| Notes |
- Mr. Durfee married a third time in Freetown, Mass.,
April 8, 1762, to Sarah Brayton, of Freetown, Mass. (who
died without issue).
He became a freeman of the town of Portsmouth, R.I.,
in May, 1731. He purchased of Joseph Cook in 1736-37
the nineteenth lot or share of Pocasset purchase on Staf-
ford Road, in the town of Tiverton, R. I. He built a
house on this land in 1837, which became his home for
life, and it is in a good state of preservation at the pres-
ent date, and has always been owned by his posterity.
He was chosen a Deputy to the General Assembly of Rhode
Island in 1761-62 and '64. The following is a complete
copy of his will :
WILL OF JOB DURFEE.
"The Lastwilland Testament of Job Durfee, of Tiverton,
in the County of Newport, in the Colony of Rhode Island
and Providence Plantation, in New England, yeoman is
as followeth, being sound of mnd and perfect memory,
Blessed be God therefore, and being desirous to Dispose and
Settle that Little Temporal Estate ; it both pleased God to
bless me with in this world to and amongst my wife and
Children in my following Provisions. I will and order
all my Just Debts and Funeral Charges first paid and
satisfied by Executor hereafter named.
Item. - I give and bequeath unto my son, John Durfee,
any Dwelling House, where I now live, together with the
piece or moiety of land whereon said house stands. Boun-
ded Easterly on the Highway Southerly on land of David
Stafford: Westerly and Northerly by the stone wall that
encloses the same ; and contains on or about four acres ;
Together with all the other buildings standing on said
piece or moiety of Land before Described it to be under-
stood that the northerly Boundary wall of the above piece
of moiety of Land, shall extend the same course as it now
stands Easterly to the highway to the Including a small
piece of Inclosed land a little to the north of my house ;
in this bequest to my son John, together with all the width
of my Land on the Easterly side of the highway, and to
extend easterly the whole width aforesaid until it comes
square wiih the lines or westerly end of that Land which
I purchased of Peter Devol as may appear by Deed to-
gether with one equal half of all my land Easterly to the
Fresh pond including the aforesaid Land that I purchased,
of said Peter Devol in said Division which said Division
to be by a line made paralel with the lines in the alotment
of Land where my Land Lyeth all the above piece or
moiety of land as they are above Described with all the
huildings thereon ; I give to my said son, John Durfee,
his heirs, and assigns forever.
But only he, my said son John, his Heirs and assigns,
shall allow to his brother, my son Gideon Durfee, his
Heirs and, assignes, a priveledge of a Driftway to pass
and repass as their Occasion may require to and from the
Land I shall give to my said son Gideon in some conven-
ient place to the county road or highway, all which I give
to my said son John as above, he, my said son John, Doing
and performing as I shall hereafter order.
ltem (2) (mentions). - I give and bequeath unto my
son, Gideon Durfee, the northerly equal half of all the
Easterly and of my Land adjoining the Fresh pond to Ex-
tend so far westerly as the Line or Westerly end of that Land
which I purchased of Peter Devol all which said Northerly
half whereon my said son Gideon now liveth, so far West-
erly as above Expressed and easterly to the Fresh pond, In-
cluding the whole width of my Land in the Division with
all the buildings standing on said Northerly half as afore-
said, together with the privilege of a Driftway as the same
is described in. the above bequest to my son John, all which
I give to him, my said son Gideon Durfee, his heirs and
assigns forever, he doing and performing as I shall herein-
after order.
Item (3). - I give and bequeath unto my son, Job Dur-
fee, all the westerly end of my lands that I have not al-
ready Disposed of Bounded westerly on a highway northerly
on land of David Stafford southerly partly on lands of
the aforesaid David Stafford and partly on land given to
my son John easterly -partly on the highway and partly
on land, given to my son John as aforesaid, special regard
being had to the stone wall and place where the said wall
now stands for a boundary line between my said son Job
and my aforesaid son John, all the above Described westerly
end of my land with all the buildings standing thereon, I
give unto him, my said son Job Durfee, his heirs and as-
signs forever.
Item (4). - I give and bequeath unto my two sons ( Viz),
Gideon Durfee and Job Durfee, to be equally divided be-
tween them, all my righ, title, and interest in land lying
in the Township of Hartford near Otter Creek so-called
them and heirs, <&c., &c.
Item. - I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Eliza-
beth Chase, one Feather Bed, with the bed-stead and cord,
with two blankets and two sheets, one cover lid, 1 set of
calico curtains with all other Furniture to said bed
belonging, consisting of bolsters and pillows, with their
cases, together with one brass kettle, together with, all bed-
ding either linen or woolen that are marked with the Let-
ters E. C.
Item. - I give and bequeath unto my two sons ( Viz.)
Thomas Durfee and Earle Durfee, provided they should
ever return from Sea, they having been gone for a number
of -------- the sum of Ten pounds Lawfull money to
each of them, my said sons.
Item. - I give unto my Daughter Elizabeth Chase, the
sum of Ten pound lawfull money to be paid her in one
year after my Decease, by my Executor, part and, part
alike. I likewise give to my said daughter all my pewter
that I may leave at my Decease that is marked with the
letters E. C.
"I give to my son Job Durfee five Ewes & five lambs,
consisting of Ten sheep kind in the whole together with
one cow.
Item. - I give unto my three sons namely, John,
Gideon, & Job, all my wearing apparel to be equally
Divided between them my said sons.
Item. - I give and bequeath unto Sarah my well he-
loved wife all the goods that she brought with her when
she came to live with me together with one set of white
curtains with three blankets marked with the letters I. S. D.
together with four sheets of the same mark with one Larke
Trunk with one white coverlid with my Blue Side Saddle,
together with thirty pounds law full money to be paid her
in one year after my Decease by my Executors part and
part alike all which I give to my said wife to her own
Disposal forever, what I have here given and shall here-
after give to my said wife, I give her in lieu of her thirds
and right of Dower which I Desire her to accept of.
Item. - I give unto my said wife for and During the
Time she may Remain my widow as a privlledge to be en-
joyed for her own particular use the north east room in
my house with a priviledge in the Kitchen for washing or
cooking as she may have occasion together with the north-
east Closet with a priviledge in my cellar. All which said
priviledges if my said wife should not have occasion or
should be otherways Disposed not to tnake use of the same
in her own person, then and in such case. I will the said
priviledges to be to the use of my Son John, free of charge.
I further give the priviledges of keeping a cow Winter
and Summer to my said wife with the run of one swine
which said priviledge as to be enjoyed in the tennor as the
priviledges above, which said cow to be kept by my two
sons (viz) John and Gideon Durfee part and part alike so
long as she may remain my widow and be Disposed to en-
joy the same in her own person as aforesaid ; I herewith
will and order my said son John Durfee to provide a
sufficiency of Firewood brought to her door for my said
wife During the time she may Enjoy the above priviledges.
Item. - I give unto my four children, viz. John Gideon
and Job Durfee and Elizabeth Chase to be equally di-
vided between them all my household goods and indoor
movables that I have not already Disposed of but only
my son John shall first take out my Desk before the Di-
vision is made.
Item. - I will and order that my negro man named
Dominie, be a free man Immediately after my Decease.
Item. - I give unto my two sons {viz), John and Gideon
Durfee all the remainder of my live stock that I have not
already Divided as aforesaid, together with money that I
may have by me, or due to me by book Bond note or other
ways with all the residue of my Instate that I have not
already Disposed of he the same of what name or nature
so ever to he Equally Divided as aforesaid. I also nomi-
nate Constitute, and appoint my two sons John and Gideon
Durfee my whole and sole Executors of this my last will
and Testament, to see this my will Executed according to the
true Intent and meaning thereof, I hereby revoke all other
and former wills by me made Ratifying and Confirjning
this and no other to he my Last will and Testament.
In witness whereof, I the said Job Durfee have here-
unto set my hand and seal this thirty-frst day of July in
the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and
sixty-nine, and in the ninth year of his Majesties reign,
George the third, King over Great Brittan, A. D. 1769.
Signed Sealed, puhlished, pronounced, and Declared hy
the said Job Durfee to be his Last will and Testament in
the presence of -
John Bowen.
Ann Borden
Abraham Borden.
" Newport, Ss. At Tiverton on the 16th day of May
A. D. 1774:, the above and foregoing Instrument was
Exhibited in Town Council, was proved and approved,
John Bowen and Ann Borden two of the witnesses to the
foregoing instrument under engagement., Declare that they
saw the before named Job Durfee, the Testator, sign seal
and Declare the said Instrument of writing to he the last
will and Testament, and in his presence and in the presence
of each other they set their hands as witnesses thereto, and
that the here named Abraham Borden did at the same
time set to his hand as a witness also, and that the said
Job Durfee was at that time in his perfect mind and
memory according to the best of their understanding
Taken in presence of Council.
SAMUEL DURFEE, Esq.,
President.
A true Copy of the original.
Witness : Walter Cook, C. C.
---excerpt from "The Descendants of Thomas Durfee of Portsmouth Rhode Island"
|
1710 - 1774 (64 years)
