8. | Benjamin Sherman was born in 1650 in Portsmouth, Newport Co, Rhode Island (son of Hon. Philip Sherman (Shearman), (immigrant) and Sarah Odding, (immigrant)); died on 12 Sep 1719 in Portsmouth, Newport Co, Rhode Island. Other Events and Attributes:
- Will: 12 Aug 1719, Portsmouth, Newport Co, Rhode Island; proved
Notes:
Will:
Will of BENJAMIN SHERMAN of Portsmouth, RI
To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come I Benjamin Shearman of Portsmouth in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England in America Yeoman being very weak and sick in body but through the mercy of God of perfect mind sound memory and understanding thanks be unto God therefore calling unto mind the uncertainity of this transitory life do for the preventing future trouble amongst my children and relations make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form as followeth, that is to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it to me and my body to the earth decently to be interred. and, as to that temporal estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give devise and dispose of the same in the manner as followeth.
Imp's My mind and will is that there be a straight line ___ from a white house stone in the wall and gray one above the same marked with a cross thus + between my land and Joseph rocks land which stones are about fifteen or sixteen paces from the water of the westernmost pond in my meadow at the nearest place. So to extend eastward from said stones in the wall with a straight line to the west end of the wall to the __rthward of a Row of cherry and buttonwood trees, and so down with the range of sd wall with a straight line to the __stward of the orchard at or near a great black cherry tree __ the orchard fence and from sd tree to extend southwardly with a straight line to the northwest corner of the wall ___ the hovel now stands, & from said corner eastward down to the highway in thee range or line of the stone wall as it ___ stands.
Item All my land in the Township of Portsmouth aforesd being southwardly and westwardly of sd line I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Shearman and his heirs for ever with all the priveldges hereto belonging.
Item All the rest and residue of my lands in the Township of Portsmouth aforesaid lying northward of the line above expressed, I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Shearman and his heirs forever with all the priveledges and appurtenances there to belonging (my dwelling house, orchards garden, well and yard around the well only expected).
Item I give and bequeath the income and profit and improvement of all my dwelling house orchards Garden well and yard above expected amongst my daughters unmarried, equally to be by them possessed and enjoyed during the term they live unmarried.. Together with the keeping of each of them a cow by my Executor both with winter meat and summer pasture during the term abovesaid (free and clear without any charge to either of my said daughters) in the bequest above bequeathed to my son Joseph.
Item I give and bequeath to my son Jonathan the sum of five shillings.
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Amie the wife of Stephen Gardner one cow.
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah the wife of Francis Brayton the sum of five shillings.
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Mehitabel the wife of Job Carr one pair of steyrs
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Deborah the wife of Elisha Johnson five good ewe sheep
Item My mind and will is that if either of my three daughters Abigail, Freelove, or Bethiah shall decease or alter their condition by marriage, that then the other two to enjoy the whold prifit of all my house orchards gardens gardens well and yard round the well and farther my mind and will is that if two of my said daughters shall decease or alter their condition by marriage that then the third to enjoy the whole profit of all my house orchards well and yard round the well
And my mind and will is that after the decease of my said three daughters or their marriage that then I give and bequeath all my now dwelling house orchards gardens well and yard round the well unto my grandson Benjamin Shearman (son of my son Isaac Shearman) and to his heirs forever.
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Abigail Shearman one feather bed and furniture thereto belonging and one good cow.
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Bethiah Shearman one feather bed and furniture thereto belonging and one good cow.
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Freelove Shearman one feather bed and furniture thereto belonging and one good cow.
Item I give and bequeath all the rest of my household stuff equally to be divided amongst my three daughters last named.
Item My mind and will is that my said Grandson Benjamin Shearman shall enter into possession of the abovesaid house orchards gardens well and yard when he attains the age of one and twenty years.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Shearman all the rest of my stock of cattel horses Sheep and swine, together with all the rest of my moveable estate which I have not herein disposed off, whom I also appoint constitute make and ordain my only and sole Executor of this my last will and testament he paying all my just and lawful debts and all those legacies unto each legatee above by me willed and bequeathed, immdiately after my decease according to the true intent and meaning of this my last will and testament and in confirmation, that this my last will and testament, I do by these presents disallow revoke and disannul all and every other former testament and wills whatsoever by me in any wise before this time named willed and bequeathed confirming and allowing this and no other to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and fixed my seal this Eighth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighteen.
Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and declared
by the said Benjamin Shearman to be his last
Will and Testament in the presence of
Jonathan Nickolls
Richard Sisson
Wm. Sanford
Benjamin Shearman (Seal)
Proved in Council this 12th day of ye 8th mo 1719
Vide" Towne Council Records" Vol. 2. p. 150 F.D.S. 255
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The above Will can be found in:"Some of the Descendants of Philip Sherman, The First Secretary of Rhode Island" by Roy V. Sherman, pp. 539-541.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=artcohan&id=I02630
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Benjamin married Hannah Mowry on 03 Dec 1673 in Portsmouth, Newport Co, Rhode Island. Hannah (daughter of Roger Mowry, (immigrant) and Mary Johnson) was born on 28 Sep 1656 in Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island; died in 1718 in Portsmouth, Newport Co, Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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