John Banks, One of Two Executors of the Will of Pelham Founder Thomas Pell

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Recently I have analyzed the Last Will and Testament of Pelham founder Thomas Pell, executed on September 21, 1669, only days before his death.  I am trying better to understand Thomas Pell, his life, and times through such primary sources.  I have written about Thomas Pell, his will, and an inventory of that portion of his estate located in New York at the time of his death before.  See:  

Tue., Jun. 28, 2016:  Who Was Daniel Burr, an Executor of the Will of Pelham Founder Thomas Pell?

Fri., Jun. 24, 2016:  Archival Record of the Last Will and Testament and Estate Inventory of Pelham Founder Thomas Pell.  

Wed., Mar. 07, 2007: Published Abstract of 1669 Will of Thomas Pell, Followed by Entire Text of Will of Thomas Pell. 

Mon., Mar. 31, 2014:  Inventory of the Estate of Pelham Founder Thomas Pell Taken Shortly After He Died in Late September, 1669.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog collects information about "John Bankes" (i.e., Banks) who was one of the two men named to serve as "Executors of Trust" of the Last Will and Testament of Thomas Pell.  The principal purpose, of course, is not to document data about John Banks, but to shed light on the life of Pelham founder Thomas Pell.  

John Banks was born about 1619 in England.  He died January 22, 1684/5 in Greenwich, Fairfield County, Colony of Connecticut.  The reliable record seems unclear regarding when John Banks arrived in New England.  Though undocumented, one source claims he came from Yorkshire, England in 1630 in the ship Mary and Jane.  See Mead, Spencer P., Ye Historie of Ye Town of Greenwich, County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, p. 495 (Knickerbocker Press, 1911).  

Banks seems to have settled first at Windsor in the Colony of Connecticut, though later he moved to Fairfield.  In 1643 he was clerk for weights and measures in Windsor.  

Clearly John Banks was both a respected and beloved citizen of the region.  He served for eighteen sessions in the Legislature of the Colony of Connecticut from Fairfield and Rye (once part of Connecticut, but now part of New York).  He served as deputy in the Legislature from Fairfield in 1651, 1661, 1663, 1664, 1665, 1666, 1673, 1674, 1675, 1676, 1677, 1678, 1679, 1680, 1682, and 1683.  He served as deputy from Rye (now part of New York) in 1673.  

In 1666 Banks served as a Commissioner for Fairfield and a member of the War Council in 1675 and 1676.  Bankes was an attorney who played a prominent role in a witchcraft-related lawsuit in Magistrate's Court.  Banks represented Thomas Staples who claimed that Deputy-Governor of the Colony of Connecticut Roger Ludlow had defamed his wife by repeating what are believed to be allegations of witchcraft that reportedly were made by Goodwife Knapp to Ludlow as she stood at the gallows shortly before she was hanged for witchcraft in 1653.  I have written before about the witchcraft persecution of Goody Knapp and the related defamation lawsuit by Thomas Staples that followed.  See:

Mon., Apr. 18, 2016:  Another Account of the 1653 Witchcraft Trial of Goodwife Knapp In Which Thomas Pell's Wife Testified.

Fri., Jul. 07, 2006:  The Involvement of Thomas Pell's Family in the Witchcraft Persecution of Goody Knapp. 

Thu., Oct. 30, 2014:  Did Thomas Pell Act on Pangs of Remorse After Witchcraft Persecution Involving His Family? 

Bell, Blake A., The Involvement of Thomas Pell's Family in the Witchcraft Persecution of Goody Knapp, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 4, Jan. 23, 2004, p. 11, col. 1.

According to researchers who have documented the life of John Banks:

"John Banks was a lawyer.  On 12 Jan 1649, he bought the Daniel Frost home and land there.  On 4 Feb 1665, he bought land from Indians on Aspebuck River.  Witnesses were Thomas Lyon, William Ward, Joseph Lumas and Matthew Sherwood. (Fairfield Probate Records, vol 3, 1675-1900)  Between 1651 and 1666, he was several times Fairfield deputy in the Connecticut legislature. He founded the town of Rye, CT and represented the town, 1670-73, and owned land there.  He laid out the town square in Fairfield to which he then returned.  He was called sergeant at his death [However in Power-Banks Ancestry he says this probably refers to his son John]. [Note: the references to Rye, CT apparently refer to today's Rye, NY, which is near to Fairfield, CT.] (Info from the History of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, from the Settlement of the Town in 1639 to 1818, by Elizabeth H. Schenck, vol I, 1889, as provided by Anita Jones). . . .

In 1673, John Banks was sent to the Dutch governor of New York to protest against interference with the English colony on Long Island.  Governor Colve put him under restraint for 15 days.  He returned reporting Colve was insolent and unpopular there.  In 1675, John was on a committee to run a boundary line between New York and Connecticut, from Mamoroneck to the Hudson.  He was on another boundary committee in 1684. (Powers-Banks Ancestry, by William H. Powers, 1921, p 99 - no source listed -- Powers suggests that Banks was particularly interested in the boundary because of his propertry in Rye, NY)  Powers also indicates Schenck's history lists Banks as a frequent bearer of dispatches to Gov. Andros in NY & in 1678 was on a committee to hear the claim of Tunstacken.  However, his usual occupation later in life seems to have been as surveyor, where he fixed the boundaries of a number of southwestern Connecticut towns. (In NY State Archives, vol II, is mention that John Bankes, messenger of the Secretary of Connecticut to the Dutch at Ft. William Hendrick -- apparently confirmed by the Dutch. Gov. Winthrop wrote to the Dutch about this, Oct 1673)."

Source:  Compilation Project All Deceased Banks & Bankes Persons of European Origin in the U.S. & Their Immediate Families (visited Jun. 25, 2016).  

Clearly John Banks was a prominent, respected, and successful member of the community.  Thomas Pell likely chose Banks to serve as an executor of his will not only because he was an attorney, but also because his prominence, age, and wisdom might counter-balance the comparative inexperience of Pell's 30-year-old co-executor, Daniel Burr, the husband of a granddaughter of Pell's wife, Lucy Brewster Pell.  

"Thomas Pell" by Thom Lafferty from an Original by

an Unknown Artist Who Imagined Pell as He Would

Look. There Are No Known Images of Thomas Pell.

NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Who Was Daniel Burr, an Executor of the Will of Pelham Founder Thomas Pell?

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Daniel Burr served with John Bankes as an Executor of the Last Will and Testament of Pelham Founder Thomas Pell.  Moreover, in his will, Thomas Pell left to Daniel Burr the following:

"all my horses & horse colts wch. I have in New England & in ye Territoryes of ye Duke of Yorke / I except my Mares and Mare Colts wch. I doo not give him. I except my saddle gelding, wch. my heire is to have if he come over otherwise Daniel Burr is to have him. Daniell Burr is to take ye Horse Flesh as they Run wth. out any further delivery."

In addition, Pell bequeathed to Abigail Burr, "ye wife of Daniell Burr" the following:  

"ye best bed in my house in Fairfield & Boulstis, wth. Two Blancoates & a Rug & Dormink suite of curtains six cushions, Two paire of sheets, six chairs, The Brewing Kettle in use, Two new keelers, a brewing Tub, six silver spoons, wth. ye use of all ye plate in the house, if she desire of my Executors of Trust, till my heire or heires come or send his or their order how or wch. way all things shall be disposed of."

In addition to Daniel Burr's designation as trusted executor of Thomas Pell's will, these substantial bequests to Daniel Burr and his wife, Abigail, suggest that Daniel and Abigail were close to Thomas Pell at the time of his death.  But, who were Daniel and Abigail Burr?  Research has revealed the answer.

"Thomas Pell" by Thom Lafferty from an Original by an

Unknown Artist Who Imagined Pell as He Would Look

There Are No Known Images of Thomas Pell.

NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

Jehu Burr, Father of Daniel Burr

Many believe Daniel Burr was a son of Jehu Burr (whose wife is unknown).  Jehu Burr arrived in New England on the John Winthrop Fleet in early 1630.  He settled in Roxbury in Massachusetts Bay Colony and became overseer of bridges in the Boston region of the Colony in about 1635.  In 1636, Jehu Burr, six other men, and their families moved to an area then known as Agawam (now Springfield, Massachusetts). They acquired land from local Native Americans and carved a small settlement out of the wilderness there.  

In about 1644, Jehu Burr and his family moved from Agawam in Massachusetts Bay Colony to Uncowau (today's Fairfield) in the nearby Colony of Connecticut.  He quickly became a prominent citizen in Fairfield and, in 1645, he represented the tiny settlement at the General Court.  

Over the next twenty years, Jehu Burr was a prominent citizen active in the affairs of Fairfield.  He was appointed as one of two commissioners to solicit funds at the order of the General Court of Connecticut to fund improvements to the educational system.  He served as a Grand Juror.  He was appointed a Commissioner for Fairfield and was reappointed to that position in 1664 and 1668.  It appears, based on a deed in the Fairfield Records dated January 12, 1673 referencing a grant of land to his son, John Burr, made "by will of his father," it appears that Jehu Burr died in late 1672 or early 1673.

To learn more about Jehu Burr, see The Burr Family of Fairfield, CT:  Jehu Burr (visited Jun. 19, 2016).

Daniel Burr

Many believe that at the time of his death, Jehu Burr left four sons:  Jehu, Jr., John, Daniel, and Nathaniel.  All four sons lived and died in Fairfield in the Colony of Connecticut.  Daniel Burr was born about 1639, likely in Agawam (now Springfield) in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  References to Daniel Burr in the records of the Colony of Fairfield are rather sparse.  According to one genealogist, such records reflecting Daniel Burr show that:  

"May 15, 1668, he bought of Andrew Ward one corner lot with all the appurtenances thereto belonging: at the same time he received a grant of 13 acres from the town, and also bought several parcels of land; in 1681 he exchanged with the town 2 parcels of land and bought a large tract; in 1683 he again appears as a large purchaser of land. His long lot was separated from [his brother] Nathaniel's by Burr's highway, and was 24 rods, 23 links in width."  See id.  

At the time Thomas Pell named Daniel Burr an executor of his will, Burr was about thirty years old and, according to Pell's will, was married to "Abigail."  Abigail Brewster Burr was a daughter of Rev. Nathaniel Brewster of Brookhaven, Long Island.  Nathaniel Brewster, in turn, was a stepson of Thomas Pell, who married Nathaniel Brewster's mother, Lucy Brewster, widow of Francis Brewster of Fairfield.  In short, Abigail was a granddaughter of Lucy Brewster Pell, Thomas Pell's wife.  See Jacobus, Donald Lines, History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, Vol. I, p. 123 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1976) (available digitally via Ancestry.com; visited Jun. 17, 2016) (NOTE:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  Furthermore, there are indications that Daniel Burr and Abigail Brewster Burr were married shortly before Thomas Pell's death, suggesting that the bequests to the two of them at the time of Pell's death were somewhat in the nature of wedding gifts including much needed to begin a home as well as horses for transportation and farming.

One of the apparently more reliable authorities that touches on the life of Daniel Burr seems to be Jacobus, Donald Lines, History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, Vol. I (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1976) (available digitally via Ancestry.com; visited Jun. 17, 2016) (NOTE:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  That book says about Daniel Burr the following:

"Burr, Daniel, s. of Jehu.  Commissary, Fairfield County, May 1690.  

Born abt. 1642; testified 1682 ae. [age] 40; d. in 1695.  He bought a house and homelot from Andrew Ward, 24 Dec. 1668; deed witnessed by William Ward and John Burr.  He bought land from Mr. John Pell [i.e., Thomas Pell's nephew and principal legatee who took over his uncle's real estate including land in Fairfield], 25 July 1672.

Married (1) (rec. Stamford) Feb. 166[9?], Abigail Brewster.  She was dau. of Rev. Nathaniel of Brookhaven, L. I., whose will 16 Mar. 1684/5 named his gr. children Daniel and Abigail Burr.  The will of Dr. Thomas Pell of Fairfield 1669 gave legacies to Daniel Burr and Abigail his wife.  Pell was stepfather of Rev. Nathaniel Brewster.

He m. (2) at New Haven, 11 Dec. 1678, Abigail Glover.  She was dau. of Henry and Helena, b. 31 July 1652, d. abt. 1720/1.

Inv. of Est. of Daniel, Sr., 5 Nov. 1695.

Inv. of Est. of Abigail, 25 Jan. 1721.  Probate names her heirs as:  one son Samuel; children of dec'd dau. Helena wife of John Andrews (viz.:  John, Abigail, Helena, Daniel, Ebeneezer); children of dec'd dau. Deborah wife of Joseph Perry (viz.:  Sarah, Abigail, Joseph, Daniel, Nathaniel); and Mehitabel's one dau. Mehitabel Strong.

Distribution of land that belonged to Daniel Burr 1st, 2 Aug. 1751, to the heirs of Daniel Burr dec'd, to Samuel Burr, to the heirs of Ellen dec'd, to the heirs of Deborah dec'd, and to Abigail.  Another distribution ordered 8 May 1769 to the following:  heirs of Daniel Burr, dec'd, eldest son of the dec'd; heirs of Ellen Andrews, dec'd; heirs of Abigail Sherman, dec'd; heirs of Deborah Perry, dec'd; and Seth Samuel Burr.

Children [by Abigail Brewster], recorded at Fairfield:
Daniel, b. 30 July 1670.
Abigail, b. 14 Mar. 1671 [1671/2], d. at Stratford, 2 Mar 1730/1; m. (1) Daniel Lockwood; m. (2) at Fairfield, 26 June 1700, Elnathan Hanford; m. (3) (rec. Stratford) 26 Nov. 1707, Nathaniel Sherman; had issue by all three.

Children [by Abigail Glover], recorded at Fairfield:
Ellen [also called Helena], b. 26 Oct. 1680; m. Ens. John Andrews.
Deborah, d. abt. 1718; m. (1) Joseph Whelpley; m. (2) Joseph Perry; had issue by both.
Mehitabel, d. before 1713; m. Benajah Strong.
Seth Samuel [often called Samuel], b. 20 June 1694, bapt. 19 Aug. 1694."

Source:  Jacobus, Donald Lines, History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, Vol. I, pp. 123-124 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1976) (available digitally via Ancestry.com; visited Jun. 17, 2016) (NOTE:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).

There are additonal biographical and genealogical entries that shed some light on the lives of Daniel and Abigail Brewster Burr.  Care should be taken, however, given a number of apparent mistakes and questionable assertions in the material that follows:

"DANIEL BURR,   2   [5]   OF FAIRFIELD, CT.,
made freeman in 1668.  General Court of May 8, 1690, appointed him Commissary for Fairfield Co.  There is no record of his holding other public office.

May 15, 1668, he bought of Andrew Ward one corner lot with all the appurtenances thereto belonging : at the same time he received a grant of 13 acres from the town, and also bought several parcels of land; in 1681 he exchanged with the town, 2 parcels of land and bought a large tract; in 1683 he again appears as a large purchaser of land.

His long lot was separated from Nathaniel's by Burr's highway, and was 24 rods, 23 links in width.

H m. Abigail, dau. of Henry Glover of New Haven, Dec. 11, 1678.  Chil.:

31.  DANIEL 3
32.  ABIGAIL, 3 m. Daniel Lockwood.
33  SETH SAMUEL.  3
34.  SAMUEL.  3
35.  ELLEN.  3
36.  DEBORAH, 3 m. Ensign John Andrews and had children:  1, John, 2, Abigail, 3. Hellinah, 4, Daniel, and 5, Ebenezer.
38.  MEHITABLE, 3 m. a Strong, and had 1 child, 1, Mehitable.

Daniel and Abigail contested the will, and the estate was not distributed, and the estate was not distributed until 1751.  Daniel, Ellen and Deborah were then deceased, leaving heirs.  No will is found.  Inv. presented Nov. 5, 1695.  His w. Abigail's estate dis. Jan. 25, 1723."

Source:  Todd, Charles Burr, A General History of the Burr Family in America With a Genealogical Record fromm 1570 to 1878, pp. 145-46 (NY, NY:  E. Wells Sackett & Bro., 1878).  It should be noted that Thomas Pell's will seems to make clear that Daniel Burr and Abigail Glover Burr were married by late September, 1669, well before the December 11, 1678 claimed in the text quoted above.

Great care must be taken when considering the genealogical data referenced above.  It appears that among Jehu Burr's sons were both Daniel Burr and Jehu Burr, Jr.  That Jehu Burr, Jr., in turn, named one of his sons after his brother Daniel.  That Daniel Burr, who died in 1722, typically is confused with his uncle who served as the Executor of Thomas Pell's will.  Recently, one genealogist noted:

"THE BURRS OF FAIRFIELD, CONN.
[Communicated by SYLVESTER JUDD, Esq.]. . . .

The ancestors of those Burrs, in this country, were as follows: --

1.  Jehu Burr, who was in Massachusetts in 1630, and was admitted freeman in 1631.  This christian name in the record can hardly be distinguished from John, and is often copied John.  Jehu Burr belonged to the church at Roxbury, and settled at Springfield with William Pynchon and others, in 1636.  In a few years he removed to Fairfield, where he died before 1650.  He had sons Jehu and John; and probably Nathaniel and Daniel Burr, of Fairfield, were his sons also.

2.  Jehu Burr, son of Jehu, died in Fairfield, 1692.  He left sons Daniel, Peter, Samuel, and five or six daughters.  Peter graduated at Harvard College in 1690, and was a distinguished man in Connecticut.

3.  Daniel Burr, son of the second Jehu, died in Fairfield in 1722, leaving ten children, viz. Jehu, Stephen, Peter, David, Moses, Aaron, Hannah, Mary, Elizabeth, Jane. . . ."

Source:  Roberts, Gary Boyd, ed., Genealogies of Connecticut Families From The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. I - Adams-Gates, p. 261 (Baltimore, MD:  Reprinted for Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1998, 2006).

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Published Abstract of 1669 Will of Thomas Pell, Followed by Entire Text of Will of Thomas Pell

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Thomas Pell, often decribed as "First Lord of the Manor of Pelham", died in late September 1669. Below is a published abstract of his will, followed by the full text of the same will. An extensive inventory of his estate, taken only weeks after his death, may be found by clicking here.

Immediately below is an abstract of Pell's will published in 1893. It is followed by a full citation to its source.

"ABSTRACTS OF WILLS -- LIBER 1-2.

Page 39. -- THOMAS PELL, Westchester. 'It hath pleased ye all wise God many years to exercise me with much weakness of body, and having lately taken to Himself my beloved wife Lucy,' 'I give my body to a comely burial, that it may be decently buried in such a comely manner, that God may not be dishonored.' Leaves all real estate to 'my nephew John Pell, living in ould England, the only son of my only brother John Pell, Doctor of Divinity, he had by his first wife.' Legacies to Abigail, wife of Daniel Burr, Nathaniel French, Elizabeth White, Mary White, and Nathaniel White. Leaves 'to my son Francis French all my Tobacco, growing or not growing.' Remits debts due him from 'these four poor men, Joseph Patton, James Evens, Thomas Bassett, Roger Percy.' Makes Daniel Burr and John Bankes, executors.

Dated Septebmer 21, 1669. Witnesses, Nathan Gould, John Cabell. Proved September 30, 1669. Inventory mentions 'The housing, lands, barnes, and Islands adjoining, from Hutchinson's river westward, as so far eastward as were Mr. Thomas Pell's just and lawful right.' £500. The inventory, very extensive, amounts to £1,294 14s. 4 1/2 d, and taken by John Richbell, Wm. Haydon, Samuel Drake.

Page 46. -- Daniel Burr and John Bankes of Fairfield, Conn., admitted as executors of the will of 'MR. THOMAS PELL, of Ann Hook's Neck,' October 13, 1669."

Pelletreau, William S., Abstracts of Wills on File in the Surrogate's Office, City of New York, 1665-1707 in Collections of the New-York Historical Society For the Year 1892, p. 11 (NY, NY: The New-York Historical Society 1893).

Robert Bolton, Jr. first published the complete text of Thomas Pell's will in the first edition of his two-volume "History of Westchester County" in 1848. The text appears immediately below, followed by a citation.

"The last will of Thomas Pell.

In ye name of God, Amen -- It hath pleased ye all wise God many years to exercise me with much weakness of body, and having lately taken to himselfe my beloved wife Lucy, it being ye good pleasure of God to deny me natural issue of my owne body, his good hand of mercy continueing unto me to keep me in perfect memory and my understanding in a comfortable measure, according to proportion of wisdom and knowledge, where he saw meet to proportion to me, I desire in faith to give up my soule to God which gave it, my body to a . . . [Page 522 / Page 523] comely burial, that I may be decently buryed in such a comely manner that God may not be dishonored. It beinge my desire that peace may be attended in enjoyment of what God hath been pleased to give to me -- this being my last will and testament -- I doe make my nephew, John Pell, living in ould England, the only sonne of my only brother John Pell, Doctor of Divinity, which he had by hsi first wife, my whole and sole heire of all my lands and houses in any parte of New England, or in ye territoryes of ye Duke of Yorke. I also give to my nephew John Pell (my whole and sole heire) all my goods, moveable or immoveable whatsoever -- money, plate, chattells and cattle of all kinde -- except such parcells and legacyes which I give and bequeath to persons as followeth, my just debts being first paid : and if my nephew, John Pell, be deceased, and hath left a sonne or sonnes surviving him, then what I have above given to my nephew, John Pell, I give to such issue of his ; and in ye default of such issue, it's my will that my brother John Pell's daughter shall enjoy ye abovesaid portion ; and in case they or any of them be deceased, then it is my will that the children of my brother's daughters shall inherit the abovesaid portion, to be equally divided amongst them. It is my will, that in case my nephew, John Pell, my brother's sonne by his first wife, be deceased, and hath left no male issue, if my brother hath a sonne or sonnes by his last wife, he or they shall enjoy ye above said portion ; and in ye default of them or their male issue, then my brother's daughters, or their children, shall enjoy ye above portion as is above expressed. I give to Abigail Burr, ye wife of Daniell Burr, ye best bed in my house in Fairfield, and boulstis, with two blancoates, a rug and dormink suit of curtains, six cushions, two paire of sheets, six chairs, the brewing kettle in use, two new keelers, a brewing tub, six silver spoons, with ye use of all ye plate in the house, if she desire of my executors of trust, till my heirs or heires come or send his or their order how or whcih way all things shall be disposed of. Item -- I give to Daniell Burr all my horses and horse colts which I have in New England, and in ye territoryes of ye Duke of Yorke : I except my mares and mare colts, which I do not give him ; I except my saddle gelding, which my heire is to have if he come over -- otherwise, Daniel Burr is to have him, Daniell Burr is to take ye horse flesh as they run ; without any further dehinery, lett the mares be disposed of according to ye understanding of my executors of trust. Item -- I give to my sonne, Francis French, all my tobacco, grwoing or not growing, in casks, or otherways made u in rolls or twist. Item -- I give to Nathaniell French two young cowes and one young bull. Item -- To Elizabeth White I give the worst feather bed and boulster, one iron pott, six porringers, six spoons of alcamy, six pewter platters, one brass skellet, and fifteen pounds more in goods or cattle, current pay, and two comely suits of apparel, one for working days, another for Sabbath dayes, with two paire of shoes. Item -- to Mary White I give six pounds and one suite of aparell of serge, with two shifts, and wool for stockings. I give to Nathaniell White, an apprentice to some handicraft trade ; and if it be for his advantage, to give tenne pounds [Page 523 / Page 524] with him out of my estate, not diminishing his twenty pounds, which is to be improved for his use. I give to Barbary, my servant -- I sett her at liberty to be a free woman a month after my burial, except my nephew, John Pell, come in person ; she then to attend his occasions whilst he is there, not exceeding three months. Further, I do gibve to Barbary, my servant, one flock bed and boulster, and two blancoats, a pair of sheets, and cotton rug, one iron pott, an iron skellett, six trays and chest, with a lock and key to it, six porringers, two pewter platters, six pewter sppons or ye value of them, two cowes or the value of them. I give to my ancient maid, Katharine Rysten, five pounds in cattle or county pay. I make, ordain, constitute and appoint Daniell Burr and John Bankes to be my executors of trust, and order them to pay, after my burial, all my just debts and legacyes, and to make sale of any utensils which are subject to decay -- old cattle -- and to be accountable to my heire or heires and to keep up housing and fencesupon my heires' charge, that the estate may not suffer. I give to my said executors of trust twenty pounds apiece, and to be paid what first charge they are at upon any incumbrances. Item -- I give those poor men their debts upon my booke, whose names follow -- Joseph Pathon, James Evers, Thomas Bassett, Roger Percy : and that this is my last will. In witness whereof, I have hereunto sett my hand this twenty and one yeare of the raigne of our sovereigne lorde, King Charles, and the twenty first of September, 1669.

Me, THOMAS PELL.

Signed in the presence of us, Nathan Gould, John Cabell.

John Cabell gives oath that he was witness to Mr. Pell signing this will, with Mr. Gould, as he hath entered his hand. Taken upon oath before me,

Nathan Gould, Assistant,

This 3d of -------------, in his Majestie's Colony of Connecticut, September, 1669."

Source: Bolton, Jr., Robert, A History of the County of Westchester From Its First Settlement to the Present Time, Vol. I, pp. 522-24 (NY, NY: Alexander S. Gould 1848).

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