Probate Records. Vol. VIII, 1710 to 1715. Page 207-8-9.
Steele, Lt. James, Hartford. Invt. £878-09-10. Taken 25 November, 1712, by Thomas Hosmer and Edward Allyn.
I, James Steele, Sen., of Hartford, do make this my last will and testament: I give unto my eldest son James Steele my house and barn, malt house, and all my land at home, with all the trees and wells, and also six acres of land at the lower end of the south meadow; also in 40 acres ten acres more of land, and 7 acres of land at Nod, and my lot called the Gate Lot, being about 71-2 acres, and Rocky Hill lot, being about 24 acres; also the mountain lot called the 28 acres. I give also all my moveable estate to him, he paying all my just debts and legacies hereafter given to my daughters. All these lands and estate to my son James and his heirs forever. I give to my son Jonathan Steele all my land at Durham. I give to my son Stephen Steele my land at 4-Mile Hill. I give to my three daughters, Sarah, Mary and Elizabeth, £6 to each. I give to my wife Sarah the use and improvement and income of all my lands in Hartford, and stock and houseing, given to my son James, during her widowhood, and appoint her and my son James sole executors.
JAMES STEELE, SEN.
Witness: Edward Allyn, Samuel Shepherd.
Court Record, Page 104—5 January, 1712: Will proven.
Page 96 (Vol. IX) 3 February, 1718-19: Upon application of John Watson in right of his wife Sarah, and Cyprian Watson in right of his wife Elizabeth, co-heirs with several others unto the estate of James Steele, late of Hartford, deceased, showing that sd. James Steele died intestate and without issue, and that at the time of his death he had an estate in fee simple unto several parcels of land in the Township of Hartford as appears by will of James Steele, late of Hartford, father of the sd. James Steele deceased, and that the sd. intestate hath two brothers, Jonathan Steele and Stephen Steele, and three sisters, Sarah Watson, Elizabeth Watson and Mary Ashley, to whom the sd. lands belong, saving the
mother Sarah Steele's use during her widowhood: Sarah Steele, executrix to the last will of James Steele the father, late of Hartford, decd., Stephen Steel and Jonathan Steele, sons, Joseph Ashley and Mary his wife, all cited to appear in Court and show cause, if any, why distribution should not be made.
Page 98—3 March, 1718-19: This Court decide that the lands belong to the brothers and no part to the sisters, according to the will of their father, Capt. James Steele. John Watson appeals."
