Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records
(Hartford District),
Charles W. Manwaring,
Hartford, 1902,
Vol 2, p 571

Joseph SELDEN, Invt. £1965-01-07. Taken 20 May by John BOOGE, John HOLMES & Abram WILLEY. Will dated 31 Mar 1729.

I, Joseph SELDEN of Haddam East Society, in the County of Hartford and Colony of Connecticut, make this my last will & testament: I give to my wife Anne SELDEN the half of all my moveable estate excepting my husbandry tools, and the whole of my estate, that is, household goods, to be disposed of by her among my children when and in what proportion she shall think meet, she reserving to herself so much as she shall think needful & convenient. Moreover, I give unto her the use of my house and barn that is on my farm at Lyme, during her natural life is she shall choose to live there. I ive her the choice of which room (and the chambers over it) that pleaseth her best in my now dwelling house. Moreove I give her the use of the third part of my lands during her natural life, unless she and my children, as they come of age, otherwise agree. Moreover I give her a disposal of the land I received of her by my honoured father CHAPMAN. But if she shall not dispose of it in her lifetime, I give it to my loving son Joseph. I give unto my loving son Joseph SELDEN all my lands, rights of land, houseing, barn, orchards, with all the privileges and appurtenances belonging thereunto, which I have in this above sd. Haddam East Society. Moreover I give to him my son Joseph SELDEN the other half of my moveable estate and all my husbandry tools, to him and his heirs. I give to my 5 daughters, Hepsibah, Rebeckah, Anne, Elizabeth & Hannah SELDEN, all my rights of land, houseing, barn, with all the priviledges & appurtenances thereunto belonging, in the Township of Lyme, in the County of New London & Colony aforesd. I appoint my wife & my son Joseph SELDEN executors.

Joseph SELDEN, L.S.

Witness: Stephen HOSMER, John HOLMES, John CHURCH

Court Record, Page 218 -- 3 Jun 1729: Will now exhibited by Ann SELDEN & Joseph SELDEN, son of sd. decd., executors named in sd. will. Proven.

Page 77 (Vol. XI) -- 28 Nov 1732: Joseph SELDEN, of East Haddam, in his last will, gave his five daughters land, houseing and barn in the Town of Lyme. The eldest now being of age, moves this Court for dist. of the same. This Court therefore appoint John HOLMES, John CHURCH and Abell WYLLEY of Haddam to divide and dist. sd. lands.

Record of Distribution of Estate in Land, Houseing & Barn in Lyme: Pursueant to ye order of his Honour ye Governor & Judge of ye Court of Probate in and for the County of Hartford, we the subscribers have made division of and distributed to the widow and five daughters of Joseph SELDEN, late of East Haddam, deceased, of all his houseing and lands in ye Township of Lyme, in ye County of New London, according to his will as followeth:

To Anne SELDEN, widow, her thirds in lands, etc.
To Hepzibah SELDEN, eldest daughter, £171-00-00
To Rebeckah SELDEN, second daughter, £171-00-00
To Ann SELDEN, third daughter, £171-00-00
To Elizabeth SELDEN, fourth daughter, £171-00-00
To Hannah SELDEN, fifth daughter, £171-00-00

6 Jan 1738, by Abel WILLEY, John CHURCH, Distributors