Friday, December 1, 2017

52 Ancestors - Week 203: #282 Samuel Brown (1686-1749) of Eastham, Massachusetts

Samuel Brown (1686-1749) is #282 on my Ahnentafel List, my 6th great-grandfather, who married #283 Ruth Young (1688-1768) in 1708 in Eastham, Massachusetts.

I am descended through:

*  their daughter, #141  Mehitable Brown (1714-1758) who married #140 Thomas Dill (1708-1761)  in 1733.
*  their son, #70 Thomas Dill (1755-1836), who married Hannah Horton (1761-1797) in 1782. 
*  their daughter, #35 Elizabeth Horton Dill (1791-1869), who married  #34 Alpheus B. Smith (1802-1840) in 1826.
*  their daughter #17 Lucretia Townsend Smith (1828-1884)who married  #16 Isaac Seaver (1823-1901)  in 1851.
*  their son #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922) who married #9 Hattie Louisa Hildreth (1857-1920) in 1874.
*  their son #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942) who married #5 Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962) in 1900.
*  their son #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) who married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) in 1942.
*  their son #1 Randall Jeffrey Seaver (1943-living)

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1)  PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
    
*  Name:                          Samuel Brown[1-4]    
*  Sex:                             Male    

*  Father:                        George Brown (1651-1721)    
*  Mother:                      Mehitable Knowles (1653-1721)  

2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Birth:                           about 1686, Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States  
*  Distribution:               wife's father's estate distribution, 20 July 1719 (about age 33), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[4]  
*  Death:                         before 4 April 1749 (before about age 63), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[1]    
*  Probate:                      will proved, 4 April 1749 (about age 63), Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[1]  

3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
*  Spouse 1:                   Ruth Young (1688-1768)    
*  Marriage 1:                21 October 1708 (about age 22), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[2–3]    

*  Child 1:                     Abigail Brown (1709-    )    
*  Child 2:                     Samuel Brown (1711-1712)    
*  Child 3:                     Samuel Brown (1712-1738)    
*  Child 4:                     Mehitable Brown (1714-1758)    
*  Child 5:                     Ruth Brown (1716-1794)    
*  Child 6:                     Marcy Brown (1719-    )    
*  Child 7:                     Mary Brown (1722-    )    
*  Child 8:                     David Brown (1726-    )    
*  Child 9:                     Isaac Brown (1730-    )    
*  Child 10:                   John Brown (1732-    )  

4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):    


 Samuel Brown was born in about 1686 in Eastham, Massachusetts, the sixth child and fourth son of George and Mehitable (Knowles) Brown.  There is no record of his birth available.

He married Ruth Young, daughter of John and Ruth (Cole) Young of Eastham on 21 October 1708 in Eastham[2-3].  They had 10 children between 1709 and 1732, all born in Eastham, but only the first five were recorded in the town records.  

Samuel and Ruth (Young) Brown received a portion of Ruth's father's estate in 1721.  The articles of agreement for division, dated 20 July 1719, of the estate of John Young say[4]:

" Eightly The parties hereto do hereby mutually agree that Samuel Brown and his wife Ruth Brown shall have for their part of the abovesd Estate to be by them Their Heirs and assigns for Ever freely possessed and Enjoyed The one third part both for Quantity and Quality of the abovesd Twenty acre Lott lying in sd Harwich and also Sixteen pounds and five shillings in full of their parts of y^e abovesd Estate."

Samuel Brown obtained substantial real and personal property during his lifetime, but the land records of Barnstable County are not available to ascertain the details of the transactions.  His will describes some of the real property.

Samuel Brown died after he wrote his will on 24 March 1748 and before the will was proved in the Barnstable County Probate Court on 4 April 1749[1].

There is no burial record or known gravestone marker for Samuel Brown in Eastham or the surrounding towns.

The will of Samuel Brown of Eastham was written on 24 March 1748 and proved on 4 April 1749 in Barnstable County Probate Court[1]:

"In the Name of God Amen the twenty fourth Day of March one thousand Seven hundred & fourty Eight I Samuell Brown of Eastham in the County of Barnstable in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England Gentleman being ^Weak in body but^ of Perfect Disposing mind and Memory Thanks be given to God Caling to mind the Mortallity of my Boddy and knowing that it is appointed for man once to Dye Do make and ordain this my Last will & Testament That is to say Prinsiply  the hands of God that gave it and my Boddy I Recomend to the Earth to be Buried with Decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter Named Not Doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall Receive the same again by the almighty Power of God and as touching the worldly Estate wherewith it hath Pleased God to bless me withall in this Life I Give Demise & Dispose of the Same In the following Manner & form.

"Imprimus I give to my Beloved wife Ruth the whole Improvement of my Grist mill and fulling Mill During her Natural Life and the one half of my Dwelling house During her Natural Life and one feather Bed and Sutible furniture thereto and for her to have as much household Stuff to Improve as She shall have Occations for to use During her life and she shall have that Land and Meadow to Improvement that Lays to the Eastward of the mills that is fensd in and if what I have already set apart for her be not Sufficient for her Comfortable Subsisance My will is my son Isaac shall help her to what she shall have Occation for.

"Item I give and Bequeath to my son David Brown to him his heirs assigns forever Ten acres of Land on the Southerly side of the way whence his house stands and that Peise of salt Meadow I Bought of John atwood and the Nothermost Cedar swamp and the Land adjoining to it asside as said Cedar swamp and on half of my fulling mill and one Cow I have given her one bed already.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my son Isaac Brown to him his heirs & assigns forever my Dwelling house & barn and the Land from where about Jedidiah Lamberds late Dwelling house to the shore side and the Land & Meadow from said Dwelling house up to the Grist Mill and one half of the Grist Mill and three Quarters of the Meadow for Quantity & Quality I Bought of David Doane and the Middle Cedar Swamp & the Land against it on the Notherly side of the way and one featherbed and a Cow.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my son John Brown to him his heirs & assigns forever the one half of My fulling Mill and three acres of Land at the Notherly End of my meadow below the way and one Quarter for Quantity & Quality of the Meadow I Bought of David Doane and that Lot of Land Laid out to Me in the Last Division of Lands in the town of Eastham in the North Preceint and the Easternmost Cedar swamp and the Land against it to the highway and one feather bed & a Cow.

"Item I give and Bequeath to my Daughters Viz Abigals ^Children^ Mehittable Ruth Marcy and Mary to them their heirs and assigns forever the Land above the above the mills ^Improvement of^ which I have Given to my wife & one Peice of meadow in Partnership with Zoath Smith at Edmunds Island my Land and Meadows at Leist Island my Land and Meadow at Trifes Necke and one Peice of Land Laying at the Westward of ^Capt^ Jonathan Youngs and one Peice of Land that was added to my Common Rights in the Last Division that Lays above the Road above the Cedar Swamps all this to be in Equal Partnership Moreover I Give to my Daughter Mary one feather bed & furniture Sutable thereto I haveing Given to Each of my Daughters aforementioned one bed appease/

"Item my will is that the Remaining parts of my household Goods together with what my wife Shall have at her Decease shall be Equally Divided amonghts my five Daughters already Mentioned.

"Item My will is that if any other Lands or Meadows that are not already Mentioned Should appear to be mine that such Lands or Meadows shall be Equally Divided amonghts all my above Named Children.

"Item My will is that after my Just Debts and funeral Charges are Paid out of my stock the rest of my said Stock to be Divided Equally amonghts all my above Named Children.

"Item I do hereby Constitute make and ordain my son David Brown and my son Thomas Dill
to be my Executors of this my Last will and Testament.

"Item I Do hereby Utterly Disallow revoke Disannul all and Every other former Testaments wills Leaguaces bequests and Executors by me in any before named willed & Bequested Rattifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last will & Testaments In witnes whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the Day & year above written 

"Signed Sealed Published Pronounced
and Declared by the said Samuel
Brown as his Last will & Testament his
In Presence of us the Subscribers                                      Sam^ul X Brown 
Jonathan Young mark
Benjamin Cooke
Jonathan Young Jun^r

"Barnstable SS
Silvanus Bourn Esq^r Judge of Probates &c the foregoing will Being Presented for Probate by the Execut^rs therein Named Jonathan Young &Benjamin Cook two of the Subscribing Witnesses to said will Made oath they saw samuell brown Subscriber to this Instrument Sign & Seal and heard him Publish & Declare the same to be his Last will and Testament and that when he do did he was of sound and Disposing mind & Memory according to these Deponents best Disserning and that they Together with Jonathan Young Jun^r Set to their hands as witnesses thereof in Presence of the Testator.
April 4th 1749                                            Silvanus Bourn

"Province of the Massachusetts Bay by the Honourable Silvanus Bourn Esq^rJudge of the Probate of wills and for the Granting Letters of admin^n on the Estates of Persons Deceased having Goods Chattels Rights or Credits in the County of Barnstable within the Province aforesaid

"To all unto whom these Presents shall come greeting Know ye that upon the Day of the Date hereof before me at Barnstable in the County afors^d the will of samuell Brown Late of Eastham in the County afors^d Gentleman Deceased to these Presents anexed was Proved approved and allowed who having while he Lived and at the time of his Death Goods Chattels Rights or Credits in the County afors^d and the Probate ofthe said will and Power of Committing administration of all and Singular the Goods Chattels rights and Credits of the said Deceased by Virtue thereof appertaining unto me the administration of all and Singular the Goods Chattels Rights & Credits of the said Deceased and his will in any Manner Concerning is hereby Committed unto David Brown & Thomas Dill both of Eastham afors^d Executors in the same will Named well & faithfully to Execute the said will and to administer the Estate of the said Deceased according Thereunto and to make a true & Perfect Inventory of all the Singular the Good Chattels Rights & Credits of the said Deceased and to Exhibit the same into the Registry of the Court of Probate for the County afors^d at or before the fourth Day of July Next Ensuing & also to render a Plain & True account of their said administration upon oath.

"In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said court of Probate Dated at Barnstable the fourth Day of april annoque Domini 1749. Silvanus Bourn
                                      Exam^d: Da^d Gorham Reg^r

"Barnstable SS
By the Hon^bleSilv^s Bourn Esq^r Judge of Probate &c for the County aforsd To Capt Zohath Smith Mr Solomon Sweat & Mr. John Young all of Eastham In the County afr^d Sufficient Freeholders Greeting You are hereby Desired & impowered first Being sworn to make ^a just^ & Equal apprisal of the Estate of Capt. Sam^ll Brown late of Eastham Deceased according to your best skill & Judgment & Return an Inventory thereof into the Registry of the Court of Probate foregoing the County afors^d with Conveinent Spead Given under my hand & Seal of Said court of Probate dated at Barnstable the fourth Day of april Anno Domini 1749.
                                                              Silvanus Bourn

"Barnstable SS
On the third Day of March 1749 the within Named Zoath smith Solomon Sweat & John Young made oath to the faithfull Dischargeof the trust Committed to them by the within warrant.
Samuell Smith Justice Peace
                      Ex^d DG Re^r

"A true Inventory of all and Singular the Goods Chattels Credits houses and Lands of Cap^t Sam^ll Brown Late of Eastham Deceased Prised at Eastham the third Day of May 1749 as followeth.

"Imprimus His whole Real Estate …........................£1872..00..00
Item his Personal Estate ….......................................... 442..12..00
Item his Purse & Debts Due ….....................................  48..00..00
                                                                   Sum Total 2369..12..00

"Sence the first apprisement of Personal Estate £32..00..00
The Whole in old Tenor. Zoheth Smith
                                       Solomon Sweat
                                       John Young

"Barnstable SS
Silvanus bourn Esq^r Judge of Probate &c David Brown Executor Presented the foregoing and Made oath that it Contained a true and Perfect Inventory of the Estate of Samuell Brown Late of Eastham Gen^t Deceased so far as hath Come to his hands and knowledge and if more hereafter appear he will Cause it to be added The Subscribing apprisers were sworn according to Law.
May 23^d 1749.                       Silvanus Bourn
                            Exam^d Da^d Gorham Reg^r"

Note that one of the executors of the will was "son Thomas Dill."  He is the husband of Mehitable Brown, the daughter of Samuel and Ruth (Young) Brown.  

There was no probate records for the distribution of the personal estate or any other real estate.  Perhaps there are probate records for the widow, Ruth (Young) Brown.
 
5)  SOURCES
 
1. "Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991," indexed database with digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), Barnstable County > "Probate Records, Vol. 8, 1745-1753," pages 238-242 (images 137-139 of 309, Samuel Brown, will proved 4 April 1749.

2. Col. Leonard H. Smith, Jr. and Norma H. Smith, Vital Records of the Towns of Eastham and Orleans (Baltimore, Md. : Genealogical Publishing Company, 1993), page 36, Samuel Brown Senr and Ruth Young marriage entry, 1708.

3. "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with digital images, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org :, accessed 28 March 2016), Barnstable County, "Eastham, Orleans, Births, Marriages, Deaths, Land Grants, 1649-1722," page 73 (image 138 of 157), Samuel Brown and Ruth Young marriage entry, 1708.

4.  "Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991," indexed database with digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), Barnstable County, "Vol. 1-3, 1686-1747," Volume 3, page 455 and 514-516, John Young probate papers, 1718.

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NOTE:  Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post 
 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  I have extended this theme in 2017 to 208 Ancestors in 208 Weeks


Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver


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