While reviewing my ancestor sketches, I realized that while I’ve talked about William Haskell and Mary Tybbot of Gloucester, Massachusetts in the 1600s as I have a double descent from them, I haven’t written about their family or shared William’s 1693 will.

The Haskells were well-to-do community members whose wealth increased in future generations.

William Haskell was baptized on 8 November 1618 in Charlton Musgrove, Somerset, England, the son of William Haskell and Ellen/Elinor Foule. Elinor reportedly married (2) John Stone and emigrated with her husband and  her Haskell children to Massachusetts and was in Salem, Massachusetts by 1636. However, the date of William Haskell’s arrival in Massachusetts is uncertain and he doesn’t appear in any record until 1643. (His brother Roger is documented in Salem by 1636.)

William Haskell married Mary Tybbot on 6 November 1643 in Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts.

William and Mary had a large family of nine children, all of whom survived to adulthood.

William was styled captain in the militia, farmed and worked as a mariner with fishing interests. His estate, valued at £548 and 23 shillings, would be worth about $112,000 today. He was the first of several wealthy Haskell men.

Note: I am descended from two of the children of William and Mary (Tybbot) Haskell – their eldest son, William who married Mary Brown and their sixth child, Mark, who married Elizabeth Giddings and had two sons, but who died at the young age of 33.

Children:

1. William, born 26 August 1644, Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts; died 5 June 1709, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts; married Mary Browne, 3 July 1667, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts.
2. Joseph, born 2 June 1646, Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts; died 12 November 1727, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts; married Mary Graves, 2 December 1674, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts
3. Benjamin, born c1648; died 26 November 1714, Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts; married Mary Riggs, 21 November 1677, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts
4. Mary, born c1651; died after 8 March 1726/27, when she signed a court document stating her sons Edward and Mark would provide her maintenance, probably in Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts; married Edward Dodge, April 1673, Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts
5. Ruth, born c1653; died 26 November 1714, Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts; married Nehemiah Grover, 2 December 1676, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts
6. Mark, born 8 April 1658, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts; died 8 September 1691, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts; married Elizabeth Giddings, 16 December 1685, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts
7. Sarah, born 28 June 1660, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts: died 4 March 1690/1, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts; married Edward Harraden, 5 February 1684, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts
8. John, born c1662; died 2 February 1718, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts; married Mary Baker, 20 May 1685, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts
9. Eleanor, born 28 May 1663, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts; died after 26 June 1733, when she, as widow of Jacob, and children, signed court document; married Jacob Griggs, 12 November 1685, Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts

William Haskell wrote his will on 3 July 1692 and died a year later on 20 August 1693. Although his wife Mary is named in the will, she predeceased William by just four days, passing away on 16 August 1693.

Essex County, Massachusetts Probate File #12804
Source: AmericanAncestors

Will of William Haskell

In ye Name of God Amen!

Be it knowne unto all Christian men whome it may Concerne that I William Haskoll Senr of Gloster in N. england, being Sick in Body but of A Sound mind; Do now Make my Last Will, & Testament. I Bequeath my Soule unto ye Lord In ye Merrits of Christ, & my Body unto Decent Buriall, at the Discretion of my Executrs: and then Do Dispose of my Earthly Estate Estate wch God hath Graciously Given me in manner following

Imprimis I Will & Bequeath unto my Eldest Son William Haskoll the one Equall half of my farme at Bradford in Essex in N. England. Also I Give him Six Achrees of Salt marsh In Gloster & also ye Lot Called Hardies Lot. Also I Give him one Equall theird part of Salt Marsh Lot Called Jacksons Late in Gloster, the Above sd Lands shall be to him, & his heires for Ever.

Item I Give unto My Son Joseph Haskoll, thre Achrees of Salt marsh Next unto that wch I formrly Sold unto Thos Pinny; Also I give him A Little Island of Marsh next towards Goodman Crosses, about three Acrees: Also upon Consideration of his Six Achres that he had by the Townes Last Division of Land, by way of exchange, I Give And make over unto him All that Tract of upland Lying South of his farme In Gloster abovesd, Runing from A Pine tree Marked upon the North west Side of his farme upon a Tract Line to A hemlock Tree marked towards Thos: Luffkins: about Twentie Acrees, all the Abovesaid parcells are in Gloster Abovesd and shall be to the sd Joseph & his heires for Ever.

Item I Give unto my Son Benjamin Haskoll, the upland where his house now standeth. Seven Acres more or Lesse together with Six Achres the Towne Gave unto me in their Last Division of Lands. And Also Twentie Acres of upland more At A place Called Stool-Rock; Also I Give him twelve Achres of Salt Marsh, six he now possesseth; the other six to be Payed out unto him after my Decease, all the Above mentioned parcells are in Gloster in N. England, & shall be to the said Benjamin his heirs & Assigns for Ever.

Item I Give unto my Son John Haskoll All that Small Living I Bought of Deacon Stevens in Gloster; together with Three Acres of Salt Marsh wch was my father hardies: with two third parts of
yt Salt Marsh Lot Called Jaksons Lot: and Two Acres more of Salt Marsh to be Layed out unto him by my executrs and Also I Give him twentie Achres of upland next towards Goodman Lufkins;
all the premises are in Gloster above said and shall Be to my sd Son and his heires for Ever.

Item I Give unto my Daughter Ruth Grover one Quarter part of my Farme at Bradford to her & her heirs for Ever.

Item I Give unto my Daughter Mary Dodge one Quarter part of my Said farme at Bradford.

Item I Give unto my Daughter Eleanor Griges two Acres of Salt Marsh to her & her heires for Ever.

Item I Give unto the heires of my Daughter Sarah Harryden ten pounds Current pay of the Merchanges

Item I Give unto my Beloved wife the use of one end of my now Dwelling house her Life time: viz the North-East End; Also I Bequeath unto her all my household Good, to be at her Dispose
all but my fire Armes; & Edge Tooles and all other Toles & utensells that are for husbandrie. Also my Executrs shall pay ten pounds of Current pay of the Merchants unto my said wife, yearly and Every year; and keep for her use two Cowes winter & Summer and provide her Sufficient wood for the year yearly & Every year and This shall be in Lue of the Theirds of my whole Estate for her Support & Maintenance

Item I Give unto Mark & William The two Sons of my Son Mark Haskoll Deceased that new-House wher Elizabeth Mark Haskolls widdow now Liveth Also I Give unto them the said Marks sons
that Small orchard Called markes orchard Containing about ye Quantitie of on Acre.

Item In Consideration of no other Legall Conveyance I Do Will & Bequeath unto Mr. John Wise Minister of Chebacco all that Small parcell or parcells of Marsh that Lyeth within the fences of Said wises Small Living he the said wise Bought of Thos pinny in gloster & it shall be to him the said wise & his heires for Ever.

Lastly I make ordaine & Constitute my two Naturall Sons Joseph Haskoll & Benjamin Haskoll togehter with my two Grand Sons Mark Haskoll & William Haskoll the two Sons of my Son Mark Haskoll
Deceased to Be my Lawfull Executrs and all the Rest of my worldy Goods of Housing Land, Nonye moveables Debts, Debts & Rights shall be unto them my said executrs and their Heires for Ever;
to Be Divided in manner now following that is to say: the one half of the whole to be unto my said sons Joseph & Benjamin & their heires. The other Moetie or half shall be unto my two foresaid Grand Sons
to be Equally Divided between them wn they Come of Age: and the whole of ye said Moetie or half shall be to ye Longest Liver if either Dye before they be of Age: and if God so order it in his providence that neither attaine unto full age then the whole of the said half shall be unto the Male heir of my Son William haskoll.

And Lastly my will & pleasure is that My Daughter In law Elizabeth the widdow of my Son Mark haskoll Deceased shall occupie and Improve all ye share of my Estate wch I have Given unto my two Grandsons her Children all the time she remained in the state of her widdowhood, untill the Said Children be of Age: and she not Marrying, and the Children both Deceasing then she shall occupie and Improve the said Childrens share During the time of her Naturall Life; and then to Revert and be as Is before mentioned. In Wittnesse her to I The said William Haskoll Senr have set to my hand A Seal dated this theird day of July In the year of Grace one thousand Six hundred Nintie & Two.

William (his mark) Haskoll Senr Seal

Signed & Sealed
In presence
Timmothy Day
John Riggs
John Butman

Before ye Honorired Bartho. Gedney Esq Regster psent Sepr 4th. 1693 Timothy Day John Riggs & John butman made oath that they Saw William Hascoll Signe & seal this Instrument & heard him declare It to be his last Will & Testament & ye he was then of a disposeing mind & ye they Subscribed as
witnesses thereunto on which this Will is proved aproved & allowed
attest. Steph: Sewall Regr.

By the way, a fun note to this family sketch is that William Haskell built his house to last. It is still standing today more than 325 years later.