~~ Massachusetts Colony ~~

--- Fifth Generation in America ---

 

Families of the Children of Elisha4 Washburn and Martha Perkins

 

 

         Elisha Washburn lived in Kingston, MA, where he died early leaving only two daughters who married and left descendants. His daughter Lydia and her husband settled in Pembroke, MA, and his daughter Martha and her husband settled in Middleborough, MA.

 

 

 

 

Philip2 Washburn

 

 

Deacon John3 Washburn

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth2 Irish

 

Elisha4 Washburn

 

 

 

 

 

Isaac3 Billington

 

 

Lydia4 Billington

 

 

 

 

Hannah Glass

Lydia5 Washburn

 

 

 

Martha5 Washburn

 

 

 

Elishaba Washburn

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abraham Perkins

 

 

Luke Perkins

 

 

 

 

Mary

 

Martha Perkins

 

 

 

 

 

Lot2 Conant

 

 

Martha3 Conant

 

 

 

(773.) Lydia5 Washburn, eldest daughter of (197) Elisha4 Washburn, (68) Deacon John3, (45) Philip2, (28) John1 (4th); born in Kingston, MA, on 12 Dec. 1729,[1] married Abel Stetson, of Pembroke, MA, on 26 Dec. 1751 in Plympton, MA.[2] He was born in Sept. 1728,[3] and they lived in Pembroke, MA, where he was a cordwainer.[4]

        Abel Stetson died testate on 12 Jan. 1776 in Pembroke, aged 47 years, 3 months, 21 days.[5] His will was dated 11 Jan. 1776, witnessed by Ephraim Tilson, Stephen Richardson, and Benjamin Bryant, and was probated on 4 Mar. 1776. He mentioned his wife Lydia, daughters Lydia, Hannah, Martha and Nabba, sons Hezekiah Stetson and Abel Stetson Jr., and youngest son Zenas Stetson. He named Benjamin Parris as executor of his estate, and his inventory, appraised by Barnabas Briggs, Ephariam Tilson, and Stephen Richardson.[6] Blaney Phillips and Samuel Goold, both of Pembroke, yeomen, and John Briggs of Halifax, Housewright, were appointed to set off to Lydia Stetson, the widow of Abel Stetson, late of Pembroke, her right of dower in the estate of her late husband, and to divide the remaining two thirds into three equal parts and assign one share each to Hezekiah Stetson, Abel Stetson, and the heirs of Zenas Stetson, on 6 Sept. 1782. The division was dated 16 Sept. 1782, and approved on 7 Oct. 1782.[7] (See Appendix [A] for a full transcription of his will.) Lydia (Washburn) Stetson was still living in Pembroke, MA, in the 1790 federal census, next door to her son, Abel Stetson.[8] She died a widow, testate, on 16 Nov. 1810 in Pembroke, aged 81 years,[9] her will dated 29 Sept. 1810 mentioned only her daughters Abigail Stetson and Hannah Stetson, but she named no executor, so her daughters Abigail Stetson and Hannah Stetson were granted administration of her estate on 6 May 1811.[10] (See Appendix [B] for a full transcription of her will.)

          Lydia Washburn and Abel Stetson had children:

+      2060     i   Hezekiah Stetson, born on 2 Dec. 1752 in Pembroke, MA,[11] mar­ried Eliza­beth6 Tilson, daughter of Ephraim5 and Mercy5 (Sears) Tilson,[12] of Pembroke, on 20 Jan. 1780 in Pembroke.[13] (To be continued in Washburn Sixth Generation.)

        2061    ii   Lydia Stetson, born on 11 Aug. 1754,[14] died on 26 Sept. 1754 in Pembroke.[15]

+      2062   iii   Abel Stetson (Jr.), born on 7 Aug. 1755 in Pembroke,[16] married Sarah “Sally” Oldham, daughter of Isaac and Deborah (Buker) Oldham, Jr., of Pembroke,[17] on 1 Dec. 1782 in Pembroke.[18] (To be continued in Washburn Sixth Generation.)

        2063   iv   Abthiah Stetson, a daughter, born on 22 July 1757 in Pembroke,[19] died on 13 Oct. 1758 in Pembroke.[20]

        2064    v   Zenas Stetson, born on 7 Nov. 1759 in Pembroke,[21] probably never married, died intes­tate in 1781 in Pembroke, MA, and his brother Hezekiah Stetson, of Pembroke, yeoman, was granted administration of his estate on 3 Sept. 1781.[22] “The heirs of Zenas Stetson” mentioned in the 1782 division of his father’s real estate presumably meant his surviving brothers and sisters.

+      2065   vi   Lydia Stetson, born on 19 Mar. 1762 in Pembroke,[23] married James Vaughan, son of Daniel and Abigail (Ransom) Vaughan, of Plympton,[24] on 2 Nov. 1784 in Pembroke.[25] (To be continued in Washburn Sixth Generation.)

        2066  vii   Hannah Stetson, born on 1 Sept. 1763 in Pembroke,[26] never mar­ried, was a co‑executor of her mother’s will in 1811. She died testate on 28 Oct. 1841 in Pembroke, aged 78 years,[27] her will dated 15 Dec. 1840, and proved in Jan. 1842, mentioned Isaac Silman Stetson, son of Isaac O. Stetson, Persis Ann Stetson, daughter of Abel Stetson, sister Martha Bates, and she named Isaac O. Stetson as executor of her estate.[28] (See Appendix [C] for a full transcription of her will.)

        2067 viii   Martha “Matta” Stetson, born on 4 Dec. 1765 in Pembroke,[29] mar­ried Benja­min Bates, of Hanover, MA, on 3 Mar. 1786 in Pembroke.[30] They possibly had 3 daughters by 1790, and were living in Hanover in the 1790 federal census.[31] She possibly died on 26 Feb. 1849 in Hanover, aged 87 [sic] years,[32] and he was living in an elderly and insane house in Hanover, MA, in the 1850 federal census.[33] He died on 22 Apr. 1853 in Hanover, aged 92 years, 6 months,[34] but no pro­bate re­cords were filed for his estate in Plymouth County.

        2068   ix   Joseph Stetson, born in Dec. 1767 in Pembroke,[35] died on 10 Jan. 1775 in Pembroke, aged 7 years, 20 days.[36]

        2069    x   Abigail “Nabba” Stetson, born say ca. 1770 in Pembroke, was mentioned in her father’s will in 1776, and was a co-executor of her mother’s will in 1811. She possibly died on 19 May 1842 in Pembroke, aged 72 years, “in Poor House.”[37]

 

 

(774.) Martha5 Washburn, second daughter of (197) Elisha4 Washburn, (68) Deacon John3, (45) Philip2, (28) John1 (4th); born in Kingston, MA, on 5 May 1732,[38] married Zachariah5 Pad­dock, son of Ichabod4 and Joanna3 (Faunce) Paddock, of Middleborough,[39] in ca. 1749.[40] He was born on 20 Feb. 1724/5 in Middleborough,[41] a grandson of Zachariah3 and Bethiah Paddock (Jr.), of Yarmouth, MA,[42] and of Elder Thomas2 and Jane (Nelson) Faunce, of Plymouth.[43] His name was variously spelled “Zachariah” and “Zechariah.” They lived in Plympton, then in Middleborough, MA, and he was a manufacturer of “fishermen’s hooks and women’s glow-shoes.”[44]

        They were living in Middleborough, MA, in the 1790 federal census,[45] and Zachariah Paddock died testate on 24 June 1795 in Middleborough, aged 70 years, “paralytic.”[46] His will was dated 24 May 1795, witnessed by Jonathan Fuller, Lucy Fuller, and Bennet Darling, and probated on 3 Aug. 1795. He mentioned his “true & beloved wife” Martha Paddock, sons Gaius Paddock, John Paddock, Apollos Paddock and Zacharian Paddock junr, daughters Lydia Eddy and Joanna Cushman, and he named his “trusty friend” Isaac Thompson Esq., as his executor.[47] (See Appendix [D] for a full transcription of his will.) Martha (Washburn) Paddock died on 10 Apr. 1819, aged 87 years.[48]

        Martha Washburn and Zachariah Paddock had children:

        2070     i   Joanna Paddock, born on 24 Aug. 1750 in Plympton,[49] was betrothed to marry Isaac Thompson, Esq.,[50] but she died on 12 Mar. 1769 in Middleborough, aged 18 years.[51] He was named as executor of the will of Zachariah Paddock in 1795, who called him his “trusty friend.”

        2071    ii   Jean/Jane6 Paddock, born on 30 July 1752 in Plympton,[52] married John5 Faunce, of Plymouth, son of Thomas4 and Sarah5 (Bartlett) Faunce (3rd), on 12 Apr. 1770 in Middleborough.[53] He was born on 26 Oct. 1743 in Plymouth,[54] a grandson of Thomas3 and Lydia (Barnaby) Faunce (Jr.),[55] and of John4 and Sarah (Cobb) Bartlett.[56] She appar­ently died by 1777, and he remarried to Susanna Clark, daugh­ter of John and Eliza­beth Clark, of Rochester, MA, on 18 Sept. 1777 in Rochester,[57] and they moved to Duxbury, MA. She was born on 3 Sept. 1754 in Rochester.[58] He was proba­bly the John Faunce, mariner, died intestate in 1787 in Duxbury,[59] and Joseph Soule, of Duxbury, yeoman, was granted administration of his estate on 17 Mar. 1787. Susanna (Clark) Faunce was a widow living in Duxbury, MA, in the 1790 federal census,[60] and she was probably the unnamed widow of John Faunce who died on 27 Mar. 1832 in Duxbury, aged 76 years, of “fever.”[61] Jane (Paddock) Faunce probably had only one son,[62] who died before Zachariah Paddock wrote his will:[63]

a. Henry Faunce, born ca. 1771,[64] died on 20 Oct. 1789 in Duxbury, aged 18 years.[65]

        2072   iii   Elisha6 Paddock, baptized on 9 June 1754 in Plympton,[66] served in the Revolutionary War as a Private in Capt. William Shaw’s Company in 1775, Capt. Nathaniel Wood’s Company, and Capt. Joshua Eddy’s Company in 1777,[67] and died on 15 Sept. 1777 at “Alba­ny New City,” aged 24 years,[68] “in the retreat from Ticonderoga,”[69] presumably unmarried.

+      2073   iv   Lydia6 Paddock, born on 22 July 1756 in Middleborough,[70] married Capt. Joshua5 Eddy, son of Zachariah4 and Mercy5 (Morton) Eddy, of Mid­dleborough,[71] on 16 Apr. 1778 in Plympton.[72] (To be continued in Washburn Sixth Generation.)

+      2074    v   Gaius6 Paddock, born on 22 Nov. 1758 in Middleborough,[73] baptized on 8 Apr. 1759 in Plympton,[74] served in the Revolutionary War, and married Mary “Molly” or “Polly” Wood, in ca. 1788, and they moved to Woodstock, Winsor Co., VT. (To be continued in Washburn Sixth Generation.)

        2075   vi   Apollos6 Paddock, born on 8 Sept. 1760 in Middleborough,[75] baptized on 7 Dec. 1760 in Plympton,[76] also served in the Revolutionary War, and afterwards settled in Vermont, marriage not found. He was not a head of household in Massachusetts in the 1790 federal census, and may have been still living with his father in Middleborough in 1790. He presumably was married and living in Woodstock, Windsor Co., VT, in the 1800 federal census,[77] but he was not a head of household in Woodstock, VT, in the 1810 or 1820 federal census, and he supposedly died in Vermont at the age of 77,[78] but no probate records were filed for his estate in Windsor Co., VT.[79]

+      2076  vii   John6 Paddock, born on 3 June 1763 in Middleborough,[80] baptized on 17 July 1763 in Plympton,[81] married Lydia Cushing, daughter of Col. Seth and Lydia (Everson) Cushing (Jr.),[82] on 9 Nov. 1786 in Plympton.[83] (To be continued in Washburn Sixth Generation.)

        2077 viii   Peter Paddock, born on 3 July 1765 in Middleborough,[84] baptized on 1 Sept. 1765 in Plympton,[85] died on 5 Oct. 1767 in Middleborough, aged 2 years, 3 months, 2 days.[86]

        2078   ix   Zachariah6 Paddock (Jr.), born on 21 July 1767 in Middleborough,[87] died about July 1803, “deranged and seen in woods early July, and his skeleton found April 6, 1804,”[88] but no probate was filed for his estate in Plymouth County. From the wording in his father’s will in 1795, it appears that his father did not expect Zachariah Jr. to live long or leave any heirs.

+      2079    x   Joanna6 Paddock, born ca. 1769 in Middleborough, married Oliver6 Cushman, son of Isaiah5 and Sarah (Ring) Cushman, of Plympton,[89] on 28 June 1789 in Middleborough.[90]  (To be continued in Washburn Sixth Generation.)

 

 

{Back to Site Index}{Continued in Children of Ephraim Washburn and Eglah Stetson}

 

 

© 2013 John A. Maltby, Redwood City, California


    [1] Vital Records of Kingston, Massachusetts, To the Year 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1911, [hereinafter Kingston VRs], p. 153.

    [2] Vital Records of Plympton, Massachusetts, To the Year 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1923, [hereinafter Plympton VRs], p. 418.

    [3] Calculated from his age at death.

    [4] His occupation per the inventory of his estate.

    [5] Vital Records of Pembroke, Massachusetts, To the Year 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1911, [hereinafter Pembroke VRs], p. 448, from his gravestone in the Stetson Burying Ground in Pembroke.

    [6] Plymouth County Probate Docket #19219, Vol. 24, p. 67-69.

    [7] Plymouth County Probate Vol. 28, p. 478-481.

    [8] Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Massachusetts, Bountiful, Utah, 1993, p. 175, Pembroke Town, Plymouth County, the Lydia Stetson household had 2 free white females only.

    [9] Pembroke VRs, p. 449, buried in the Stetson Burying Ground in Pembroke.

    [10] Plymouth Co. Probate Docket #19321, Vol. 43, p. 445, from FHL microfilm #0550902.

    [11] Pembroke VRs, p. 192.

    [12] Bowman, George Ernest, Vital Records of the Town of Halifax, Massachusetts, To the end of the year 1849, Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Boston, 1905, [hereinafter Halifax VRs], p. 35: marriage of Ephraim Tilson and Mercy Sears, both of Halifax, on 25 Dec. 1752 in Halifax.

    [13] Pembroke VRs, p. 352.

    [14] Pembroke VRs, p. 193.

    [15] Pembroke VRs, p. 449.

    [16] Pembroke VRs, p. 191.

    [17] Pembroke VRs, p. 323, marriage of Isaac Oldham Jr. and Deborah Buker on 12 Feb. 1756 in Pembroke.

    [18] Pembroke VRs, p. 351.

    [19] Pembroke VRs, p. 191.

    [20] Pembroke VRs, p. 448.

    [21] Pembroke VRs, p. 195.

    [22] Plymouth County Probate Docket #19388, Vol. 27, p. 71, with Hezekiah Hooper and James Faunce as sureties, but the death was not recorded in the Pembroke vital records.

    [23] Pembroke VRs, p. 193; Vital Records of Carver, Massachusetts, To the Year 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1911, [hereinafter Carver VRs], p. 75, recorded as Lydia, wife of James Vaughan.

    [24] Plympton VRs, p. 417, marriage of Daniel Voughn of Plympton and Abegail Ransom of Plympton, on 6 June 1744 in Plympton.

    [25] Pembroke VRs, p. 353.

    [26] Pembroke VRs, p. 192.

    [27] Pembroke VRs, p. 448, buried in the Stetson Burying Ground in Pembroke.

    [28] Plymouth County Probate Docket #19277, Vol. 84, p. 6-7, from FHL microfilm #0555267.

    [29] Pembroke VRs, p. 194.

    [30] Pembroke VRs, p. 353, as “Martha Stetson.”

    [31] Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Massachusetts, Bountiful, Utah, 1993, p. 170, Hanover Town, Plymouth County, the Benjamin Bates household had 1 free white male aged 16 or older and 4 free white females.

    [32] Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1910, Vol. 41, p. 86, online at www.americanancestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, but the names of her parents were not given in the death record and her age is incorrect; Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915, online database at www.familysearch.org, but her age at death is incorrect.

    [33] 1850 Federal Census, Hanover, Plymouth Co., MA, p. 104, dwelling #57, family #69:

            John Stetson, 35, male, shoemaker, $1600, born MA

            Ann Stetson, 26, female, born NY

            Henry M. Stetson, 7, male, born NJ

            Samuel T. Stetson, 4/12, male, born MA

            Shubal Munroe, 89, female, born MA

            Benjamin Bates, 88 male, born MA

            (Plus 5 other unrelated people)

    [34] Hanover, MA: Vital Record, 1727-1857, p. 240, online at www.americanancestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston.

    [35] Calculated from his age at death.

    [36] Pembroke VRs, p. 449.

    [37] Pembroke VRs, p. 448.

    [38] Kingston VRs, p. 153.

    [39] Plymouth VRs, p. 90; Plympton VRs, p. 419, which was added into the vital records some years later without a marriage date.

    [40] Calculated from the birth of their first child in 1750.

    [41] Merrick, Barbara Lambert, and Alicia Crane Williams, Middleborough, Massachusetts, Vital Records, The Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Boston, Volume One: 1986, Volume Two: 1990, [hereinafter Middleborough VRs], Vol. 1, p. 36.

    [42] Sherman, Robert M., and Ruth Wilder Sherman, Vital Records of Yarmouth, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, Picton Press, Camden, ME, 1975, [hereinafter Yarmouth VRs], p. 9, for the birth of Icobod Paddock, son of Zachryah and Beathiah Paddock.

    [43] Faunce, James Freer, The Faunce Family History and Genealogy, Akron, OH, 1967, p. 16-17; Davis, William T., Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families, reprint, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1994, originally published as Part II of Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth, Boston, 1899, [hereinafter Davis, Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families], p. 108.

    [44] Z. Eddy, “The Family of Paddock,” The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 12 [July 1858], p. 221.

    [45] Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Massachusetts, Bountiful, Utah, 1993, p. 172, Middleborough Town, Plymouth County, the Zachariah Paddock household had 2 free white males aged 16 or older, 1 free white male under 16, and 1 free white female.

    [46] Middleborough VRs, Vol. 1, p. 247; Wood, Deacon Alfred, Record of Deaths, Middleboro, Massachusetts, General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Boston, 1947, [hereinafter Wood, Middleboro Deaths], p. 124.

    [47] Plymouth County Probate Docket #15200, Vol. 35, p. 295.

    [48] Z. Eddy, “The Family of Paddock,” The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 12 [July 1858], p. 221.

    [49] Plympton VRs, p. 141, under “Padack.”

    [50] Z. Eddy, “The Family of Paddock,” The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 12 [July 1858], p. 221.

    [51] Wood, Middleboro Deaths, p. 124.

    [52] Plympton VRs, p. 141, under “Padack.”

    [53] Middleborough VRs, Vol. 2, pp. 68, 78, married by Silvanus Conant.

    [54] Plymouth VRs, p. 129.

    [55] Davis, Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families, p. 108.

    [56] Davis, Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families, p. 18.

    [57] Vital Records of Rochester, Massachusetts, To the Year 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1914, [hereinafter Rochester VRs], Vol. 2, p. 128; Plymouth VRs, p. 265, marriage intentions recorded 16 Aug. 1777 in Plymouth.

    [58] Rochester VRs, Vol. 1, p. 83.

    [59] Plymouth County Probate Docket #7519.

    [60] Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Massachusetts, Bountiful, Utah, 1993, p. 169, Duxborough Town, Plymouth County, the Susanna Faunce household had 2 free white males under 16 and 2 free white females.

    [61] Vital Records of Duxbury, Massachusetts, To the Year 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1911, [hereinafter Duxbury VRs], p. 376.

    [62] Z. Eddy, “The Family of Paddock,” The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 12 [July 1858], p. 221, says she “died young, leaving one or two children.”

    [63] Zachariah Paddock did not name any heirs of daughter Jean Faunce, deceased, in his will.

    [64] Calculated from his age at death.

    [65] Duxbury VRs, p. 376, which doesn’t identify the names of his parents.

    [66] Plympton VRs, p. 142.

    [67] Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, 17 volumes, Boston, Vol. XI, p. 751.

    [68] Wood, Middleboro Deaths, p. 124.

    [69] Z. Eddy, “The Family of Paddock,” The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 12 [July 1858], p. 221.

    [70] Middleborough VRs, Vol. 1, p. 98.

    [71] Eddy, Ruth Story Devereux, The Eddy Family In America, Boston, 1930, p. 164.

    [72] Plympton VRs, p. 355; Middleborough VRs, Vol. 2, p. 92, marriage intentions recorded 24 Jan. 1778 in Middleborough.

    [73] Middleborough VRs, Vol. 1, p. 99.

    [74] Plympton VRs, p. 142.

    [75] Middleborough VRs, Vol. 1, p. 99.

    [76] Plympton VRs, p. 142.

    [77] Heads of Families at the Second Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1800: Vermont, Vermont Historical Society, Montpelier, 1938, reprinted by Clearfield Company, p. 182, Woodstock, Windsor County, the Appollas Paddock household had 2 males under 10, 1 male aged 26-44, and 1 female aged 26-44 years.

    [78] Z. Eddy, “The Family of Paddock,” The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 12 [July 1858], p. 221.

    [79] Apollos Paddock was not listed in Scott Andrew Bartley’s Windsor County, Vermont, Probate Index, 1778-1899.

    [80] Middleborough VRs, Vol. 1, p. 118.

    [81] Plympton VRs, p. 142.

    [82] Kingston VRs, p. 202, the marriage of Seth Cushing Jr. of Plympton and Lydia Everson on 5 Jan. 1758 in Kingston.

    [83] Plympton VRs, p. 355.

    [84] Middleborough VRs, Vol. 1, p. 118.

    [85] Plympton VRs, p. 142.

    [86] Middleborough VRs, Vol. 1, p. 167; Wood, Middleboro Deaths, p. 124.

    [87] Middleborough VRs, Vol. 1, p. 159.

    [88] Wood, Middleboro Deaths, p. 124.

    [89] Plympton VRs, p. 304, marriage of Isaiah Cushmon and Sary Ring on 1 Nov. 1753 in Plympton.

    [90] Middleborough VRs, Vol. 2, pp. 113, 153.


[A] The Will of Abel Stetson of Pembroke, Plymouth County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1776): *

In the Name of God Amen. I Abel Stetson of Pembroke in the County of Plymouth being Sick & Weak & Labouring under Bodily Indisposition therefore Calling to Mind the Mortality of my Body Do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament in Manner & Form following.

Imprimis I Give & Bequeath my Soul into the hands of God my maker nothing Doubting but to Receive full Pardon of all my Sins thro the Meritorious Death of Jesus Christ my Only Saviour & Redeemer, my Body to be Buried in decent & Christian Burial at the—Discretion of my Executor hereafter named. And as touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath Pleased God to bless me with I do Dispose of as Followeth. Item I Give to my Well Beloved Wife Lydia Stetson all my Estate both Real & Personal to be Improved for the Bringing up & fitting out my Children to be Improved by her till my Youngest Son Zenos Stetson Shall Arrive to the Age of Twenty One Years I say all my Estate after my Just Debts & Funeral Charges are Paid~~

Item I Give & Bequeath to Each of my Daughters Vizt. Lydia Hannah Martha and Nabba Thirteen Pounds Six Shillings & Eight pence to be paid to them Severally at the Time of their Marriage or as they shall Arrive to the Age of Twenty One Years to be paid by my Three Sons as aforesd in Equall Proportions & my Will is that when my Said Son Zenas Shall Arrive to the age of Twenty One Years that my Estate be Divided Equally Among my Three Sons Viz. Hezekiah Stetson Abel Stetson Junr & Zenas Stetson Excepting One Third Part which I Give unto my Said Wife during her Widowhood and after her Marriage to have Thirty Three Pounds Six Shillings & Eight Pence which I Give to her & her Heirs forever & my Will is that the Third Part of my Estate Given to my Wife after her Marriage or Death be Equally Divided between my sd Three Sons. And I Do hereby Appoint Benjamin Parris to be the Sole Executor of this my Last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I do hereunto Set my hand & seal this Eleventh Day of January A.D. 1776.

Signed Sealed Published & Declared

by him the said Abel Stetson to                                                                                        Abel Stetson                                       (seal)

be his Last Will & Testament In Presence of

us.           Ephraim Tilson

                Stephen Richardson

                Benjamin Bryant

 

Probated on 4 Mar. 1776, presented by Benjamin Parris the Executor, and proved by Ephariam Tilson & Stephen Richardson.

 

The Inventory of Abel Stetson late of Pembroke deceased Cordwainer, was taken by Barnabas Briggs, Ephariam Tilson & Stephen Richardson on 29 Feb. 1776, and totaled £460.9.11. The oath of the appraisers was dated 4 Mar. 1776.

 

Blaney Phillips and Samuel Goold, both of Pembroke, yeomen, and John Briggs of Halifax, Housewright, were appointed to set off to Lydia Stetson, the widow of Abel Stetson, late of Pembroke, yeoman, her right of dower in the estate of her late husband, and to divide the remaining two thirds into three equal parts and assign one share each to Hezekiah Stetson, Abel Stetson, and the heirs of Zenas Stetson, on 6 Sept. 1782. The division was dated 16 Sept. 1782, and approved on 7 Oct. 1782.

 

* Transcribed by John A. Maltby from Plymouth County Probate Vol. 24, p. 67-69, from FHL microfilm #0550713, and Vol. 28, p. 478-481.

 

 

[B] The Will of Lydia Stetson of Pembroke, Plymouth County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1810) *

        In the Name of God amen I Lydia Stetson of Pembroke in the County of Plymouth & State of Massachusetts Widow, being of sound Mind & Memory, do this twenty ninth day of Sept. one thousand eight hundred & ten make & ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner & form as follows viz —

        First I give to my Daughter Abigail Stetson my Bed & Bedding all my Iron Ware Dogs shovel & Tongs, all my Pewter, my Loom & Slaires & all other Appurtenances my cow & all the sheep, which I may die seized of, my Desk two spinning wheels & my worsted Comb —

        Secondly. All the Residue of my Estate not before disposed of, I give to my said Daughter Abigail Stetson & to my other daughter single viz. Hannah Stetson to be equally divided between them —  In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal to this which I declare to be my last Will & Testament the day & Year above written —

signed sealed & declare by her the said Lydia Stetson

to be her last Will & Testament in the presence of us                                                          her

        John Bourn                                                                                                                   Lydia  X  Stetson                                 (seal)

        Abiel White                                                                                                                           Mark

        William White —

 

Presented for probate on 6 May 1811 by Abigail Stetson and Hannah Stetson, the residuary Legatees named therein, no Executor being therein named, and proved by John Bourn and William White, two of the Witnesses. Letters of Administration were granted to Abigail Stetson and Hannah Stetson.

 

* Transcribed by John A. Maltby from Plymouth County Probate Vol. 43, p. 445, from FHL microfilm #0550902.

 

 

[C] The Will of Hannah Stetson of Pembroke, Plymouth County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1840): *

                The last will & Testament of Hannah Stetson

I Hannah Stetson of Pembroke in the County of Plymouth thinking myself to be in the exercise of my mental faculties, though impaired in bodily health do make and declare this to be my last will and Testament.

I give and bequeath to each of the following persons, Ten Dollars namely Isaac Silman Stetson son of Isaac O. Stetson, and Persis Ann Stetson Daughter of Abel Stetson

I give unto my sister Martha Bates, all my other estate real & personal & of all kinds, to her her heirs and assigns forever – I also appoint Isaac O. Stetson sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my name and seal this fifteenth day of December in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & forty.

                                                                                                                                                Hannah Stetson                                (seal)

Signed, sealed & declared by the said Hannah Stetson

to be her last Will & Testament in presence of us who at her request and in her presence

& in the presence of each other have hereunto set our names as witnesses

                                                                                                                Thos. Turner

                                                                                                                Mercy Turner

                                                                                                                Mercy P. Monroe

 

Presented for probate on the third Monday of January, 1842, by Isaac O Stetson, the Executor, and proved by Thomas Turner and Mercy P. Monroe, two of the witnesses.

 

The Inventory of the Estate of Hannah Stetson, late of Pembroke, was appraised on 10 Dec. 1841 by Thos. Turner, Simeon Chandler, and Hervey Bryant, and totaled $349.59, no real estate. Isaac O. Stetson, the Executor, gave his oath to the inventory on the third Monday of January 1842.

 

* Transcribed by John A. Maltby from Plymouth County Probate Vol. 84, p. 6-8, from FHL microfilm #0555267.

 

 

[D] The Will of Zachariah Paddock of Middleborough, Plymouth County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1795): *

In the name of God Amen—I Zachariah Paddock of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Yeoman, being considerably advanced in life, but of a disposing mind & memory, blessed be God for the same, wherefore calling to mind the mortality of my body, do make & ordain this to be my last will & testament—principally & first of all, I Give my soul to God that gave it, & my body to the dust to be buried in a decent christian burial and as to such worldly estate as I have been blessed with, I do dispose of the same as followeth vizt.

     Imprimis—I Give and bequeath to my true & beloved wife Martha Paddock & to her heirs & assigns forever my best Bed & furniture for the same and my best cow & Swine. I also give unto her so long as she shall remain my widow and no longer, the use & improvement of the remaining part of my household furniture and one half of my real estate, excepting one acre of meadow & what of my indoor moveable estate that I shall otherwise in this my last will dispose of, the same I mean as my widow’s Dower in all of my estate.

     Item I Give & bequeath to my Son Gaius Paddock & to his heirs and assigns forever, eight acres of Land, to be bounded on the southerly side by other Lands of the said Gaius Paddocks, to be bounded on the westerly end by the high way, to be bounded on the northerly side by a line beginning at the high way two rods northward of the brook southerly of my dwelling house & from thence to run eastward a parrallel line with the line of the said Gaius Paddocks other Land—and it is bounded on the easterly end by a line just so far eastward from the high way as that a line parralell with the high way will include just eight acres. and also the south westerly great room in my dwelling house, half my chamber, half of my Cellar, half of my kitchin and a right in my buttery, excepting that I hereby reserve to my aforesaid beloved wife so long as she shall remain my widow, the use of one half of the improvement of the said eight acres of Land—I also give unto him my heel tools

     Item—I Give and bequeath to my Son John Paddock & to his heirs & assigns forever about one acre of meadow, be it more or less, which lies on the north-easterly corner of my home farm, bounded as followeth—viz~—beginning at a white pine stump which is a corner bound of Josiah Clarks Land, thence by the brook up stream to a point of upland, thence by the upland to the bound first mentioned. I also Give to my said son John & to his heirs & assigns one half of the Sheep that I shall own at my decease

     Item—I Give & bequeath to my Daughter Lydia Eddy & to her heirs & assigns forever five shillings to be paid her out of my personal estate

     Item—I Give and bequeath to my Daughter Joanna Cushman twenty shillings, to be paid her out of my personal estate

     Item—I Give and bequeath to my Son Apollos Paddock & to his heirs & assigns forever one third part of the remaining part of my real estate, that I have not heretofore in this my last will given away, excepting one half of the improvement of the same that I hereby reserve for my aforesaid wife so long as she shall remain my widow. I also give my said son Apollos one Bed that I have given my wife the use of when she shall cease to be my widow

     Item—I Give and bequeath to my Son Zachariah Paddock junr. the use & improvement of the remaining part of my real estate, during his natural life excepting that I reserve the improvement of one half thereof for my said wife, so long as she shall remain my widow, & at the decease of my said Son Zachariah my will is & I do hereby give the same to his child or children or such as may legally represent them if he shall leave any child or children or legal representative of children Heir and assign forever otherwise my will is and I do hereby give the same to my other aforenamed Sons in equal proportion or to their legal representatives—I also give to my said Son Zachariah & to his heirs & assigns forever one Bed & furniture for the same, and my shoe makers tools (excepting my heel tools) also new cloth that I now have for a great coat

     Furthermore—my will is, and I do hereby give to my three sons Gaius, Apollos & Zachariah and to their heirs & assigns forever to be equally divided amongst them, all of the remaining part of my estate, and I hereby order them to pay all of my just debts, funeral charges, & the expense of Settling my estate and I do hereby revoke & disannul all former wills made by me

     Lastly—my will is, and I do hereby appoint my trusty friend Isaac Thompson Esqr—Sole Executor, to this my Last will & testament—thus hoping that this my last will & testament will be kept & performed according to the true intent & meaning of the same—I the said Zachariah Paddock have hereunto Set my hand & Seal, this twenty fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred & ninety five

Signed, Sealed Published Pronounced                                                                            Zachariah Paddock                         (seal)

& declared by the said Zachariah Pad-

dock to be his last will & testament

in presence of us

                Jona Fuller

                Lucy Fuller

                Bennet Darling

 

Probated on 3 Aug. 1795, presented by Isaac Thompson Esqr the Executor therein named, and proved by Jonathan Fuller and Bennet Darling.

 

Nathan Darling, Silas Tinkham, & Elijah Shaw, all of Middleborough, yeomen, were appointed to appraise the estate of Zachariah Paddock, late of Middlebo, yeoman, on 3 Aug. 1795. The inventory of the estate of Mr. Zachariah Paddock, late of Middlebo, was dated 26 Aug. 1795, and totaled £482.16.4, including his house, barn & lands valued at £420. Isaac Thomson Esqr, the Executor of the estate, gave his oath to the inventory on 3 Nov. 1795.

 

Isaac Thomson of Middleborough, Esqr, Nemiah Cobb of Carver, Esqr, & Silas Tinkham of Middlebo, yeoman, were appointed to take a view of the real estate of Zachardiah Paddock, late of Middleborough, deceased, and to assign & set off to Martha Paddock, widow of the deceased, one half of the estate, excepting one acre of meadow, and to divide the remainder to Gaius Paddock, Apollos Paddock, John Paddock, and Zackariah Paddock, each his share, according to the direction of the deceased, on 20 Nov. 1795.

 

* Transcribed by John A. Maltby from Plymouth Co. Probate Vol. 35, pp. 295-297, 385-386, 406, from FHL microfilm #0550718