Monday, May 6, 2013

Amanuensis Monday - Probate Records of Edward Carr (1669-1712) of Jamestown, 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 Edward Carr (1669-1712) of Jamestown, Newport County, Rhode Island.  He married Hannah Stanton in 1686, and they had nine children (all born in Jamestown, Newport County, Rhode Island:


*  Edward Carr (1689-1748), married Naomi Barton.
*  Hannah Carr (1691-????), married Samuel Slocum (my line)
*  Mary Carr (1693-????), married Isaac Chapman
*  Mercy Carr (1696-????), married ???? Paine
*  Avis Carr (1698-1753), married Hezekiah Gorton 
*  Patience Carr (1701-1753), married Robert Westgate
*  James Carr (1703-1791), married Abigail Cary
*  Phebe Carr (1706-????)
*  Sarah Carr (1708-1752), married Resolved Waterman


Edward Carr, yeoman of Jamestown,  died testate, having written a will dated 22 December 1711, which was proved 22 January 1712 (Land Evidence Records, 1680-1899, Jamestown, Rhode Island, Volume 1, page 147-151 (probate clerk record, handwritten, page 117-121 typescript), accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,946,901).  The will and other probate records read:

"In the name of God Amen.  This 22nd of December and in the ninth year of our sovereign Lady Ann Queen of Great Britain, and in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eleven, Edward Carr of Jamestown in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England in America Yeoman, being weak and much impaired in body but of perfect mind thanks be given unto the Lord for the same, therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body, and well knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die, do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say.

"First and principally I give my soul to God who gave it to me, and for my body I commend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian and decent manner by my executrix and executor hereafter named, but as for each worldly estate as it pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give and bequeath and bestow in manner and form following.

"Imprimus, That all my just debts which I owe unto any person or persons shall be paid by my executrix and executor in convenient time after my decease.

"Item, I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Hannah Carr all my household stuff that I shall not dispose of in this my before my decease, and my negro woman, and my Silver Beer Cup, and all my Silver Spoons that are of mine and her mark, all to be at her disposal at her decease amongst my Children or to which of them she see cause to give them to, and further my Will is that my wife shall have equal liberty in my new dwelling-house as long as she remain a widow, and to have the care of my children and see that they are all brought up soberly without charge to any of them, and to learning as my executrix and executor shall think meet.

"Item, I give to my son Edward Carr his heirs executors administrators and assigns forever, half of my farm that I now live on being the northern half with my right of land in Gould Island, and half right in the township and Common so called, with my home and housing, Cribs Carts Plows and all other things that are mine that belong to farming Chains or other utensils, and my Great Andirons, my Tongs and my Great Table that stands in the lower room all which I give to him his heirs executors administrators and assigns forever.

"Item, I give to my son James Carr his heirs executors, administrators and assigns forever, the southern-most half of the farm which I now live on with a small house on it in the southeast corner of said land with my right in Dutch Island, and half my right in the Township and Common so called to be his heirs executors administrators and assigns forever.  With my Great Chest and one Silver Spoon with his own mark all to be kept in the hand of my executrix and executor till my said son James come to the age of twenty-one years old.

"Item, I give to my daughter Hannah Slocum Five Pounds current money to be paid to her within two years after my decease by my executrix and executor hereafter named, besides what I have already given her.

"Item, I give to my daughter Mary Carr when she shall arrive at the age of eighteen years Ten pounds in money, and Ten Pounds more in a good feather bed and furniture all to be paid to her by my executrix and executor.

"Item, I give to my daughter Marcy Carr when she arrives at the age of eighteen years of age Ten Pounds in money and Ten Pounds more in a good feather bed and furniture all to be paid her by my executrix and executor hereafter named.

"Item, Alice Carr when she arrives at the age of eighteen years of age Ten Pounds in money and Ten Pounds more in a good Feather Bed and furniture all to be paid her my my executrix and executor hereinafter named.

"Item, I give to my daughter Patience Carr when she arrives at the age of eighteen years of age Ten Pounds in money and Ten Pounds more in a good Feather Bed and furniture all to be paid her my my executrix and executor hereinafter named.

"Item, I give to my daughter Phebe Carr when she arrives at the age of eighteen years of age Ten Pounds in money and Ten Pounds more in a good Feather Bed and furniture all to be paid her my my executrix and executor hereinafter named.

"Item, I give to my daughter Sarah Carr when she arrives at the age of eighteen years of age Ten Pounds in money and Ten Pounds more in a good Feather Bed and furniture all to be paid her my my executrix and executor hereinafter named.  Further, my Will is that if my son James should die before he comes to the age of twenty-one years old then my will is that his brother Edward Carr his heirs executors administrators and assigns forever shall what I have given him, and further my Will is that my well beloved wife shall be my executrix to this my last Will with my son Edward Carr shall be whole executor.  I revoke renounce frustrate and make void all wills by me formerly made, and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament.  In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal containing one sheet of paper with my name subscribed on the same side ye day and year above said. Interlined in eighteenth line (with my right in Gould Island and half my right in the Township so-called) before signing.

.......................................................................... Edward Carr (LS)

Signed and sealed
in presence of us the day and year
abovesaid                                          Personally appeared this 23rd day of December
John Stanton                                     1711 Edward Carr of Jamestown and did
Samson Batty                                    acknowledge the within instrument to be his
John Marshall                                     Last Will and Testament.
"Per Caleb Carr Deputy Warden.

"Samson Batty John Stanton and John Marshall personally appeared before the Council the 22nd of January 1711 or 1712 and upon their solemn engagement did declare that they saw the above said Edward Carr deceased sign seal and own the above written to be his last Will and Testament and at the signing and sealing he was in his perfect sense and memory when he desired us to sign as witnesses thereto.
Attest: Nicholas Carr Clerk of the Council.

"The above and within written  Will and Testament and Probation thereunto is recorded in the 147 148 & 149th ages of the book of Lands belonging to Jamestown.  Entered and recorded this 28th day of January 1711 or 1712.
Nicholas Carr Town Clerk.

"A true inventory of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of Edward Carr Yeoman, late of Jamestown in the Colony of Rhode Island in New England deceased, appraised the 8th day of the 11th mo called January 1711-12."

The inventory of the estate was appraised at 290 pounds, 01 shilling 08 pence by Joseph Mory and Nicholas Carr.

"Personally appeared Joseph Mory and Nicholas Carr the appraisers within mentioned and being engaged according to law, did declare the foregoing to be a true inventory of all the estate presented to their view and appraised according to the best of their understanding before me.
John Hall Head Warden

"Jamestown the 22nd of the 11th mo 1711-12
the inventory before going was entered upon record in the 150th page of the book of land evidence this 28th day of January 1711-12
Nicholas Carr Town Clerk.

"Whereas Hannah Carr and Edward Carr was ordered and appointed executrix and executor of the Last Will and Testament of Edward Carr dec. it was ordered by the Town Council of Jamestown sitting January 22nd 1711-12 that they should have a letter of administration they to faithfully to administer on said estate according to law.  These are therefore to grant unto the said Hannah Carr and Edward Carr full power and authority to take the said estate and every part and parcel thereof both real and personal thereof into their possession and do and execute and perform all and every act and acts, thing or things whatever in law is needful or necessary to be done by them in the discharge of their said office and duty of administrators on the said estate according to law and trust reposed in them.
Signed according to order the 23rd day of January 1711-12
Nicholas Carr Clerk of the Council
This Letter of Administration was entered upon record February 1711-12
Nicholas Carr Town Clerk."

Edward Carr named all of his living children (all nine were living in 1712) and the married name of his eldest daughter, Hannah (Carr) Slocum, wife of Samuel Slocum.  Samuel and Hannah (Slocum) are my 7th great-grandparents.

The will as I transcribed it names a daughter Alice, rather than Avis.  I don't know which is correct.  I obtained my initial information on the Carr family from:

Alden G. Beaman, "Lines of Descent from Caleb Carr of Newport," Rhode Island Genealogical Register, Volume 11 (1988), page 221.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/05/amanuensis-monday-probate-records-of.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

1 comment:

Geolover said...

Okay, I give. What is the "book of land evidence"?