Monday, April 1, 2013

Amanuensis Monday - Probate Records of Job Card (1653-1739) of Charlestown, R.I.

Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started a 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."

The subject today is the probate file of Job Card (1653-1739) of Charlestown, Rhode Island
. Job Card married (1) Martha Acres (1668-1716) in 1689, and they had six children:  Job Card (1690-1760); Rebecca Card (1694-before 1739); Martha Card (1699-1789), Margery Card (1702-????); Jane Card (1703-1727); Sarah Card (1705-????).  Job Card married (2) Margery (Acres) Tosh (1665-1724) in 1716, and they had no children together.  Job Card married (3) Hannah (Holloway) Bull (1667-????) in 1724, and they had no children together.


Job Card of South Kingstown died testate, having written a will dated 5 January 1730/1, which was proved in Charlestown on 7 September 1739. The will reads (transcribed from "Charlestown (R.I.) Probate Records, Volumes 1-5," Volume 1, pages 84-88, accessed on FHL Microfilm 2,319,104):

"I Job Card of South Kingstown in Kings County in the Colony of Rhode Island in New england Being in perfect Mind and Memory Doe mak and ordain this my Last will and testament this twenty fifth Day of January 1730/1 Disanuling all wills Made by me before the date hereof. First and principly I Recomend my Soul to God the great Creator and my Body to my friends to Be buried Decently.


"2ly My will is that all those Depts that I owe in right to all persons what Soever Be well and truly paid by My Executor Here after named.

"Item I Give and bequeath unto my son Job Card all my Lands Housings and fencing and all Previlidges thereunto Belonging in South Kingstown and Westerly and further I Give to my Son Job Card Whom I Make my hole and Soul Executor of all money With all Money due by Bonds of what Nature or Kind Soever upon Mee with as Much of the Rest of the Moveable Estate with the money Afore-sd which may Be to the value of What Soever Gifts or Bequeasements which I after will or Bequesth which Shall be part by My Executor out of the money and Movable Estate and the Rest of my Moveable Estate after the Gifts and bequeathments and all other Chareges be full paid and Discharged my will is that the Rest of my Movables be Equally devided to my four Children Job Card Rebeckah Torch Margery Foster & Sarah Sheffield Eqully to In Joy their Equl part of sd Movables first before Devision.

"My will is that my well Beloved wife Hannah Card have all the Movable Estate that She Brought to me and Eighty pounds in money or pasable Bills of puplick Credit which is in full of all her wright and power of thirds to my Estate ??? was agreed on before marriage.

"Item I Give to my Daughter Rebeckah Torsh Sixty pounds in money or pasable bills of publick Credit and to her Son Job Torsh thirty pounds in good pasable bills of Credit or Spasur (?) and my Land in the Corn Neck.  Likewise I give to my Daughter Rebeckah torsh Afore-sd.

"Further I will and bequeth to my Daughter Margery Foster one hundred pounds in money or pasable Bills of publick credit and her Son Card Foster thirty pounds in like money or Spasua.

"Item I Give to my Daughter Martha or John Rathbone one shilling in money.

"Item I have given to Isaac Sheffield a peace or tract of Land by deed A??? his house Stands in full of my Daughter Jane Sheffields portion.

"Item I give to my Daughter Sarah Sheffield one hundred pounds in money or pasable Bills of publick Credit and her first son Josua Rathbun thirty pounds in money Courant as afor-sd.

"Item I give to my Daughter Jane Sheffield two children Mary Sheffield and Martha Sheffield Sixty pounds that is to say thirty pounds in money or pasable Bills of publick Credit to Each of them the sd Mary and Martha Sheffield and the Gifts or bequeasements my will is that my granChildren Receive of my Executor the male at the age of twenty one years old and the female at the age of Eighteen years old and the Rest of my Gifts my will is that my Executor Job Card whome I Make ordain and Impower and Constitute to be my hole Executor to Receive all and Every dept due to me and to pay all Depts and Gifts afore-sd Signed Sealed and Declared to be my Last will and testament.  The words Spasua is to be understood ... Cattle Sheep horses or hogs.
Job Card (seal)
"Before us--
Benjami Perry
John X Badgood
Elizabeth Perry

"Rhode Island
Kings County Charlestown September the 7th 1739
Benjamin Perry and Elizabeth Perry apeared In council the date above sd and declared upon their Solom Ingagement that they saw the testator Job Card Sign Seal publish and declare the above written to be his Last will and testament and that at the same time he was in his perfect mind & memory and that they with John Badgood Signed att the same time as with??? for ??? presents.  The above will is Excepted by the Council and ordered to be Recorded Signd by order of sd Council this 7th day of September ad 1739  attest William Clark Council Clerk."

"Know all men by these presents that I Hannah Card of Charlestown in Kings County in the Colony of Rhode island & providence plantations in new england widow and Relict of Job Card of sd town County and Colony afor-sd Do for and In Consideration of a Valuable Sum of money all Ready Received of my Son in Law Job Card of South Kingstown in the County & Colony above-sd to my full satisfaction & Content doe hereby sett for myself and my heirs agree and Discharge all the Estate both Real and personal that my Husband Dyed seized of from having any demands hereafter Change or demand to any part of sd Estate Either by Right of Dowery or thirds or by any other demands what Soever In wittness hereof I have set to my hand & seal this 7th Day of September 1739.
Hannah Card (seal)

"Signed Sealed and Delivered
In Presents
John Hall
Joseph Hossie

"The Subscribers personally appeared the day & year above written and acknowledged the above acquittance to be her act and deed Before Me William Clark Justice.

"The above acquittance is Recorded this 8th Day of September 1739 by me William Clark Council Clerk."

"By Virtue of the Power Granted to the town Council of the Town of Charlestown In the County of Kings County in the Colony of RhodeIsland &c for the Probate of Wills and Granting Letters of Administration within sd TownShip

"To all People to Whome These Presents Shall come Greeting &c we the Council of the Town above sd acording to the power Invested In us doe truly Give Grant and fully Impower Job Card of the town of South Kingstown In the County and Colony above sd Executor to the Last will & Testament of his Deceased father Job Card to administrate upon all and singler the Estate Goods Chattels and Credits of his sd father & to act & doe Respecting the Same Whatsoever in Needfull Nessary & proper to be done provided it Be Correspondant with & Exactly agreeable to the Laws of the Colony in Such Cases made and provided &c.

"In testamony of which & ... Confirmation of the Prises By order & in behalf of the sd Council I have given forth This power of administration Under My hand and Seal in Charlestown this Eighth day of October one thousand Seven Hundred Thirty Nine, Attest William Clark Council Clerk.

"This above Letter of Administration Is Entered this 9th day of October 1739 by Me William Clark Council Clerk."

"A True Inventory of all the Goods Chattels and Credits of Job Card Late of Charlestown Deceased That was brought to our Vers prised By us the Subscribers acording to the Best of our Judgement and Understanding This 14th Day of September 1739.

"Imprimus To his Waring Clothes Riding Beast Sadle and Bridle . 32--00--0
To 6 oxen ...................................................................... ......  110--00--0
To 12 Cowes ...................................................................... ..   80--00--0
To one Mare ...................................................................... ...   01--00--0
To 33 Loads and 1/2 of Hay ....................................................  67--00--0
To 8 Cowes one Bull and one Steer .........................................  10--00--0
To 4 Calves ...................................................................... ....   06--00--0
To Wheales tire Boxes and hoops ...........................................  10--00--0
To 4 Chaines ...................................................................... ...  04--00--0
To 3 pare Cuples Ring Staple Chines and pin ...........................  00--15--0
To one trained 2 pitch forks one Square and ads ...................... 01--09--0
To one Chisel 2 oargers 2 Saws one old Sith ............................ 00--10--0
To 7 Cheares and puter ..........................................................  06--08--0
To 48 Cheeses ...................................................................... 18--00--0
To Old Trays one Churn and other Wooden ware ...................... 01--00--0
To Cards hows wich (?) and other old Iron ................................  00--04--0
To 2 Books ...................................................................... .....  00--14--0
To old kettels one pot one frying pan ........................................ 05--00--0
To one Branding iron one pare of Sheep Sheers ........................ 00--05--0
To 2 old Sues and 2 hogseds ..................................................  01--03--0
To 2 poudering tubs ................................................................ 01--05--0
To a hogshead and Molasses in ?? ..........................................  08--00-0
To a Candle Box and Candles ..................................................  00--12--0
To a Butter tub and Sope tub ...................................................  00--10--0
To 2 Bottles ...................................................................... .....  00--02--0
To 3 old Chests and a pare of money Scales ............................  01--00--0
To 3 Loads of hay and a Stack of oats .....................................  13--10--0
To a peace of corn and Beans .................................................  09--00-0
To Cash ...................................................................... ...........  04--03--0
To one Spade 2 hogsheads .....................................................  00--10--0
To 2 Wheeles a peace of wisted Corne .....................................  01--00-0
To one Shie one pare of tongues one tramel ..............................  01--00-0
To one Table ...................................................................... .....  00--15--0
To one hide 3 Calve Skins ........................................................  00--02--0
To 30 pounds of Wooll and 8 pounds of Wisted ..........................  08--10--0
To one pare of plow irons Meal Chest and gridIron ......................  01--12--0
To one side Saddle and Bridle ..................................................  20--00--0
To 9 Blankits and a Coverled ....................................................  10--00--0
To one bed and underbed and Bolster .......................................  10--00--0
To one Bed and furniture 2 Bedsteds ........................................  14--00--0
To one flock bed and furniture ...................................................  05--00--0
To one Negro Woman .............................................................. 100-00--0
To one Negro Boy ................................................................... 060-00--0
To one Negro Garle ................................................................. 050--00--0
To 2 Grinstons one Cheas pot and Shufel ..................................   00--08--0
To New Boards ...................................................................... .   08--09--0
To one table cloath 2 towels and piller Case ..............................   00--06--0
To Leather and yearn ............................................................... 01--12--0
To 8 hogs ...................................................................... .........  21--00--0
To 2 Candlesticks and tub ........................................................  00--07--0
To 12 Cattle ...................................................................... ......  68--00--0
To flax ...................................................................... ..............  01--00--0
To a money box ...................................................................... .  00--01--0
To 37 Bonds ...................................................................... ... 1164--01--7
To a pare of gloves and Goose ..................................................  00--06--0
To a Warming pan and ketchel .................................................  01--00--0
To one Sith ...................................................................... ........  00--03--0
To one Corne ...................................................................... .....  00--01--0
To 23 Sheep ...................................................................... ......  72--00--0
========================================================
Total Sum          2078--03-1

Benjamin Perry Junr
Job Babcock Junr."

"The widow Hanah Card wife to the Deceased Job Card and Job Card Son & Executor to the Last will & Testament to the Deceased Job Card appeared in Council in Charlestown this 8th Day of October 1739 and made oath that what is Contained In this Inventory is the whole of her Deceased husbands and his deceased fathers personal Estate to the Best of their Knowledge and further that if any More of his sd Estate Should hereafter Come to their Knowledge They will Cause the Same to Be added to this Inventory / Attest William Clark C. Clerk.

"Job Babcock Junr and Mr Benjamin Perry Junr Inventoryest to sd Inventory appeared in Council in Charlestown the Day and year above sd and Made oath they have put a true Estimation on all the personal Estate of the sd Deceased Job Card that was presented to them acording to the best of their Judgement. Attest William Clark Council C.
Entered on Record 9th Day of October 1739.

"An adtion to an Inventory of what was Brought to our view of the Estate of Job Card of Charlestown Late Deceased prised By us the Subscribers the first Day of December AD 1739

To Cash .............................................................. 26--00--0
To one Cow ......................................................... 12--00--0
To 91 Sheep ........................................................ 72--00--0
To one bond ........................................................ 29--17--6
To one Boot (?) .................................................... 10--05--0
To one old ax ....................................................... 00--04--0
=============================================
150--06--6
Benjamin Perry Junr
Job Babcock Junr"

"An addition to inventory of the Estate of the Late Deceased Job Card of Charlestown which was brought yo our view as the Subscribers acording to the best of our Judgement and ??????????? This 17th Day of March AD 1739/40.

To yarn ................................................................ 03--09--0
To Leather ............................................................ 02--05--0
===============================================
05--14--0
Benjamin Perry Junr
Job Babcock Junr.

Turn to the ninty 3d page for more."

Unfortunately, I did not turn to the 93rd page for more inventory of the estate of Job Card.  Job Card died with a fairly large estate, with over half of it in bonds.  Son Job Card received all of the land, except for the dower rights of Job's wife. 

There is some confusion in Job Card's will - daughter Martha Card married Joshua Rathbone in 1721, but daughter Sarah (Card) Sheffield had a son Joshua Rathbun about that time.  That son may have been out of wedlock with her sister's future of current husband.

Daughter Jane Card married Isaac Sheffield in 1720, and died in 1727 after bearing two children mentioned in the will.  Whereupon Isaac Sheffield married Jane's sister, Sarah Card.

The other three children identified in the will are straightforward - Job Card (my ancestor), Rebecca (Card) Torsh (Tosh?) and Margery (Card) Foster.


Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hello Randy,
in your post of 1 April 2013 concerning the Probate records for Job Card's estate, you included at the end, "The other three children identified in the will are straightforward - Job Card (my ancestor), Rebecca (Card) Torsh (Tosh?) and Margery (Card) Foster." Job is my ancestor also, but it was your ref. to Rebecca "Torsh" which I wanted to comment on.
I have Rebecca as m. Acres Tosh on 6 Jul 1709 at New Shoreham. I am not absolutely certain of this since I did this research some time ago (I was not so great at citations then) and only in relation to Acres' sister Sarah (Tosh) (Ross) Larkin. Sarah, as I have her, was b. 26 Aug 1693 at New Shoreham. Her 1st husband John Ross was a suspect in the murdered of Robert Babcock, s/o John & Mary Lawton, I am told, but know little else (source was noted as being the 1903 Babcock genealogy, pp23-24). John died around 1727 and in about 1731 Sarah m. Samuel3 Larkin (Edward2-1) and caused untold confusion & annoyance to Larkin researchers from that time forward =o)
At any rate the Tosh siblings, as I have them, were children of Daniel & Margery Acres.
-- April (Larkin) King