Where There's a Will, There's a Way...

Here are 3 different versions of the same will of our ancestor Hanness Coon, who died in Rye, Westchester County, New York Colony, in 1773.  Wills, if you can find them, are wonderful documents, chock-full of information, all sworn to be correct.    Finding the will of Hanness Coon was a wonderful event because it 1. gets our family back another generation and 2. shows where we came from before Nova Scotia.  (see Rushton Pedigree Chart)

 We know from several sources that our pioneer ancestor, the Loyalist Mary Rushton, John's wife, had the maiden name of Coon.  Another clue is that a William Coon has a land grant right by Mary and John and family.  But this will is our proof because Hanness's granddaughter's last name is Rushton, so Hanness has to have a daughter who married a Rushton.  Our other clues are the witnesses, people he was close to and trusted,  named Coon and Rushton.  This John Rushton might even be Mary's husband.  More clues are that Mary and John name their children Jeremiah and Peter, showing that they are all names in the family. 

HOWEVER!  This is a lesson on primary vs. secondary sources, because all 3 versions have at least 3 differences.  Quiz:  Can you find them?

WILL

Page 441.--"I, HANNESS COON, of Rye, in Westchester County, being in poor state of health." I leave to my son Jeremiah my Bible. To James Bishop my Great Chair and my brown coat. To my granddaughter, Elizabeth Rushton, a little wheel and a Testament. I make my sons, Jacob and Jeremiah, executors. All the rest I leave to my wife (not named).
Dated January 11, 1773. Witnesses, Sarah Coon, Peter Rushton, John Rushton, saddler. Proved, April 19, 1773, before Timothy Wetmore, Esq.

Obviously none of these are primary sources, or they would be yellowed and tattered, but if you can slog through the handwriting, I like the last one the best.  It gives a word-for-word rendition, even to the misspellings.  And it shows that our Hanness could be Coon, Kuen, or Keuen.  Now if we want to research further, we know what other spellings to look for.

What are the 3 differences?  Does Hanness have a wife or not?  Because in Version #1, he doesn't.  Who gets the Bible, Jeremiah or Josiah?  And who gets the great chair and brown coat?  James Bishop? James Richards?  James and Richard?  I don't know.  Did you get all 3?  You win the prize, a free subscription to Grandma's Granny's Family Album.  (you can tell I've been quaranteaching too long).

This is the will of another ancestor, Sarah Lovell Harrison, which was sent to me by a nice person.  She is the one with the marker that Sandy and I are sitting on, on land that is still in our Harrison family in Maccan.   Sarah's granddaughter Ester Brown ends up marrying Mary Coon Rushton's grandson Isaac Rushton, in case you were wondering.  (see Rushton Pedigree Chart and First Harrisons Marker)

#255. Amherst, 7 June 1814. 

Will of Sarah Harrison, late of Macan, yeoman. 

Executor William Harrison. 

Witnesses Ann Collins and James Metcalf. 

1st- sons Luke Harrison, John Harrison, Thomas Harrison and William Harrison 40 pounds each. Daughters Sarah Brown, Hannah Lambert, Ann Lumley and Elizabeth Furlong 10 pounds each. Daughter Mary's 5 children 40 shillings.

 I also give a sum of 40 pounds for obtaining of what real estate I have in England, as equal among my children. What moveable household items, beds, bedding, wearing apparel, furniture to my daughters and grand daughters.

 Executors: sons Luke and William to have her lands. 

Witnessed by James Metcalf, Ann Collins and Nathaniel X (his mark) Hyat.

Luckily, we already know that all her children's names are correct, because they all emigrated with her from Yorkshire in 1774. And we already know that her husband John is dead.  We even know who her daughters married, from marriage records.  So happily, all this info looks to be right.  The interesting thing we learned is that she still has property in England.  By the way, a yeoman is a farmer who owns their own land, a middle-class designation, although it looks like Sarah has plenty of money.  And while witnesses James Metcalf and Ann Collins, whoever they are, can write their names, Nathaniel Hyat can't, and signed with his mark, an X.  #255 is the number of the will in the book.

mini flax spinning wheel owned by Sarah, brought with her when she came to Nova Scotia in 1774. In the Age of Sail Museum, Parrsboro, NS