Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records
(Hartford District),
Charles W. Manwaring,
Hartford, 1902,
Vol 3, p 475

[Transcribed by Hal Wetmore]

Israhiah WETMORE, Middletown. Invt. £281-08-07. Taken 28 Jun 1743, by Solomon ADKINS & William ROCKWELL. Will dated 26 mar 1741.

I, Israhiah WETMORE of Middletown, in the County of Hartford, do make this my last will & testament: I give to my beloved wife Hannah, the improvement of so much of my dwelling house as she shall have occasion for during her continuance there, and also a comfortable maintenance during her continuance under my roof, to be performed by my executor after named; but if she shall see cause to remove from under my roff, then my will is that she shall have a bed, bedding and furniture that we usually lodged on, and also the chest & box that she brought with her, with the lining and other things therein, and also half the pewter, brass and iron and other moveables that she brought with her, to be to her and her heirs forever. And further, my will is that in case she departs from my house, my executor shall pay her £3 per annum so long as she remains my widow. And whereas it has pleased the sovereign God to smite her with the numb palsy, under which difficulty she now labors, whereby an extraordinary charge is brought upon my son Josiah for her support and comfort, my will is that the 50 shillings per annum that my son Set & Jeremiah promised to give me when I gave them deeds of land (of which I have received none) shall be paid to Josiah, and what that falls short of paying the extraordinary charge he shall be at in paying doctors, nurses, etc., for my wife, shall be paid out of my moveable estate before any distribution thereof be made. To my son Israhiah's heirs I give & bequeath what I gave their father by deed of gift, and also 1-6 part of my lott in the third division of land on the east side of the Great River; this I give them and their heirs forever. To my son James WETMORE, I give and bequeath, besides what I have already given him, 1-6 part of my lott in the third division of land on the east side of the Great River. To my son Seth WETMORE, besides what I have already given him, I give & bequeath 1-6 part of my lott in the third division of land on the east side of the Great River. And also, on consideration of the lawsuit he maintained against Hope HAWLEY, I give him 1 equal half of my lott called the new lott; but in case he sells it, my will is that Joshiah can have the refusal of it. I give to my son Jeremiah, besides what I have already given him, my bond lott on the east side of the Great River; also 1-6 part of my lott in the third division of lands there. I give to my son Caleb, besides what I have already given him, 1-6 part of my lott in the third division of land on the east side of the Great River; also 1-4 & 1-2 quarter of my interest in the sawmill & half the land adjoining. I give to my son Josiah WETMORE the remainder of my homelott after Seth & Jeremiah hath measured off to them what I gave them by deed, together with all the buildings standing thereon; and also the whole of my tow meadow lots, viz., my lott just within the meadow gate, and that near the Ferry River; and also the equal half of my lott called the new lott; and also my pasture at Indian Hill; and also 1-6 part of my lott in the third division of land on the east side of the Great River; 1 & 1-2 quarter of my interest in the sawmill, also 1-2 of the land adjoining. Also, I give him all my husbandry tools & carpentry tools & tackling of what name soever, obliging him to pay all my just debts, funeral charges & legacies to my wife, except the extraordinary charge of my wife's illness, for which I have made some provisions in this will. And I do hereby order him to pay to Sara, the wife of Daniel PRIOR, Jr., £5 money within one year after my decease. I give to my grandson Israhiah WETMORE 1-4 of my interest in the sawmill. And further, my will is that what shall remain of my moveable estate (two notes under Josiah's hands: the one dated 15 Apr 1736, for the sum of £60 money, the other dated 9 May 1737, for the sum of &30 money, and my stock in Josiah's hands, viz: two oxen, one horse valued at £10, two swine & 15 sheep) shall be equally divided among my sons, accounting Israhiah's heirs in his stead. And I appoint my son Josiah to be sole executor to this my last will, and desire Mr. Jabez HAMLIN to be overseer.

Israhiah X WETMORE, L.S.

Witness: Henry KING, Ebenezer SAGE, Charles HAMLIN

Codicil, dated 26 Aug 1742: I, Israhiah WETMORE, before named testator, being at this time (through the goodness of God) of sound & disposing memory, and observing the disposition of my grandson Israhiah WETMORE before named to learning, and considering the disadvantage that it will be to the sawmill to be sub-divided into so small rights, do see cause to make this following alteration to my before going will. Whereas, I have given to my grandson Israhiah WETMORE 1-4 of my interest in the sawmill & yard, my will now is that the sd. 1-4 belong to my two sons, Caleb & Josiah; and I do now give unto my tow sons, Caleb & Josiah, and their heirs forever, equal parts in the sd. quarter of my interest in the sawmill & yard, they paying unto my grandson Israhiah WETMORE each £8 money, which is £16 in the whole, within a reasonable time after my decease, to help him forward in his learning. And this alteration is agreeable to my mind & will, & is a part thereof.

Israhiah X WETMORE, L.S.

Witness: Henry KING, Ebenezer SAGE, Charles HAMLIN.

Court Record, Page 26 -- 5 Jul 1743: Will proven.

[*Handwritten note comments: Sarah/4 (Gilbert) Prior, dau Jonathan/3 and Dorothy (Stow) Gilbert (Jonathan/2, Thomas/1). Dorothy Stowe was Izrahiah Wetmore's wife Rachel Stowe's sister.]