Biography of Rev. William Hague, Born in Pelham in 1808

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.
Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

William Hague was a noted clergyman who was born in Pelham, New York on January 4, 1808. He authored a book entitled "Life Notes or Fifty Years' Outlook" published by Lee and Shepard Publishers (Boston, Massachusetts) in 1888. The first chapter of that book is entitled "Old Pelham and New Rochelle, Revisitations" discusses his youth in Pelham in the earliest years of the 19th century.  

In 1900, James H. Lamb Company published Lamb's Biographical Dictionary of the United States edited by John Howard Brown. Volume III of that publication included a biography and a portrait of William Hague. The portrait appears immediately below, followed by the text of the biography.

Rev. Dr. William Hague.  Source:  Brown, John Howard, ed.,

Lamb's Biographical Dictionary of the United States, Vol. III,

p. 458 (Boston, MA: James H. Lamb Company 1900).

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"HAGUE, William, clergyman was born in Pelham, N.Y., Jan. 4, 1808; son of Capt. James and Ann (Bayley) Hague; grandson of William Hague, a celebrated Baptist clergyman of Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, and of Capt. William and Sarah (Pell) Bayley; great-grandson of Joseph Pell, fourth and last lord of Pelham Manor, Westchester, N.Y., and a descendant of Sir John Pell (born in London, 1643; died in 1702), who came to America as second lord of Pelham Manor. Through the Pell family he descended from a long line of English ancestry, and by the marriage of the third lord of Pelham Manor with Anna, daughter of the reigning chief of the Westchester Indians, he had a notable strain of native American blood. William Hague was graduated at Hamilton college in 1826; was a theological student at Princeton, N.J., 1826-27, and Newton, Mass., 1827-29, and was graduated at the Newton theological institution in 1829. He was ordained pastor of the Second Baptist church, Utica, N.Y., Oct. 20 , 1829, and served, 1829-30; was professor of Latin and Greek in Georgetown college, Ky., 1830; was pastor of the First Baptist church, Boston, Mass., 1831-37; of the First Baptist church, Providence, R.I., 1837-40; of the Federal Street and the Rowe Street churches, Boston, 1840-48; at Jamaica Plain, 1848-50; at Newark, N.J., 1850-53; of the Pearl Street church, Albany, N.Y., 1853-58; of the Madison Avenue church, New York city, 1858-62; of the Charles Street church, Boston, 1862-64, and of the Shawmut Avenue church, Boston, 1865-69. He was professor of homiletic's in the Chicago theological seminary and pastor of the University Place church, Chicago, 1869-70; was pastor of the First Baptist church, Orange, N.J., 1870-74; travelled in Europe, 1874-76, and was pastor at Wollaston Heights, Mass., 1877-87. He was a trustee of Brown university, 1837-87; of Vassar college, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 1861-1887, and an overseer of Columbian university, Washington, D.C., 1874-87. He received the degree of D. D. from Brown in 1849 and from Harvard in 1863. He is the author of: Conversational Commentaries on the Gospel of Matthew (1835); Guide to Conversation on the Gospel of John (1840); Eight Views of Baptism (1841); Conversational Commentaries on the Acts of the Apostles (1845); The Baptist Church Transplanted from the Old World to the New (1846); Review of Drs. Fuller and Wayland on Slavery (1855); Home Life (1855); The Authority and Perpetuity of the Christian Sabbath (1863); The Self-Witnessing Character of New Testament Christianity (1871); Christian Greatness in the Minister (1880); Ralph Waldo Emerson (1884); and Life Notes (1888). He died in Boston, Mass., Aug. 1, 1887."

Source:  Brown, John Howard, ed., Lamb's Biographical Dictionary of the United States, Vol. III, p. 458 (Boston, MA: James H. Lamb Company 1900).

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.

Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

1791 Will of Benjamin Guion of the Town of Pelham

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

As previously noted, in 1951, the New Rochelle Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution prepared and distributed a typewritten manuscript entitled "OLD WILLS OF NEW ROCHELLE Copies of Wills By Citizens of New Rochelle, N. Y. 1784-1830". The manuscript includes transcriptions of a number of wills of early residents of the Town of Pelham.

One such will was that of Benjamin Guion of the Town of Pelham prepared on August 15, 1791 and proved on September 24, 1791. The text of that will appears below, followed by a citation to its source.

"BENJAMIN GUION

Liber B of Wills, page 188 Aug. 15, 1791

In the name of God Amen, I Benjamin Guion of Pelham in the County of West Chester and State of New York, being sick and Weak of body but of a sound disposing mind memory and understanding Do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following: First I order my just debts and funeral charges to be paid by my Executors hereafter named. Secondly I give to my wife Sarah the One third of all my real Estate and the room in the south west end of my house during her Widowhood. Thirdly, I give to my sister Elisabeth Guion that part of my house where she now lives to-wit: The Northeast and thereof, her firewood and Victuals as long as she shall live. Fourthly, I give all the remainder of my real Estate (or all my real Estate) to be divided at the Death or re-marriage of my said wife to my daughters Elizabeth, Susanna, Phebe and Mary or the survivor or survivors of them to be sold or divided as they and my Executors hereafter named shall thin most adviseable. Fifthly, All my personal estate I give to my said daughters share and share alike to be divided to them respectively as they come of age or marry, by my Executors hereafter mentioned. Except the bed, bedding and furniture which at present belongs to and is claimed by my wife and also my Negro man named Pomp, who I hereby give her if he is contented to live with her in peace, if not she may dispose of him as she thinks proper. I think it would be best not to sell the real Estate if any of my daughters remain unmarried at the death or remarriage of my said Wife Though I am free and it is my will they use their discretion. And if they or the survivors of them or who of them shall take upon themselves the execution of this my will shall think it most advisable, I hereby impower them in any manner they may they may [sic] think fit to sell it and to give good and sufficient deeds in law to the purchaser or purchasers. It is also my wil that all my stock of cattle Horses, Hogs together with my farming utensils, remain this and the ensuing year on the farm for the use of my Wife Sister and Children and longer even as long as my Executors hereafter named shall observe my wife to manage with prudence & Discretion. Lastly I hereby nominate & appoint my brother Elias Guion & ye Revd Theodocius Bartow executors and my daughter Elizabeth executrix of this my last Will and Testament. In [Page 21 / Page 22] Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Ninety one.

Benjamin Guion (L. S.)

Signed, Sealed, published and declared by the said Benjamin Guion as & for his last will and testament In presence of us who subscribe our names as Witnesses thereto in the presence of the testator & in the presence of each other.

N.B. The word 'fourthly' wrote on the margin, the word 'to' interlined, the word 'my' interlined, the word 'manage' wrote over an erasure, the word 'Last' interlined before signed.

Philip Pell
Francis LeCont
Theos Bartow

Proved September 24, 1791 by deposition of Francis LeCont, carpenter.

...............................................................

NOTE: Benjamin Guion, the maker of the above will, (Liber B, page 188) was the son of Aman Guion of New Rochelle and his wife Elizabeth Samson. He was born February 8, 1731 and was baptized February 28, 1731 in the Anglican Church, (now Trinity) New Rochelle. He married Sarah Pell, daughter of Joshua Pell and settled in Pelham on a farm close to the New Rochelle Town line."

Source: BENJAMIN GUION in OLD WILLS OF NEW ROCHELLE Copies of Wills By Citizens of New Rochelle, N.Y. 1784-1830, pp. 21-22 (New Rochelle, NY: 1951) (typewritten manuscript prepared by New Rochelle Chapter, Daughts of the American Revolution).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Abstract of Will of Rebecca Palmer, Owner of Land on City Island in Pelham, Prepared in 1771 and Proved April 10, 1773

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

The following is an abstract of the will of Rebecca Palmer who owned land on "Minifords Island" (later, City Island) in the Manor of Pelham prepared in 1771 and proved April 10, 1773. A citation to the source of the abstract follows the text.

"ABSTRACTS OF WILLS -- LIBER 28. . . .

Page 475. -- In the name of God, Amen. I, REBECCA PALMER, of the Borrough Town of Westchester, widow, being advanced in years. I leave to John Palmer, son of my eldest son, £3. I leave to my granddaughters, Rebecca, Easter, and Rachel, the children of my son, John Palmer, £4. To Sarah, daughter of Joshua Pell, 'one silver table spoon, of the value of 21 shillings.' To my daughter Martha, wife of Benjamin Morell, I leave all that my dwelling house and lots situate upon Minifords Island in the Manor of Pelham, which I bought of Enoch Hunt and Joseph Mullinex, during her life and then to her daughter Mary. If she dies without issue, then to Ann, daughter of Benjamin Palmer. I leave to my daughter Martha 'one small Iron Pot, and one hog and my Poultry, and the bed I commonly lie on.' My executors are to put on good security £50 for my daughter Martha, and all my wearing apparell. My executors are to sell all the rest and divide among my children. I make my sons, Philip and Benjamin, and my grandson, Joshua Pell, Jr., executors.

Dated October 18, 1771. Witnesses, Samuel Seabury, James Lewis, Enoch Hunt. Proved, April 10, 1773."

Source: Pelletreau, William S., ed., Abstracts of Wills on File in the Surrogate's Office, City of New York. Volume VIII. 1771 - 1776. With Letters of Administration, 1773 - 1779. in Collections of The New-York Historical Society for the Year 1899., p. 119 (NY, NY: The New-York Historical Society 1900).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Abstract of 1752 Will of Joseph Pell of the Manor of Pelham, Proved September 28, 1752

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

On Wednesday, November 29, 2006, I provided a transcription of a brief abstract of the 1752 will of Joseph Pell of the Manor of Pelham. See Wed., November 29, 2006: Abstract of 1752 Will of Joseph Pell of the Manor of Pelham. Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog provides a more detailed abstract of that same will. A transcription of the abstract appears below, followed by a citation to its source.

"ABSTRACTS OF WILLS -- LIBER 18. . . .

Page 170. -- In the name of God, Amen, August 31, 1752, I, JOSEPH PELL, Esq., of the manor of Pelham, being very sick and weak. All my just debts are to be paid. I leave to my well-beloved son, Philip Pell, all my neck or tract of land, with 1/2 my meadows lying in the manor of Pelham, commonly known by the name of the Upper Neck, joining to the west end of Ann Hook's Neck, now belonging to Samuel Rodman, To him my said son, Philip, his heirs and assigns, when he shall arrive at the age of 21, and he shall pay to my executors £225, in installments, and my executors shall divide the same among my three daughters, Susannah, Sarah, and Ann. I leave to my son, Thomas Pell, all that tract of land or plantation whereon I now live, and the other half of my meadows, when he is 21; and he is to pay to my executors the sum of £225, and my executors are to divide the same among my said three daughters. I leave to my wife Phebe, £400, and a good bed and furniture, and 6 chairs, a looking-glass, a trunk and a table, and the use of all lands until my sons, Joseph and Thomas, are of age. The income of my estate is to be used for maintaining and bringing up my children to good learning. If my two eldest daughters, Susannah and Sarah, should marry before my sons are of age, they are each to have £37, 10s. If any of my lands and meadows should be recovered out of my right, I leave the remainder to my two sons, Joseph and Thomas. I make my wife, Phebe, and my loving friends, John Bartow, Esq., of Westchester, Samuel Sneden, Esq., of East Chester, and John Bleecker, of New Rochelle, executors.

Witnesses, Daniel Deain, Rachel Deain, Robert Rolf. Proved, before Israel Honey, Esq., September 28, 1752."

Source: Abstracts of Wills on File in the Surrogate's Office, City of New York. Vol. IV. 1744-1753. With Letters of Administration Granted 1745-1753. in Collections of The New-York Historical Society For the Year 1895. p. 405 (NY, NY: The New-York Historical Society 1896).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Abstract of 1735 Will of David Pell of the Manor of Pelham

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site

Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/

Click here to see a single index of all Historic Pelham Blog Postings to date.

What follows is another transcription of an abstract of an early Pelham will. The abstract was prepared by William S. Pelletreau and was published in 1895. A citation to the source appears immediately following the transcription of the abstract.

"Page 390. -- In the name of God, Amen, December 9, 1735. I, DAVID PELL, of Westchester, being sick. I leave to my brother, Thomas Pell, £10. To my brothers, Phillip Pell, Caleb Pell, and Joseph Pell, each £10. To my sister, Mary Sands, £25. To my sister, Sarah Pell, £140, and to my sisters, Phebe and Bershebah Pell, each, £140. To my nephew, Samuel Bradhurst, £5. All my houses and lands and estate are to be sold by my executors, and after payment of debts, all the remainder is left to my sisters, Sarah, Phebe, and Bar- [Page 185 / Page 186] shebah. I appoint my honored father, Thomas Pell, and my brother, Phillip Pell, executors.

Witnesses, Joseph Fowler, John Pell, John Cuer.

Proved, January 20, 1735/6."

Source: Pelletreau, William Smith, Abstracts of Wills and Other Documents Recorded in New York Surrogate's Office - Liber 11 in Collections of the New-York Historical Society For the Year 1894, pp. 185-86 (NY, NY: Printed for the Society 1895).

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/
Click here to see a single index of all Historic Pelham Blog Postings to date.