BETHIA BRETT (William2, William1), born at Bridgewater about 1684; married at Bridgewater June 5, 1706, by Elihu Brett, Esq. Thomas Hayward, who was born January 10, 1674; son of John and Sarah (Mitchell) Hayward. He was brother of Sarah, who married Nathaniel2 Brett, but was nearly ten years younger than she. They lived on the southerly side of the Matfield River, where the father of Bethia lived before them. She died August 14, 1745; he died March 20, 1741. Their estate was divided as follows:
“This Covenant and Agreement made the 20th of June, in the twentieth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George ye Second of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, etc. Anno Domini 1746; Witnesseth, that we, Seth Hayward, Jr., Arthur Harris and Bethia his wife, Samuel Dunbar and Mary his wife, Alice Hayward and Phebe Hayward all of Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth within the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England; Heirs of the estate of Deacon William Brett of said Bridgewater, Deceased, have agreed upon a division of said Estate in form and manner following: “To Seth Hayward certain pieces and parcels of land lying within the Township of Bridgewater, which is his part and proportion of the Estate of the above Deceased. “To Arthur Harris and his wife Bethia 45 acres of land, also a ten-acre lot, etc., etc., out of which he has paid to Alice Hayward 8 Pounds, 9 shillings, the value being 405 Pounds old tenor, and this being his share of the estate of the said Deceased. “To Samuel Dunbar’s wife Mary, the Homestead of the said William Brett Deceased; etc. [She bought additional land from her sisters Alice and Phebe Hayward.] “To Alice Hayward certain pieces of land, her part and proportion of the estate of William Brett Deceased. “To Phebe Hayward certain lands and her part and proportion of the Estate of the said Deceased. “Dated June 25, 1746.”
To this were set the seals of Seth Hayward, Arthur Harris, Alice Hayward, Phebe Hayward, Bethia Harris, Mary Dunbar.
