"Probate Records. Vol. IX, 1715 to 1723. Page 366.
Hooker, Thomas, Dr., Hartford. Will dated 12 October, 1719.
I, Thomas Hooker of Hartford, doe make this my last will and testament: I give to my brother Daniel Hooker my farm in West Division of Hartford; also that tract of land at Bedford that I had of Atherton Mather; also one-half of my moveable estate. I give to my nephew Thomas Hooker, son of my brother Samuel Hooker, my house, homested, and all my meadow and upland in Hartford; also the other halfe of my moveable estate. I appoint my brother Daniel Hooker and my nephew Thomas Hooker executors.
THOMAS HOOKER, LS.
Witness: Edward Bulkeley, Thomas Wickham, Joseph Churchill.
Court Record, Page 123—5 April, 1720: Will proven.
Page 135—6 September, 1720: Mr. John Hooker, Mr. John Austin as attorney for James Hooker, Stephen Buckingham and Sarah his wife, Mrs. Mary Pierpont, Mary Hooker and Alice Hooker, legal representatives of Dr. Thomas Hooker deceased, moved an appeal from an allowance of the will.
Page 147—4 April, 1721: John Austin, before the Court, agrees that when an action is brought by the executors he will produce in Court for the jury, if desired, all the papers late belonging to Dr. Thomas Hooker in his custody.
Page 169—5 June, 1722: Matters deferred until July next.
Court Record, Page 171—3 July, 1722: Mr. John Austin being summoned to this Court in June last to answer interrogatories tending to disclose the estate of Doct. Thomas Hooker deceased, upon pleas then made the matter was continued to this time. This Court consider upon the first plea made by sd. Austin that examination of parties supposed to have concealed estate of deceased persons is not limited to one or two times, but may upon occasion be often called. He, said Austin, has been sued in detinue of two tankards, and has finally recovered at the Superior Court upon his plea of justification upon an accord. And from thence a presumption lyeth that there is no demand in law for the executor of said deceased against said Austin for anything belonging to the deceased that came to his hands before 4th January, when the thing belonged to the deceased. This Court are of opinion that there may be in the hands or knowledge of said Austin sundry writings, bills, bonds, accounts, deeds, etc., that are not or cannot be supposed to be intended or included in said accord, and such really as are no estate to said Austin, nor any estate to said executor, nor was ever to the deceased, but only evidence what the estate is and whom it does belong to and where it lyeth, and therefore ought to be produced that the executor and legatees that have a just right to the estate may have the benefit of them. Therefore this Court have considered that said Austin shall answer to such interrogatories touching such writings as are or hath been in his custody or knowledge, as this Court shall think fitt to ask him concerning the premises, that was formerly belonging to Doctor Thomas Hooker.
Page 174—7 August, 1722: John Austin, on oath, stated that he had lately delivered to Mr. Thomas Hooker sundry bills and bonds, and now before the Court delivered to him sundry deeds and conveyances of land, and declared that he had delivered up all the writings that were in his custody, or ever knew of, that might disclose the estate of the deceased.
File Distribution: 18 March, 1758: Estate of Thomas Hooker ye elder, physition, formerly of Hartford. At this Court John Hooker appointed administrator, who now exhibits an inventory of such of ye real estate of sd. deceased as had been by his last will given to his nephew Thomas Hooker and his wife Hannah during life. Ye sd. nephew is also deceased. Order to dist. among the heirs of Thomas Hooker ye elder: To Mrs. Sarah Buckingham of Norwalk, only surviving sister of Thomas Hooker ye elder, a one-seventh part, and 1-7 part to John, Joseph and Roger Hooker, Abigail Hart, wife of Nathaniel Hart, Sarah Strong, wife of Newell Strong, and Widow Ruth Strong, late wife of Asahel Strong decd., all of Farmington, and Mary Hart, widow relict of Samuel Hart, late of Middletown, decd., these the only surviving children of John Hooker, late of Farmington decd., who was one of the brothers of ye sd. Thomas Hooker the elder. Also, one other seventh part to heirs of Samuel Hooker, viz., Samuel Giles and William Hooker, Esther, wife of Isaac Stiles of New Haven, and Mehetabell, wife of Daniel Coit of New London, which are ye only children and legal representatives of Samuel Hooker of Farmington decd., who was a brother of Thomas Hooker ye elder. Also, one other seventh part to Sarah Bartlett, widow of John Bartlett, late of Guilford decd., and to Mehetabell Smith, wife of John Smith of Rye, in the Province of New York, and Hannah, wife of Mr. _____ Smith of Orange County, Province of New York, which sd. Sarah, Mehetabell and Hannah are ye only children and legal representatives of Mr. James Hooker, late of Guilford decd., one other brother of Thomas Hooker ye elder. Also, one other seventh part to Nathaniel, Mary and Abigail Hooker and Sarah Edwards, wife of Daniel Edwards, all of Hartford, the only surviving children of Mr. Nathaniel Hooker, late of Hartford deceased, who was a brother to Thomas Hooker ye elder. And also one other seventh part to Mr. James Pierpont of New Haven, and to Sarah Edwards of Stockbridge, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, the wife of Jonathan Edwards, only surviving children and legal representatives of Mrs. Mary Pierpont, who was one other sister of ye sd. Thomas Hooker ye elder. And one other seventh part thereof to Daniel Hooker of Hartford and to Susannah, the wife of _____ Bayley, living at Nine Partners, in the Province of New York, and to Sarah Chamberlain, widow of Benjamin Chamberlain, late of Middletown, and Mary Peck, wife of Elijah Peck of sd. Middletown, and Hannah, the wife of Reuben Norton of Guilford, the only surviving children and legal representatives of Doctor Daniel Hooker, late of Hartford deceased."
