USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > Downingtown > History of Downingtown, Chester County, Pa > Part 3
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After he retired from the public service he, with his brothers, engaged largely in agricultural pursuits, and were much interested in fine stock, especially sheep. Joshua Hunt, after the ancestor, Roger Hunt, the most distinguished of his family, died at the family mansion on March 3rd, 1857, aged 72 years. The only descendants of his name are engaged in the manufacture of iron, and so have been occupied for many years at Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. They are the descendants of Thomas Hunt, Joshua's younger brother. Joshua was never married.
The first petitioner for license at Downingtown was Abel Parke,
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in 1735, which petition was as follows :
To His Majesties. Justices of the Peace at the Court of General Quarter Sessions held at Chester the 26 day ot August, 1735 .-
THE PETITION OF ABEL PARKE
Humbly Sheweth
That your Petitioner being seated on the Great Road which leads from Philadelphia to Lancaster in the Township of Caln whose daly Reports many Travelers passing forward and backward about their lawfule occasions, and particularly many of the Dutch Inhabitint Lancaster County who fro2 nently travel all the Sumer Season with their Waggons who have been and still are very troublesom to your Petitioner, upon Sundry ocasions and have often entreated your Petitioner to apply for a Lyence to keep a Public House of Entertainment where he now dwells, there being very good Conveniences for them and other Travelers. Whereupon your Petitioner Humbly prays this Honorable Court that you will be pleased to grant your Petitioner a Lyence to Sell Beer & Syder, and your Petitioner as in Duty Bound Shall pray. .....
ABEL PARKE.
We the undernamed, do hereby certifie to the Court that we believe the above Petitioner to be a Suitable person for the above said Imployment and do well know-that he hath good Conveniences, Therefore we pray that you will be pleased to Grant him a Lyence accordingly.
James Jefferis Nathaniel Kerr
Joseph Townsend
Francis Swayne Jason Cloud
Robert Miller
James Mather
Samuel Phipps Aaron Mendenhall
George Willkin Moses Wait Samuel James
Thomas Tempel Moses Wait, Jr.
Lewelin Parry
John Morgan John Jackson
Phinehas Lewis
Nathan Worley
Daniel Hoopes
Jacob Vernon, Jr.
William Pimm Joshua Hoopes
Patrick Miller Cald'r Evans
The license continued in the possession of Abel Parke until 1740: the license was then disallowed. ' In 1745 a petition was presented to the Court. as follows :
TO THE COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS held and kept at Chester the 27th day of August. 1745.
THE PETITION OF ABEL PARKE Humb'y Sheweth :
That your petitioner being well Situated on the Road from Philadelphia to Lancaster & having formerly obtained your Recommendation to the Gov- ernor for the keeping a house of Entertainment, in which business he gave general Satisfaction to travellers, he having the Same Conveniences as for- merly & a public house being very much wanted where your Petitioner dwells it being the right stage or Half Way house from Philadelphia to Lancaster. Your Petitioner therefore Humbly prays that you will be pleased once more to grant his your Recommendation to the Governor for the kepping a house of Entertainment & your petitioner as in duty bound shall pray &c .....
ABEL PARKE.
We whose names are hereunto Subscribed do Certify that the above Petitioner being well seated & having good Convenienys for the keeping a house of Entertainment & he & his wife having here- tofore approved themselves in the like business to General Satisfac- tion of Travellers. We therefore pray that you will be pleased to
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grant him your Recommendation to the Governor, which we hope may be of benefit to your petitioner & the publick.
Jesse Woodward
Joshua Roman Caleb Way
Joseph Bishop
Isaac Wilkersham
Jer. Stahr
Charles Reese
Edw. Thompson
Adam McCoull
Francis Long
Andrew Cox
John McDermod
Jos. Long
James Way
Thos. Temple
Tamey Scott
Francis Swan
John McFarland
James Carlile
William Dunn
James Trimble
John Erwin
James Charles
James McFarlan
Robert Stinson
William Sinkler
Moses Waite, Jr.
Thos. Hudson Win. Low
Wm. Harlan
William Criswell
Roger Hunt
John Wyeth
William Caunthires
John Jackson
Isaac Whitelock
Andrew Donaldson
Robt. Valentine
Thomas Liget
Samuel Carrell
Evan Hughes
John H. Ewing
Jacen Cloud
Joseph Bourgoin
Thomas Price
Benj. Hawley
Thomas Morris
Llewelin Parry
John Murphey
Thomas Paine
John Hunter
Joseph Roman Thos. Grubb
In 1746 Thomas Parke, the brother of Abel Parke, presented this petition to the Court of Quarter Sessions of Chester County : TO THE COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS held & kept at Chester the 26th day of the 6th Month, 1746.
The petition of Thomas Parke of the Township of East Caln Humbly Sheweth :
That your petitioner having purchased the house and part of the planta- tion whereon his brother Abel Parke lately dwelt, which place is known to be very Suitable for the keeping a house of Entertainment, being well Ac- comodated with water, pasture, & good Meadowing as also a good Stage as to distance, your petitioner therefore prays that you will please to grant him your Recommendation to the Governor for the keeping a house of Entertain- ment. & your petitioner as in Duty bound will gratefully acknowledge the Same. .
THOS. PARKE.
We whose names are hereunto Subscribed, Inhabitants of the County of Lancaster & Chester, having most of us Some knowledge of the above petitioner, do believe him to be a sober, Orderly person & may as far as we know be well qualified for the keeping a house of Entertainment,- We, therefore pray that you would please to Recommend him to the Governor for the keeping a house of Enter- tainment. which we believe may be of Service to the publick.
Mat. Atkinson James Parry John Wall
Jno. Hannum James Way Thos Mckean
Robert Miller Tho. Downing
H. M. Hockley
Phinehas Lowry
Richard TAwning Jas. Mather
Thos. Pim William Downing
J. W. Mather
A. P. White Joshua Baldwin John Owen
Which petition was duly granted and he continued to keep this hotel until his death in 1758, when his widow, Jane Parke, succeeded in the business and continued it until 1763, when she married James Webb. Thomas Parke, this petitioner, was a man
Thomas Clarke
Frances Hickman
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of extensive acquaintance ; large influence in the community, and his friendships extended as far as the Township of New Garden, where in 1741 he attended the wedding of Jeremiah Starr and Ann Jackson, at the Friends' Meeting House in New Garden, and was one of the signers of the certificate.
In 1759 Jane Parke filed, in the Court of Quarter Sessions, at Chester. the following petition :
TO THE HONOURABLE THE JUSTICES AT THE GENERAL COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS held at CHESTER FOR THE COUNTY OF CHESTER the 8th DAY OF AUGUST, 1759.
The PETITION OF JANE PARKE OF EAST CALN IN SD. COUNTY HUMBLY SHEWETH-
That your Petitioner's late Husband Thomas Parke Deccased, was for Several Years Past favored with your Recommendation to the Governor for his licence to keep a Publick House of Entertainment in Sd. Township, an:i your Petitioner having carried on Said business by Virtue of said licence ( Which is now near expiring ) During which time your Petitioner Hopes She hath given General Satisfaction. Therefore your Petitioner Prays that you would grant her a Recommendation to the Governor for his lycence to Sell Liquors the Ensuing year, and your Petitioner as in Duty bound Shall thankfully Acknowledge the Same.
JANE PARKE.
We. the Subscribers, being well Acquainted with the Above Petitioner, do hereby Recommend her as a Person Well Qualified to keep a Publick House of Entertainment and do Desire that you may Grant her Request :
Thos. Pim Richard Downing Phinchas Lewis
Thomas Downing Roger Hunt Richard Pim
john Clark rented this Tavern, and succeeded Jane Parke, who had become Jane . Webb, as landlord. In the petition the next year for a License the name of "The Ship" first appears. Isaac Webb was the landlord from 1766 to 1771, when Robert Parke, eldest son of Thomas and Jane, having Married Ann Edd, and attained his majority, took charge of the tavern. Jonathan Valentine, whose mother was a sister to Abel and Thomas Parke, came next in line in 1774, and appears to have continued there as landlord until 1788. During the Revolutionary War and a few years later the Records are somewhat deficient or have been lost. John Harley was the landlord at "The Ship" from 1792 to 1795. About the year 1795 "The Ship" was discontinued as a tavern. In 1761 John Downing presented the Court of Quarter Sessions at Chester the following petition :
TO THE HONOURABLE JUSTICES at the Court of Quarter Sessions to be held at Chester in August Term 1761.
THE PETITION OF JOHN DOWNING HUMBLY SHEWETH
That your Petitioner Hath Erected a building which may be Soon Fin- ished, and is very Conveniently Simated for a House of Publick Entertain- ment, on the East Side of Brandiwine Creek in East Caln Township where the Road toward Unchlan Branches out of Lancaster Road, and Where a good Tavern is much Wanted en many Ocasions, Especially at times of
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freshes in the Said Creek. Your Petitioner Therefore Humbly Desires that you may be pleased to Recommend him to his Honour the Governor for his Licence for the Keeping a Tavern at the Place aforesaid and your Petitioner as in Duty Bound shall ever Pray, &c.
JOHN DOWNING.
We, the Subscribers, being well acquainted with the above- named Petitioner and the situation of his building, do give it as our Opinion that he is a Suitable person, and the Place Conveniently Situated to be of Service to the Publick, if the Court Please to Grant his Petition :
Thomas Downing Jeremiah Poirsol
John Boogs Miller
Jason Cloud
Joseph Cloud, Junior
Robert Lockart
Joseph Downing
Samuel Hughs
Henry Jones
Samuel Bond
William Graham
Robert M. Connahee
Noble Butler
John Campbell
James McCorkry
Denis Whelen
William Trego
James Scott
G. Aston James Anderson
Sam'l Mackelduff
Phinehas Eachus
Robert Eachus
Robt. Brown
Joseph Cloud
Andrew Elliot
Samuel Caithess
John Perfall, Senior
Win. Roberts
Joseph Parke
Joseph Darlinton
Thomas Goon
John Baldwin
Joseph Gibson
Phinehas Lewis
Michael Graham
Richard Downing
John Downing remained at this Tavern until 1771, when Richard Cheyney became the Landlord, and in the following year the name of "King in Arms" appeared for the house. Richard was there in 1776, and for the subsequent years the Record is deficient or has been lost. Thomas Downing was there in 1780, and in 1786 he was succeeded by Hunt Downing, son of John Downing, and the said Hunt Downing presented to the Court the following petition : TO THE HONOURABLE THE JUSTICES OF THE COURT OF GEN- ERAL QUARTER SESSIONS TO BE HELD AT CHESTER FOR THE COUNTY OF CHESTER THE 30TH DAY OF MAY, 1786. THE PETITION OF THE SUBSCRIBER OF THE TOWNSHIP OF EAST CALN IN SAID COUNTY :- RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH
That your Petitioner now occupies the Public Inn by Downings-Town in the Township aforesaid lately kept by Thomas Downing and hath provided himself with every necessary for the accommodation of Travellers and others, and Requests the Court will be pleased to Recommend him to the Supreme Executive Council for their licence to Sell Rum, Wine, Brandy and other Spirituous Liquors by small Measure, the coming year ......
AND YOUR PETITIONER SHALL PRAY,
HUNT DOWNING.
We whose names are hereunto Subscribed do Recommend the above Petitioner as a Suitable person to keep a Public Inn and Request the Prayer of his petition may be Granted : Samuel Bond
Richard Downing John Edge
Caleb Baldwin Samuel Hunt
Mankin James Joseph Bond
Jos. A. Weaver
Joseph Downing
John Whitaker
John Heatley
John Perfall, Junior
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James Batten
John Whitaker John Hughs isaac Webb Abiah Parke
Hunt Downing was the landlord there in 1800, and is said to have continued in that capacity until 1816. John Edge obtained license for the "Half Way House" in 1790, for which license he filed the following petition :
To the Justices of the Court of Quarter Sessions held at West Chester for the County of Chester the 30th day of August A. D. 1790.
The petition of John Edge of East Caln Township in said County Together with a number of the inhabitants of said Township & County Re- spectfully Sheweth,
That your Petitioner (John Edge) Having for a Number of Years fol- lowed the Business of store keeping in a large Commodious House, nearly opposite Rich'd Downing's Mill in Downings Town, on the Great Road from Lancaster to Phila., and nearly where the road from Harrisburg intersects . the same and Crosses to West Chester, But finding ye Business of store- keeping (since the late Custom of Tavern keepers opening store has Taken place) is by no means sufficient to raise and support his family according to their former and usual Custom.
Hope therefore you will be pleased to recommend him to the Executive Council as a proper person to keep a publick house of Entertainment, his situation, Building, &ca. being very suitable for that purpose to serve the publick with satisfaction, and advantage to himself: And yr petitioner as in Duty bound shall respectfully acknowledge the same.
John Hughs John Christic Sam'l Cuningham
John Baldwin William Trimble, Jr. Isaac Pim
Joseph Webb Samuel Bond Rob't Valentine
Samuel Wilson Joseph Downing Griffith Mendenhall
Jacob Fisler
lohn Edge
Rich'd Robinson
Rob't Miller
Rich'd Jacobs ʻ
Wm. Berry
Thos. Worth James Webb
James Guthrie
Mordecai Cloud Rich'd Downing, Jr.
About the same time in 1790, the following paper was filed :
To the Honorable Court of Quarter Sessions to be held at West Chester for the County of Chester August Term 1790.
The Petition of the Subscribers respectfully sheweth :- .
That your petitioners with : concern perceive serions attempts made by John Edge, evinced by his determination to present a petition to You for the purpose of suppressing a store lately set up by Hunt Downing for the vending of Merchandize, the moderate prices which We receive goods at present to what we did prior to the Erection of a store by s'd Downing, clearly evince the utility of Two stores to the Neighbourhood, rendering the prices of goods less fluctuating. and precluding Extortion, To a Neighbourhood so remote from Market, Dependent only on stores in the Country for a Regular supply of goods. We firmly Trust Your Honors will not by any interference make it necessary that the interest and convenience of your Petitioners should be rendered subservient to that of an Individual. We are now aware that the Risible Pretext of Procuring License for keeping a Publick House is brought forward as an Auxiliary to Effect his purposes, but We feel a Confidence bordering on a Moral certainty that were not the least Posible Necessity can or doth Exist to add to the Accommodation Of the Publick, as the Pub- lick Honses already in the Neighbourhood are amply sufficient, To Wit, Down- ing's. Webbs, widow Philip's and Cunninghams, Your Honors will not be
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accessary to a Sacrifice Of our Interest or convenience, nor add to the excite- ments (Already Too redundant) of the Immoderate Drinker by Licensing a Supernumerary Tavern.
Isaac Whelen George Valentine
Isaac McFarlan
Sm. Downing
Jonathan Coope
James Webb
Joseph Downing
Denis Whelen
Rich'd Downing, Jr.
Caleb Baldwin
Samuel Hunt
Rob't Valentine
Enoch Pearson
John Robinson
John Pim
Aaron Palmer
John M'Cormick
Jesse Jones
Jacob Fisler
John Whitaker
Wni. Coates
Joseph Bond
John Hughs
Joseph Downing
Mankin James
Samuel Bond
Jacob Swayn
Charles Wollerton
Benjamin Few
John Jacobs Joseph Downing, Jr.
And notwithstanding its terms and allegations and its manifes- tations of local statesmanship and neighborhood diplomacy, the petition of John Edge was granted.
In 1796 his daughter, Sarah Rees, succeeded to a licence for the "Half Way House," which had been obtained by her father, John Edge, in 1790.
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MILL OF REVOLUTIONARY DAYS. STILL RUNNING.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LINUX AND TILDEN FOUNDA TIONS
Chapter 3
Thomas Moore-Thomas Downing's Will-Downing- town in the Revolution-Early Roads and the Lan- caster Avenue Bridge-The Old Stage Coach
Early in the Eighteenth ( 18) th Century Thomas Moore was the owner of three tracts of land in the southern part of Caln Township, which Township at that time extended as far north as Nantmeal and as far west as Lancaster County. East of the Brandywine on one of these tracts in 1716 a "Water Corn Mill" was erected by Thomas Moore. This Mill became well known in all parts of Chester County, and its location gave the name of Milltown to the Hamlet. At that time there were but few buildings at that locality or near that locality. The log house which stands immediately North of the Bridge over the east branch of the Brandywine, is probably the oldest house in Downingtown, and Squire Joseph H. Johnson in his sketch of the Borough, is correct, when he styles it "Where Downingtown started." Some of the people believe that the Hunt Mansion was built earlier than the log house, but the writer is inclined to believe otherwise.
Thomas Moore died in 1738, and the mill and the several tracts of land became the property of John Taylor, who in 1739 conveyed five hundred and sixty-one (561) acres North of the Philadelphia Road to Thomas Downing, and in 1747 conveyed a saw mill and lot of two and a half acres south of the Philadelphia Road to the aforesaid Thomas Downing. Jonathan Parke, who had married Deborah Taylor, purchased in 1747 two hundred and thirty-three acres from John Taylor, which tract was located south of the Philadelphia and Lancaster Road. In the succeeding years, a hemp. mill, a fulling mill and several other mills of an industrial character were added, and thus its name was greatly strengthened. In its development the Downing family was prominent, and Thomas Downing, whom we have just mentioned, provided in his last will as follows :
Thomas Downing Will.
I, Thomas Downing of the township of east Caln in the County of Chester and province of Pennsylvania
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yeoman being in good health and of sound and well disposing mind and memory (thanks be humbly offered to God for the same with all others his manifold favors bestowed upon mie) and being mindful of my mortality and willing to settle that worldly estate where with it has pleased God to bless me. Do make and ordain this present writing my last will and testament in manner and form following. First my will is that all my just
debts and funeral charges be paid and discharged as soon as convemently may
be after my Deccase. And I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Jane
Downing Thirty two pounds a year to be paid out of my estate yearly an.] every year during her widdowhood together with eight pounds a year which she is Intitled to out of her former husbands Estate together with her mare and the mares colt a chase and the harness thereunto belonging and all the goods and chattles which she brought to me at the time of our marriage to
my mansion house, two above and two below stairs and make use of all my said loving wife Jane Downing shall have the four rooms in the west end of hold to her hicirs and assigns forever. And I order and it is my will that my
furniture that is in the said rooms and the appurtencences thereunto belonging
found and kept for her and a compleat chair horse to be kept and briddled for a garden near to her dwelling place aforesaid, and to have a good cow ful for her likewise the use of the water and a convenient piece of ground together with the use of the kitchen and cellar and what more may be need-
and saddled or harnassed as often and when she may desire it and cut and bring firewood for her to the Rooms afforesaid during her widdowhood and residence with him my son Joseph Downing and if she should chose to live at my son Richard Downing she shall have suitable accomodation as to house room and Joseph to allow Richard what may be reasonable for her trouble there or his share thereof and my said wife shall have free liberty of ingress,
request of me a piece of ground adjoining his house and lot of ground the prejudice either of them, And whereas my son in law Joshua Baldwin did egress and regress at all time into and from the same so as not willfully to
north side of Conestoga Road therefore I give and Divise to the said Joshua Baldwin and to his heirs and assigns forever all that piece of ground lying adjoining the north side of Conestoga road in East Caln aforesaid bounded Easterly by the aforesaid lott of Joshua Baldwin and to extend to my west line and to run parallell with the north side of the said Joshua Baldwins Dwelling house at the distance of twenty-one feet and a half be the same
twenty five pounds and will at all times hereafter keep and maintain a suf- more or less provided he the said Joshua Baldwin pay to my Executors
ficient fence along the north side of said piece of ground. And whereas I have allready Conveyed unto my son William, Downing the dwelling house where he now liveth and the water corn or grist mill and one hundred and fifty acres of land in the township of Bart in the county of Lancaster and took a bond of fifty pounds from him which bond I order my Executors to deliver to my said son William without Money, And whereas I have already by deeds of lease and release bearing date the twentieth day of the fourth Month one thousand seven hundred and fifty six conveyed unto my son John Downing a Messuage tenement and tract of land thereunto belonging contain-
the land which I purchased from John Taylor lying in East Caln aforesaid ing three hundred and twenty six acres of land more or less being part of
excepting the Mill race across the same with a conveniency of land on each side thereof to answer all advantages for the bringing of the water to my grist mill, which is more particularly specified in the deed aforesaid, All which previledges therein reserved, I now give and devise unto my said Son Richard Downing his heirs and assigns forever and I give and devise unto
my son Joseph Downing and to his heirs and assigns forever all that my plantation and tract of land situate in east caln aforesaid, Containing fottr
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hundred and ninety two acres by such metes and bounds as I purchased the same of Samuel Gilpin (excepting that small part thereof which I have given and conveyed to Joshua Baldwin afforesaid). And I likewise give and devise to my said son Joseph Downing and to his heirs and assigns forever the remaining part of eighty Acres of land which I purchased of Noble Butler in East Caln aforesaid supposed to be between fifty & sixty Acres together with all my right of a piece of land lying and being in the township of Uwch'and in the county aforesaid bounded eastwardly by land late of Jolun Jenkins and northwardly by land late of James Thomas and westwardly by land late of Thomas Guest, together with all and singular the right Heredite- ments and appurtenances thereunto Belonging or Appertaining ( Except as before and hereafter excepted). I likewise give unto my son Joseph Downing my impliments of husbandry and all my household goods except my Clock and case which I give and bequeath to my son Richard Downing but re- serving such goods for the use of my said loving wife Jane Downing as before mentioned (to her) during her widdowhood then to descend to said Joseph Downing at her Marriage or Death upon condition that my said son Joseph Downing perform all the injunctions I have herein laid upon him, And I give and devise unto my son in law Samuel Bond and to his heirs and assigns forever all that parcle or tract of land lying and being in the township of Whiteland in the county aforesaid known by the name of Thomas Blan- fords, being on the east side of the welch line adjoining the land of the said Samuel Bond, John Fitzgerald and John Jenkins late of Uwchland deceased be the same more or less, And I give and devise unto my son Richard Down- ing & to his heirs and assigns forever all my water corn or grist mill and Fulling Mill situate in East Caln aforcsaid, with all the buildings, dwelling Houses and Appartenances thereunto belonging or Appertaining and also all that tract and parcel of land whereon the Said mills and buildings stand as the same was surveyed marked and bounded (by one Richard Thomas) and found to contain Two hundred and thirty acres be the same more or less, And I give and Devise unto my said son Richard Downing and to his heirs and assigns forever, all my Sawmill Tract or lott of land Containing about two acres & forty perches, together with one equal undevided Fourth part of my Saw Mill and Hemp Mill in East Caln aforesaid with the Appurtenances thercunto belonging And I give and devise unto my son Joseph Downing and to his heirs and assigns forever one undivided Fourth part of my Saw Mill & Hemp Mill with the Appurtencenes thereunto belonging. And I give & Devise one Equal undivided fourth part of my said Saw Mill & Hemp Mill with the Appurtenances unto my son John Downing and to his heirs & assigns forever And I give and devise one equal undivided fourth part of my said Saw Mill and Hemp Mill to my son in law Samued Bond & to his heirs and assigns forever with the Appurtenances thereunto belonging and moreover it is my will and I order that if any two or three of those to whom the said Saw Mill & Hemp Mill is Devised as aforesaid incline to keep the said Mills in gait or working order he or they shall have free liberty to do the same- in case the other parties decline, Provided Nevertheless that my said sons- nor either of them, their nor either of their heirs or assigns shall not nor will not do or cause to be done any Act or Thing on the Premises that may be Detrimental to any one of them without the consent & approbation of all the parties concerned or to the prejudice or damage of my said son Richard Downing Corn Mill & Fulling Mill aforesaid or to the trade or business of either of them, And Whereas I have by many donations already advanced my daughter Jane the wife of John Roberts I now give and bequeath unto her or her heirs the sum of fifty pounds to be paid by my executors within five years next after my Decease, And Likewise having by many donations advanced my daughter Thomzin Bond deceased late the wife of Samuel Bond
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