12. Benjamin TOWER
Benjamin resided in the north part of town, in a vincinity in Attleborough that later became known as Tower Hill. His lands are described in the town records as "'one quarter of a whole share purchased of Benjamin Robinson' by deed bearing date Feb. 10, 1713.'" He received a series of additional grants in the years that followed. He received six and a half acres in 1714; a second six and a half acres, "being his second lot adjoining his house-lot," laid out on 4 March 1717/8; and an additional six acres drawn by division in 1735."He seems to have also acquired other lands in the same area by purchase. In 1720, he bought land from his brother-in-law William Whipple; and in 1724 Job Whipple of Providence sold "to Benjamin Tower lands in Attleborough, namely 'three small lots . . . 6 acres adjoining land of said Tower, on the southeast part of his homestead, and eight acres lying at the end of said Tower's on the east side of a highway by Abbot's Run, and four acres lying on the northeast part of said Tower's lot'" for £28. In 1731, John Wilkinson of Smithfield sold him one acre of "Fresh Meadow," and two acres of land adjoining it, on Abbott's Run.
He also owned land in Wrentham, north of Attleborough in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. In 1729, he deeded to his son Gideon "my four lots at Wrentham . . . at Hoop Pole Hill." In 1734, he granted additional lands there to Gideon and his son-in-law William Hancock. He also gave lands there to his sons John and Benjamin, and another tract to Gideon.
Benjamin died in Cumberland on 2 May 1743. He was buried in the Peck Cmemtery in Cumberland, where his tomstone reads:
" In Memory of Mr. Benjamin Tower Who Died on ye 2d Day of May 1743 In ye 70th Year of his Age"
His will, dated 22 December 1742, was proved on 16 August 1743. It provided:
" In the Name of God Amen. This Twenty Second day of December Anno Domini one thousand Seven Hundred and forty Two and in the Sixteenth year of his majts Reigne:
I Benjamin Tower of Attleborough in the County of Bristol in his majts Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England Being weak Body But of Perfect mind and memory Calling to mind the mortality of my Body and Knowing that it is Appointed for all men once to Dye Do make and ordaine this to be my Last Will and Testament: and as Touching the wordly Estate I give and bequeath unto my Will Beloved Wife Deborah Whom I make sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament the one half Part of my Personal EstateBoth Within Dores and Without to dispose of as she shall see Cause. Further my Will is that my said Wife shall have the Improvement of my Homesteed Lott together with Six acres Being att a Place Called the [word smudged] Ajoyning North to Jeremiah Wilkinsons Land for the use of [word smudged] and fencing as Also of A Ship of Land adjoyning to said Home Lott to the Highway Between the Land of my Son John and my Son Benjamin during the Term of her Natural Life. I give unto my Son Gideon the Sum of one shilling and that together with what I formerly gave him shall be his full Part and Portion out of my Estate. I Give unto my son John A Lott of Land in Attleborough Joyning South of the Land of Jeremiah Wilkinson Containing Six acres together with one Quarter Right in all the undevided Lands in Attleborough and that Together with what I have formerly Given him shall be his full Part and Portion out of my Estate. I Give to my Son Benjamin all my Lands and Right of Land in Wrentham in the County of Suffolk and that Together with what he hath had already shall be his full Part in my Estate. I Give unto my Son Joseph the Whole of my Home Lott together with A Six acre Lott adjoyning North of the Abovesaid Wilkinsons Land together with half my Personal Estate [viz?] the Personal Estate Immediatly after my Decease and the abovesd Lands Immediatly After the Decease of my Wife to Enable him To Pat the SecondLegacies hereafter mentioned. My will is that my Son Joseph Pay to his five other Sisters Namely Sarah, Margaret, Ziporah Hannah and Hesther five Pounds in Lawful money of said Province to Each of them or their heirs within Two years Next After the Decease of me and my wife the one half in Personal Estate after just Appraisement Equall to Lawful money as Abovesaid and ye other In money or bills of Publick Credit Equivolent which shall be together with what I advanced them on their marriage their full Part and Portions out of my Estate. My will is that my Grandson Nathan Carpenter that Lives with me shall have my Gun and my Sword and Cartouch Box delivered to him by my Son Joseph as A free Gift from me as Also my Chest: and further my Will is that My Son Gideon make Sale of all my Interest in Land Eastward att A Place Called Sheepsent to the Best advantage and that the money he [?] thereof be Equally Devided Between all my Abovenamed Children: and further my Will is that What I have Given my Above Named Children shall be free and Clear Estate to them their heires and Assignes forever. Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the Above Named Benjamin Tower to be his Last will and Testament."
Deborah died in Cumberland on 26 March 1755. Her tombstone, next to that of her husband, reads:
" In Memory of Mrs. Deborah Tower Wife of Mr. Benjamin Tower Deceased March 26 1755 In ye 75 year of Her Age"
Her will, dated 31 May 1753 and proved 29 March 1755, provided:
" In the Name and Fear of God Amen. The Thirty First Day of May Annon Domini one Thousand Seven hundred and fifty Three I Deborah Tower of Cumberland within the County of Providence within the Colony of Rhode Island &c in New England widow being weak in Body but of Perfect mind And Memory Thanks be Given unto God Therefore Calling To Mind the mortality of my Body and knowing That it is appointed for all men and women once to Die do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament That is to say Principally and first of all I Give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that Gave it and my Body I recommend To the Earth To be Buried in Decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter named Nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall Receive the Same again by the mighty Power of God and as Touching such Worldly Estate Wherewith it hath Pleased God to Bless me in this Life I Give Devise and Dispose of the Same in the following manner and form. IMPRIMAS I Give and Bequeath to my four well Beloved Sons Namely Gideon Tower John Tower Bejamin Tower and Joseph Tower (on condition That the said Gideon, John, Benjamin and Joseph pay Equally Between them the Legacies hereafter mentioned and Given To my five Daughters and Grand Children All my Lands and Buildings I am Possessed of and is Siyuate in Cumberland and Lying & Being in a place called and known by the name of Red Earth hill) To be Equally Divided amongst them Both in quantity and Quality To them their heirs and assigns forever. Item I Give to my five Beloved Daughters Namely Sarah Sabin Margaret Bartlet Zeporah Jackson Hannah Hancock and Esther Tucker Thirty pounds apiece To Be paid To them By my four above Named sons Equally within one year after my Decease To Them their heirs and assigns forever. Item I Give To my above Named Daughter Sarah Sabin my Best Bed and furniture. The Reason why is Because she hath been more helpfull To me Then any other of my Said Daughters. Item I Give to my above Named Daughter Zeporah Jackson one Brass kittle holding almost Two pails full Called my Middle Brass Kittle the motive Induceing me thereto is her kindness To me in many Respects. Item I Give to my above Named Daughter Esther Tucker my Chest with Five Drawers Because She had none at her marrage Given her. Item I Give To my Two Grand children Namely Freelove Chandler and Gideon Carpenter (Being Children of my well Beloved Daughter Patience Carpenter Deceased) five pounds old Tenor appiece To be Paid To them by my four aforenamed Sons Equally within one year after my Decease. Item my will Further is That after my funeral Charges and Just Debts are Paid out of my Moveable Estate That Then the Remainder Thereof be Equally Divided amongst my five aforenamed Daughters. And I Do Hereby Constitute make & ordain my aforenamed son Gideon Tower my Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament. And I Do hereby utterly Disallow Revoke and Disannull all and Every other former Testaments wills Legacies & Bequests and Executors by me in any ways before named willed Bequeathed 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 and year first afore Written."
On 24 May 1755, as part of the probate proceedings, a map was recorded in the Cumberland register of deeds concerning a plat of land of between forty and fifty acres:
" divided into four parts, and marked respectively, Gideon, John, Benjamin, and Joseph, with the following recital: "Land, formerly a part of the homestead of Benjamin Tower, late of Cumberland, deceased . . . given to us by our honored mother, Deborah Tower, deceased, by her last will and testament.
Benjamin resided in the north part of town, in a vincinity in Attleborough that later became known as Tower Hill. His lands are described in the town records as "'one quarter of a whole share purchased of Benjamin Robinson' by deed bearing date Feb. 10, 1713.'" He received a series of additional grants in the years that followed. He received six and a half acres in 1714; a second six and a half acres, "being his second lot adjoining his house-lot," laid out on 4 March 1717/8; and an additional six acres drawn by division in 1735."He seems to have also acquired other lands in the same area by purchase. In 1720, he bought land from his brother-in-law William Whipple; and in 1724 Job Whipple of Providence sold "to Benjamin Tower lands in Attleborough, namely 'three small lots . . . 6 acres adjoining land of said Tower, on the southeast part of his homestead, and eight acres lying at the end of said Tower's on the east side of a highway by Abbot's Run, and four acres lying on the northeast part of said Tower's lot'" for £28. In 1731, John Wilkinson of Smithfield sold him one acre of "Fresh Meadow," and two acres of land adjoining it, on Abbott's Run.
He also owned land in Wrentham, north of Attleborough in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. In 1729, he deeded to his son Gideon "my four lots at Wrentham . . . at Hoop Pole Hill." In 1734, he granted additional lands there to Gideon and his son-in-law William Hancock. He also gave lands there to his sons John and Benjamin, and another tract to Gideon.
Benjamin died in Cumberland on 2 May 1743. He was buried in the Peck Cmemtery in Cumberland, where his tomstone reads:
" In Memory of Mr. Benjamin Tower Who Died on ye 2d Day of May 1743 In ye 70th Year of his Age"
His will, dated 22 December 1742, was proved on 16 August 1743. It provided:
" In the Name of God Amen. This Twenty Second day of December Anno Domini one thousand Seven Hundred and forty Two and in the Sixteenth year of his majts Reigne:
I Benjamin Tower of Attleborough in the County of Bristol in his majts Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England Being weak Body But of Perfect mind and memory Calling to mind the mortality of my Body and Knowing that it is Appointed for all men once to Dye Do make and ordaine this to be my Last Will and Testament: and as Touching the wordly Estate I give and bequeath unto my Will Beloved Wife Deborah Whom I make sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament the one half Part of my Personal EstateBoth Within Dores and Without to dispose of as she shall see Cause. Further my Will is that my said Wife shall have the Improvement of my Homesteed Lott together with Six acres Being att a Place Called the [word smudged] Ajoyning North to Jeremiah Wilkinsons Land for the use of [word smudged] and fencing as Also of A Ship of Land adjoyning to said Home Lott to the Highway Between the Land of my Son John and my Son Benjamin during the Term of her Natural Life. I give unto my Son Gideon the Sum of one shilling and that together with what I formerly gave him shall be his full Part and Portion out of my Estate. I Give unto my son John A Lott of Land in Attleborough Joyning South of the Land of Jeremiah Wilkinson Containing Six acres together with one Quarter Right in all the undevided Lands in Attleborough and that Together with what I have formerly Given him shall be his full Part and Portion out of my Estate. I Give to my Son Benjamin all my Lands and Right of Land in Wrentham in the County of Suffolk and that Together with what he hath had already shall be his full Part in my Estate. I Give unto my Son Joseph the Whole of my Home Lott together with A Six acre Lott adjoyning North of the Abovesaid Wilkinsons Land together with half my Personal Estate [viz?] the Personal Estate Immediatly after my Decease and the abovesd Lands Immediatly After the Decease of my Wife to Enable him To Pat the SecondLegacies hereafter mentioned. My will is that my Son Joseph Pay to his five other Sisters Namely Sarah, Margaret, Ziporah Hannah and Hesther five Pounds in Lawful money of said Province to Each of them or their heirs within Two years Next After the Decease of me and my wife the one half in Personal Estate after just Appraisement Equall to Lawful money as Abovesaid and ye other In money or bills of Publick Credit Equivolent which shall be together with what I advanced them on their marriage their full Part and Portions out of my Estate. My will is that my Grandson Nathan Carpenter that Lives with me shall have my Gun and my Sword and Cartouch Box delivered to him by my Son Joseph as A free Gift from me as Also my Chest: and further my Will is that My Son Gideon make Sale of all my Interest in Land Eastward att A Place Called Sheepsent to the Best advantage and that the money he [?] thereof be Equally Devided Between all my Abovenamed Children: and further my Will is that What I have Given my Above Named Children shall be free and Clear Estate to them their heires and Assignes forever. Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the Above Named Benjamin Tower to be his Last will and Testament."
Deborah died in Cumberland on 26 March 1755. Her tombstone, next to that of her husband, reads:
" In Memory of Mrs. Deborah Tower Wife of Mr. Benjamin Tower Deceased March 26 1755 In ye 75 year of Her Age"
Her will, dated 31 May 1753 and proved 29 March 1755, provided:
" In the Name and Fear of God Amen. The Thirty First Day of May Annon Domini one Thousand Seven hundred and fifty Three I Deborah Tower of Cumberland within the County of Providence within the Colony of Rhode Island &c in New England widow being weak in Body but of Perfect mind And Memory Thanks be Given unto God Therefore Calling To Mind the mortality of my Body and knowing That it is appointed for all men and women once to Die do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament That is to say Principally and first of all I Give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that Gave it and my Body I recommend To the Earth To be Buried in Decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter named Nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall Receive the Same again by the mighty Power of God and as Touching such Worldly Estate Wherewith it hath Pleased God to Bless me in this Life I Give Devise and Dispose of the Same in the following manner and form. IMPRIMAS I Give and Bequeath to my four well Beloved Sons Namely Gideon Tower John Tower Bejamin Tower and Joseph Tower (on condition That the said Gideon, John, Benjamin and Joseph pay Equally Between them the Legacies hereafter mentioned and Given To my five Daughters and Grand Children All my Lands and Buildings I am Possessed of and is Siyuate in Cumberland and Lying & Being in a place called and known by the name of Red Earth hill) To be Equally Divided amongst them Both in quantity and Quality To them their heirs and assigns forever. Item I Give to my five Beloved Daughters Namely Sarah Sabin Margaret Bartlet Zeporah Jackson Hannah Hancock and Esther Tucker Thirty pounds apiece To Be paid To them By my four above Named sons Equally within one year after my Decease To Them their heirs and assigns forever. Item I Give To my above Named Daughter Sarah Sabin my Best Bed and furniture. The Reason why is Because she hath been more helpfull To me Then any other of my Said Daughters. Item I Give to my above Named Daughter Zeporah Jackson one Brass kittle holding almost Two pails full Called my Middle Brass Kittle the motive Induceing me thereto is her kindness To me in many Respects. Item I Give to my above Named Daughter Esther Tucker my Chest with Five Drawers Because She had none at her marrage Given her. Item I Give To my Two Grand children Namely Freelove Chandler and Gideon Carpenter (Being Children of my well Beloved Daughter Patience Carpenter Deceased) five pounds old Tenor appiece To be Paid To them by my four aforenamed Sons Equally within one year after my Decease. Item my will Further is That after my funeral Charges and Just Debts are Paid out of my Moveable Estate That Then the Remainder Thereof be Equally Divided amongst my five aforenamed Daughters. And I Do Hereby Constitute make & ordain my aforenamed son Gideon Tower my Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament. And I Do hereby utterly Disallow Revoke and Disannull all and Every other former Testaments wills Legacies & Bequests and Executors by me in any ways before named willed Bequeathed 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 and year first afore Written."
On 24 May 1755, as part of the probate proceedings, a map was recorded in the Cumberland register of deeds concerning a plat of land of between forty and fifty acres:
" divided into four parts, and marked respectively, Gideon, John, Benjamin, and Joseph, with the following recital: "Land, formerly a part of the homestead of Benjamin Tower, late of Cumberland, deceased . . . given to us by our honored mother, Deborah Tower, deceased, by her last will and testament.