John’s goods appear in the inventory of the ship Society of Bristol: (2 May) John Summers; 5 cwt. wrought iron, 1/2 cwt. nails, 1 firkin butter, 20 pounds leather manufactured, 1/2 cwt Shot, 1/4 cwt gunpowder. He married Hannah Hodgkins in 1684 according to Monthly Meeting notes, and his first three children were recorded there. Richard, the fourth, was born 3 Mar 1693, and his birth was recorded in the records of the Cape May/Great Egg Harbor meeting. Later that year, John was appointed a supervisor of roads and constable.

In November of 1695, he and 7 other men settled the “Somerset Plantation” in New Jersey (the area later known as Somer’s Point). The other men included Jonas Valentine, John Gilbert Sr., Johnathan Adams (uncle of his daughter-in-law Abigail),two Dutchman: Peter Covenhover (his granddaughter m. John’s grandson),John Scull, and James Steelman. A few days later, on Dec. 2, he was granted permission to run a ferry from Cape May to East Jersey, near Great Egg Harbor. [1052]

In the name of God, Amen the 8th day of January in the year of our Lord 1720/21-I JOHN SOMERS of Great Egg Harbor in the County of Gloucester in the Province of West New Jersey, Yeoman being very sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory-thanks be given unto God...
Imprimis; I give and bequeath to my beloved son RICHARD SOMERS and his heirs ans assigns all my land and plantation where I do now live on excepting four hundred acres of land on he East side of my Plantation with the provisq that my son RICHARD SOMERS pay to his mother the sum of ten pounds current money of America per annum during her lifetime, and also to let his mother have sufficent room to dwell in and to provide her firewood and fodder and pasturing for six cows and six sheep during her widow hood.
Item; I give to my well beloved wife HANNAH all my houdehold goods, to her dispossing.
Item;I give and bequeath to my well beloved son JAMES SOMERS three hundred and fifty acres of land and meadow on the North East side of Mulberry Point where he now lives on, to him and his heirs and assigns.
Item; I give unto my well beloved son SAMUEL SOMERS and my son JOB SOMERS eight hundred acres of land and meadow lying on the North West side of Patcong Creek equally to be divided between them, to them and their hers and assigns, but my son SAMUEL to have his choice when divided on this eight hundred acres.
item; I give to ISAAC SOMERS my son four hundred acres of land and meadow begininng at Pon called Gilberts Pon and so over to the head of Mill Creek, to him his heirs and assigns forever.
Item; I give to my son EDMOND SOMERS three hundred and fifty acres of land and meadow joining on the South West side of his brother JAMES SOMERS land to him and his heirs and assigns.
Item; I ordain my four sons, viz;SAMUEL SOMERS,JOB SOMERS,ISAAC SOMERS,and EDMOND SOMERS each to pay to their sister BRIDGET SOMERS,after the decease of their mother the sum of ten shillings per annum for her life time.
Item; I leave my stock in the hands of my son RICHARD SOMERS to make use of the farm and to pay all my debts and after the decease of my wife and debts paid what remains to be equally divided among my three daughters.
Item; and lastly I ordain my well beloved son RICHARD SOMERS whom I likewise Constitute make and Ordain my only and sole Executer of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby disallow, revoke and disnul all,any, other former Testaments, Wills , Legacies, bequests and Executers by me in any way before this time named willed and bequested, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day above written.
JOHN SOMERS (seal) Signed and sealed,published, pro-nounced and declared by the said JOHN SOMERS as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us the scribers viz;
Peter White, Jonathan Addomas, Thomas Green.