"Probate Records. Vol. XIII, 1737 to 1742. Page 164-5-6-7.
Steele, Capt. Thomas, Hartford. Invt. £2900 plus. Taken 29 January, 1739-40, by Ebenezer Sedgewick, Stephen Hosmer and Moses Nash. Will dated 20 September, 1737.
I, Thomas Steele of Hartford, do make this my last will and testament: I give to Susannah, my wife, 1-3 part of my moveable estate forever, and 1-3 part of my dwelling house, barn and all my lands during her widowhood. And provided she shall hereafter marry, my will is (she being willing) that she shall have £60 out of my moveable estate, provided she releases her right in the buildings and lands aforesd. I give to my son Samuel Steele the 1-2 of my lands which I now live upon, lying on the east side of the highway or common road running north and south to the west division (and provided my dwelling house shall be found upon the north side, that I reserve for my son John Steele; and my son Samuel aforesd. shall have his lands made up of lands eastward of sd. house). Further, I give to my sd. son Samuel my house on the west side of the highway and 3 acres of land adjoining to sd. house, and also 9 acres of land that I lately bought of the heirs of Samuel Sedgewick, Jr., late of Hartford deceased. And further, I give unto my son Samuel Steele the 1-3 part of my barn during the time it shall remain fit for service. I give to my son William Steele all my lands at New Hartford, divided and undivided. I give unto my two sons Nathaniel Steele and James Steele all my lands in Hartford in the west division west of the highway not before disposed of, to be equally divided between them. I give to my daughter Jerusha Steele, alias Mills, £40 money and one cow over and above what I have already given her. I give to my daughter Susannah Steele, alias Hosmer, £16 besides what I have already given her. Furthermore, I give unto my sons, Samuel Steele, William Steele, James Steele, Nathaniel Steele and John Steele, all my personal estate not before disposed of, to be equally divided between them. I give to my son John Steele my dwelling house and 1-3 part of my barn, and 1-2 on the south side of the land east of the highway, it being the remaining part of sd. land that I have given to my son Samuel on the east side of the highway. Further, I give all my land east of the Connecticut River to all my children, both sons and daughters, to be equally divided among them. And I appoint Susannah Steele, my wife, and Samuel Steele, my son, executors.
THOMAS STEELE, LS.
Witness: Martin Smith, Adonijah Moody, Moses Nash.
Court Record, Page 60—5 February, 1739-40: Will proven. James Steele, a minor, age 20 years, and Nathaniel, age 18 years, sons of Capt. Thomas Steele, chose their mother Susannah Steele to be their guardian. John Steele, age 16 years, chose his brother Samuel to be his guardian."
