Helen Glenn Court

Stetson

As early as 1634, Robert Stetson had a grant of land on the North River near Scituate, Massachusetts, where he later built a house. In 1643 he was on a list of those able to bear arms in Plymouth Colony. It was serving as cornet of the troop of horse in 1638, though, that he gained his moniker. Constable at Duxbury in 1642 and elected a deputy to the court in 1653, he represented Scitutate in the general court from 1654 to 1678. Serving in the countil of war from 1661 to 1681, he was active in King Philip's war and guilty, in 1668, of buying Indian titles of land for the land on which the towns of Hanover and Abingdon were established. In 1865, a many times great-grandson, John B. Stetson, took $100, rented a small room, bought a few tools, and established a hat company.

Sources: Cutter, Genealogical and Personal Memoirs, vol. 4, p. 2437; Barry, A Genealogical and Biographical Sketch; Briggs, History and Genealogy of the Briggs Family, 1254-1937, vol. 3, pp. 858-72

generation no. 1

Thomas Stitson, of Modbury, Devon. Married Argent Lukesmore.

generation no. 2

Cornet Robert Stetson, born 18 June 1615, died 1 February 1703. Married (1) Honor Tucker, born 16 February 1613 in St. Andrews, Plymouth, Devon, (2) Mary Hiland, widow of John Bryant.

generation no. 3

Thomas Stetson, born 11 December 1643, will dated 2 July 1729, wife's name not mentioned, presumed dead at the time. Married Sarah Dodson.

Samuel Stetson, born June, baptized 6 October 1645. Married Lydia — — .

generation no. 4

Ebenezer Stetson I, born 22 July 1693, died 1778, buried on Church Hill. Married Lydia Barker of Scituate, who died 20 February 1776.

Jonah Stetson I, born June 1679, died 1766 (see miscellany). Married 31 May 1720 Mercy Turner of Scituate, who died c 1769.

generation no. 5

Ebenezer Stetson II, born 12 December 1728, died in Antigua October 1768. Married (1) 1750 Hannah Hall of Raynham, died 1761, (2) in 1762 Anna Leonard of Raynham.

Jonah Stetson II, born July 1721, baptized 25 February 1722, estate inventory made 4 March 1783: "a man of good property, good character, and good business habits." Lived in Scituate "not far from the Cornet's place." Married 19 December 1751 Elizabeth Hatch of Scituate, born 11 May 1728, died 26 April 1816: "aged 88; an excellent woman and much esteemed."

Source: Barry, A Genealogical and Biographical Sketch, p. 79

generation no. 6

Hannah Stetson, born June 1754 in Dighton, died 18 April 1814 in Camden ME. Married Noah Brooks I, who died at sea.

Micah Stetson, born 21 November 1754, died 27 December 1838: "a representative to the state legislature in 1815-16 and a man of considerable business enterprise." Married 23 March 1783 Sarah Copeland of Scituate.

Source: Barry, A Genealogical and Biographical Sketch, p. 82

generation no. 7

Esther Stetson, born 24 November 1785, died 6 June 1863, buried in Old Burying Ground, Dorchester. Married on 16 February 1812 Noah Brooks II of Boston.

Will: Cornet Robert Stetson

4 September 1702

Scituate the fourth Day of September anno Domini 1702. I Robert Stetson of Scituate in the county of Plymouth in New England being aged and week of body but of sound disposing mind and memory ...

Prayers be rendered to god for the same and being in daly expectation of my last and great change and desirus to set things in order before my death do therefore hereby make and declare this my last will and testament in manner following ...

Imps. I humbly commit my spirit to the father of spirits and my body to decent burial when itt shall plese God to call me hence ...

And touching shuch outward Estates as itt hath pleased God to bless me with my all will is that the same be imployed bestowed according as herein expressed.

Item. I give and bequeath to Mary my well beloved wife upon the promise and condition herein after set down the sume of twelve pounds in money and ten pounds worth of my household goods shuch as she shall choose with the sole use and benefit of the south end of my now dwelling house and one half of my seller and two cows with summer pasture and wintering of them with fifteen bushells of good merchantable bread corn annually paid and delivered to her and sufficiant and convenant fire wood cut and laid att her door as shee shall want the same * the said ten pounds worth of goods and two cows with the said twelve pounds in money to be att her own disposal as to her shall seem meet the other perticulars to bee for her support and comfart during her remainder my widdow and no longer the sd ten pounds worth of goods and cows to be paid and delivered to her by my executors within two months after my decease ye sd twelve pounds in money and other perticulars to be paid and delivered to her by my eldest son Joseph Stetson as followeth (viz.) the be said money att three several payments (to wit) four pounds in one year after my decease and other four pounds within two years after my decease ye residue at the expiration of three years after my decease the sd bread corn summering and wintering of ye sd cows and fire wood provided to be annually delivered paid and performed by my said son as ye same is above expressed.

Allways provided and itt is the true Intent and meaning of this my will and the condition of the bequests and devise above said — and every perticular of the same.

That my wife shall and do within two months after my decease in wrighting under her hand and seal absolutely quit claim too and release her right of dower and power of thirds in and unto all my lands and houseing in Scituate aforesaid that she may thence fourth have or pretend to have in or unto the same or any part of the same except what is above given unto her to my eldest son and his heirs &c.

Item. I give and bequeath to my said eldest son Joseph Stetson All that my dweling house out houses upland and medows being the farm on which I now live and dwell to hole to him and his heirs forever according to the known and accustemed bounds of the same excepting out of itt one acre of medow which formerly i promised to give to my son Samuel lying next unto his other medow which said excepted acre of medow I hereby give and bequeath to my son Samuel and his heirs for ever hereby enjoining my said eldest son Joseph Stetson to pay deliver and perform unto my wife as above said upon her release of dower as above said and acceptance of what is by this my will given and bequeathed unto her which if she shall neglect doing or refusing to do then i hereby declare that what i have above bequeathed unto her and every perticular of the same shall thenceforth be null and void further itt is my will that my sd eldest son shall not alien or sell any of the lands above given him unles to his children or one of them.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin ten pound out of my moveable estate.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Thomas five pound to be paid him out of my Moveables.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Samuel the sume of eight pounds out of my moveable Estate.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Eunice Rogers ye sume of ten pounds out of my moveable Estate.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Robert my wearing cloaths which with what I have formerly given him I judge convenient for him.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter in law Abigail the relict and widow of my son John deceast the sume of ten pounds to be paid out of my moveable Estate.

Item. I give unto my grandchildren yt are now surviving to each of them six shillings.

Item. My debts legaceys and funeral expences being paid i hereby order the residue of my moveables to be equally devided between my three children viz. Benjamin Samuel and Eunice.

Lastly I nominate and appoint my two sons namely Benjamin and Samuel joyant executors of this my last will and testament and hereby revoke and make void my former will or wills by me made and declared this only to be my last will and testament in testamony whereof I have hereunto sealed and subscribed the day and year first above written In presents of these witnesses.

The Mark of Cornet

Robert (R) Stetson, Joseph Bearstow, William Bearstow, Samuel Sprague Seal

On the first day of March 1702/3 before Nath'll Thomas Esqr the said Joseph Bearstow William Bearstow and Samuel Sprague... made oath that they did see and here the above said Robert Stetson sign seal and declare the above wrighting to be his last will and testament and that he was then of a disposing mind to the best of there knowledge and judgment."

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