Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records
(Hartford District),
Charles W. Manwaring,
Hartford, 1902,
Vol 3, p 278
Deacon Samuel HALL, East Middletown. Died 6 Mar 1739-40. Invt. £1707-14-07. Taken by Nathaniel WHITE & Thomas JOHNSON. Will dated Jan 1732.
The last will & testament of Deacon Samuel HALL of East Middletown, in the County of Hartford: Though at present being under bodily illness, yet sound in mind & reason & memory, and calling to mind the mortality of my body, knowing that it is appointed for all once to dye, do therefore in the fear of God appoint and ordain this to be my last will & testament: I give to my wife Elizabeth my dwelling house, orchard & homestead, to be hers during the time she abide my widow, excepting my youngest son Samuel, when he arrives to the suitable discretion, to have the improvement of the 1-2 of the land. To my eldest son John, I give the house that he now dwells in, together with the land appertaining thereunto, and all my land eastwardly adjoining thereunto, thgether with all my meadow land lying south from the path to the river, and 2-3 of my lott of land in the 1-2-mile lottment, and my ploughing land in the common field eastward from the ditch to the river, together with my right of land laid out in the last division of land (excepting 50 acres), and Mr. Farrend's "Comment upon the Revelations." To my third son Isaac I give 40 acres of land adjoining eastwardly of land of John CHURCHILL and westward adjoining land of heirs of Beriah BACON, together with all my swamp and upland on thenorth of my land in the common field. To my 2nd son Thomas I give 3 acres of swamp land lying in a place commonly called by the name of Pasmachaug, adjoining southwardly on my own land, northerly on land given to my son John HALL, together with £78 in mondy. My fourth son Samuel I give about 4 acres in swamp land lying in the common field, adjoining south on Deacon White and west upon land given to Thomas Hall, together with 1-3 part of my lott of land lying in the 1-2-mile lottment, and 16 roods of land in breadth across the north end of my meadow land running from the ditch to the common passing road, together with my house and homestead, to descend to him at the decease of his mother, and also my great Bible. To daughter Elizabeth I give 50 acres of land lying in my lottment in the last division of land, together with all my household goods and stuff and 3 cows. The remainder of my books I give to be equally divided and distributed among all my children respectively. And lastly I do ordain and appoint my wife Elizabeth & my eldest son John HALL to be he executors.
Samuel HALL, L. S.
Witness: Daniel WHITE, Thomas JOHNSON, Moses BARTLETT.
Middletown, 31 Mar 1740: Then personally appeared the Rev. Mr. Moses BARTLETT, one of the witnesses to the within written will, and made solemn oath that he did see Deacon Samuel HALL, the testator, sign and seal to the within written will, and that ye sd. testator did dictate to him in the writing of the same, and that he set his hand thereto as a witness in his presence, and that at the same time he judged the testator to be of a sound, disposeing mind. Before me, Joseph WHITE, Justice of Peace.
Middletown, 31 Mar 1740: Then personally appeared Mr. Daniel WHITE, one of the witnesses to the within written will, and made solemn oath that he was fully satisfied that he did set his hand to the within written will in the presence of the testator; and although sd. WHITE was accidentally there at that time, yet, with some considerable discourse that he had with him at the same time, he judged the sd. testator to be of a sound, disposeing mind. Before me, Joseph WHITE, Justice of Peace.
Middletown, 31 Mar 1740: Then personally appeared Copr. Thomas JOHNSON, one of the witnesses to the within written will, and made solemn oath that he being informed that he was one of the witnesses to the within written will, upon viewing the same he was fully satisfied that his name there written was in his own handwriting, although he had but little remembrance of the transaction. Before me, Joseph WHITE, Justice of Peace.
Last will of Deacon Samll. HALL to lie on file, by the desire of the heirs. 1740
Court Record, Page 65 -- 6 May 1740: Samuel HALL, son of Deacon Samuel HALL, chose Ensign Stephen STOCKING to be his guardian.
Page 86 -- 7 Apr 1741: This Court grant Adms. to John HALL, executor named in the writing called the last will of sd. deceased, which will not be proved according to law, is not approved; and the sd. John HALL desired sd. will might be lodged in the files of this Court, which writing is accordingly filed as aforsd. And the sd. John HALL gave bond with Joseph WHITE of Middletown, of £500.
Page 9 (Vol. XIV) -- 1 Jun 1742: John HALL, Adms., exhibited an account of his Adms.: Paid in debts & charges, £27-05-08. Which amount is accepted, ordered recorded and kept on file.