New Britain herald., 1923-02-16
historical WEALTH
IN PROBATE COURT
Old Records Throw Light on
Connecticut Of Early Days
ny James shepardl


Tor the district OF Hartford contain
vast amount OF information concern
ing the life and death history OF gu
early Inhabitants The said histoT
gives ms their various names, IN
names Of their children and Of IN
men who married their daughters
We learn Of their poverty and wealth
the industries which they pursued
what land they owned. the domestil
animals which they had and above al
OF their religion, their love for God
the minister and the church,
This wealth OF information was toi
long time practically hidden nndei
a bushel." All the world could moi
have access 10 single copy and none
other than an expert can readily de-
cipher such ancient manuscripts. Al
length the hnshel was removed and
the light now shines forth upon the
world. The late Charles William
Manwaring. Of Hartford. labored dis
] igently for several years In compiling
~ Digest of the Early Connecticut
| Probate Records" In three volumes,
covering the years from 1886 TO 1850.
The two first volumes OF about 700
pages each were published in 1904.
Before Mr.. Manwaring had complet-
cd the compilation of the third vol
umehc was stricken with a fatal dis
ease and could pursue his work only
with much difficulty and sufferirA.
But with marvellous energy and faith
| fulness he persevered In his heroic
work and passed away on Aug. 10.
1905. the day following the compile
tion OF his great compilation"
The third volume of 794 pages was
prepared and published in 1906, I'M
der the supervision of other hands.
This digest Is a pioneer WORK in its
line, pointing the way TO what may
be done In other parts of the state
and in sister states, in the way of put
ting their ancient and valuable rec
ords into a form that will foreverin-
sure against their loss or destruction"
have examined the first volume of
the said digest, page by page from
beginning to eIvl and find much in
teresting matter. William Wellman
was sick unto death and following the
advice of the prophet Isiah, "Set thine
house in order for thou shalt die and
rot live" He made a will contain
ing the following preamble:
whereas, / William Welman of
Kennelworth, being sick and weake of
body but of perfect memory, as my
duty is at all time to command and
commit my soule to God, as also to
set my house in order in reference to
my outward estate with which God
hath betrusted NEE, in token of my
love to and care of my wife and chill
dren as my last will an testa-
ment."
The asbjoined preamblesis from the
will of one who was aged as well as
sick:
II Simon Smith senior of Haddam,
being aged and being sensabell of my
MORTALITY, and at thos time being Wis
tied with sickness, does give my body
to the dust in hopes of Glorias res
erection, make this my Last Will and |
Testament
The will of an aged man who de- ,
sired continued peace, has the follow
ing preamble: In the name of God,
I John Pratt of Hartford, being grown
in years and at present laboring under
some weakness of body, am willing to
set my Temporal affayres, that when I
l am gathered to my fatherspeace
may be continued in my family Doe
therefore make this my Last Will e.
Testament"
The numerous wills containingmat-
ter of similar nature to that found in
the foregoing preambles, indicate that
it was the general practice to defer
the making of will just as long as 1t
was deemed safe to do SO. As a rule
the early wills were probated in a
short time after the making of them,
a few weeks, or months, or years.
Eight years is the longest time noted
for will to run before it was pro-
bated These will appear to have
been the first and only will made by
the testator. A clause revoking
former will is of very rare occurrence.
A rare example of interesting or
is found in the will of
James Boswell which was purposely
published, by Mr.. Manwaring in an
unedited form as follows:
September "a: 1860.
. ! lts-iHtS DuSWell ole WelHe there's
field felenge my selefe We ry ele /
thenkes it is my du ty ha uenge my
ri te sen ses and re sense to sete my
estate that god haue geuen me in
Drdere and thes is my wele j haue
siuene my uncell and ante and 10
1athane smethe my foure catetele ate
good name wrytes land more ouerre
haue giuen theme my tou yonge
more ouere Ales is my wele i
naue geuen my cos sen ri richard
;metho and my cos sene iosephe sun
;methc ale my land in nawbuck my
,ous sene mr. richard shale haue hes
lalefe ofe my lote nuexth good name
more oucre i haueguene
ny Gus sen richard smethe my ould
mare and her coult and my oud coue
md my yonge seege had ofe iohne
adomes thate cote Snce hade heme
ofe John addames vand wethere
;hcpe / glue hime and my house ale
soc more ouere j makemy cos sene
-ichard smith and Thomas edwardes
NY ouere serese to proud for my
buryable fife ite pies god
dy and in con sederacyon fore there
arc and payenes geue them ale
<yndes of my were renge clos and
Mood rIoc nd batac