WILL ELEMENTS 1
This page uses a simple system to describe the elements of various family wills. It is in order by year.
Please use FIND (click on EDIT on your TOOLBAR above) to locate names, places, years, etc.
I have fuller abstracts of some of these wills and others can be found on the WEB.
I have included wills of persons who have some connection to the BAYLES and LAKE families of
Long Island (my own ancestors) either by blood or by proximity and/or friendship. I have also
included some wills of persons named as heirs, witnesses or executors in other wills thus following
some families from father through grandchildren.
Do not forget that there was an official new calendar in 1752 when the Gregorian Calendar officially
replaced the Julian Calendar. Prior to that time, the new year began on MAR 25 but many people
celebrated the New Year on JAN 1. A system of "double-dating" was used to account for dates
between JAN 1 and MAR 25 in years prior to 1752, thus a date of JAN 1716/17 indicates that the
will is dated 1716 but by the new calendar, the date is JAN 1717. In 1752 when the Gregorian
Calendar was officially adopted, the date of SEP 2 was followed by SEP 14 to make up for the
days that were "lost".
Please understand that some of the locations named in the wills no longer have the same name and
some locations in the wills bear names that belong to other locations today.
The American Revolution began in 1776 (1st shots in 1775) and lasted until 1783. New York City
and Long Island were occupied by the British for most of the war. Some Long Island Patriots left
for the duration, some returned at the end of the war and others never returned. Most of the
"Absentee Patriot's" names were included in lists made by the British Governor who also noted the
names of the occupants of the abandoned properties. Read more about dates, Long Island locations
and the American Revolution on the Internet or at your local library.
NOTE: Red Dates indicate War years and red Names indicate "Absentee Patriots".
Grandma Huson's
Scrapbook Main Page
DATE: 27 APR 1665
PROVED: 2 NOV 1667
TESTATOR: William Ludlam of Southampton
SPOUSE: Not Named
CHILDREN: Anthony, Joseph, Grace, Frances, Mary, Henry
GRANDCH: Children of William, Henry & Grace
WITNESSES: John Howell, John Cooper
EXECS: Son Henry Ludlam
OTHERS NAMED: Joseph Ludlam (brother)
PROPERTY: New dwelling house and right to commonage, mill
SOURCE: NYHS Collections I
DATE: NOV 1665
PROVED: 19 MAR 1666
TESTATOR: William Salmon of Southold
SPOUSE: Sarah Salmon Conklin
CHILDREN: John, Sarah, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Hannah, Mary
OVERSEERS: Barnabas Wines, Thomas Terry, Richard Terry, Thomas Hutchinson
(4 of the overseers of Southold who were called to examine the estate
of William Salmon)
OTHERS NAMED: Katherine Sunderland Salmon, Matthew Sunderland
PROPERTY: Land in Hashamomack and Oyster Bay
SOURCE: NYHS Collections I
NOTE: This is not a will but a settlement of the estate of William Salmon by John
Conklin, Jr., of “Hashamomack, neare Southold, in the East Riding of Yorkshire”
who had married the widow, Sarah Salmon. Letters of Administration were
granted to Conklin in NOV 1665 and confirmed in 1666. Conklin had applied
for funds to support the six children of William Salmon. The estate was divided
among the six children. Four of the children were those of Salmon’s 1st wife
Katherine who had 1st married Matthew Sunderland a “seaman”. Conklin was
ordered to give security to pay the children their shares of their father’s estate
and the children were ordered to obey Conklin until they came of age. Mary
Salmon, oldest, had already received her share.
DATE: 10 JUN 1669
PROVED: Acknowledged 7 DEC 1683
TESTATOR: Ralph Cordell of Gravesend
SPOUSE: Elizabeth
CHILDREN: None Named
WITNESSES: Dirck Jans Vandervliet, Jane Rider, Theophilus Turford
OVERSEERS: Estate not to be dimished without the consent of Samuel Willson of NY and
John Ryder of Maspeth Kills
OTHERS NAMED: Ack. Before John Spragg, Sr.
PROPERTY: All to be a Deed of Gift to his wife out of “cordial love and natural affection”
SOURCE: NYHS Collections I
DATE: 22 DEC 1671
PROVED: Letter of Administration to wife Anne, 17 JUN 1672
TESTATOR: Nicholas Stillwell of Staten Island
SPOUSE: Anne
CHILDREN: Jeremiah (“youngest son”)
WITNESSES: Nicholas De Meyer, Richard Charlton
PROPERTY: Lands, houses, estate, gray mare
SOURCE: NYHS Collections I
DATE: 28 FEB 1679
PROVED: 25 JUL 1679
TESTATOR: Samuel Holmes of Gravesend
SPOUSE: Alice
CHILDREN: Samuel, Joseph, Anne, Katherine, Mary
WITNESSES: John Tilton (or Tillon), John Emmons
EXECS: Wife Alice Holmes
OVERSEERS: He makes his “loving brothers and friends” overseers and guardians
of his children: Richard Stillwell, Jonathan Holmes, Obadiah Holmes,
John Browne, Samuel Spicer. They were confirmed as such, 25 JUN 1679.
OTHERS NAMED: Thomas Delavall
PROPERTY: Lot or Plantation, carpenter tools, clothes, cows
SOURCE: NYHS Collections I
NOTE: Alice Holmes married 2nd, William Osbourne. See Osbourne’s will
dated 10 FEB 1682.
DATE: 20 APR 1681
PROVED: 4 OCT 1681
TESTATOR: Robert Carr of Newport
SPOUSE: “my loving wife”
CHILDREN: Caleb, Mary Hicks, Robert, Esek, Elizabeth Brown, Margaret
WITNESSES: Henry Dyre, John Williams
EXECS: “my beloved wife”, sons Caleb & Robert Carr
OVERSEERS: Caleb Carr (brother), Walter Clarke
OTHERS NAMED: John Hicks (son-in-law), James Brown (son-in-law), John Brown,
Nicholas Davis, Francis Brinley
PROPERTY: “land at Conanicut alias Jamestown”
SOURCE: The Carr Family Records by Edson I. Carr, Rockton, IL, 1894
NOTE: This will was written while on a voyage from NJ to NY. He was aged 67
and doubtful about the outcome of the voyage. There is no known
relationship to any of the CARR family associated with the BAYLES families.
Robert Carr may have been an ancestor of one or more of them.
DATE: 10 FEB 1682
PROVED: 29 AUG 1683 in Gravesend
TESTATOR: William Osbourne of Gravesend, Long Island
SPOUSE: Alice, former wife of Samuel Holmes
CHILDREN: William, Elizabeth, Margaret, Samuel
WITNESSES: Corsten Jansen; Samuel Spicer; Peter Smith, Clerk of the Court
EXECS: Gershom Moore, Samuel Moore, Daniel Whitehead
OVERSEERS: John Coe, Samuel Spicer, John Tredwell
OTHERS NAMED: Samuel Holmes, John & Hannah Smith, Wait Smith
PROPERTY: Tract in Newtown in possession of John & Hannah Smith, two houses
in Flushing in possession of Thos. Williams,
SOURCE: NYHS Collections I
DATE: 18 OCT 1682
PROVED: 13 DEC 1682
TESTATOR: John
Bayles, Sr., of Jamaica
SPOUSE: Rebecca
CHILDREN: John, Elias, Thomas, Jonathan, Elizabeth Hubbard, Mary Hewlett,
Damris Lyns, Abigail Smith, Ruth, Rebecca Stillwell, Rebecca
GRANDCH: John Bayles, Elias Stillwell (son of Rebecca & Nicholas Stillwell)
WITNESSES: None
EXECS: Wife Rebecca
PROPERTY: Houses, lands, meadows, orchard
SOURCE: NY Co. Wills Liber 1-2, pp.451-2; NYHS Collections I;
The Bayles Families of Long Island and New Jersey by Howard Green
Bayles, 1944; and other books, journals,etc.
NOTE: John Bayles is believed to be the immigrant ancestor. He is noted to have
been in the precinct of New Haven as early as 1647 and to have been in
Southold, L.I., by 1654. His wife's maiden name is unknown but, she married
2nd, William Hallett of Hellgate. John Bayles later moved from Southold to
Jamaica where he died. John Bayles and his associates were the original
purchasers of the Indian deed of Elizabethtown, NJ, 1664. John is believed to
have never lived in NJ although he did spend some time there "improving" the land.
O.E. Monnette includes John and Rebecca as among the 1st settlers of Staten
Island in his book about Piscataway but it is doubtful that they ever lived
anyplace but Long Island.
DATE: 17 JAN 1695
PROVED: 16 MAR 1695/6
TESTATOR: Jasper Smith of Flushing
SPOUSE: Margaret
CHILDREN: John, Judith, Hannah
WITNESSES: John Ervine, Edward Burroughs, Wm. Fowler
EXECS: Wife Margaret Smith, Hugh Cowperthwaite, Samuel Bowne
OVERSEERS: John Wey, George Langly
OTHERS NAMED: Daniel Whitehead and Thomas Stanton, Justices; Thomas Weekes, Judge
PROPERTY: Plantation to be sold after the death of Margaret and the proceeds
divided among the three children.
SOURCE: NYHS Collections I
DATE: 10 MAY 1695
PROVED: 3 APR 1706
TESTATOR: John
Smith, Sr., of Hempstead, Queens Co.
SPOUSE: None Named, presumed deceased.
CHILDREN: John (deceased), Joseph, Jonathan, Mary Denton (wife of Samuel),
Martha Chappelle (deceased), Hannah Tredwell (wife of John)
GRANDCH: Richard & Timothy (sons of John), Sarah Pine, Mary Smith; William &
Stephen Chappelle
WITNESSES: William Vesey, John Tredwell, Phebe Patt (Platt?), Andrew Gibb
EXECS: “I make my children executors”
ADMINISTRATOR: Hannah Treadwell (reserving power to the rest of the executors)
OTHERS NAMED: Anne & Mary Rushmore (grandchildren?)
PROPERTY: Much land, John Smith was a wealthy man.
SOURCE: NYHS Collections I
DATE: 27 SEP 1697
PROVED: 26 FEB 1707/8
TESTATOR: Marten Peterse Wyckoff
SPOUSE: Hannah (Letters of Admin. Granted to her, executors having refused to serve.)
CHILDREN: Grietie, Marytie, Anna, Sara, Mayaka, Jannetie, Peter
WITNESSES: John Lake, Abraham Emans
EXECS: Claas Wyckoff, William Williamsen, Johanes Guylick
PROPERTY: “estate of houses and lands” to wife Hannah
SOURCE: NYHS Collections I
DATE: 13 NOV 1703
PROVED: 30 OCT 1704
CODICIL: 9 DEC 1703
TESTATOR: Daniel
Whitehead of Jamaica, Queens Co.
SPOUSE: Abigail
CHILDREN: Jonathan, Thomas, Deborah Hicks, Elizabeth Waters, Mary Burroughs,
Amy Doughty, Abigail Denton
GRANDCH: Whitehead Hicks
WITNESSES: Andrew Gibb, J. Lenoir, S. Clowes
EXECS: Wife Abigail & son Jonathan Whitehead
OVERSEERS: Thomas Stevenson, Lt. Thomas Smith
OTHERS NAMED: Negro woman Mary (to wife); Thomas Hicks (son-in-law);
Indian Boy Cupid (to son Thomas); Anthony Waters (son-in-law);
Daniel Whitehead (brother); Thomas Burroughs (son-in-law, deceased);
Jacob Doughty (son-in-law); Mercy Betts (wife of Thomas Betts, may be
another daughter); John Hubbard; Thomas Oakley; John Bayley;
Jonathan Stevenson (son of Jonathan Stevenson of Norwalk CN);
Daniel Denton (son-in-law); Deborah Denton; Benjamin & Abigail Stebbins
(“my son and dau.-in-law”) & their daus. Abigail & Mary Stebbins;
Catherine Whitehead (niece, dau. of bro. Daniel); Deborah & Gabriel Lassee
PROPERTY: Lots in Jamaica, Flushing, Quaspeck, etc.
SOURCE: NYHS Collections I
NOTE: Daniel Whitehead was a Proprietor of Hempstead in 1647 and a very
wealthy man. He owned a great deal of land on Long Island. His relationship
to some of the named individuals is confusing. In his day, terms such as
“brother”, etc. often indicated other close kin such as nephews, nieces,
in-laws, etc.
DATE: 21 FEB 1706/7
PROVED: 2 JUN 1708
TESTATOR: Jonathan Horton of Southold, Suffolk Co.
SPOUSE: Bethiah
CHILDREN: Jonathan, William, James, Caleb (deceased), Abigail, Patience,
Bethiah (wife of Henry Tuthill), Mehitabel (wife of Daniel Tuthill),
Mary Goldsmith (widow)
GRANDCH: Jonathan (son of Caleb), Mehitabel (dau. of Barnabas Horton, deceased)
WITNESSES: Richard Benjamin, Jonathan Benjamin, Stephen Bayley
EXECS: Wife Bethiah, Sons Jonathan & William Horton
OTHERS NAMED: Richard Terry, "my brother" Benjamin Horton & "his mother",
Mathias Corwin, Henry Case, "my cousin" Bud, Barnabas Wines,
Thomas Goldsmith (deceased), Samuel Moore, Capt. Hobart
PROPERTY: Many lots of land in various locations including Curchoge, Accobog,
Halliock's Neck, Calf Neck, Plum Island, etc.
SOURCE: NYHS Collections I
NOTE: Most of the "Others Named" were people who Horton had purchased
land from or persons whose lots were adjacent to Horton's.
Thomas Goldsmith (deceased) seems to have been the husband of
Horton's widowed daughter, Mary.
DATE: 20 DEC 1711
PROVED: 26 AUG 1723
TESTATOR: Jochem Guylick of Gravesend
SPOUSE: Jaquimyntie
CHILDREN: Johanes, Hendrick, Jochem, Peter, Teunis, Catalyntie, Grietie, Gertruyd,
Jaquamintie
WITNESSES: Samuel Hubbard, John Lake, Nicholas Willemsen
EXECS: Wife, Jaquimyntie
OVERSEERS: To be guardians & overseers of wife & children, my "brother & friends"
Aaert Van Pelt, William Willemsen, Samuel Gerritsen
PROPERTY: Houses, lands & meadow in Gravesend
SOURCE: NYHS Collections XI
NOTE: Jochem Guylick (Gulick or Gullick) is believed to have been the son of
Hendrick Guylick & Gertruyd Willekens. Gertruyd Willekens married 2nd,
Claes Claeszen (Smit) in 1653 and had a daughter Neeltje (bp., RDC,1655).
Neeltje Claeszen married 1st, Nicholas Goulder and 2nd, John Lake.
John Lake and his wife Neeltje were ancestors of the BAYLESS families
of East TN. Jaquimyntie Guylick was born Van Pelt, her brother being the
named overseer Aaert Van Pelt.
DATE: 19 JAN 1715
PROVED: 5 MAR 1715/16
TESTATOR: Nicholas Stillwell of Gravesend
SPOUSE: Elizabeth
CHILDREN: Elias, Nicholas, John, Richard, Thomas, Anne Christopher, Mary Johnson
GRANDCH: Children of son Elias; "my grandchildren": John Emans, Nicholas Emans,
Abraham Emans, Isaac Emans, and Catharine Emans
WITNESSES: Samuel Hubbard, Thomas Craen, Elias Hubbard
EXECS: Sons Nicholas and Richard Stillwell
PROPERTY: Negroes, tenements, lands, horses
SOURCE: NYHS Collections II
DATE: 19 NOV 1719
PROVED: 16 MAY 1721
TESTATOR: Daniel Smith of Smithtown, Suffolk Co.
SPOUSE: Mary
CHILDREN: Daniel Smith, Irene, Sarah, Mary, Solomon, Deborah
WITNESSES: Sarah Platt, Jonas Platt, James Smyth
EXECS: Wife Mary and Epenetus Smith, Esq. ("my beloved friend")
OTHERS NAMED: Jonathan Smith, Richard Smith, Negro man James,
Negro woman Jinny
PROPERTY: Lands and meadows in Smithtown and on the road between Smithtown
and Brookhaven.
SOURCE: NYHS Unrecorded Wills XI
NOTE: Daniel was the son of Richard Smith, the Patentee of Smithtown.
Abigail Bayles, dau. of John and Rebecca of Southold and Jamaica,
married a Daniel Smith who is named in the will of John Bayles, 1682.
It is unknown if Abigail married this Daniel, his son, or another Daniel Smith.
A Daniel Smith (possibly the son named above), in 1775, was quartermaster
of the 4th Regt. of the Suffolk Co. Militia. In 1778 he and Philetus Smith
(son of Obadiah) prepared a list of absentees from Smithtown which they
sent to Gov. Tryon ("Absentee Patriots from British Occupied Suffolk Co.,
L. I., 1778" by Kenneth Scott).
DATE: 1 DEC 1721
PROVED: 19 AP 1722
TESTATOR: William Willemsen of Gravesend
SPOUSE: None named, presumed deceased.
CHILDREN: Nicholas, Peter, William, Johanes, Cornelis, Anne (wife of John Griggs, Jr.),
Mary (wife of Bartholomew Marsh), Gretie (wife of Abraham Emmans)
GRANDCH: Leaves shares to the children of Mary and of Gretie
WITNESSES: John Lake, Samuel Hubbard, S. Gerritsen
EXECS: Sons William & Nicholas
PROPERTY: His lands in Gravesend had been transferred to his son Nicholas who had
made partial payment, any payment due at the time of William's death was to
be divided among the heirs.
SOURCE: NYHS Collections II
DATE: 9 APR 1722
PROVED: Not Proved
TESTATOR: Benjamin Bayles of Settaheet
(Setauket), Suffolk Co., “Island of Nassau”
SPOUSE: None Named
CHILDREN: None Named
WITNESSES: John Muirhead, Rebecca Muirhead, James ???
EXECS: Brother Jonathan & Daniel Bayles
OTHERS NAMED: Brothers: John, Jonathan, Daniel, Richard, Joseph, Elias
PROPERTY: House & upland in Settaheet South
SOURCE: NYHS Collections XI
DATE: 4 MAY 1723
PROVED: 17 MAY 1729
TESTATOR: John Lake of Gravesend, Kings Co., Long Island
SPOUSE: Mayke
CHILDREN: Daniel, John, Thomas, Nicholas, Mary Van Sickelen
WITNESSES: Samuel Hubbard, Samuel Gerritsen, Nicholas Williamse
EXECS: Not Named
OTHERS NAMED: Cornelius Van Sickelen (son-in-law), a Negro boy (to son Daniel)
PROPERTY: “estate, houses and lands in Gravesend”
SOURCE: NYHS Collections X
DATE: 7 APR 1727
PROVED: 2 JAN 1727/8
TESTATOR: Richard Oldfield of Jamaica, Queens Co., Long Island
SPOUSE: Sarah
CHILDREN: Jane, Hannah, Mary, Deborah, Susannah, Keziah
GRANDCH: Joseph Oldfield Payne
WITNESSES: John Forster, Benj. Smith, Thos. Thurston
EXECS: Jonathan Waters, Joseph Smith
OTHERS NAMED: Daniel Oldfield (brother), Dorothy & Rebecca (daus. Of Daniel Oldfield),
John Foster (neighbor)
PROPERTY: House in Jamaica, meadow next to Captain’s Point
SOURCE: NYHS Collections X
DATE: 16 SEP 1727
PROVED: No Probate. Endorsed 23 AUG 1729
TESTATOR: William Hallett of Hellgate Neck, Newtown, Queens Co.
SPOUSE: Mary
CHILDREN: Joseph, Moses, George, Richard, Sarah Philips, Rachel Jackson,
Sarah Blackwell, Charity Moore, Elizabeth Fish
WITNESSES: Samuel Hallett, Samuel Hallett, Jr., Samuel Richards
EXECS: “Sons” James Jackson & Samuel Moore
PROPERTY: Lands in Hellgate Neck, several slaves
SOURCE: NYHS Collections XI
NOTE: William Hallett, Jr., of Newtown, his wife and five children were killed by
Indians 24 JAN 1707. William Hallett, Jr., died intestate and his estate was
administered by his father William Hallett, Sr.
NOTE: Rebecca Bayles, widow of John Bayles, Sr., of Jamaica, married, 2nd,
William Hallett of Hellgate. She was his 4th wife. It seems unlikely that this
William Hallett is the same man (John Bayles died in 1682). He may have
been the son of the William who married Rebecca.
DATE: 31 MAY 1730
PROVED: 5 AUG 1730
TESTATOR: Benjamin
Cromwell of Jamaica, Queens Co.
SPOUSE: Phebe
CHILDREN: Benjamin, John, Sarah, “the child my wife now goeth with”
WITNESSES: Ruth Bayles, John Muirhead, Nehemiah Smith
EXECS: Increase Carpenter (brother-in-law), Elias Bayles
OTHERS NAMED: George Clarke, Esq. (proved before him)
PROPERTY: Lot & estate in Jamaica
SOURCE: NYHS Collections XI
NOTE: Elias Bayles was most likely Elias, son of Elias and Hannah (Smith) Bayles
of Jamaica. Elias’ wife was Ruth Smith.
DATE: 17 DEC 1730
PROVED: Died Intestate
TESTATOR: John
Bayley of Huntington, Suffolk Co., a Carpenter
SPOUSE: Abigail
CHILDREN: None Named
ADMINISTERS: Letters of Admin. Granted to wife Abigail & John Skidmore, brother-in-law
OTHERS NAMED: John Montgomerie, Esq., Captain-General and Governor
PROPERTY: None Mentioned
SOURCE: NYHS Collections III
NOTE: John Bayley was, most likely, the son of John Bayles, III, and wife
Elizabeth of Jamaica.
DATE: 16 DEC 1731
PROVED: 3 APR 1732
TESTATOR: Elias Balies, Jr., of Jamaica, Queens Co.
SPOUSE: Ruth
CHILDREN: Elias, Mary
WITNESSES: Robert Cross, Dirck Brinkerhoff, Altie Rodes
EXECS: Elias Balies ("my father"), John & Ephraim ("my brothers")
OTHERS NAMED: John Muirhead (to be "set at liberty")
PROPERTY: Movable estate, house & lands. Working tools to John Muirhead.
SOURCE: NYHS Collections III
NOTE: There were several men named Elias Bayles (Balies, Bayley, etc.).
Elias Bayles, Jr. (1701-1732), son of Elias and Hannah (Smith) Bayles of
Jamaica married Ruth Smith. He was an Elder and Deacon of the
1st Presbyterian Church of Jamaica. He is named along with Daniel Smith
and others in many wills of the time as several people left money and/or
property to the Elders for use of the church. John Muirhead married
Rebecca Bayles, dau. of John Bayles, Jr. of Jamaica.