Henry Lunt is one of my very early New England lines, as he is the immigrant ancestor, born about 1614, likely in England, but my Lunt line ends with his daughter, Elizabeth, who married Israel Webster.

Henry was likely only in his late 40s when he died, writing his will on 8 July 1662 and dying on 10 July 1662. His will was entered into probate at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts on 30 September of the same year.

Will of Henry Lunt of Newbury, Massachusetts

Witness that by these presents, that I, Henry Lunt, of Newbury, in the County of Essex, in New England, being bu weak of body, but of sound and perfect memory, for divers causes and considerations mee hereunto moving, doe make my last will and testament, and doe dispose of my lands, good and chattels as followeth.

First, I bequeath my soul, whenever it shall depart out of my body, into the hands of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, with an assured hope of a blessed resurrection, and my body to be buried, where it shall please the Lord, att death to cast mee.

Then next, to Anne, my wife, I give and bequeathe, during her natural life, my dwelling-house, barn and orchard, with the pasture ground the house stands in, with my ground joyneing to the pasture, as also eight acres, be it more or less in the little field, as also my meadow in the marshes, on this side Plum Island river.

Also, I give my son Daniel the corn ground and pasture ground, which was formerly Thomas Davis’s, as also all my marsh ground at Plum Island; and my will is, that my son, Daniel, shall give to my daughter Priscilla 20£ to be paid her at the age of twenty one years, and if she marry before then to pay her within half a year after marriage.

Also, I give unto my daughter Sarah, Mary and Elizabeth, to each of them 20£ to be paid out of my goods and chattels, when they attain to the age of 21 years.

Also, I give unto my son John 20£ and to my son Henry 5£ to be paid out of my goods and chattels at the age of 21 years, and till then my will is, that my son John and my son Henry shall be at my wife’s dispensing. Also, my will is, that after my wife’s decease, I give unto my son John and my son Henry my dwelling house and barn and orchard, with the pasture ground the house stands on, with the ground joyneing to the pasture, as also 8 acres, be it more or less, in the little field, as also my meadow in the marshes, on this side Plum Island river, (except that at Jericho, as they call it) to each of them an equal portion. And my will is, that my son John and my son Henry, after my wife’s decease, shall pay unto my daughters Sarah, Priscilla, Mary and Elizabeth, to each of them 10£ to be paid by them equally, that is to say, by my two sons John and Henry, within one year’s decease. Also, I give to my son Daniel, after my wife’s, decease, the meadow or marsh ground att Jericho, as they call it, which is excepted above from John and Henry. And I appoint Anne my wife the sole executor of this my last will and testament. And I appoint Anthony Morss, sen. And Abraham Toppan, sen. to be the overseers of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof, I the said Henry Lunt have sett my hand and seale, this eighth day of July 1662.                                                           {Signed} Henry Lunt

Signed, sealed and
Delivered in the presence of
William Moody
Abraham Toppan

Testified upon oath by Abraham Toppan and William Moody t be the last will and testament of Henry Lunt the best of their knowledge, in Court held at Ipswich, 30 Sept. 1662.

My will is, that my debts and funeral rites be defrayed, and if my daughter Priscilla dye before ye age of 21 years, or of marriage, that then the 20£ be divided amongst her brothers and sisters equally, and my will is also, that my wife Anne shall have liberty of three cowes pasturing in my son Daniel’s pasture, as long as shee liveth.

Henry’s will was published in the New England Historic Genealogical Register, January 1855, pp. 33-34.

Little is known about Henry’s wife, Anne. She married (2) Joseph Hills, 8 March 1664 in Newbury. To my knowledge, no clues have been uncovered about the maiden name of Henry’s wife or of their origins in England. As all of their children were born in Massachusetts, it is possible they married after arriving here.

Children:

All vital events took place in Newbury, MA, unless noted otherwise:

1. Sarah, born 8 November 1639; died 21 December 1685. She married John Bachelor, 7 January 1662, Reading, Middlesex, MA.
2. Daniel, born 17 May 1641; died 26 January 1702/3. He married (1) Hannah Coker, 1664 (2) Mary Cutting, 29 June 1679.
3. John, born 20 November 1643; died 17 September 1678. He married Mary Skerry, 19 November 1668.
4. Priscilla, born 16 January 1644/5; died about 1695. She married Henry Skerry, 9 November 1665.
5. Mary, born 13 July 1648; died 8 May 1675, Reading, Middlesex, Massachusetts. She married Nathaniel Goodwin, 19 December 1665, Reading, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
6. Elizabeth, born 29 December 1650; died 2 August 1688. She married Israel Webster, 9 November 1669.
7. Henry, born 20 February 1652/3; died 15 October 1709. He married Jane Brown before 1677,