at this time weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God therefor, calling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die doe make and ordain this my Last will and testament: that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it and for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buryed in a Christian Like and decent manner at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting but at the General resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form imprimis I give and bequeath unto Remember my well beloved wife whome I likewise constitute make and ordain my only and sole executor of this my last will and testament all my lands and moveable estate all my household stuf cattle and tools and all my whol estate both reall and parsonall-ordering this my Executor to pay all my debts out of said estate and allso to pay to my respective children as foloweth as they shall come of age that is to say to my eldest son Benjamin five shillings to my son Samuel five shillings to my son Joseph five shillings to my daughter Elezebeth five shillings to my son Moses five shillings: to my daughter Mary five shillings and all the remainder of said estate I leave with my Executor to be disposed of for the comfortable maintainance and support of my eldest daughter Agnes which never hath had the use of her reason for which cause I order this my Estate to be disposed of at the discretion of my Executor for the comfortable maintainance of my child Aggnis: and I do hereby order my Executor to have the advice of my well esteemed friend Lieutenant John Huntington of Toaland in the disposal of said estate and I doe hereby utterly disalow, revoke and disannul all and every other former testament: wills and legacies bequests and executors by me in anyways before this time named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament: In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this day and year above written. John Pasko Benjamin King (seal) Isaac Osborne her rebekah X pasko mark An inventory of the estate of Benjamin King was made on November 30, 1733, and remains on file at Hartford. It includes "his Lands 300 acres" valued at 250 pounds and farming imple ments, cattle, "one maar" and household furniture. The total appraisement of the estate was 305 pounds seven shillings and four pence. Stafford, to which Benjamin King removed from Suffield, was about sixteen miles east from the latter place and Tolland (Toaland) where Benjamin King's "well esteemed friend Lieutenant John Huntington" lived was about eight miles southerly from Stafford. The three youngest children of Benjamin King were born in Stafford, the others in Suffield. ISSUE: 2233 24* i. AGNES', b. Jany 22, 1713; d. Sept. 4, 1714. ii. AGNES, (again), b. June 22, 1715; died unmarried. She is mentioned in her father's will as "never hath had the use of her reason." iii. BENJAMIN, b. Sept. 11, 1717; d. Enfield March 8, 1777; m. Enfield Sept. 26, 1741, Sarah Pease. 25* iv. V. SAMUEL, b. Oct. 4, 1719; d. Somers, Conn., June 15, 1745; m. Somers, Aug. 23, 1743, Hannah Bush. ELIZABETH, b. May 16, 1721; m. May 14, 1740, Benjamin Thomas Jr. vi. JOSEPH, b. Dec. 22, 1724; m. Enfield May 5, 1748, Abiah Old. 26* 27* 28* 29* viii. vii. MOSES, b. ; m. Feb. 9, 1758, Hannah ; m. Aug. 8, 1751, Eleazer 10 CAPTAIN JOSEPH3 KING, (James2, William1), born in Suffield, Conn., May 10, 1689; died in Suffield March 6, 1756; married (1) in Hartford May 2, 1717, Mary (Wilson) Jesse, widow; (2) in Suffield June 2, 1740, Hannah Devotion. Captain Joseph King was a very prominent man in Suffield. His well known integrity and uprightness together with his accuracy and fidelity in the transaction of official business caused him to be greatly trusted and his time to be much occupied in public affairs. He was Captain of a military company. Dec. 19, 1721, he was elected Tithingman; Dec. 2, 1726, Moderator of the Town Meeting; March 11, 1728, Selectman and also Moderator; at the same time he was also chosen one of the "trustees to receive the towns proportion of 60,000 pound loan (of which the towns proportion was 405 pounds) and to let it out at the towns discretion." May 6, 1728, he was again Moderator; March 10, 1729, Selectman; April 16, 1729, he was elected Town Treasurer and being re-elected each succeeding year, he held that office for twelve years and until 1741. In each succeeding year thereafter he was chosen Selectman and Moderator. June 11, 1739, Joseph King having been chosen Moderator of the Town Meeting, the following proceedings thereat were taken: "Joseph King, Gentm., was chosen agent in behalf of the Town of Suffield to make answer to a petition exhibited to the General Court now sitting at Boston, by the inhabitants of the West part of said town praying to be set off into a Distinct and Separate Society by themselves: and the said King to show Reasons Why they ought not to be sce Sett off." The petition referred to was for the formation of the Second Ecclesiastical Society and had been made in May, 1739. The General Court deferred a decision and recommended an arrangement by a committee chosen by mutual agreement of both parties. This was done and the decision of the committee was ratified by the General Court Jany 1, 1740. The answer or brief in the handwriting of "Joseph King, Gent'm," giving reasons why the town should not be divided into Ecclesiastical Societies has been preserved and is still on file among the town records of Suffield. It presents the reasons against such a division of the town into ecclesiastical societies or precincts very forcibly, clearly and concisely. The closing paragraphs are as follows: "The great inconvenience of breaking Towns into small precincts makes parties in Towns and being unable to give yt honorable support to Ministers which is meet, has a tendency to breed discord between Minister and People and proves a wound to Religion; and no man of learning and parts will be willing to settle in such places: and so they must take up with weak means which opens a door for seducers to infuse Corrupt principles and bring a scandal upon Religion. The extream charges of ye Province & war approaching is to be considered" etc. (The war referred to as approaching was probably that with the French known as King George's War.) The Committee against division was "Joseph King and Sam1 Kent Gentm and William King, Yeoman" who with a committee in favor of division signed an agreement selecting Arbitrators to determine the question. (Sheldon's Hist. of Suffield.) Capt. Joseph King acquired a very large estate. He executed a great many legal documents and a number of these have been preserved and are now in the possession of Miss Margaret E. King of Dayton, Ohio. His seal after his signature on these legal instruments always has impressed thereon the King Coat cf Arms to which we have above herein referred under the title "The King Coat of Arms" (p. 29 supra). It would consume too much space to give these documents in full, but the following Deed of Gift to Hannah King his wife will serve as an illustration: DEED OF GIFT BY CAPT JOSEPH KING TO HIS WIFE HANNAH KING Know all Men by these Presents that I Joseph King of Suffield in the County of Hartford, in the Colony of Connecticut in New England for and in consideration of the love, good will and affection which I have and do bear toward my loving wife Hannah King of Suffield aforesaid have given and granted and by these presents do freely, clearly and absolutely give and grant unto the said Hannah King her heirs and assigns forever one ninth part of two hundred acres of land lying and being in Cold Spring Township, so called in the County of Hampshire in His Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England aforesaid, the said two hundred acres of land is bounded as followeth (viz) beginning at the south east corner of three hundred acres formerly Mr Stodards now supposed to belong to Mr Josiah Parsons of Northampton & running from thence west six degrees south one hundred and fifty perch and then south six degrees east ninety-nine perch and then east six degrees north two hundred and fifty five perch: & then north one degree east one hundred and two perch, then north eight degrees east fifty five perch & then west six degrees south to the line on the east side of the above said Parsonses three hundred acres aforesaid which line is north six degrees west from the station first mentioned and then to the corner boundary where this two hundred acres first began; to Have and to Hold the said given and granted premises (after my decease) to her the said Hannah King her heirs and assigns forever to her and their only proper use benefit and behoof forever. In Witness whereof I the said Joseph King have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighth day of September in the twenty ninth year of His Majts Reign Anno Dom. 1755 Signed, sealed & Delived In the presence of us Jno Devotion Mary Burbank Joseph King (seal) Hartford County s. s. Suffield Sept 11, 1755 Joseph Corm Sam Kent Junor Justice Peace. The seal after Joseph King's signature is a diamond shaped piece of white paper attached by a wafer to the deed and impressed with a seal bearing the King Coat of Arms. (See half-tone under title The King Coat of Arms, p. 29 ante.) The body of the instrument is entirely in the handwriting of Capt. Joseph King. He died at Suffield on the 6th day of March, 1756. WILL OF CAPT. JOSEPH KING OF SUFFIELD. In the name of God, Amen: This forth day of March 1756, I Joseph King of Suffield in the County of Hartford and Colony of Connecticut in New England, Gentleman, being very sick and Weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, Thanks be given to God. Therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the Hands of God that gave it and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian Burial nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Mighty Power of God. And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give and demise and dispose of the same in the following manner & form. Imprimis: I give and bequeath to Hannah, my dearly beloved wife the use and improvement of one Half of my house and Barn & well during the time she remains my widow and after that to have the use of one Third part of said House barn & well during her natural life and also one third part of the use of my Improvable lands during her life and also one third part of my moveable estate during her natural life. Item-I appoint and my will is that my wife Hannah and my loving brother William King and my son Pelatiah Bliss to be |