Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records
(Hartford District),
Charles W. Mainwaring,
Hartford, 1902,
Vol 3, 220-221
ARNOLD, Samuel, East Haddam. Invt. £441-06-00. Taken 27 Apr 1739, by Joshua BRAINARD, Henry CHAPMAN and Noadiah BRAINARD. Will dated 3 November, 1738.
I, Samuel ARNOLD of East Haddam, husbandman, do make this my last will and testament: I give unto my beloved wife Abigail 1-3 part of my moveable estate (excepting my negro slaves), to here, her heirs and assigns forever, and also the use of 1-3 part of my lands, house, barn, orchard, and other commodity appertaining to my sd. land, to use and improve during her natural life. I give to my son Samuel ARNOLD one lot of land lying in the 3rd division of land in East Haddam, 43 1-2 acres more or less, north on the land of Sergt. Samuel ANDREWS, and east and west on highways or commons, and south on a highway to him, his heirs and assigns forever, as his or their own proper inheritance in fee simple, and also my negro man servant named PRINCE, ye 5th son of my eldest man servant named PRINCE and of CATE his wife, and also my will is that the aforesiad servant shall at my decease be in the hands of my executors and by them to be put in the hands of my son Samuel if they hall judge it best for him to have the sd. servant; but if my sd. executors shall judge it best to sell the sd. servant and my sd. son to have ye money, then my will is that my executors shall sell my sd. servant in the following manner, viz.: to such a suitable master as will give most for my sd. servant, and to pay £10 a year annually until the payment be out; and also my will is that my sd son shall have the money according to the foregoing proposal of payment, provided my sd. servant shall not be sold to any master living out of this town; and also £100 to be paid to him by my two sons, viz., Josiah and John, and in the following manner, viz. tha Josiah ARNOLD shall pay unto his brother Samuel ARNOLD £3 a year annually for the spac eof 30 years next after my decease, and John ARNOLD shall pay unto his brother Samuel ARNOLD 40 shillings a year for the space of 20 years next after my decease. I give unto my son Joseph ARNOLD 1 lott of land in the fourth division of land in East Haddam joining land of Sergt. Samuel ACKLEY, containing about 60 acres be it more or less; and also 20 acres of of two lotts of land in the 5th and 8th divisions, to him and his heirs forever; and also my negro man servant named SAMPSON. I give unto my son Enoch ARNOLD 120 acres of land laid out to me in the 5th and 8th division, to him, his heirs and assigns in fee simple; and also my negro man servant called Ceaser. And further, my will is that my son Enoch shall have his 120 acres where it shall best suit him in the sd. two division lotts. I give to my son Josiah ARNOLD my dwelling house and homelott, with all the fences, orcharding, building or other appurtenances thereto belonging; and also 1 small peice of land lying in the 6th division, containing about 4 1-2 acres, lying west of the great highway; and also the west half of a small lott lying in the 2nd division; and also 4 negro servants, viz., my eldest man servant named PRINCE and CATE his wife, and my man servant named JAPHET and my woman servant named ROSE. And further, my will is that my sd. son Josiah shall pay unto my son Samuel £3 a year for the space of 20 years after my decease, and also £5 a year for the space of 20 years annually after my decease to my daughter Mary BATES. I give to my son John ARNOLD 1 certain lott or tract of land lying partly on the hill callled Bold Hill, being by estimation 40 acres be it more or less, and also the east half of a small lott lying in the 2nd division, to him and his heirs forever; and also my negro man servant named Peter. And further, my will is that my son John ARNOLD shall pay unto my son Samuel ARNOLD 40 shillings a year annually for the space of 20 years after my decease. I give to my daughter Mary BATES 6 1-2 acres of land butting west on the Connecticut River, south on the land of Jabez CHAPMAN, east on a ledge of rocks, bieng half of a certain tract of land laid out to me in the 6th division of land in East Haddam; and also £100 in money or bills of public credit, to be paid to her £5 a year annually, for the space of 20 years after my decease, by my son Josiah ARNOLD. I give unto my daughter Abigail ARNOLD 6 1-2 acres of land butting west on Connecticut River, south on land above given to Mary BATES, east on the great rock and north on the commons, being 1-2 of a certain tract of land laid out to me in the 6th division of land in East Haddam. I give to my sd. daughter Abigail my negro maid servant named LOIS. I give my right in the undivided land, also the rest of my moveable estate to be equally divided among my children. I appoint Ensign Daniel CONE and Sergt. Bezeleel BRAINARD, both of East Haddam, executors.
Witness: Noadiah BRAINARD Samuel X ARNOLD, L.S.
Henry CHAPMAN
Thomas SMITH
Court Record, Page 49 -- 1st May 1739: Will proven. The executors refused the trust and were apointed Adms. with the will annexed.
Page 57 -- 4 December 1739: The executors exhibit an account which is accepted.
Page 57 -- 4 December 1739: John ARNOLD, age 18 years, and Abigail ARNOLD, age 14 years, chose their mother to be their guardian. Recog.., £400.