William Haskell, born 26 August 1644 in Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts was the eldest of nine children born to his parents, William Haskell and Mary Tybbot. He is the first of my two lines of descent among William and Mary’s children. My second line is his younger brother, Mark, who we will look at tomorrow.

William Haskell married Mary Browne, daughter of William and Mary (MNU) Browne, on 3 July 1667 in Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts. She was born in Gloucester on 28 July 1649.

While William was one of nine siblings, he and Mary had an even bigger family of twelve children, nine of whom grew to adulthood and married.

All births, marriages and death of their children took place in Gloucester, unless noted. Sarah and Hannah may have died of smallpox, as there was an epidemic in Essex County about 1690-1691.

Children:

1. Mary, born 29 April 1668; died 1 November 1721; married (1) Jacob Davis, 14 September 1687 (2) Ezekiel Woodward, 15 April 1719
2. William, born 6 November 1670; died 17 January 1731; married Abigail Davis, 8 September 1692
3. Joseph, born 21 April 1673; died 11 April 1718; married Rachel Elwell, 19 March 1696
4. Abigail, born 2 March 1675/76; died before 26 July 1762, when her will was proved in court; married (1) Nathaniel Parsons, 27 December 1697 (2) Isaac Eveleth, 20 December 1722
5. Henry, born 2 April 1708; died 17 April 1739, Harvard, Worcester, Massachusetts; married Ruth York, 13 January 1703
6. Andrew, born 27 July 1680; died 14 August 1680
7. Lydia, born 4 September 1681; died 2 October 1734; married Ebenezer Parsons, 3 February 1704
8. Sarah, born 26 April 1683; died 20 February 1691
9. Elizabeth, born 5 April 1686; died after 12 August 1754, when James Godfrey’s will was proved in Essex County Court; married (1) Thomas Sargent, 27 September 1710 (2) James Godfrey, 4 June 1740
10. Hannah, born 30 October 1688; died 15 February 1691
11. Jacob, born 15 January 1690; died between 6 April 1757, when he wrote his will and 5 September 1757, when it was proved in court; married Abigail Maxey, 31 December 1716
12. Sarah, born 11 September 1692; died 10 July 1773; married Daniel Haskell, 16 December 1716

This is ends the first of my double Haskell line as Lydia Haskell, seventh child of William and Mary, married Ebenezer Parsons. Lydia’s granddaughter, Hannah Parsons, married John Haskell, bringing my twoHaskell lines together. I will outline this connection in next week’s posts about my Haskell lines.

I have to wonder if William Haskell died quite suddenly, perhaps of a heart attack or in an accident, as he was a wealthy man, yet left no will. The lengthy inventory of his estate totals  just under £667. That would be about $155,000 in today’s dollars.

However, his probate administration includes a five-page articles of agreement, which I don’t think I’ve ever come across before in my research. At least, I haven’t seen this in terms of a non-business or commercial settlement. These articles of agreement were filed with the Essex County Court (File #12807) on 12 July 1708, just 37 days after William’s death and, for all intents and purposes, takes the place of a will as his heirs all took part.

William Haskell’s Probate Administration, Summer 1708
Articles of Agreement
Essex County Court File #12807
Source: American Ancestors

William Haskell
1708 Articles of Agreement by His Heirs

 Articles of Agrement & Devision had made concluded & agreed upon this Seventh Day of July Anno Dom. one thousand Seven hundred & Eight By and between William Haskcoll Jacob Davis who married with Mary Haskcoll Joseph Hascoll Nathaniel Parsons who married with Abigail Haskcoll Henry Haskcoll Ebenezer Parsons who married with Lidia Haskcoll, Elizabeth Haskcoll Benjamin Haskcoll gardian to Jacob Haskcoll a minor Thomas Bray gardian to Sarah Haskcoll a minor & all of glocester excepting Jacob Davis who is of Ipswich and all of them in the Countey of Essex in newEngland Children of and heirs to the Estate of Mr. William Haskcoll late of said glocester deceased for a full settlement & devision of the estate left by the aforesaid William Haskcoll deceased in housing lands & movalbe estate leying in the town ship of glocester aforesaid they have mutually agreed as followeth Viz

Imps That William Haskcoll the Eldest son shall have & Injoy to him his heires Exors Admes & assignes as his part & share in the aforesaid Estate: the one half of the grist mill & Sawmill standing on the stream or Creek comonley Called Walkers Creek with one half of the mill housing with the one half of the priveledge of the Streame on which said mills stands & the one half of the dam & one half o fthe runing geers belonging to each mill & all & singuler the priveledges & apurtonances to them or Either of them belonging or in any wise appurtaining. he the said william Haskcoll his heirs exors admes and assignes acquitting & discharing all other the heirs of the aforesaid Wm Haskcoll decd from any charge or trouble about the casuway & bridge where the Countey road or highway leading from glocester to Ipswich passes over said Creek where ye bridg & casway now is, also the said William Haskcoll shall have & injoy the small peices or percolls of salt marsh leying on the eastwardly side of said Creek into of which peices of salt marsh containing the one about thre quarters of an acre & ther a quarter of an acr (?) or either of them more or less about six acres of upland & slat marsh laying att the north westerly corner of the farme, att a place comonley called Riggs point & bounded at non fenced in also about four acres & a half of salt marsh leying onthe Eastwardley side of an Island Called Long Island bounded westwardly by said Island northwardley by marsh of John Riggs Eastwardly by a Creek called the deep Creek Southwardsley by marsh of Capt. John Harradens all which said severall percells of land & marsh with the part of the grist mill & Sawmill he the said William haskcoll Shall have & injoy to him his heirs Exors adms & assignes for ever and shall also be paid & allowed five teen pounds Tenn shillings as money out of the Estate that Jacob Haskcoll is to inheritt & which said sum is to be paid att or before the seventh Day of July which will be in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred & twelve.

Item Jacob Davis and Mary his wife Shall have and Injoy to them there heires exores admes and assignes as there share & proportion of said Estate Fivetey Seven pounds Thirteen Shillings and four pence as money to be paid att or before the Seventh Day of July which will be in the year of ye lord one thousand seven hundred & Twelve and Lawfull Interest to be paid in the mean time for Said Sum or for so much of it as remains unpaid till the aforesaid time, part of which Sum is to be paid out of the moveable Estate & the remainder to be paid out of the land that Nathll Hadlock? lives on & the housing & land (?) Jacob Haskcoll is to in heritt

Item Joseph Haskcoll shall have and Injoy as his part & share & proportion in said Estate to him his heires Exores admes and assignes a Percell of upland adjoyning to his now dwelling hous containing about Thyrteen acres leying on the westwardley, Side of the path or highway that is now made vie of to goe from the said Joseph Haskcolls now dwelling hous to the dwelling hous in which his father the said William Haskcoll deceased, lived and deyed till it cometh to a stake Sett in the ground with Stones about it, & from said Stake to goe on aline to a stake with Stones about it att the south Eastwarley corner of the Stone wall that is the fence of the lott or feild called the two acres lott or the Wheat feild & northwardley by said Stone wall till it cometh to astake with stones about it standing on the north wardley side of said wall, and then from said Stake going northwardley on aline (Turn over) Line along said feild till it cometh to another Stake with Stones about it and then turning westewardley to goe on a line to an other Stake with Stones about it Standing by the Side of a Stone wal that is the fence of the Calfes pasture so called and then turning northwardley ye said stone wall till it cometh to a walnutt tre marked with stones about it standing in the devisionally fence tht parts between said Joseph Haskcolls land & the land of William Haskcoll and then turning westwardley by said fence till it cometh to said Joseph Haskcolls marsh and all the upland — leying on the westwardley side of the aforesaid lines to gether with a percell of salt marsh leying adjoining to said upland on the westwardley Side of the same betwene said upland & a Creek called the deep creek, which said peice of marsh containeth about three acres more or less, also a small pooint of salt marsh adjoyning to said Joseph Haskcolls own marsh containing about an acre & a half more or less comonley called Babsons marsh. also about two acres more of Salt marsh comonley called Jacksons marsh leying att the north westwardley corner of an Island comonley called long Island according to the bound markes, also a msall Island of Salt marsh & thatch land containing about one acre. leying nearby the marsh called (browns?) marsh, also about one acre of marsh out of that percell of marsh comonley called blakc point marsh, also a percell of upland called the new pasture containing about nine acres leying on the Eastwardley side of his said Joseph Haskcolls owne land, & being all that percell of land wich he the said William Haskcoll deceased had of the towne of glocester in the year one thousand seven hundred & seven & bounded as in & by the records of said towne of glocester may appeare:

Item Nathaniel Parsons and Abigail his wife shall have & Injoy as there part and share & proportion in the aforesaid Estate fivetey Seven pounds thirteen shillings & foure pence as money to be paid to them ther heirs Exors admes or assignes att or before the seventh day of July which will be in the years of our lord one thousand Seven hundred & twelve and lawfull Interest to be paid in the mean time for said Sum or for soe much of it as remains unpaid till the foresaid times which said sum with the Interest of it be pd to the Said Nathaniel parsons & Abigail his wife there heires Exors admes and assignes for ever and which said sum is to be paid Partley outof the personall & moveable Estate left by said William Haskcoll deceased & the remainder to be paid out of the land which Nathaneil Hadlock now lives on, and out of the Estate in housing & lands which Jacob Haskcoll a minor is to Inheritt

Item Henry Haskcoll shall have and Injoy as his part Share & proportion in said Estate one acre of upland with a small orchard upon it lying before the Dwelling hous in which his father the said William Haskcoll deceased lived & deyed, and on the southwardley side of a peice of meadow ground comonley called the pond meadow & bounded northwardley by said pond meadow, begining att a stake standing by the side of the stone wall with stones about it, and so runing Eastwardley on a line by the Edge of said pond meadow to a stake Standing att the head of a crook, also about two acres of Salt marsh leying adjoyning to the Eastwardley end of said upland. bounded northwardley by a Creek & Eastwardley by marsh of Capt. Coits, also an other percell of upland leying on the southwardley side of said two acres of Salt marsh & the acres of upland with the orchard upon it & adjoyning to the same, and bounded Eastwardley by land of said Capt Coit till it cometh to a round rock fixed in the gorund with stones laid upon it being the South eastwardley corner bound of the land of the aforesaid William Haskcoll deceased, and then turning South westwardley to goe on a line to a maple. tree marked with Stones about it, and from thence going westwardley or North westwardley on a line to a stake with Stones about it standing by the side of a great rock and from thence northwardley to an other Stake with Stones about it Standing by the side of the Stone wall that is the fence of ye aforesaid acre of land with th eOrchard upon it and then going westwardly and northwardley (??) stone wall now Standeth till it cometh to the stake with stones about it first mentioned, also about two acres of upland laying in the pasture called the northerne pasture and leying neare the Island Called milletts Island bounded as followeth begining att the Southwestwardley corner of a great rock with Stones upon it being the South westwardley corner bounds of sd land thence runing northwardley to a stump with stones about it from thence Eastwardley to a stake with Stones about it Standing att the end of the Stone wall & Eastwardley by said Stone wall till it cometh to aheap of stones by said wall side thence turning southwestwardley to goe to the great rock first mentioned, also a percell of Salt marsh about five acres comonley called browns marsh, bounded Eastwardley by marsh of Joseph Haskcoll senr southwardley by a Creek westwarley by marsh belonging to the heires of Marke Haskcoll late of said glocester deceased Northwardley by an other Creek according to the Severall bound markes, also one acres of Salt marsh out of that marsh comonley called black point marsh, which said Severall percells of land & marsh before mentioned with the fences & fruit Trees & all & singuler teh priveledges & apurtencances to the same & every part ther of belonging or in any wise appurtaining he the said Henry Haskell is to have & injoy to him his heires Exores admes & assignes for ever:

Item. Ebenezer parsons and Lidea his wife shall have & injoy as there part share & proportion in the aforesaid estate to them there heires Exores admes and assignes for ever: fivetey Seven pounds Thyrteen shillings & four pense as money to be paid to them theire heires Exores admes or assignes att or before the seventh Day of July which will be in the yeare of our lord one thousand seven hundred & twelve, and lawfull Interest to be paid in the mean time for said Sum or for so much of it as remains unpaid till the aforesaid time, and which said Sum is to be paid partley out of the personall & moveable, Estate left by the aforesaid William Haskcoll deceased and the remainder, part of said sum to be paid out of the land which Nathaniel Hadlock now lives upon and out of the Estte in housing & lands which Jacob Haskcoll a minor is to inheritt

Item. Elizabeth Haskcoll shall have and Injoy as per part share & proportion in the aforesaid Estate fivetey seven pounds Thyrteen shillings & four pence as money to be paid to her the said Elizabeth Haskcoll her heires Exores admes or assignes att or before the seventh Day of July which will be in the yeare of our lord one thousand seven hundred & twelve and lawfull Interest to be paid in the mean time for said sum or for so much of it as remains unpaid till the aforesaid time, and which said Sum with the Interest of it is to be pd to the said Elizabeth Haskcoll her heires Exorex admes & assignes, and which said Sum is to be paid partley out of the hous & land which Nathaniel Hadlock now lives on and out of the Estate in housing & lands which Jacob Haskcoll is to Inheritt

Item. Jacob Haskcoll a minor shall have & injoy as his part share & proportion in said Estate when he shall arive to the age of Twentey one years the westwardley end of the dwelling hous in which his father the said William Haskcoll lived & dyed and the wash hous so called and about half an acre of land on part of which land the said housing standeth & the remainder of it being now made use of & Improved for a garden & yard roome to accomodate said housing & Also about two acres more of upland with an orchard upon it leying behind said dwelling house as it is now fensed in, and about one acrs of meadow ground adjoyning to the Southwardley corner of said orchard comonley called the pond meadow & bounded Eastwardley by a bank or dam that parts said meadow from the Salt marsh: Southwardley by Henry Haskcolls upland, northwardley by the fence & Stone wall that parts betweene said meadow and the yard, Also about Twentey four acres of pasture land comonley called the northerne pasture or Cow pasture with the barn, standing on part of it & about four acres of Tillage land adjoyning to said pasture land & leying in the feild comonly (Turne over) Comonly called the wheat feild, also about nine acres of Salt marsh adjoyning to said pasture land & the aforesaid orchard & leying round along by the eastwardley Side of said orchard & pasture land & the northwardley end of said pasture land which said upland & slat marsh is bounded southwardley & westwardley by the devision all line that parts betwene this land & the land which the aforenamed Joseph Haskcoll & William Haskcoll have in ther devisions. Northwardley by Chebackoo river so called Eastwardley by a Creek that parts said marsh & the marsh of Capt. Coit. Also about Seventeen acres more of pasture land leying on the southwardley Side of said dwelling hous & adjoyning to some part of the aforesaid pasture & tillage land & founded Eastwardley by Henry haskcolls pasture land Southwardley & westwardley byland belonging to Joseph Haskcoll all which sd Severall percells of Land Salt marsh & meadow ground with the aforesaid housing Standing on the same & also (illegible) the comonage or comon right belonging to said Estate, shall be to the said Jacob Haskcoll when he shall arive to the agforesaid age of twentey one years his heirs Exores admes & asignes with the fenses fruit trees standing leying or growing on the same & the priveledges & appurtenances to the same & each of them respectively belonging or in any wise appurtaining to the said Jacob his heires Exores admes or assignes allowing & paying to Jacob Davis and mary his wife, Nathanll parson & Abigall his wife Ebenezer parsons & Lidea his wife Elizabeth Haskcoll & Sarah Haskcoll about one hundred & fortey five pounds to be devided amongst them equally; it being to compleat & make up ther shares and proportions of ther fathers estate besides what they are to have out of the moveable Estate & out of the hous & land which Nathaniel Hadlock now lives on and which said housing & lands are to be under the care & management of Benjamin Haskcoll Senr; gardian to the said Jacob Haskcoll till he shall arive or come to the age aforesaid, if he shall ive that that time & the Improvement of them for his use & benifitt

Item. Sarah Haskell a minor shall have & Ijnoy as her part share & proportion in the aforesaid estate fivetey seven pounds Thyrteen shillings & four pence as moneye to be paid & delivered into the hands of Thomas Bray Senr gardian to the said Sarah Haskcoll for her use or els to the said Sarah Haskcoll her self when she shall arive & come to the age of Eighteen yeares: or her heires Exores admes or assignes & to be paid att or before the seventh day of July which will be in the yeare of our lord one thousand seven hundred and twelve & Lawfull Interest to be paid in the mean time for said sum or so much of it as remains unpaid in the mean time for said sum or so much of it as remains unpaid till the aforesaid time in which said sum with the Interest of it shall be to the said Sarah Haskcoll after she shall arive & come to the aforesaid age. if She shall live & survive to said age her heires exors admes & assignes and which said sum is to be paid partley out of the personall & movalbe Estate left by the aforesaid William Haskcoll deceased and the remainder part of said sum  to be paid partley out of the hous & land which Nathaniel Hadlock now lives on & the rest out of the Estate in housing & lands which Jacob haskcoll is to Inheritt

Item. It is mutually agreed and concluded by & betweene the above named parties viz. William Haskcoll Jacob Davis & mary his wife Joseph Haskcoll Nathaniel Parsons and Abigail his wife Henry Haskcoll Ebenezer parsons & Lidea his wife Elizabeth Haskcoll Benjamin Haskcoll gardian to Jacob Haskcoll in his behalf Thomas Bray Gardian to Sarah Haskcoll in her behalf that the Tenn acres of land more or less on which Nathaniel Hadlock now lives with the hous standing on the same Shall be forthwith or as soon as may be sould to the best advantage; it can and a legall conveyance given in ye names & behalf of the same by the administrators whome we Impower thre unto, and the (produce?) of said hous & land to be Improved towards the paying of the parties before mentioned that are to have share & part in the same. and if in case the said nathaniel Hadlock or his heires exores or assignes shall refune to surrender and deliver possession of the said hous & land to be the administrator when demanded that then the said administrator is hearby Impowred fully in our names & behalfs to prosecute said Hadlock att law for the recovering of the posession of the same and we doe agree to allow all equall shares & proportions according to ye Severall shares & proportions tht we have in our father’s Estate of the cost & charge that may arise in the prosecuting of said Hadlock in case there be need of prosecuting of him: or his heires etc. & to have alke share i nthe cost that may be recorded of him said Hadlocke. by prosecuting of him at Law and Also they the aforenamed parties doe covenant and ingage & act for him and her self there heires exores and admes that they and Each of them Shall & will bear an Equall share & proportion in the paying & discharging of al the debts that now are knowne or shall hear after appear to be due or owing from the estate of the aforesaid william Haskcoll deceased & also of the Charges that either hath or may arise in the setlement of said estate to be reconed and accounted according to each parties share That they have in there said fathers Estate.

Item. It is mutually agreed by & between William Haskcoll Joseph Haskcoll, Henry Haskcoll & Benjamin Haskcoll in behalf of Jacob Haskcoll to whom he is gardian, that they & each of them ther heires, exores admes & assignes & each of them shall form tie to time & att all times for ever hear after have free liberty to pass over each others land with cart of slead when ever they shall have oration in the ways that now are made use of only they & either of them to be carefull not to damnify each other by leaving Down barrs or leaveing open gates as they pass to & froe.

Finally for the true performance and conformation of the whole of what is before expressed and that each partey may have & injoy there severall share & proportion in the aforementioned Estate left by ther father the aforesaid William Haskcoll deceased to them there heires Exores admes & assignes according to the devision before mentioned wherin each parties share is expressed and sett forth and which they doe accept as ther severall share and proportion in said Estate and in Wittness wherof they the said William Haskcoll Jacob Davis & Mary his wife Joseph haskcoll Nathaniel parsons & Abigall his wife Henry Haskcoll Ebenezer parsons & Lidea his wife Elizabeth Haskcoll Benjamin Haskcoll gardian to Jacob Haskcoll Thomas Bray gardian to Sarah Haskcoll have mutually Sett to there hands and seales

memorand. In Jacob Haskcolls part there was five acres of Salt marsh left out which before Signing & sealing was on border in the margent, which marsh is a part of that marsh Called black point marsh

Signed sealed & Delived in the presence of
John newman
willyam whitrideg
Thomas andrus

This agreement was signed by all parties involved.

There is an additional document in the probate file signed by William Haskell’s widow, Mary, stating that she agreed with the estate division and she was satisfied with her yearly dowery, signed with her mark of M. Mary (Browne) Haskell died on 12 November 1715 in Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts.