"Probate Records. Vol. XII, 1732 to 1737. Page 328-9.
Merrells, Caleb, Hartford. Invt. £230 in realty. Taken 3 November, 1735, by Moses Nash and Martin Smith. Will dated 22 September, 1735.
I, Caleb Merrells of Hartford, do make this my last will and testament: First, I give to my wife Mercy 1-3 part of all my moveable estate, to be at her own dispose forever. The other two-thirds of my moveable estate I give to my son Abijah and to the other child (whether son or daughter) which my wife now goes withall, provided always, if either of them die before the other comes of age, his or her share to be for the use and benefit of sd. survivor. And if they both live to be 21 years of age, then to be equally divided betwixt them. And my real estate, that is, the house and land I live on, I give and bequeath in manner following: First, I hereby authorize and fully impower my executors hereafter named to sell and dispose of so much of the land as shall be sufficient to pay Samuel Culver of Wallingford about £130 money which I owe him for the purchase of sd. house and land I live in, as also ye house and whole lot, if lots be not sufficient to pay sd. debt, and to make ample deeds of conveyance for the same. And what shall remain, if any, after sd. debts are paid, of the homestead and house, I give one-third of it to my wife Mercy, and the other 2-3 to be equally divided between my son Abijah and the child my wife now goes withall. And if either of them die before they arrive to 21 years, to be to the survivor. I appoint my brother Jonathan Sedgewick, Cyprian Merrells, and my wife Mercy, or any two of them, to be my executors.
CALEB MERRELLS, LS.
Witness: Daniel Hooker, Jr., Ebenezer Smith, Elisha Smith.
Court Record, Page 33—7 October, 1735: Will proven.
Page 6 (Vol. XIII) 3 May, 1737: An addition to the estate of Caleb Merrells was exhibited in Court by Mercy Merrells, executrix, amounting to the sum of £13-11-11.
Page 7—3 May, 1737: The children, Abijah Merrells now 3 years of age, and Mercy, one year, this Court appoint their mother Mercy Merrells to be their guardian. Recog., £100.
Page 62 (Vol. XIV) 6 August, 1745: Jonathan Sedgewick of Hartford, executor to the last will of Caleb Merrells, moves this Court that distributors may be appointed to distribute the estate according to the will: Whereupon this Court appoint Capt. Daniel Webster, Moses Nash and Stephen Hosmer, of Hartford, distributors.
Page 64 (Vol. XV) 3 May, 1748: Abijah Merrells, a minor, 14 years of age, son of Caleb Merells, chose Moses Nash of Hartford to be his guardian. And this Court appoint the sd. Moses Nash guardian to Mercy Merrell, a minor, 12 years of age. Recog., £300.
Page 75—5 September, 1748: Ebenezer Mix being brought before Joseph Talcott, J. P., and being bound over to this Court, now appeared and under oath answered to sundry questions with respect to his withholding and concealing part of the moveable estate of Caleb Merrell, of Hartford, deceased."
