Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records
(Hartford District),
Charles W. Manwaring,
Hartford, 1902,
Vol 2, p 129

William VENTRUS, Haddam, about 78 years of age. Died 2 Jul 1701. Invt. £237-16-00. Taken 10 Jul 1701, by Daniel BRAINARD, Nathaniel SPENCER & Joseph ARNOLD. Part of William VENTRUS' inventory is as followeth:

The house & homestead which he bought of WIATT, £30-00-00
Two lots in Cove meadow, which is at Moodus, £30-00-00
All the right which he bought of WIAT, one lot excluded, £25-00-00
All the right that he bought of WIAT which lyeth upon the plain over against 30-mile Island on the east side of the river, £3-00-00
A lot of 16 acres that he bought of WIATT, £2-00-00
All the right of WIAT's beside what is above written, both divided & undivided, on the west side of the Great River, £8-00-00

Will dated 21 Mar 1699-1700. I, William VENTRUS of Haddam, being very aged & crazy of body, do make and constitute this my last will & testament: I do hereby ratify and confirm the deed of guift or sale formerly made to my son Moses VENTRUS. I give & bequeath to my son John VENTRUS, forever, that house and homelot which I purchased of John WIAT, and the upper & lower lot in Cove meadow, and a £100 right on the west side of the Connecticut River which I purchased of said WIAT. And in case John VENTRUS hath no issue of his own body, or said issue decease before it come to age, that it shall goand and fall to Moses his child or children. I give untomy wife Elizabeth VENTRUS 40 shillings per year in provision pay, to be paid to her yearly during her widowhood by my son John VENTRUS upon consideration of what I give him; and also I give my wife liberty to dispose of what estate she brought with her that is yet left. It is my will that my two sons John & MOses VENTRUS pay unto their sister Susanna BRAINWOOD, my daughter, each of them £5 in provision pay, two full years after my decease, as her portion from me, and this legacy of £10 to be all she shall expect. I do give & bequeath all my whole right and rights, land and privileges on the east side of the Cove and Great River, on Machamoodus, to my two sons John & Moses, to them & their heirs forever. I appoint my son Moses VENTRUS executor, and appoint Mr. William EELY & Mr. John SMITH of Haddam to be the overseers.

Wm. X VENTRUS

Witness: John SMITH, William SCOVILL

Court Record, Page 18 -- 6 Sep 1701: Will proven.