Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records
(Hartford District),
Charles W. Manwaring,
Hartford, 1902,
Vol 3, p 248
CORNWELL, Capt. Joseph, Middletown. Invt. £804-03-02. Taken 26 March, 1741, by Nathaniel GILBERT, William ROCKWELL and Jonathan ALLIN. Will dated 22 October, 1740.
I, Joseph CORNWELL of Middletown, in the County of Hartford, do make this my last will and testament: I give to Elizabeth, my wife, all and every part of the estate that did belong to her when I married her, and the equal half of all my household goods that have been added to my estate since our marriage. I also give to her one horse kind, which (of mine) she shall choose, and 1-3 of my stock of neat cattle and sheep, after two oxen, tw 3-year-old heifers and six sheep are taken out of the whole, to be to her, her heirs, and assigns forever. I also give to my wife, for and during the time she shall remain my widow, the liberty of part of my dewelling house, cellar, oven, barn, well and a garden plat, as I have reserved the same for her in my deed of gift to my youngest son Nathaniel CORNWELL. And I do hereby oblige my three sons, JOseph, Daniel and Nathaniel, to find and provide suitable and convenient firewood and bread corne, and both winter and summer keeping sufficient for one horse and one cowe, or for two cows (she shall choose), during the time she remains my widow. I give to my eldest son, Joseph CORNWELL, what I have already given him by deed of gift, and 1-4 part of my right in the land and buildings that did belong to my brother William CORNWELL, and 1-3 part of all my husbandry tools and utensils, and 1-3 part of my horse kind (after my wife has taken one). I give to my 2nd son, Daniel CORNWELL, what I have already given him by deed of gift, and 1-4 part of my right in the lands and buildings that did belong to my brother William CORNWELL, and 1-3 part of all my husbandry tools and utensils, and one 3-year-old heifer (which of mine he shall choose), and 1-3 part of my horse kind (after my wife has taken one). I give to my youngest son, Nathaniel CORNWELL, what I have already given him by deed of gift, and 1-2 of my right in the lands and buildings that did belong to my brother William CORNWELL, and 1-3 part of all my husbandry tools and utensils, and the benefit of the payment that I have made to my brother John CORNWELL and his son John for about 1-2 an acre of land, desireing them to pass a deed thereof to my son Nathaniel. I also give to my sd. son two oxen, 6 sheep (which he shall choose) and one 3-year-old heifer, and all the remainder of my family provisions after enough there of is taken to support my wife and family that shall remain to dwell in my house one whole year. My meaning is, that my swine, corne, cyder, &c., be accounted family provisions, only I reserve so much syder as to pay John KIRBY for 6 black charis which I have agreed with him for my daughter Abigail MILLER. I also give to my son Nathaniel all my money and credit by book, bonds or notes of hand, which is in consideration that I have given hime my dwelling house in which I now dwell, which will in a short time want repairing, and that I do hereby oblige my sd. son to pay all my just debts and funeral charges and provide for my wife a decent mourning gown, scarf and viel, and for my other two sons to each of them a mourning weed, and for my two daughters to each a mourning scarf and veil. I give to my daughter Abigail MILLER, besides what I have already given her, one chest of drawers and a round table which I have paid Waitstill John PLUMB for, and the six black chairs above mentioned, and the equal half of all the household goods that were mine before my last marriage, and 1-4 part of all my household goods that have been added since my last marriage. I also give her 1-3 of all my stock of neat cattle and sheep after the above-mentioned 2 oxen, 2 heifers and 6 sheep are taken out. I give to my daughter Elizabeth BACON, besides what I have already given her, the equal half of all the household goods that were mine before my last marriage, and 1-4 part of all my household goods that have been added since my last marriage. I also give her 1-3 of all my stock of neat cattle and sheep after the above-mentioned 2 oxen, 2 heifers and 6 sheep are taken out. I do give to my three sons all my wearing apparrell. I appoint my youngest son Nathaniel CORNWELL sole executor.
Joseph CORNWELL, L.S.
Witness: Nathaniel BACON,
William WARD 3rd,
William ROCKWELL
Court Record, Page 86 - 7 April, 1741: Will proven.