Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records
(Hartford District),
Charles W. Manwaring,
Hartford, 1902,
Vol 2, p 563
Thomas RANNEY, Middletown. Invt. £1284-00-00. Taken 1 Mar 1727, by Joseph RANNEY & Samuel GIPSON. Will dated 31 Jan 1726-7.
I, Thomas RANNEY of Middletown, in the County of Hartford, husbandman, doe make this my last will & testament: Imprimis: I give to Rebeckah, my wife, 1-2 of my now dwelling house, 1-2 of my land at home, 1-2 of my orchard & 1-2 of my land in the long meadow. This I give her during her natural life, excepting only my wearing apparell which I give to my three sons, Thomas, Willet & Nathaniel. And what money that is lent out I give to my wife to be at her own disposal. I give to my son Thomas yt lottment of land wheron his house stands; also I give him my land lying on the Plain, north of the lands belonging to my brother Joseph RANNEY & south of land belonging to Lt. FRARY, and butts on ye road from Middletown to Wethersfield west; also I give him 1-3 of my other land lying on the Plain easterly of land that belongeth to my brother Joseph RANNEY & westerly on land belonging to my brother Ebenezer RANNEY; also I give him half of my long meadow land after my wife's decease; also I give him the 1-2 of my land in Wangunk meadon; also I give him the 1-2 of my Burch Swamp Pasture; also I give him my meadow at Goose Delight, and all my Neck land that lyeth near sd. Goose Delight Meadow. I give to my son Willet all my land at Timber Hill; also my lower lott in Boggy Meadow; also I give him the remainder of my land at Passonchoague after my grandson George hath had 2acres more than what I have given him & his sister by deed of gift, and 2 acres to ley next to that which I have given him and his sister as above, and then all the remainder of my land there or thereabout to be to my son Willet; also I give hime 1-3 part of my lottment of land on the Plain that lyeth easterly of land that belongeth to my brother Joseph RANNEY and westerly of land belonging to my brother Ebenezer RANNEY. I give to the heirs of my son George in this my will what I have given them by deed of gift. Also I give to my grandson George RANNEY, the son ofmy son George RANNEY decd., two acres of land adjoining to that which I have given to him & hais sister by deed of gift, which is the two acres above specified. I give to my son Nathaniel the 1-2 of my now dwelling house and half of my barn, 1-2 of my land at home, 1-2 of my orchard at my decease and the other half at my wife's decease. I give to my three daughters, Rebeca, Margaret & Anne, 2-3 of my moveable estate at my decease. Also, I give to my three daughters all my lands that are already laid out in the last division on the east side of the Great River. Also I give them all my land in the Round Meadow. Also, I give them all my land lyeing on the Heither Neck, so called. Also, I give to my three sons all my propriety right in lands that are yet to be divided in Middletown. And wereas it is sayed that the part of my will that my son Willet shall have all my land at Timber Hill, it is thus to be understood that Willet is to accomodate his mother with pasturing for a cow or two if she needs it. I appoint my three sons, Thomas, Willet & Nathaniel, executors.
Thomas X RANNEY.
Witness: Joseph RANNEY, Roger GIPSON, John WARNER.
Be it known to all men by these presents: That whereas I, Thomas RANNEY of the Town of Middletown, have made my last will & testament in writeing bearing date 31st January, 1726-7, I, the sd. Thomas RANNEY, by this present codicil, do ratify and confirm my sd. last will & testament, and do will & bequeath to my three daughters, Rebeckah, Anne and Margaret, the sum of £20 in money or bills of credit of this Colony or the neighboring provinces, to be paid unto them by my son Willet on consideration of his having all my land at Timber Hill, the sd. £20 to be paid after my wife's decease.
Thomas X RANNEY
Witness: Joseph RANNEY, Roger GIPSON, John WARNER.
Court Record, Page 146 -- 7 Mar 1726-7: Will now exhibited by Thomas, Nathaniel & Willet RANNEY, executors named in the will. Proven. Exhibit of inventory.