Monday, April 22, 2013

Amanuensis Monday - Probate Records of Nathaniel Potter (1637-1704) of Dartmouth, Mass.

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 Nathaniel Potter (1637-1704) of Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts.  Nathaniel Potter married Elizabeth Stokes (1639-????) before 1664.  They had eleven children:

*  Stokes Potter (1664-1718)
*  John Potter (1666-1769)
*  Nathaniel Potter (1667-1736)
*  William Potter (1671-1720)
*  Benjamin Potter (1673-1709)
*  Mary Potter (1675-1752), married Samuel Wilbur (1664-1740)
*  Samuel Potter (1675-1748)
*  Ichabod Potter (1677-1755)
*  Rebecca Potter (1681-1773), married Robert Kirby (1673-1757)
*  Elizabeth Potter (1683-1713), married Benjamin Tripp (1678-1754)
*  Katherine Potter (1685-1763), married Thomas Cornell (1685-1763)

Nathaniel Potter died testate, having written his will on 18 October 1704, which was proved on 20 November 1704.  The will reads (transcribed from Bristol County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, Volume 2, Page 114, a probate court clerk's copy, accessed by Randy Seaver on FHL Microfilm 0,461,882):

"In the Name of God Amen the Eighteenth Day of October in the year of our Lord God (1704) I Nathaniel Potter of Dartmouth in the County of Bristoll Yeoman or Husbandman, being of perfect mind & Memory Thanks be given to God, Do make & ordain this my last will & Testament That is to say. Principally & first of all I give & Recomend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it.  And as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give Devise & dispose of the same in the following maner forme.

"Imp-s.  I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Potter my well beloved wife (whom I make my Executor with Stokes Potter my son / both of them together to fulfill this my last will) To my wife I give & bequeath all my Moveables, with her Liveing in the house all her life, Remaining in my name, and the third of my Estate, and to my other Executor my son Stokes Potter the halfe of my land, which is to say on the southward side of the Highway = Imprimis I give to my son John Potter the other halfe on the North side of the Highway with the house & Orchard.


"Imp-s.  I give to my son Nathaniel Potter one shilling.

"Imp-s.  I give to my son William Potter four 4 pounds after my decease.  Allso I give to my son Banja- Potter the sum of three pounds after my Decease.  Allso I give to my son Samuel Potter the sum of twelve pence 00=01=00.  Allso I give to my Daughter Mary Willbor the sum of two pounds or a Cow.  Allso I give to my Daughter Rebeckah Kerby the sum of two pounds or a cow.  Allso I give to my Daughter Elizabeth Potter the sum of three pounds after my Decease.  allsoe I give to my Daughter Katherine Potter the sum of four pounds when she is come of age.

"Item.  I give to my son Icabode Potter two acres of land upon the East side of the Brook out of the other lands which that I gave to Stokes and John take nottice that these three words that are Enterlined in the 14th line which are (Remaining in my name) & three words blotted in the 16 line were all done before signeing & sealeing.

"Imp-s. I desire my Loveing Friends James Tripp & Hugh Mosher to be my overseers to Advise my Executor in the performance of this my will

"Signed in presence of ....................................................... his mark
Stephen Wilcock ...................................................... Nathaniel  X  Potter (seal)
Thomas Lake ..................................................................... & seal
John Lake (his mark)"

"Thomas Lake & John Lake of Dartmouth personally Appearing before me Nathaniel Byfield Esq-r Judge of the Probate of wills &c for the County of Bristoll made Oath that they were present with Stephen Wilcocks as witnesses and did see Nathaniel Potter signe seale & Publish the within written as his last will and Testament and that to the best of their understanding he was of a sound mind and that then Stephen Willcocks with themselves did then set to their hands as witnesses: Bristoll Novb-r 20: 1704.
................................................................. Jur-t Coram  Natha-l Byfield"

The inventory of his estate was taken by Jonathan Davil, Thomas Lake and Phillip Tabor on 25 October 1704, and totaled 198 pounds, 12 shillings, 6 pence (Bristol County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, Volume 2, Page 115, on FHL Microfilm 0,461,882):

"Octob-r the 25th 1704

"A true Inventory taken of the lands and Estate of Nathanel Potter Lately deceased by we whose names are under written.

"One house and land at ...................................................................  102=00=00
more to a peice of meadow lyeing at the westernmost arm ............18=00=00
To two beds bedsteads and furniture ............................................   .08=18=00
To Brass ware ........................................................................................1=04=00
To Potts Kettles & other Iron ware .......................................................2=07=06
To Pueter Glass bottles and Earthen ware ...........................................1=01=06
To a Loome tablin & Cheese Press ..........................................................2=12=06
To a Cart & wheels and Plow tarbling .....................................................1=18=00
Axes a hoe & old Iron ..............................................................................0=13=00
English Corn and Indian Corn ................................................................8=10=00
Hay 3 Horse Kind at ........................................................................... .08=10=00
two Oxen 5 Cowes 3 yearlings one Calfe ......................................  018=03=00
To 19 Sheep 10 Swine .................................................................... 006=06=00
To time in a Prentice Girl .............................................................  002=10=00
To Tubbs Barley and other wooden ware ...................................  001=01=00
To four Spining wheels ................................................................. 000=17=00
To three Chests & Chaires ..........................................................  002=06=00
To yarn and wooll ........................................................................ 002=10=00
To a Sadle Bridle pannel and Pillion ...........................................  002=04=00
To Cheese Apples salt and beanes ..............................................  001=16=00
To wearing Cloathes and other small things ..............................  002=18=00
To Table Linin .............................................................................  002=10=00
.....................................................................................................-----------------
..................................................................................................... 198=12=06

Jonathan Davil
Thomas Lake
Phillip Tabor

"Bristoll ye Nov-b-r 20th 1704
"Before Nathaniel Byfield Esq-r Judge of Probate of wills &c within the County of Bristoll Appeared Elizabeth Potter & Stokes Potter Executors to the Last will and Testament of Nathaniel late of Dartmouth Deceased and made Oath that the above written is a true & just Inventory of the Estate left by the said Deceased to the best of their present Knowledge and that when they Know of any more they will Reveal it &c.
Jur-t coram Nathan-l Byfield"

The Account of the Executors was presented to the Court at Bristol on 5 April 1710, and was approved the same day.  The Account reads (transcribed from Bristol County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, Volume 2, Page 280, on FHL Microfilm 0,361,882):

"The Accompt of elizabeth Potter Executrix to the last will & Testament of Natha-l Potter late of Dartmouth within the County of Bristol Der-d April ye 5th 1710 to the Honorable Natha-l Byfield Esq-r Judge of probate of wills &c within said County.  May it please your Hon-r your Accompant hath Recovered no Debts to add to this accompt.

'THe Accomptant desireth allowance for these debts and Legacies payd out of the Estate as followeth.

Legacies payd
payd to Nicholas Howland ..............1=01=00               
To Mary Wilbore by Receipt ......02=00=00
payd to Amos Sheffield ................. 1=01=00               
To Benja- Potter as p- Receipt .... 03=00=00
To James Tripp ............................ 1=16=00               
To William Potter as p- Receipt ..  04=00=00
To Joseph anthony ......................  0=12=00               
To Robert Kerbee as by Receipt . 02=00=00
To Daniel Howland ......................  0=09=06               
To Benjamin Tripp ..................... 03=00=00
To John Allbro ............................  0=09=00                
To Samuel Potter ....................... 00=01=00
To Hugh Mosher .........................  1=00=00
To William Macumber .................  0=03=00
To Robert Fish ............................ 0=03=00
To Joseph Wanton ...................... 0=09=04
To Thomas Sales .......................  0=06=00
To Jonathan Devol ......................  0=06=00
To Thomas Rogers .....................  0=09=00
for Rates ......................................  2=12=00
To Captain Pope ........................  0=08=09
To Francis Allwayes ................... 0=03=00
................................................... --------------
...................................................... 25=09=07

"Elizabeth Potter personally appearing made oath to this acco-t of her Executorship of her husbands Estate in Complyance with his will which being examined with the voushers rendered therewith is approved off and allowed so farr & order to be of Record in Bristol this fifth day of April in ye 9th year of her Majesties Reign Annoqu Domini 1710. Byfield"

Nathaniel Potter named all eleven of his children in his will, plus his wife.  

I descend through the daughter, Rebecca Potter, who married Robert Kirby in about 1701, and their son, Ichabod Kirby (1710-1794).

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/04/amanuensis-monday-probate-records-of_22.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

3 comments:

Geolover said...

I love it when you post transcripts of estate inventories!

The word following "Loom" on line 7 is probably "Tacklin" (or maybe "taclin"). The "tackling" was the equipment associated with the loom: especially heddles and reeds, but perhaps also shuttles that bore the crosswise yarns to interlace them, and spare parts (such as harnesses and later, temples that held part of the fabric to full width).

T said...

OH HAPPY DAY!!!! Samuel Wilbore and Mary potter are my ancestors!! May I use your research on my family tree at ancestry.com?? If so, how would you like to be credited?

goneresearching said...

Randy

How much to you know about the Potters? I just today ran across a land deed that a Nathaniel Potter's widow sold to what I believe is my ancestor.

Due to some wording in the land record I started to investigate Nathaniel -- it looks like to me people have smashed together a least a couple Nathaniel guys into one. Trying to make some sense of this.