The Clove

Here is the last will of John Earl, which gives some insight into his accumulated property and the regard he held his family members at the end of his life. I have a special place for old John in my heart. He is my 5X Great-Grandfather. He is the first of my side of the Earl family to live in the Hudson Valley and was able to carve out a significant and honorable life there. Ironically, his grave may be at the bottom of “Earl Reservoir,” a water supply that was created by flooding the farmland and burial ground once owned by the family.

In the Name of God Amen. I, John Earll of Smith’s Clove, in the Precinct of Cornwall in the County of Orange, State of New York.

 Being Weak in Body But of Sound Mind and Memory do make this My Last Will and Testament in manner and form following.  

First of all I Give and Bequeath unto My beloved Wife (Rachel) the Income of the one third of My Whole Estate Whilst She Remains My Widow.  

I also Give and Bequeath unto My Daughter Elizabeth Her Heirs and Assigns for ever, one Hundred acres of Land to be laid out on the East End of a tract of one Hundred and fifty acres which I purchased of Her Husband, James Lewis.  

I also Give and Bequeath unto My to my Son John Twenty Shillings.  

I also Give and Bequeath unto My Son Samuel His Heirs and Assigns forever Fifty Acres of Land to Be run out on the Southwest Corner of My farm Including the Tract I purchased of Isaac Cronkrite Excepting and Always Reserving the Main Stream of Water with as Much Land Adjoining as Shall Be thought necessary or useful for the use of the Grist Mill or any other Mill or Mills that May Be Built in the future,  

I also Give and Bequeath unto My Son Richard His Heirs and Assigns forever fifty acres of Land to be Laid out on the West End of a Tract above Described I purchased of James Lewis.  

I also Give and Bequeath unto My Son Benjamin His Heirs and Assigns forever Two Hundred acres of Land To Include the Tract or possession He Now Lives on and to Bound to the Westward on Land of Joh Rumsey to the Northward on Land Lately Granted to My Son Richard and above Bequeathed to My Daughter Elizabeth and to My Said Son Richard Easterly on Land of William Thorn and to Extend So far Southward as Will Contain the Two Hundred Acres Within or Lines to be Run parallel to Southernmost Line of Tract above Bequeathed to of said James Lewis and Richard Earll.   

I also Give and Bequeath unto My Son Peter His Heirs and Assigns forever Ninety Acres of Land to adjoin South Westward on the Land Bequeathed to My Said Son Samuel and Westward to the Land of John Rumsey, and to the Northward on the Land Bequeathed to My Said Son Benjamin, and to Extend So far Eastward as Shall Make up the Said Ninety acres, 

I also Give and Bequeath unto My Son Ezrea His Heirs and Assigns forever all My Lands and Tenements Lying South Westerly from a Line Extending from a Stake and Heap of Stones Standing By the Main Crick Near the Middle Lengthwise of a Small Piece of Land I Bargained for Late of Arthur Youmans westerly to the publick Highway Near the Easterly Side of a high Nole to a Stake and Heap of Stones, and on the South Easterly Side of the Road  Together with the Remainder of My Land Not above Bequeathed on the westerly Side of the publick High way and on the South of a Tract Adjoining Belonging to William Thorn Called his Reed Lot.   

I also Give and Bequeath unto My Son Jonathan, all My Remaining Lands to the Northeast of the Land Bequeathed To My Said Son Ezrea on Both Sides of the Road to him, His Heirs and Assigns forever.  

It is also My Will that My Said Son Ezrea Should one year after My Decease pay unto My Two Grandchildren, Joseph and Mary Holloway, the Sum of Twenty pounds Each Equal to Wheat at Six Shillings per Bushel and to pay unto William Thorn the Contents of his Bond Which I Gave him for the Half of the Grist Mill and further to pay out of He purchased on 6/26/1762, 857 acres of land from Thomas Smith for 1633 pounds 10 shillings. The land extended from Highland Mills to near 7 Springs at the south end of Schunnemunck Mt. The deed states that he was already living in the house on the property. They brought their grown family with them consisting of 7 boys and one of his daughters, Elizabeth, wife of James Lewis   

My Moveable Estate with My Notes and Bonds (illegible)-ded all My other Just Debts and that The Remainder Shall Be Divided Equally among My Children their Heirs and assigns forever, and I do Hereby Nominate and appoint Jesse Woodhull, Esq., Benjamin, Peter, and Ezrea My Three Sons to be My Sole Executors for fulfilling this My Last Will and testament, Hereby Revoking all former Wills By Me Made Heretofore.  In witness Whereof I have hereunto Set My hand and Seal this 25 Day of May 1781Sealed and Signed in their presence of John Earll   (seal) John Weygant, his mark John White Wm. Thorn