Descendants of Edward Jesup
of Wilton, Connecticut
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Joe
Crouch
Edward Jesup 3
(Edward Jessup 2,
Edward Jesup 1) born in Fairfield,
Conn. and baptized 7 March 1697; married Sarah Blackleach, daughter of Richard
Blackleach [1]
of Stratford, 7 Dec., 1724.
He is
spoken of as "Captain," and held this position in the Colonial militia, which
the exposed condition of the new settlements required ever to be on the alert.
He lived in the parish of Green's Farms (Fairfield), occupying the
homestead farm on the shore of Long Island Sound.
This homestead passed into his hands by deed from his father, dated 7
Aug., 1721, which date indicates very nearly the time when his father changed
his place of residence to Stamford.
As the location of the property is a matter of interest, as also the names
mentioned in the deed, it is given in full as follows: -
Know all men by these
presents, that I Edward Jesup of Fairfield in the Colony of Connecticut for the
consideration of eighty-five Pounds, current money of said Colony, to me already
secured by my loving son, Edward Jesup of said Fairfield, have granted, sold,
made over and confirmed, and by these presents do fully, clearly, and absolutely
grant, sell, make over and confirm unto my said son, Edward Jesup, and to his
heirs and assigns forever, my homestead at Maximus or the West Parish in said
Fairfield, containing all my land adjoining together, where my new dwelling
house standeth, be it in quantity more or less; and it is bounded Easterly by
land of Thomas Couch, South by John Andrews' meadow, or a highway in part, and
partly by land of John Lockwood; West in part by a highway and partly by said
John Lockwood; North by the Common; {2}
together with all the building, fruit-trees, garden, yard, and fences, and all
other privileges and appurtenances thereof
which by any manner of way or means belong thereunto; excepting only
liberty for Benjamin Rumsey, John Andrews, John Lockwood, and John Green, their
heirs, executors, administrators, administrators, and assigns, to pass and
repass through the said homestead at the usual place in the seasons of the year
to gather their salt hay from off their meadow lying Southward of the said
homestead; also all my right of commonage in said Fairfield: To have and to hold
unto my said son Edward Jesup and to his heirs and assigns forever, the said
granted and described homestead, commonage, and bargained premises for his and
their only use and behoof, except as before excepted, without any let, claim, or
molestation from me, my heirs, executors, or administrators forevermore.
Witness my hand and seal this 7th day of August, Anno Domini, 1721.
Edward Jesup/
Signed, sealed, and
delivered in presence of
Thaddeus Burr.
Peter Burr.
Edward Jesup,
subscriber to the above instrument, acknowledged the same to be his free act and
deed the day and year written, before me,
Peter Burr, J.P.
Recorded 7th Aug., 1721
[3].
In addition to the above homestead, he owned another and
larger tract of land (six hundred acres) on what is now known as Harry's Ridge
in the present town of Wilton.
A grandson [4]
affirms that he was
interested in
the West India trade, which is very probable, as all the towns along the Sound,
even those which at the present time have little or no shipping interests, were
then engaged in such business ventures.
He had one brother, and perhaps two, as well as nephews, that were
seafaring men.
He died 30 Sept.,
1750, in the 54th year of his age.
His widow outlived him many years, and died 18 Nov., 1783, in her 84th year, and
the following inscriptions may now be read upon their gravestones in the
"Old Burial Ground" in Green's Farms.
The church which once stood north of this ancient cemetery, just across
the highway, was burned in the Revolutionary War, in July, 1779, when General
Tyron destroyed a large part of the town of Fairfield.
Here Lyes Buried
In memory of Sarah
the Body of Mr.
Widw
& Relick of
Edward Jessup
[5]
Edward Jesup
[5]
who
Who departed this life
Departed this life
Sept. 30th Anno
Dom' 1750
Novr ye 18th 1783,
in
in Ye 54th Year
of His Age Ye 84th Year
of her Age.
They had seven children, all born in Green's Farms:
1.
Sarah Jesup, born 14th July, 1726.
2.
Elizabeth Jesup, born 13th February, 1728.
3.
Mary Jesup, born 28th September, 1729
4.
Abigail Jesup, born 9th May, 1731
6.
Ebenezer Jesup, born 14th March, 1739
7.
Martha Jesup, baptized 22 August, 1742; died 2nd September, 1751.
The will of Captain Edward Jesup is dated 8 May, 1750, and
is on record in Fairfield.
It was
proven on the 2nd of October, following, and is as follows:-
The Will of Captain Edward Jesup
In the name of God,
Amen, the eighth day of May, in ye year
of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and fifty, I, Edward Jesup of Fairfield,
in ye County
of Fairfield and Colony of Connecticut, being weak in body, but of perfect mind
and memory, thanks be given to God therefor, calling to mind ye
mortality of my body, and knowing it is appointed unto men once to die,
do make this my last will and Testament.
Principally and first
of all, I give and recommend my soul into ye hands
of God who gave it; my body I recommend to the earth to be buryed in a
Christian-like, decent manner, at ye discretion
of my executors hereafter named, nothing doubting but at ye
general resurrection I shall receive ye same
by ye mighty
power of God.
And as touching such
worldly estate it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give,
devise, and dispose of ye
same in ye following
manner and form:-
Impimis.
It is my will and I do order yt in ye first place all my just debts and
funeral charges be paid and satisfied.
Item.
I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Sarah, two of my feather
beds, with ye bedsteads and furniture; also my household goods her following,
viz: all my wooden ware, all my brass ware, also all my iron ware and all my
pewter; and also two of my bed quilts, two
of my coverlets, and ten of my sheets, all which is to her own forever.
And also I give and bequeath to my said wife ye use and improvement of
one third part of my housing and lands during her natural life.
Item.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah, ye wife of Stephen Wakeman,
twenty shillings, old Tenor,
[6]
which with what I have already given her is her full share and part of my
estate.
Item.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth, ye wife of Thomas Couch,
twenty shillings old Tenor, which with what I have already given her is her full
share and part of my estate.
Item.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary, ye wife of John Morehouse,
twenty shillings of old Tenor, which with what I have already given her is her
full share and
part of my estate.
Item.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Abigail, my silver tankard, also six
of my large silver spoons, and also six of my teaspoons; also I give to my said
daughter Abigail out of my movable estate ye sum of nine hundred pounds of old
Tenor, to be paid her by my executors hereafter named.
Item.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Martha
out of my movable estate ye sum of eleven hundred pounds of old Tenor, to
be paid her when she shall arrive at ye age of eighteen years; but if she shall
marry before she arrive to ye age of eighteen years, then my will is she shall
have it paid her at her marriage.
Item.
I give and bequeath to my two sons, viz: Blackleach and Ebenezer, and to
their heirs and assigns forever in equal proportion, all my housing and lands
lying and being within ye Colony of Connecticut or elsewhere, and my will is ye
my real estate herein given to my said two sons shall be divided and parted, but
shall be improved by then together until my son Ebenezer arrive at ye age of
twenty-three years.
And then my
said son Blackleach shall part my said real estate into two equal parts, and my
son Ebenezer shall choose which par t he likes best, and furthermore my will is
that if either of my said sons shall die without issue lawfully begotten, yt
then three quarters of ye real estate yt I have given him, shall be to my other
son yt shall survive; and ye other quarter my will is yt if my son shall leave a
widow yt she shall have it during her natural life, and after her decease the
said quarter part shall be equally divided among my afore named daughters; and
if my said son shall die without leaving a widow, then at ye decease of my said
son, ye said quarter part shall be equally divided between my aforesaid
daughters.
Item.
My will is, and I do constitute and appoint my said wife Sarah, and my
brother Joseph Jesup to be executors of this my last will and testament, hereby
revoking all other wills by me hereto fore made, declaring this and no other to
be my last will and testament.
Edward Jesup
Signed, published,
pronounced and declared by ye said Edward Jesup as his last will and testament,
in presence of us witnesses.
Isabel Rumsey
her
Mary + Guire.
mark
Thaddeus Burr.
On the sixth of March 1850/51, the Inventory of the estate
was presented in court by Benjamin Rumsey, John Andrews, and John Hyde,
Appraisers.
Total amount, L22,524
8s. 7d.[7]
[1]
Richard Blackleach was the son of an early settler of Stratford of the
same name.
His will dated 27 Feb.,
1747-8, and proved 2 Oct., 1850, is recorded in Fairfield.
In it he gives Sarah Jesup, wife of Edward Jesup, L5, and to her children
l30.
Inventory of the estate
L977,8s.
Two deeds are on record, in Stratford, bearing his signature: one dated
10 Nov., 1747, conveying property to his daughter Sarah; the other, 26 March,
1748, conveying property to his son-in-law, Edward Jesup.
[2]
This "Common" is a very considerable plot of ground, near the Green's
Farms station of New York and New Haven Railroad, which at the very first
settlement of the neighborhood was thrown open by the adjoining proprietors for
the public purposes.
The
schoolhouse once stood here, and some suppose the first church edifice also.
It was also once used as a military parade ground, and was once much
larger than at present, having at various times been encroached upon, bisected
by the railroad, and narrowed to its present proportions
[3]
Fairfield Land Records, iii202.
[4]
The late Major Ebenezer Jessup, of Westpoint.
[5]
The variations in the spelling of the family name above, indicate the
date when one of the s's originally in the name began to be dropped, - an
accidental change doubtless, which, however, has in some portions of this branch
of the family been perpetuated to the present day.
[6]
"Old Tenor", etc, refer to different kinds of paper money issued by the
colonies at different dates, and of different values.
[7]
Fairfield County Probate Records, volume for the years 1748-55.