Will and Inventory of Thomas Benedict, Norwalk, CT,
dated 28 Feb 1689/90I, Thomas Bennidict of Norwalk, in ye County of Fairfield, in ye Colony of Conecticut, aged aboute 73 years, being weak of body, yet of perfect mind and memory, do make and decalre this as my last Will and Testament.
Imprimis. I do commend my Soule into ye hands of my gracious God yt hath made it, and do give my body to ye Earth from whence it was, to be decently buried, in hope of a happy and gracious Resurrection at ye last day; As for my temporall Estate, I do despose of as followeth:
I do will and bequeath to my loueing wife Mary Bennidick my whole Estate, house and households, Lands, Cattle - to use and despose according to ye controll and advice she, with my overseers afterwards mentioned, shall judg[e] most [ ] during ye TIme of her naturall Life, and after ye decease of ye said Mary, my wife, I do will and bequeath to my Sonn, Daniell Bennidick, my dwelling house barne and houseing, orchard and four ewes - ye whole of my homested - to be to him and his heirs, to have and to howld, forever.
I do will and bequeath my Sonn, John Bennedick, my calve pasture Lot - he [to] pay to my grandchild Thomas Slauson, ye Son of my daughter, Elizabeth Slasson, ye sum of ten pounds - which I give him as a legacy in time convenient.
I do also give to my said Son, John Bennedick one third part of my Sticky plaine Lott, which is half broken up. I also bequeath to him yt part of salt meadow lying be ye bridge at ye Indian Feild. Also, unto him, I bequeath eight acres of upland laid out above ye Long Swamp beyond ye New feild - All these lands to be to him and his heirs forever.
I do will and bequeath to my son, James Benedick, my Long Lto of Salt Meadow - over ye River - lying between Keloge and Bets - I do also bequeath to ye said James, my son, half my fruitefull Spring Lot - yt Lyeth sideing by ye medow, provided ye said James shall pay to my Grandchild Elizabeth Slausson, ye sum of five pounds, in time convenient, the afforesaid Land to be James and his heirs forever.
I do will and bequeath to my grand child Thomas Benedick, one 3d part of my Sticky plaine Lot which he hath in part improued and is in part unbroken. I also, bequeath to ye sd Thomas, my second division of medow called Mamathemans - the lands to be to him and his heirs forever.
I do will and bequeath to my Grandchild Samuell Benedict, ye other half of my fruitfull Spring Lot lying next to Nathaniel [ ] I do also bequeath to ye sd Samuell, a small parcel of medow which is salt - [ ] Kelloggs Swamp rung through - also one 3d part of my sticky plaine Lot on ye [side] I have broken up. I do also bequeath to my sd grand child Samuel, half my comonage which is 50 pounds; and the other half I do give to my grandchild John Bennedick ye eldest son of my son John Bennedick. I also will and bequeath to my Grandchild Samuell Bennedick my ould Horse and one yearling Calf. I do also bequeath to ye sd Samuell, my Carts and Iron plow and chains and irons belonging to plow and cart. Also ye bed and bedsted - yt in ye chamber with what belongs to it - leauing it to his Grandmother and ye overseers to give him of ye moveables what they can spare, provided he carry and behauve himself dutefully and louvingly towards his Grandmother - so doing, I do, also, will and bequeath to ye sd Samuell half of my sheep.
I do will and bequeath to Joanna Bennedick, One Cow, one half of my sheep - the trukle bedstead wth ye bed thereupon and the furniture of it, and what else of household her Grandmother shall bestow on her, provided she liue with her and be tender of her while she shall continue in this world.
As for my Out Lands, undesposed of, it is my will that my Son James and Daniell diuide ye Upland between them equally except ye peace of boggy medow which I will to be equally divided between my son James and grandchild Samuell Benedick.
I do will and bequeath to my daughter Rebecka Wood [the] mare yt is now running in ye wood; and I leauve it to my wife to give to my Daughter Sarah and Rebecka what of ye moveables she shall see meet and can spare.
I do will and bequeath to my Grand child Mary Olmsted, a legacy of twenty shillings; I also give to Hannah Benedick, my grand child, ten shillings the [same] to be paid out of ye estate after my decease.
Finally it is my will and I do hereby appoint my Son John and my Son Samll Bennedick to be joynt overseers of this my last will and testiment - willing these my loueing sons to be carefull of their Mothers comfortable liueing and to councell her in ye ordering her affairs and desposall of goods; and to see carefully to ye payment of all lawfull debts.
In confirmation of ye premises of this my will and Testiment, I do set my hand and seal this eight and twentieth febr Ano dominy 1689-90.
[Signed] Thos Benedick, Senr.
Signed and Sealed in presents of us,
Thomas Hanford
John Platt, Jr.
Memorand: in ye twentieth line Elizabeth is bloted out and Mary put in ye Marjent accordin to ye will of ye testator - ye name mistake[n] by the writer.
Thos. Hanford
An Inventory of the Estate of Thomas Benedick Senr of Norwalk, late deceased, taken this 18. of March 1689 or 90.
£. s. d. The Homested and Buildings 40 00 0 Item in Lands 150 " " " " Neat Cattle 30 " " " " Horss Kinde 05 " " " " Beding and furniture 17 04 0 " " Table linen and Napkins 01 02 " " " Wearing Cloathes 04 06 " " " Bedsteds, Chests and boxes 02 12 " " " Iron Kettle and pott 01 03 " " " Pewter, brass Earthenware and Woodenware 03 15 " " " Several iron things 04 18 " " " Carts and wheels and Irons belonging to them 03 10 " " " Knailes and other Small things 01 12 " " " Plogh and Graine 8 14 " " " Arms and Ammunission 02 13 " " " Saddle, bridle and Sundry small things 06 " " " " 5 Small Swine 02 10 " the total 285 09 0
Taken by us:
Thomas Seamer
James Olmsted
Mary Benedict, ye Relickt of Thos Benedick Senr, late of Norwalk deceased, appeared before me, the 5th of November 1690, and attested upon oath yt according to ye best of her knowledge, ye above sd Inventory is a true Inventory.
[Signed] Thos. Fitch, Comiss.
The Will and Inventory of Thomas Benedick, decd of Norwalk, being exhibited to ye County Ct, in Fairfield, this 9th of November 1690, ye probate whereof being deferred until the next County Court in March, I do also appoint these two persons who wear appointed overseers of the sd will, viz: John and Samll Benedick with ye widow, Relickt of ye sd decased Benedick, to administer on the sd estate - to receave and pay all debts due to and from ye sd estate and to husband ye estate and preserve it from imbez'ment.
[Signed] Nathan Gold, Clark.
The County Ct this 10. of Mar 1690-1 do except ye above sd Will and Inventory and order them to be recorded.
[Signed] Nathan Gold, Clark.
Mem: The foreoing Will and Inventory are record in Vol. of Probate Records, "1689-1701," pp. 38, &c., deposited in Probate office, Fairfield, Conn. The original will could not be found.
Source: Volume I of The Genealogy of the Benedicts in America; Henry Marvin Benedict; Albany, [NY], Joel Munsell, 82 State Street; 1870