Jonathan Torrey and wife Ruth Fry/e, my 8X great grandparents, seem like a natural follow up to George Fry/e’s 1676 will, naming his daughters.
Jonathan Torrey was born 20 September 1654 in Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts, the son of James Torrey. He died on 7 June 1718, Weymouth, Suffolk, Massachusetts. Ruth’s death record notes she was about 74 years old, so if that is accurate, she was several years older than Jonathan, thus born c1650. She died 28 April 1724, also in Weymouth.
Their family was relatively small, with just six known surviving children, two sons and four daughters. All events were in Weymouth, unless noted.
If anyone can identify the Allen husband of Ruth or the King husband of Sarah, I would love to hear from you!
Children:
- Mary, born 25 September 1675; married John Norton
- Ruth, born 17 August 1679; married Mr. Allen
- Ann, born 3 March 1681/82; died 1 October 1732; married Thomas Butler, 18 September 1702.
- Jonathan, born 24 May 1684; married (1) Margaret (MNU). She died 8 December 1711. (2) Lydia Green, 9 August 1712, intentions filed.
- Sarah, married Mr. King
- Joshua, born 11 November 1690; died 11 March 1776; married Jane Lovell, 18 March 1716.
Jonathan Torrey left a will, written 22 February 1717/18 and recorded almost exactly one year later on 10 February 1718/19.
Suffolk County Probate File 4143
Source: American Ancestors
In the Name of God amen, the twenty-second Day of february in the yearof Our Lord God 1717/18 I Jonathan Torrey of Weymouth in the County of Suffolk in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New england, Husbandman, though weak of Body yet of Perfect mind & memory, Thanks be Given to God therefor Calling to mind the mortality of my Body & Knowing that It is appointed for all
men once to Dy, do make & ordain this my Last will & Testament that is to Say Principally & first of all, I Give & recommend my Soul into the hands of God that Gave it Hoping & trusting in my Dear Redeemer Jesus Christ for Pardon & eternal Life, and for my Body I recommend it to the Earth to be Buried in a Christianlike
end 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 worldy Estate wherewith it hath Pleased god to Bless me in this Life, I Give Devise & Dispose of the same in the following manner and form (my Just Debts & funeral Expenses being first Paid)
Imprimis I Give to my well beloved wife Ruth: all my monies together with my household Goods and moveable Estate (Exempting five Pounds as is hereafter Disposed of) to be wholely at her Disposing & Improvement & to be Distributed amongst my Children Also the
Improvement of all my real Estate during her natural life If She Continues my widow & If She be married again then to have only the Income of one third part of my Real Estate,
Item I give to my son Jonathan Torrey his heirs & assigns forever —
Eight acres of Land Lying on the Eastern Rock in Weymouth, namely that Land that I Bought of William Pittby also one half of my Salt meadow on Sd rock he paying ten Pounds out of the Same as hereafter is Expressed & Disposed of,
Item I Give to my son Joshua torrey his heirs & assigns for ever
my Dwelling house Barn Orchard and all my Lands & meadow not before Disposed of he paying fourty Pounds out of the same as hereafter it is Disposed of and If it Happen that my Son Joshua Shall be Evicted or Ejected out of the Possession of that Part or parcel of my Land, which I bought of Joseph Green, Then my will is that all of my Lands & real Estate Shall be Equaly Divided Betwixt my Two sons aforementioned they Paying Equaly & alike of the Legacies hereafter given
Item I Give to my Daughter Mary Norton ten Pounds, to her & her heirs to be Paid by my Son Joshua within three years after mine & my wife’s Decease
Item I Give to my Daughter Ruth Allen ten Pounds to her & her heirs
To be Paid by my son Joshua within three years after mine & my
wife’s Decease
Item I Give to my Daughter Anne Butler fifteen pounds to her & her heirs five pounds whereof to be Paid my Son Jonathan within
Two years and ten pounds to be Paid by my Son Joshua within three years, after mine & my wife’s Decease
Item I give to my Daughter Sarah King, her heirs & assigns fifteen Pounds five pounds to be Paid by my Son Jonathan within two years & ten pounds by my Son Joshua within three years after mind & my wife’s Decease. And I Give to my Grand Children (viz) Samuel King & Ruth Torrey five Pounds Equaly to be Divided Betwixt them to be paid out of my monies & moveable as above is Exempted
& Reserved, all the aforesd Legacies to be paid in bills of Credit or in Such money as Passeth Currant amongst traders in this Province at the time of payment
I Do constitute make & ordain my Two sons aforementioned my
Executors of this my Last will & Testament an I do hereby utterly Disallow revoke & make void all & every former Testaments wills & Legacies Bequests and Executors by me in any ways before this time named., willed & bequests & Ratifying & Confirming this & no other to be my Last will & Testament, In witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal the Day & year above written
Jonathan Torrey
Sign’d Seal’d Publish’d & Declar’d by
the Testator, as his Last will & Testament
In the Presence of us the Subscribers, viz
James Humphrey
John Whitmarsh
Silence Humphrey