Lieutenant and Deacon William Haskell and Jemima Hubbard of Gloucester, Massachusetts are my 7X great grandparents.
William Haskell was born in Gloucester on 1 January 1689/90, the son of Mark Haskell and Elizabeth Giddings. The Haskell and Giddings families are two of my several multiple descents.
Jemima Hubbard was born on 11 November 1684 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, the daughter of Richard Hubbard and Martha Allen. Jemima is unique in my family tree in that she is the only twin (sister Keziah) found anywhere in my direct line. It’s also a bit unusual, but not unique, that Jemima was a bit more than five years older than her husband.
William and Jemima married on 26 April 1712 in Gloucester.
Children (All BMD in Gloucester unless noted):
1. Jemima, born 2 March 1712/13; died 2 March 1736/37; married Thomas Allen, intentions filed 23 November 1732.
2. Job, born 27 April 1716; died c1806, New Gloucester, Cumberland, Maine; married Mercy Leavitt, 26 January 1738, Hampton Falls, Rockingham, New Hampshire
3. Comfort, born 28 May 1717; died 5 September 1809; married Parker Sawyer, 10 November 1742
4. Nathaniel, born 16 January 1718; died 31 July 1808; married Hannah White, 11 November 1740
5. Hubbard, born 3 May 1720; died 9 April 1811; married Anna Millet, 12 November 1740
6. Elizabeth, born 8 November 1723; died 8 December 1723
7. William, born 27 January 1725/26; died 27 April 1806; married Elizabeth Haskell, 6 November 1746
8. George, born 10 February 1728/29; died 19 February 1728/29
William and Jemima had some sorrow in their lives, as they buried infant children George and Elizabeth and lost their eldest daughter, Jemima, on her 24th birthday.
Their son, Job, was among the many Gloucester citizens who chose to make a new home in New Gloucester, Maine. Therefore, they had four children near them in their adult lives – Comfort, Nathaniel, Hubbard and William.
Deacon William Haskell died on 10 December 1766. He was predeceased by wife Jemima, who passed away five years earlier, on 1 June 1761.
William left both a will and a sizable estate of £668. That would be worth close to $20,000 today, but I can’t find a £ converter to figure out pounds sterling.
I was most surprised by one item in the inventory:
Essex County, MA Probate File #12813
Source: American Ancestors
William Haskell owned one enslaved person, a “Negro girl,” no age or name given, valued at £42.13.4. This is the second instance I’ve come across of a New England ancestor owning a slave. The other is Peter Hay of Stoneham, Massachusetts who died in 1790. He also owned one enslaved person, a Negro man, not named.
William was also literate, as evidenced by the inclusion of books in his inventory.
I don’t know if William Haskell was ailing when he wrote his will or if he decided he needed to get it done, as his wife died on 1 June 1761 and he wrote his will just three weeks later, on 23 June 1761. It was not proved until early 1767, as William passed away in December 1766.
Will of William Haskell, 1761
Essex County, MA Probate File #12813
Source: American Ancestors
In the Name of God amen this twenty third day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred Sixty and one I William Haskell senor of Glocester in the County of Essex in new England being somthing weak in body but of a sound mind thanks be Given to God for itt: but considering the mortallity of the body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Dye do make and ordain this my Last Will and testament acknowledging (?) the immortality of the soul Do Recommend my soul into the hands of God that Gave it and my body to the Earth after death to be desently buried att the discresion of my Executors Nothing doubting but att the Generall Resurrection I Shall Recieve itt again by the almighty power of God: and as touching my worldly Estate which itt hat pleased God to bless me with hear in this Life I give and Dispose of as followeth:
Imprimis I Give to my son Job Haskell and his Heirs forty and six pounds Lawfull mony out of my Real Estate to be paid by my son Nathaniall Haskell or his heirs within two years next after my
decease: further my will is that he shall have one sixth part of my personal & movable estate after my debts and funeral charges are paid and Excepting any perticklers that I shall otherwise dispose
of: and he shall have one quarter par of my waring appariel and this together with (?) he has had given? & shall be in full of his part out of my estate.
Item: I Give to my son Hubbard Haskell and his heirs and asigns the one half of a wood Lot of which Joseph Haskell (owns?) the other half Lying near the head of Littel River so called in Glocester
Likewise I give him my son Hubbard and his Heirs thirty six pounds Lawfull mony out of my Real Estate to be paid by my son Nathaniell Haskell or his heirs within three years next after my discease:
further my son Hubbard shall have one sixth part of any personal or movable Estate; after any debts and funeral charges are paid excepting what I have & shall perticklerly dispose of and he is to have one quarter part of my wearing appariell and this together with what I have Given him before is in full of his part & portion out of my Estate
Item: I Give to my son William Haskell and his heirs forty and five pounds Lawfull mony out of my Real Estate to be paid to him by my son Nathaniell Haskell or his heirs within two years next after my discease: Likewise I Give to him my Great bible and my Goald butters and he shall have one sixth part of my personal & movalbe Estat after my debts and funaral charges are paid Excepting what I have or shall pertickerly dispose of and he is to have one quarter part of my waring appariell and this together with what he had had before is & shall be in full of his part or portion of my estate.
Item: i Give to my Daughter Comfort Sawyer and her hers that pat of the house that she did Live in and all that belonged to it that I bought of mr. Joseph Sargent Likewise I Give her and her heirs thirty pounds out of my Real Estate to be paid to her or her heirs by my son Nathaniell Haskell within three years next after my discease Likewise She Shall have one sixth part of my person or movable Estate that I have not (turn over)
pertickerly disposed of after my Debts and funeral Charges are paid further She Shall Have my Silver (?) and this together with all that she has had in my Life time is in full of her part or portion out of my estate
Item I Give to the Heirs of my daughter Jemima Allen disceast Namely my Grandson William Allen and his heirs twenty two pounds Lawfull mony out of my Real Estate and to my Granson Job Allien decest daughter of or heir if she Lives to come of age fifteen pounds Lawfull mony out of my Real Estate and these sums to be paid by my son Nathaniell Haskell within three years next after my discease: Likewise my will is that these my granson William Allien and my grate grand child (of ?) heir shall have one sixth part of my movables or personal Estate after my debts and funerall charges are paid and if Job Alliens heir dies before shee comes of age then the whole
Shall Go to sd William Allien and his heirs: or otherwise to be devided Equaly between them and there several sumes shall be in full of their portion out of my Estate.
Item I Give to my son Nathaniell Haskell and his heirs and asigns all my (Hausings?) and Lands and marsh Lying in Glocester & Ipswich or Else whole Excepting what I have before disposed of and the one half of my Utensils for Husbandry and personal Estate that I have not disposed of before after my debts and funar charges are paid and further he is to have one quarter part of my waring appariell and this to be in full of his part or portion out of my estate.
Item I Give to my three Gransons Named William Viz Job son and Hubbards son and williams son and if ther shall be (?) named for one two pounds apeace Lawful mony to be paid them by my Executers out of my personal Estat itt being for their Names?
Lastly I do by these presents chuse ordain and Constitute my two sons Namly Nathaniell Haskell and William Haskell to be my Executors of this my Last Will and Testiment to Recieve all any Just dues and to pay all any just debts and what Remains is to be Equaly devided to and among my children as I have before ordered itt and to Give me a desent Christian burial after death in witness a (whole?) of and for confirmation of all above written I the said William Haskell have seet to my hand and Seal the day and date above mentioned
William Haskell (Seal)
Signed Sealled published and pronounced in presents of
Thos Tagues (Jaques?)
David Haskell
Stephen Haskell