Thomas Benedict was born in 1617 at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England. He was the son of
William Benedict 3rd and
Ann Hunloke. Thomas Benedict married
Mary Bridgum, daughter of
Thomas Bridgum and
Mary Crewell, in 1640 at Southold, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. Thomas Benedict left a will on 20 February 1689/90 at Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut.
I, Thomas Bennidick of Norwalk, in ye County of Fairfield, in ye Colony of Conecticut, aged aboute 73 years, being weak of body, yet of perfect mind and memory, do make and declare this as my last Will and Testament.
Imprimis. I do commend my Soule into ye hands of my gracious God yt hath made it, and do give my body to ye Earth from whence it was, to be decently buried, in hope of a happy and gracious Resurrection at ye last day; As for my temporall Estate, I do despose of as followeth:
I do will and bequeath to my loueing wife Mary Bennidick my whole Estate, house and households, Lands, Cattle--to use and despose according to ye controll and advice she, with my overseers afterwards mentioned, shall judg[e] most [ ] during ye Time of her naturall Life, and after ye decease of ye said Mary, my wife, I do will and bequeath to my Sonn, Daniell Bennidick, my dwelling house barne and houseing, orchard and four ewes--ye whole of my homested--to be to him and his heirs, to have and to howld, forever.
I do will and bequeath my Sonn, John Bennedick, my calve pasture Lot--he [to] pay to my grandchild Thomas Slauson, ye Son of my daughter, Elizabeth Slasson, ye sum of ten pounds--which I give him as a legacy in time convenient.
I do also give to my said Son, John Bennedick one third part of my Sticky plaine Lott, which is half broken up. I also bequeath to him yt part of salt meadow lying be ye bridge at ye Indian Feild. Also, unto him, I bequeath eight acres of upland laid out above ye Long Swamp beyond ye New feild--All these lands to be to him and his heirs forever.
I do will and bequeath to my son, James Benedick, my Long Lot of Salt Medow--over ye River--lying between Keloge and Bets--I do also bequeath to ye said James, my son, half my fruitefull Spring Lot--yt Lyeth sideing by ye medow, provided ye said James shall pay to my Grandchild Elizabeth Slausson, ye sum of five pounds, in time convenient, the afforesaid Land to be James and his heirs forever.
I do will and bequeath to my grand child Thomas Benedick, one 3d part of my Sticky plaine Lot which he hath in part improued and is in part unbroken. I also, bequeath to ye sd Thomas, my second division of medow called Mamathemans--the lands to be to him and his heirs forever.
I do will and bequeath to my Grandchild Samuell Benedict, ye other half of my fruitfull Spring Lot lying next to Nathaniel [ ] I do also bequeath to ye sd Samuell, a small parcel of medow which is salt--[ ] Kelloggs Swamp rung through --also one 3d part of my sticky plaine Lot on ye [side] I have broken up. I do also bequeath to my sd grand child Samuel, half my comonage which is 50 pounds; and the other half I do give to my grandchild John Bennedick ye eldest son of my son John Bennedick. I also will and bequeath to my Grandchild Samuell Bennedick my ould Horse and one yearling Calf. I do also bequeath to ye sd Samuell, my Carts and Iron plows and chains and irons belonging to plow and cart. Also ye bed and bedsted--yt in ye chamber with what belongs to it--leauving it to his Grandmother and ye overseers to give him of ye moveables what they can spare, provided he carry and behauve himself dutefully and louvingly towards his Grandmother--so doing, I do, also, will and bequeath to ye sd Samuell half of my sheep.
I do will and bequeath to Joanna Bennedick, One Cow, one half of my sheep--the trukle bedstead wth ye bed thereupon and the furniture of it, and what else of household her Grandmother shall bestow on her, provided she liue with her and be tender of her while she shall continue in this world.
As for my Out Lands, undesposed of, it is my will that my Son James and Daniell diuide ye Upland between them equally except ye peace of boggy medow which I will to be equally divided between my son James and grandchild Samuell Benedick.
I do will and bequeath to my daughter Rebecka Wood [the] mare yt is now running in ye wood; and I leauve it to my wife to give to my Daughter Sarah and Rebecka what of ye moveables she shall see meet and can spare.
I do will and bequeath to my Grand child Mary Olmsted, a legacy of twenty shillings; I also give to Hannah Benedick, my grand child, ten shillings the [same] to be paid out of ye estate after my decease.
Finally it is my will and I do hereby appoint my Son John and my Son Samll Bennedick to be joynt overseers of this my last will and testiment--willing these my loueing sons to be carefull of their Mothers comfortable liueing and to councell her in ye ordering her affairs and desposall of goods; and to see carefully to ye payment of all lawfull debts.
In confirmation of ye premises of this my will and Testiment, I do set my hand and seal this eight and twentieth febt Ano dominy 1689-90.
[Signed] THOS BENEDICK, Senr.
Signed and Sealed in presents of us,
Thomas Hanford
John Platt, Jr.
He died on 28 February 1689/90 at Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut. The Inventory of Thomas Benedict was taken
Imprimis: œ. s. d.
The Homested and Buildings 40. 00. 0.
Item in Lands 150. " "
" " Neat Cattle 30. " "
" " Horss Kinde 05. " "
" " Beding and furniture 17. 04. 0.
" " Table linen and Napkins 01. 02. "
" " Wearing Cloathes 04. 06. "
" " Bedsteds, Chests and boxes 02. 12. "
" " Iron Kettle and pott 01. 03. "
" " Pewter, brass Earthenware and Woodenware 03. 15. "
" " Several iron things 04. 18. "
" " Carts and wheels and Irons belonging to them 03. 10. "
" " Knailes and other Small things 01. 12. "
" " Plogh and Graine 8. 14. "
" " Arms and Ammunission 02. 13. "
" " Saddle, bridle and Sundry small things 06. " "
" " 5 Small Swine 02. 10. "
the total 285. 09. 0.
Taken by us: Thomas Seamer James Olmsted. On 18 March 1689/90.