The Minor Family of Somerset

Samuel's will and resulting action (from the Wildey book with pa
ragraph punctuation added for clarity):
"In the name of God Amen the 5 Day of January 1740/41. I Samue
l Chesebrough of Stonington, in the County of New London being s
ick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be g
iven to god,therefor calling to mind the mortality of my body a
nd knowing that it is certainly appointed for all men once to di
e, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testamint, that is t
o say principally and first of all I give and recommend my sou
l into the hands of god that gave it when it shall please him t
ocall for it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be burye
d in decent andChristian manner, nothing doubting but at the ge
neral resurrection I shall receive the same again by the almigh
t power of God, and as touching such worldly goods and estate wh
erewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, Igive, de
mise, and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.
Imp. I give to my two sons Charles and William Chesebrough al
l my lands and right of lands and buildings, Orchards and fencin
g in Stonington, to be dividedequally between them, when they a
ll come to age of Twenty one years, to be tothem, their heirs a
nd assigns forever, unless either of them should die without iss
ue--but if either of my sons should die without issue then I giv
e tothe survivor all my aforementioned lands, to be to him, hi
s heirs and assigns forever, excepting the house and building an
d ten acres of land I bought ofthe Rev. Mr. Ebenzer Rossiter wh
ich I order to be sold by my executor hereafter named, and the m
oney for which it is sold to be put to Interest for the benefi
t of my two daughters Anne and Phebe.
Item-- I give to my two daughtersAnne and Phebe Chesebrough Fiv
e Hundred pounds a piece to be paid to them when they shall com
e to the age of Twenty years, to be paid to them by my executor
s hereafter named, in Household goods as they shall be prized s
o far asthey will go and the remainder to be paid to them in bi
lls of credit, and incase either of my daughters should die bef
ore they come to age of twenty years and without issue, then m
y will is the other should have her part and portion heregiven h
er.
Item--I give all the remaining prt of my estate after myfunera
l charges, Just debts and legacies are paid to be divided equall
y between my four Children, namely Charles, William, anna and Ph
ebe. (note that the will spells his daughter's name Anne earlie
r and below but Anna here)
Item--I give to my two daughters Anne and Phebe all my decd Wife
's wearing apparel to be divided euqally between them.
Item--In case my children all died before they should come to ag
e and without issue, then I give my whole estate to my three bro
thers--namesl Jeremiah, Jonathan and Joseph Chesebrough, they pa
ying to my sister Mary Palmer Two Hundred Pounds in bills of cre
dit to be tothem and their heirs.
Lastly I ordain, and make, and appoint my loving brothers, Jerem
iah and Joseph Chesebrough my Exrs to this my last will and Test
ament: Giving unto them full power to sell the house and buildin
gs and the ten acres of land I bought of the Revd. Mr. Benr Ross
iter hereby ratifying this tobe my last Will and Testament utte
rly revoKing and disannulling all other wills and executors what
ever by me made or named and in further confirmation ofthis m
y last will and testament I have hereunto set my hand and seal t
he Day and year first above written.
Samuel Chesebrough. Signed, sealed, published and declared by t
he said Samuel Chesebrough to be his last will and testament i
n presence of us the subscriber, Thomas Minor, Moses Yeamans Amo
s Chesebrough. Proved Stonington Jan 24, 1740-1 before Joseph P
almer, JP. (New London Wills)