General Notes

Ebenezer was a brick layer (mason) and purchased property from his father - in - law in Gloucester MA in May 1747.

I have found no evidence of this Ebenezer's roll in the American Revolution, though I expect he was active in some way, as many of his relatives were also involved in the "Patriotic Cause". His will, dated 1779 is interesting for many reasons, not the least of which is his identification of his home as being "in the state of Mass. Bay in New England"; that the war had not yet been decided bears evidence to Ebenezer's political leanings. Also, I again find it so interesting that this will provides such a detailed bequest to the widow; it makes me wonder what would happen if she wandered into a room other than "the west Lower room" or if she needed more than four cord of wood per year! In addition, note the mention of the Amherst NH land which he had settled on his eldest two sons.

Last Will and Testament of Ebenezer Bacheller

In the name of God, Amen This twenty third day of November A.D. 1779. I Ebenezer Batchellor of Wenham in the Co. of Essex and State of Mass. Bay in New England, bricklayer, being in good bodily health, and of sound, disposing, mind and memory and bearing in mind my own frailty and mortality, do make this my last will and Testament. Primarily and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hand of God who gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian Manner by my Exectr. Hereafter named believing that at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Almighty power of God. and as to what worldly Estate it hath pleafed God to bless me with in this world I give, devise, dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

Impri. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Jerusha Batchellor for her annual support six Bushels of Indien Corn, one Bushel of Rye, and one Bushel of Barley, one Barrel of Cyder, two Bushels of winter Apples, three Bushels of Potatoes, one third part of my Garden to be well digged and dunged for her by my Exectr. Hereafter to be named and a good Cow to be ell kept winter and summer for her, and one hundred and fifty Pounds of Pork, fifty pounds of good Beef, one Peck of good white Beans, fifteen pounds of good Flax, from the swingle, and five Pounds of good sheeps wool, and the use of a horse and proper tackling or furniture as she shall have occasion for at any time and the west Lower room in my Dwelling House for her to live in and the use of the back Leanto Chamber to put her Corn &c. and all the Household furniture which she brought with her to my House at our marriage with four pairs of sheets belonging to the house and two good Coverlets for her own dispoasal as she shall think proper and also four cord of good wood annually cut at her door and provided by my Exectr.

Item. I give and bequeath to my oldest Son Ebenezer Batchellor forty shillings lawful money to be paid to him in one year after my decease and my great Bible which together with what I gave him in the sale of the Farme on which he now lives in Amherst is his full portion out of my Estate.

Item. I give unto my Son John Batchellor the sum of twenty shillings lawful money to be paid to him in one year after my decease, also my Gun or fire-arms which together with what I gave him in a lot of Land at Amherst is his full portion or share out of my estate.

Item. I give and bequeath to my Son Samuel Batchellor the whole of all my real Estate, viz, my homestead Farm, containing about twenty acres with all the buildings thereon standing and a Lot of Land Laying north from the Meeting House in Wenham containing about sixteen acres consisting of meadow and upland adjoining on land of the widow Anna Brown and Tyler Porte, also another lot of Land lying in Wenham aforesd. Adjoining on land of Capt. John Gardner & John Perkins containing about six acres together with all my lots in Wenham swamp (so called) and one lot in the Bound of Ipswich and also a Piece of Salt Marsh adjoining on David Tiltons Marsh in Ipswich containing about three Acres. I also give and bequeath unto my sd. Son Samuel all my stock of Cattle and sheep and all other of my live-stock of any kind and all the remainder of my personal Estate which is not above disposed of which I shall leave at my decease, he paying out of all such Legacies as shall be hereafter mentioned.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Anna Wiles the sum of six pound lawfull money to be paid to her in two years after my decease, besides what I have already given her.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Lydia Averill the sum of twenty shillings to be paid to her in two years after my Decease besides what I have already given her.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Jerusha Batchellor the sum of fifty Pounds lawfull money to be paid to her in two years after my decease, besides what I have already given her.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mehitable Gage the sum of five Pounds lawfull money to be paid unto her in two years after my decease, besides what I have already given her.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Children Israel Porter, Betty Porter all the household furniture and goods which belonged to their mother and my daughter Elizabeth Porter Dec. I also give unto each of my sd. Grand children twenty shillings lawfull money to be paid and delivered unto them when they arrive at the age of twenty one years or at the time of their marriage if that should happen before they arrive at the age aforesaid and if either of my sd. Grand children should die before they arrive to full age or marriage the survivor shall receive the whole of the which I have given to both. I constitute and appoint Cornelius Baker of Wenham aforesaid Gent. and my sd. Son Samuel Batchellor Exectr. Of this my last Will and Testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and date first above mentioned.

Ebenezer Batchellor Seal.
Signed, Sealed, published, pronounced, declared by Ebenezer Batchellor to be his last will and Testament in presence of us the subscribers.
James Friend, William Putnam, Amos Putnam"

Sources: History of the Town of Amherst NH - 1883; PAF for KIMBALL; Batchelder, Batcheller Genealogy by Pierce, Frederick Clifton - 1898; History of the Kimball Family in America 1634 - 1897 by Morrison, Leonard Allison - 1897