Monday, August 9, 2010

Amanuensis Monday - Probate Records of Stephen Hazard (1665-1727)

Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started his own Monday blog theme many months ago called Amanuensis Monday. What does "amanuensis" mean? John offers this definition:

"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

My subject today is the probate records of Stephen Hazard (1665-1727) of South Kingstoqwn, Washington county, Rhode Island, the son of Robert Hazard and Mary Brownell. He married Elizabeth Helme (1677-1727) in 1695, and they had nine children.

Stephen Hazard, yeoman of South Kingstown, died testate, having written a will dated 19 September 1727, which was proved 9 October 1727. The will reads (transcribed from the South Kingstown Probate and Town Council Records, Volume 2, Pages 78-87, accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,931,833, a clerk's copy):

"In the name of God amen. The Ninteenth day of September Anno Domini 1727. Stephen Hassard of South Kingstown In his Majesty's Colony of Rhode Island and providence plantation in New England yeoman, being weak of body but of perfect mind and Memory thanks be given unto God therefore. Calling into mind the mortality of My Body and Knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to die, do make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament - that is to say principally and first of all I give and Recommend my Soul unto the Hands of god that gave it, and my body I do Recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian buriall, at the Discretions of my Executors hereafter Named - and as touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath Pleased god to bless me with in this Life, I give Demise and dispose of the Same in the Manner and forme Following Viz.

"Imprimus. I give unto my well beloved Son Stephen Hassard Whome I Likewise Constitute make and Ordain my Executor of this my Last will and Testament a Certain parcel of Land where I now live in point Judah Neck in South Kingstown in the Colony afore Said by my Estimation one hundred and fifty acres, Bounded as followeth viz; Easterly on the Salt Sea Southerly on land in the occupation of Nathaniel Niles Westerly on Land belonging to the Heirs of Jeffrey Champlin of Said town Deceased Northerly on a Stone Wall that Runs from the Sea a Cross my homestead Meadow Westerly and So as the sd Wall Ranges across my homestead Pasture with all the housing thereon to him his heirs and assignes for ever. Provided my sd Son Stephen Hassard pay unto my Son Samuel Hassard fifty pounds and my Daughter Hannah Mumford fifty pounds within one year after my Decease out of his own Estate in Lew of Said Land.

"Item. I also give to my Said Son Stephen Hassard fifty acres of land in the Northwest Corner of my sd Homestead farme bounded Southerly on Said Land Belonging to the heirs of the sd Jeffry Champlin Deceased Westerly on Land belonging to George Hassard Junr Northerly on Land in the Occupation of William Robinson Easterly on the Remaining part of my said Homestead farm which said fifty acres of Land I gave to my Said Son Stephen Hassard his heirs and assigns for ever he paying to the Colony when Said Land Lies Mortgaged to the Colony for.

"Item. I give to my well beloved Son Robert Hassard whom I Likewise Constitute make and Ordain My Last will and Testament a certain parcell of Land being the Remaining part of my homestead farm where I now live in point Judah Neck in South Kingstown aforesd bounded Easterly partly on the Salt Sea and partly on land in the occupation of Danll McCoone Southerly partly on the afore Mentioned Stone wall and partly on Land belonging to the Heirs of the said Jeffrey Champlin Deceased Westerly partly on the Land belonging to the heirs of the sd Jeffrey Champlin Deceased and partly on the afore Mentioned fifty acres given to my said Son Stephen Hassard, and Northerly partly on land in the Occupation of William Robinson and partly on Land in the Occupation of Danll McCoone to him his heirs and assigns for ever provided he pay unto my Son Samuel Hassard one hundred and fifty pounds Out of his own estate in Lew thereof in one year after my Decease.

"Item. I give to my Said Son Robt Hassard my Negro man Servant Called Long Jo: to him his heirs and assigns for ever.

"Item. I give to my well Beloved Son Samuel Hassard a Certain parcell of Land Scituate Lying and being in North Kingstown in the Colony aforesd Called Middleport Neck containing by Estimation Two hundred acres be it more or Less butted and bounded as followeth - Northerly on the Salt water Bay Easterly on the Salt water partly and partly on a beach, southerly on the Salt water partly and partly on the Mill River Westerly on the Land in the Occupation of John Pender to him his heirs and assigns for Ever also I give unto my said Son Samuel Hassard a Certain parcell of Land in sd town bounded Northerly on a brook Called and Known by the Name of Cousinses Brook Easterly on Land Late of Thomas Eldred Deceased Southerly on Capt. Benoni Sweet's Land and Westerly on a highway on Country Roade to him his heirs and assignes for ever.

"Item. I also give to my said Son Samuel Hassard the one half of my Meadow and Pasture Land which I have on the gual (?) Island Lying in the Point Judah ponds in South Kingstown aforesd Called by the name of Mumford's Island being the Westernmost part of my said right on said Island Bounded Northerly and Westerly on the Salt water Easterly on the Remaining part of my said Land on said Island Southerly partly on the Land of Jahleel Bunton Esqr and partly on the Salt water to him his heirs and assigns for ever.

"Item. I give to my beloved son Thomas Hassard a Certain parcell of Land lying and being in sd North Kingstown Containing by Estimation three hundred Acres be it more or less bounded Northerly partly on Coles harbor so called and partly on Samuel Slocumbs Land and the Mill pond and partly on a Driftway and Thomas Places Land Easterly on sd Coles harbor Southerly on William Coles Land partly and partly on Land late of Thomas Eldredes Decesed and partly on the said Cousinses Brook Westerly partly on the Country Roade and partly on the said Thomas Places Land to him his heirs and assignes for ever.

"Item. I also give to my son Thomas Hassard all my Remaining part of my Said Land Lying in said Mumford's Island (so called) being the Easternmost half of said Land on the Said Island bounded Northerly and Easterly on the Salt Water Southerly on Land belonging to Jahleel Bunton Esqr westerly on the halfe part before given to my Said Son Samuel Hassard to him his heirs and assigns for ever.

"Item. I also give to my well beloved Son Samuel Hassard My Negro man Servant Called Short Jo: and my Negro woman Servt Called Megg to him his heirs and assigns for ever.

"Item. I also give to my well beloved Son Thomas Hassard my Negro Boy Servt called Jeffery to him his heirs and assigns for ever.

"Item. I give to my well beloved Daughter Hannah Mumford Two hundred and fifty pounds in Money to be paid by My Executor out of my Moveable Estate within one year after my Decese.

"Item. I give to my well beloved Daughter Susannah Perry two Hundred and fifty pounds in money to be paid by my Executor within one year after my Decease.

"Item. I give to my well beloved Daughter Elisabeth Hassard Six hundred pounds in Money to be paid by my Executors within one year after my Decease.

"Item. I give to my well beloved Daughter Sarah Hassard Six hundred pounds in Money to be paid by my Executors out of my Moveable Estate when she shall attaine to the age of Eighteen years or Day of Marriage wch shall first happen.

"Also my will is that the Legacies given by me to my two Daughters Susannah Perry and my Daughter Elizabeth Hassard be paid out of my Moveable Estate and also hereby utterly Disallow Revoke And Disannul all and every other former Testament wills Legacies and bequeaths and Executors by me in any wise before Named willed and bequeathed, Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last will and Testament. In Witness where of I have hereunto Set my hand and Seale the Day and yeare above written. Also my will is that my Son Robert Hassard pay to the Colony what that part of the land herein Given to him Lies Mortgaged to the Colony for. Signed Sealed published pronounced and Declared by the said Stephen Hassard as his Last will and Testament in the presence of us the Subscribers
-------------------------------------------------------- Stephen Hassard (seal)
John Browning
Samll Mott
George Hassard Junr"

The witnesses appeared before the Court on 9 October 1727 and declared under oath that Stephen Hassard Esqr of South Kingstown deceased signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared this to be his last will and testament, and according to the best of their understanding that he was in a sound and disposing mind and memory and that they signed the will as witnesses in his presence.

An inventory of the extensive moveable estate of Stephen Hassard Esqr late of South Kingstown in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation was taken on the 3rd day of November 1727 by Dannll Macknoon, Robert Hassard and George Hassard Junr. The inventory was apprized at 2,760 pounds, 18 shillings. The inventory included:

* Wearing apparel - 40 pounds, 12 shillings
* Paper money - 67 pounds
* Silver money (3 ounces 2 grains) - 2 pounds, 8 shillings
* Bonds for which the money is due on the next December 20th - 322 pounds
* Several other bonds - 142 pounds, 15 shillings
* Book debts - 126 pounds, 19 shillings, 1 pence
* Money due by noted under hand - 40 pounds, 2 shillings
* A Negro man servant named Jo: - 100 pounds
* A Negro woman slave named Megg - 80 pounds
* a Negro boy slave called Jeffery - 85 pounds


Kitchen ware, furniture, foodstuffs, supplies, livestock (swine, cattle, horse, oxen, sheep and lambs), fowl, were also itemized over five pages of items.

On 13 November 1727, the Court requested the executors to return to the Court after 12 months and provide a true account of their administration of the estate of Stephen Hassard late of Kingstown deceased.

No other probate records were found.

It seems like Stephen Hazard's wife, Elizabeth, had died before he wrote his will.

He bequeaths land to sons Stephen, Robert, Samuel and Thomas. He bequeathed money to daughters Hannah Mumford, Susannah Perry, Elizabeth Hazard and Sarah Hazard. These are the eight living children of Stephen and Elizabeth (Helme) Hazard.

One of the peculiar things about Rhode Island probate records is they don't list real estate in the inventories. Stephen Hazard disposed of his real estate through his will. I wonder why there is the disparity in the amounts willed to the married daughters (250 pounds) and the unmarried daughters (600 pounds)? Perhaps he had given land to the husbands of the married daughters previously. A search for land records might reveal this.

Stephen Hazard was one of my "richest" ancestors. Some of his personal property were at least four slaves (although only three are listed in the inventory), and they were highly valued. I wonder what happened to them? I also wonder what 2,760 pounds is worth in 2010 money?

Thomas Hazard, the third eldest living son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Helme) Hazard, was my ancestor, and received 300 acres of land in North Kingstown. Thomas Hazard (1707-1741) married Hannah Slocum (1710-1737) in 1727, and they had only one child, Stephen Hazard (1730-1804) who lived on the North Kingstown property. Now I know why they moved to North Kingstown.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Your post got me to thinking about how to convert the value of Stephen Hazard's estate into current dollars. The best article that I found, describing why this is not an easy process, is at
http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/michener.american.colonies.money.
Yes, your Stephen was well-to-do.