest through ye death of my Saviour & redeemer Jesus Christ in whose precious blood 1 set ye whole & only hope of my salvation my wretched body in hope of a joyful resurrection I commit to ye Earth to be buried with such charges & in such place as my Executor hereafter named shall think good-And touching ye disposition of my mortal goods I dispose of ye same as followeth : first I will yt all such debts as I owe shall be truly paid-
Item : I give & bequeath to my well beloved son Epenetus Plat one of those three bibles which were left by his grandfather Plat-
Item : 1 give & bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Phebe Tredwell my own bible she already (with what was given her at marriage & by her fathers will) having a double portion & more ---
" Phebe Platt was daughter of Jonas Wood, and married Epenetus Platt in 1667. Their children were, Phebe, born March 19, 1669, mar- red John Tredwell ; Mary, born January 11, 1672, married Timothy Tredwell ; Epenetus, born April 4. 1674 ; Hannah, born August 23, 1679 ; Elizabeth, born March 1, 1682, married Jonathan Smith : Jonas, born April 24, 1684 ; " Drowned at Amboy in the Jerseys, March 25, 1731." Jeremiah, born November 25, 1686 ; Ruth, born June 13, 1638, and Sarah, born February 4. 1692.
Suffolk County, 1691-1793. 145
Item : I give & bequeath to my well beloved daughter Mary all my child bed linning mantles my muffs-
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