Abstract of Will of William Rodman Dated Oct. 28, 1782

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I have transcribed 17th, 18th and early 19th century wills and abstracts of wills of residents of Pelham of which I have become aware. I recently prepared an index to those materials and subsequently have located other such materials that I have posted. See:

Thursday, March 29, 2007: Index to Transcripts of Wills and Abstracts of Wills Prepared by Early Pelham Residents.

Friday, October 5, 2007: Abstract of 1770 Will of Duncan Campble of Minefords Island in Pelham

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes the abstract of the will of William Rodman dated October 28, 1782. Interestingly, the will was disallowed on July 18, 1793. The abstract appears below, followed by a citation to its source.

"WILLIAM RODMAN, of Pelham Manor, farmer; Oct. 28, 1782; devised to brother Joseph Rodman part of Hart Island in lieu of debts and demands; to brogther Samuel Rodman the other quarter part; to wife Leah use of farm in Pelham for seven years, then to brother Joseph Rodman, he to pay wife; mentioned nephew John Bertine, son of sister Mary Bertine, dec'd., under 21; nephew Samuel Bartine; niece Sarah Bartine; after death of brother Joseph Rodman, all farm to two nephews William and John Rodman, his sons; cousin William Rodman, son of Joseph Rodman, dec'd., the small race saddle and furniture I had from his father [etc.]. Executors, friends John Bartow, Junr., Theodosius Bartow and Benjamin Pell. Wit., Theodosius Bartow, Joseph Mullinex, William Landrine. Probated July 18, 1793. Appeared Theodosius Bartow of New Rochelle, and declared that the will was placed in his custody, and that at the time the will was written by him, the sd. William Rodman had no issue and further declared that about three or four years later was summoned to write another will; that he then had no issue; but, some time after had a daughter who is still living; that he had carried the second will away with him and failed to make a third will; the first will found and herewith recorded; that about a year last wenter the sd. William Rodman, dec'd. Will disallowed, July 18, 1793."

Source: Bristol, Theresa Hall, ed., Abstracts of Wills Recorded at White Plains, Westchester County, N.Y., Subsequent to May 1, 1787 in The New York Genealogical and Bigraphical Record, Vol. LV, No. 3, pp. 262, 268 (NY, NY: The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Jul. 1924)(citing Liber B).

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Abstract of 1797 Will of John Bartow, Sr. Who Owned Land in Pelham and Whose Family Became Early Pelham Residents

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In the late 18th century, John Bartow, Sr. owned land in Pelham and was an important member of the Bartow family that lends its name to Bartow-Pell Mansion in today's Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. Below is an abstract of John Bartow, Sr.'s will prepared in 1797 and proved in 1802.

"JOHN BARTOW, SENR., of Westchester; Mch. 21, 1797; devised to cousin John Bartow, son of brother Theophilus Bartow, dec'd, land in Pelham on Minford Island, commonly called City Island; to cousin Augustus Bartow, son of my sd. cousin John Bartow all that land 'where he and I now live' (bounded by road leading to the house 'where my cousin William Bartow now lives;' land of John Bartow, Junr.; land late belonging to Anthony Bartow) [etc.] upon condition that the sd. Augustus Bartow 'do pay unto John Gillespie to the use of his children he had by my cousin Susana, dec'd., daughter of my brother Anthony, dec'd.' the sum of 50 pounds; also that the sd. Augustus Bartow 'pay unto Benjamin Haviland to the use of Thomas Haviland's children he had by my cousin Helena, daughter of my sd. brother Anthony, dec'd.' the sum of 50 pounds; to my cousin William Bartow (which same William is one of the sons of my brother Anthony, dec'd., land where he now lives called the Roberts Field; a piece of land I bought of my brother Anthony [etc.] provided he pay my cousin Charity Wright, one of the daughters of my brother Anthony, widow, the sum of 70 pounds for the use of herself and her children; also on condition that he, my sd. cousin William Bartow pay unto John Gillespie [as before]; to cousins John Bartow, Junr., Theodosius Bartow and Theophilus Bartow, children of my brother Theophilus Bartow, dec'd.; 'All the rest of my farm in the occupation of the sd. William Bartow not herein before disposed of by this my will' 'to my cousins Anthony Bartow, and Robert S. Bartow, children of my brother Anthony, dec'd.' the sd. [cousin] Anthony Bartow to pay my kinsman Doctor Ebenezer White the sum of 15 pounds for his kindness to me when I lived with him; also the sd. Anthony Bartow to pay my kinsman Aaron Burr of the City of New York £5 as a token and in memory of his love and kindness to me and our Family; the sd. Robert S. Bartow to discharge his own debt to Punderson Bartow, dec'd. and to pay a sum to Dr. White; mentioned kinsmen Frederick Prevost and John Bartow Prevost', children of Theodosia, daughter of my brother Theodosius Bartow, dec'd.; cousin Thomas Bartow, the eldest son of my brother Anthony, dec'd.; to cousin Theophilus Bartow one of the sons of my cousin the Rev. Theodosius Bartow, my law books save one lent to my cousin Basil John Bartow and that I gave to him; devised all the rest of books to 'my Brother Theophilus' children, my brother Anthony's children and my Brother Basil's children that shall be living at the time of my decease;' mentioned cousin Theophilus Bartow, son of brother Theophilus, dec'd.; cousins Clarina Underhill the wife of A. Lispenard Underhill and Matilda White one of the daughters of Uzzpkama my cousin, dec'd. Executors, sd. cousins [Page 9 / Page 10] William Bartow and Augustus Bartow. Wit., John Valentine, Samuel Berrian, Elijah Williams, Codicil, Jan. 6, 1802; devised his watch to Clarina Bartow, wife of Augustus Bartow. Wit., John Valentine, Moses Secord, Oliver Secord. Probated Mch. 8, 1802."

Source: Bristol, Theresa Hall, Abstracts of Wills Recorded at White Plains, Westchester County, N. Y. in The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. LVII, No. 1, pp. 9-10 (NY, NY: The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Jan. 1926) (citing Liber C).

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1791 Will of Benjamin Guion of the Town of Pelham

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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).

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