"37. William Gleason,3 (William,2 Thomas,1) was b. in Cambridge Apr. 15, 1679; d. in Brookline in 1741; … William Gleason the father was a soldier in the Narraganset War and was included in the list of Grantees of Narraganset Township. [William3 was not yet born at the tie of the war.] At the town meeting March 5, 1710-11 he was chosen Surveyor.
On Feb. 24, 1741, Samuel Gleason, the son, was appointed by Judge Willard of the Suffolk Co. Probate Court of Boston, Administrator of the estate of William Gleason, deceased."
Apr. 16, 1742, Samuel Gleason, adm'r, appeared in Probate Court and made oath as to its correctness. The appraisers, with Solomon Hill and Henry Sewell, were appointed to divide the estate and give a third to the widow. Her share was 'the easterly part of the homestead as it is now staked off, containing one third part of the cellar, with one third part of the barn at the westerly end with a free passage to and from the premise, together with one third part of the pasture and woodland on the easterly side as it is now staked off.'
Jan. 1, 1742-3, Edward Ruggles, Solomon Hill and Henry Sewell sent a petition to the Probate Judge claiming the estate of William Gleason 'was incapable of a division among all his children without great prejudice to or spoiling the wnole.' The Judge in answer appointed the petitioners to make an appraisement of the real estate for his attention. Their report bearing date Jan. 5, 1742-3, values the estate as follows: House and barn at £34 10s . £34 10s; Homestead of 5 acres at £8 15s an acre . £43 15s; Pasture of 13 acres at £5 15s an acre . £74 15s; Total . £153
On receipt of the appraisement Judge Willard then disposed and divided the estate as follows: 'All the housing and lands to the son of Samuel, saving unto his mother Thankful Gleason her right of dower therein for term of life. Samuel Gleason also paying thereout unto his brothers and sisters or their legal representatives their rateable parts of the appraised value. That is to say: to the brother William Gleason as his double portion the sum of £26, and to the rest of the children, viz.: Joseph, Charles, Benjamin, Experience and Thankful £13 apiece on or before the 6th of January, 1743, with interest for the said sums in the interim, rate of 6 per cent, per annum. At the death of the mother or at the time of her becoming quit of the premises, Samuel to pay to William £13 and the rest of the brothers and sisters £6 10s apiece, to complete their respective portions.'"