Cotton, Benjamin Noys

Benjamin married Leavitt, Elizabeth on 23 Oct 1740 in Stratham, Rockingham Co., NH. Elizabeth died in 1760. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Solomon married Portmort, Judith Cutt. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

THE WILL OF JOHN COTTON OF PORTSMOUTH, NH

John Cotton - 1714 - Portsmouth, NH. In the name of God Amen.

The fourteenth day of September in the yeare of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & fourteen; I John Cotton of the town of Porstmouth in New Hampsheire in New England Yeoman being verry infirme & weak of body.

Item: I give & bequeath to my well beloved son William Cotton my Halbert : besides twenty ounds in money he hath had : which I forgive him.
Item: I give & bequeath to my son Solomon all & singular the house and land where he now lives : together with a piece of fresh meadow on the west side of Joses which he hath sold George Vaughan Esquire to be to him his heirs & Assignes for ever--

Item: I give and bequeath to my son John Cotton all & singular my land in the province of Maine which I Bought of David Libby & Jacob Smith as by theire Deed of sale will appear be the same more or less : And alsoe one halfe of the fresh meadow in the frsh Marshes on the north side of the brook et comes to the Creek Mills: (his brother thomas to have the other halfe of the fresh meadow) the above said land and halfe the fresh meadow to be by him the said John Cotton his heirs & Assignes freely possessed & enjoyed for ever: But if he die without issue then all the above given land & meadow shall be to my son Thomas Cotton & his heirs: if he has none then to my son Solomon & his heirs male.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Cotton all and singular my halfe lott of land on the bank: as specyfied in a deed of partition between my self & John Downing Senior of Dover & is on record: And also halfe the fresh Meadow against his brother John Cotton in the fresh marshes one the North side of the brooke that comes to the Creek Mills-- And alsoe all and singular my lot of the Common land of this town together with 8 acres old grant bought by my father Cotton of John Locke: as tis laid out with the same Common land as will appeare by the return of the comitte entred on Portsmouth town books: together with all the preveleidges oto the same belonging : to be by him his heirs or Assignes freely possessed & enjoyed for ever: But if he die without Isue then all the above given land & meadow shall be my son Johns and if John has noe isue then to the heirs male of my son Solomon.

Item: I give & bequeath to my daughters Abigall Marget & Susannah Cottons: to each of them the sume of twenty pounds in Money and alsoe a feather bed to each of them: with all its furniture as Bolster Pillow Curtains &c all that belongs to it: & if either of the sisters die before her part is received then her part shall be equally divided between the other two above named.

Item: I have given each of my five eldest daughters viz Elizabeth Tomson: Mary Paul : Joannah Jones : Sarra Catter Hannah Mead each of them theire portions & parts already.

Item: I give & bequeath to my well beloved wife Sarrah whom I likewise constitute make & ordaine my sole Exetrix of this my last will & testament all my moveable estate both within Doores and without (that is not already given) & alsoe all debts dew to me of any kind: willing that if she see cause to marry againe that then she make distribution of what estate is left to either of her daughters as may have most need according to her discretion: & if she see cause to take the advice of any friend in ye distribution she may chuse whom whe will and my further will is that if she die a widdow: then to make the like distribution to any of our daughters.
If anything more then is herein specyfied remaine after my self & wifes decease it shall be distributed to any of our daughters as above--

And if what I leave should not be sufficient to pay the twenty pounds a peice to the 3 sisters above saide then my 2 sons John and Thomas Cotton: or either of their heirs: shall each of them pay out of theire respective parts of land they have received: within one years after it is soe known the sume of seven pounds ten shillings: to be paid their three younger sisters above said to each of them 5 ounds in money--

Item: I give to my sons: William John & Thomas Cotton all my yoaks chaines & all materials of Iron and wood for hauling plowing & such like to be qually divided amongst them.

And I Doe hereby utterly disannul disalow & revoake all & every other former testament wills legacies & bequest & exec ratifying and confirming this and noe other to be my last wuill and testament in wittness whereof I have herunto sett my hand & seale the Day & Yeare first above written--

Signed sealed & declared by the said John Cotton Senior to be his last will and testament in presence of Susannah Tufften, Annis Graffam, James Jeffry. [proved Dec 9, 1714.]

John married Hearle, Sarah in 1674 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., NH. Sarah (daughter of Hearle, William and Hunking, Beaton) was born about 1652 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., NH; died on 12 Dec 1716. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Ham, Elizabeth in 1650 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., NH. Elizabeth (daughter of Ham, William and Stephens, Honor) was born on 12 Jul 1629 in Botusfleming, Cornwall, England; died in 1678 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., NH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Hunking, Beaton in 1651 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., NH. Beaton was born in 1618 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., NH; died on 17 May 1689 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., NH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]