"Probate Records. Vol. XV, 1745 to 1750. Page 385-6.
Yeomans, Elijah, Tolland. Invt. £2866-03-06. Taken 26 March, 1750, by Jabez Delano, Peletiah West and John Lothrop. Will dated 1st February, 1749-50.
I, Elijah Yeomans of Tolland, in the County of Hartford, do make this my last will and testament: I give to my wife, Abigail Yeomans, the improvement of all my estate, both real and personal, that is to say, my buildings, orcharding, plowing and grass land, together with my neat cattle, sheep, horses, and household goods and whatsoever, after all my just debts and funeral charges are paid out of the sd. moveables, then the same to remain to her, her use and improvement until my son Elijah Yeomans shall arrive to the age of 21 years, she supporting my children and paying out of it the legacies as I shall hereafter name to my eldest daughter Abigail. I give to my daughter Abigail Yeomans £200, to be paid unto her out of my moveable estate when she shall arrive to the age of 18 years. I give unto my wife Abigail 1-3 part of my moveable estate forever. And further I give unto my wife Abigail the improvement of the north room in my dwelling house, and half my barn, during the time of her widowhood. I give unto my daughter Eunice Yeomans £200, to be paid out of my moveable estate at the age of 18 years. I give to my son Elisha Yeomans 20 acres of land on the southeast corner of my farm, which is land that I bought of Joseph Chamberlain, Jr., for the bounds of which I refer to Tolland Records. I give unto my son Elijah Yeomans the 1-2 of my farm that I now live on, taking it off at the east end, reckoning what I have or shall have of my honoured mother's thirds to belong to it, exclusive of what I have given to my son Elisha. I give to my sd. son Elijah the 1-2, drawing a line across my farm north and south, giving him the east end. I give unto my son Oliver Yeomans the 1-2 of the farm of land that I now live on, taking it off at the west end. And further, my will is that my son Oliver shall have out of that part of my orchard that comes into my son Elijah's hands the improvement of the 1-2 of it for the term of 7 years next coming after the sd. Oliver shall arrive to the age of 21 years, that is to say, the profit of the 1-2 of the fruit of the trees, but not of the land to plow or feed or mow. And further, my will is that what I have given by this instrument to my two daughters, being to be paid to them some time hence, and not knowing how our paper currency may rise or fall, I order and my will is that my executors make payment thereof at the several times of payment as I have said in this instrument according to the true and just value of our present paper bills of credit, allowing silver at this time to be 55 shillings per ounce, and so to pay more or less as paper money shall rise or fall, at the discretion of my executors. I appoint my wife Abigail Yeomans executrix.
ELIJAH YEOMANS, LS.
Witness: John Lothrop, David Lothrop, Clorandy Lothrop.
Court Record, Page 126—10 April, 1750: The last will and testament of Elijah Yeomans, late of Tolland deceased, was now exhibited in Court by Abigail Yeomans, widow and executrix. Will proven. Exhibit of an inventory. Both accepted, ordered to be recorded and kept on file.
Page 60 (Vol. XVII) 24 April, 1755: Whereas, Elijah Yeomans of Tolland deceased, by his last will and testament appointed the above-named Abigail executrix to his last will and testament, and ordered his executrix to pay unto Abigail and Eunice Yeomans £200 each in old tenor bills at the rate of 55 shillings per oz. in silver (sd. Abigail, executrix, now being deceased) and the legacy not being yet paid, these are to direct sd. distributors: First, to distribute and set out to the sd. Abigail and Eunice the legacy given by sd. will, and the remaining part of sd. estate to be divided: to Elijah, the eldest son, his double share; and to Oliver and Elisha Yeomans, to each of them a single share. And appoint John Abbott, Ephraim Grant and Samuel West, of Tolland, distributors."
