Pelatiah Mason, Jr.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146134877/pelatiah-mason

The Last Will & Testament of Pelatiah Mason. To his daughter Lois [spelled, in the Will, as "Lowis"] he left one cow and five silver Spanish milled dollars. The Revolutionary War was winding-down in 1781, but the United States of America did not-yet exist and had no national money of its own. Silver Spanish dollars were used throughout North, Central, and South America as a trusted and reliable currency.

WILL OF PELATIAH MASON

In the name of God Amen, I, Pelatiah Mason of Cumberland in the County of Providence in the State of Rhode Island and Providence plantations, yeoman, being weak in Body But of Sound mind and memory, (Blessed be God therefore) do this sixteenth Day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty one make and Publish this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say).

Imprimus. I Commend my Soul into the hand of God who gave it to me, and my Body to the Earth from whence it Came, in hopes of a Joyfull Resurrection through the merits of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and as for Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath Pleased God to Bless me, I dispose thereof as followeth.

Item. I Give to Judith Mason, my loving wife, Twenty Silver Spanish milled Dollars To be Raised and paid to her Annually out of my Estate by my Executors herein after named, During the Term of time she shall Remain my Widow and shall bear my name, and should it so happen that she shall marry with Another man, then and in such case my Will is that she shall have and Receive Ten Silver Spanish Milled Dollars Annually from my Executors During her Natural Life. I likewise Give to my said Loving wife all and singular the household Goods she Brought with her to me at our marriage, Together with one Cow, a case with Draws, a Tea Table, Six Stone plates, Six napkins and one half of Towels & Table Clothes with the privilege To Abide in the North Room of my Dwelling house (having a fire place therein) for the Term of six months next after my Decease, Together with all Necessary Provisions for her Subsistence During Said Term, all of which I give to my said Loving wife in Lieu of her Right of Dower and power of thirds in my Estate, if she see cause to accept the same, But should my said wife not accept thereof and ask for her right of Dower agreeable to Law, then and in such case I Give the articles above Given to my said wife over and above what she Brought to me at our marriage together, to my well beloved son, Timothy Mason.

Item. I give to my well beloved Daughter Hepzibeth Mason the Improvement of the Two Lower Rooms in the West end of my Now Dwelling house for the Term and space of Five years next ensuing after my Decease, Provided she Remain unmarried During that Term, and after which period to Possess and enjoy the southwest Room in my said Dwelling House below, with a fire place therein, During the Term of time she shall remain unmarried, with free Liberty to Cut fire wood on my homestead farm sufficient to maintain one fire, with free Liberty to Cart the same to said Dwelling house, Together with one Feather Bed and furniture, one Cow, one Case of Draws, Two tables, one pair of Loom Slays and utensils thereunto belonging, one Chist, Ten Chairs, the Remaining other half of my Towells and Table Cloaths, all my Puter, Earthern and Cast Iron Ware and fire shovel and Tongs, Together with all Necessary provisions for her and her Two Daughters for the Term of six months next after my Decease, all which Articles (Excepting said provisions) to be Delivered to her by my Executors within Two months after my Decease.

Item. I Give to my well beloved Grand Daughter Roby Brown (the Reputed Daughter of David Brown) one Feather bed and furniture, and one cow, the Cow to be Delivered to her by Executors when she shall arrive to the age of eighteen years or at her marriage Day, Either of which that may first happen.

Item. I Give to my well beloved Grand Daughter Lurana Ballou (the reputed Daughter of Jesse Ballou) one Cow, to be delivered to her by my Executors when she shall arrive to the age of Eighteen years or at her marriage Day, either of which that may first happen.

Item. I Give to my well Beloved Grand son Pelatiah Ballou three pound Lawfull Silver money to be paid To him by my Executors when he shall arrive to the age of Twenty one years.

Item. I give to my well Beloved Grand son Jonathan Mason my horse, saddle and Bridle to be Delivered to him within Two months after my Decease.

Item. I give to my well Beloved Grand Daughter Hannah Mason, Daughter of Benjamin Mason, one flock Bed and furniture thereto Belonging, to be Delivered to her by my Executors within Two months after my Decease.

Item. I give to my well Beloved Grand Daughter Charity Mason, Daughter of the said Benjamin Mason, one Cow, to be Delivered to her by my Executors when she shall arrive to the age of Eighteen years or at her marriage Day, Either of which that may first happen.

Item. I Give to my well Beloved Grand Daughter Kezia Mason, Daughter of the said Benjamin Mason, five Silver Spanish Mill’d Dollars and five sheep, to be delivered to her by my Executors when she shall arrive to the age of Eighteen years or at her marriage Day, either of which that may first happen.

Item. I Give to my well Beloved Daughter, Hannah Round, one Cow and five sheep, to be delivered to her by my Executors within three months after my Decease.

Item. I Give to my well Beloved Daughter, Zerviah Whipple, five sheep and one note of hand I have against her Husband, Ephraim Whipple, for thirty Spanish Mill’d Dollars, to be Delivered to her husband within three months after my Decease.

Item. I Give to my well Beloved Daughter, Amey Brown, five Silver Spanish Mill’d Dollars and five Sheep, to be paid and Delivered To her by my Executors within three months after my Decease.

Item. I Give to my well Beloved Daughter, Lowis Mason, one Cow, and five Silver Spanish Mill’d Dollars, to be paid and Delivered to her by my Executors within three months after my Decease.

Item. I Give to my Two Beloved sons, Jonathan Mason & Timothy Mason, All my Land and Buildings Situate, Lying and being in the Township of said Cumberland. Containing by Estimation one hundred and Twenty Acres, be the same more or less, Bounded Easterly with the highway, Southerly with Land of Col. George Peck, South Westerly with Pawtucket River, and Northerly on Land Belonging to the heirs of Jothan Carpenter Deceased, and Land of my son Timothy Mason and Stephen Brown or however otherwise the same is Bounded or Reputed to be Bounded, To be Equally Divided Between them, Due Regard being had to Quantity and Quality in the division thereof (the said Jonathan and Timothy paying out of the Same Equally between them the Legacies herein before given) which Lands & Buildings Described as above said, to be and Remain unto them the Said Jonathan Mason and Timothy Mason Severally & Respectively and to their Several and Respective heirs and Assigns as an absolute Estate of Inheritance in fee simple forever.

And my mind and will further is that my son Timothy Mason have a Driftway, in some Covenant place where it Can Best be spared, from the Land he now ownes through the above Described Land into the above said highway.

And Lastly I Give to my said Two Sons, Jonathan Mason & Timothy Mason, all the Remaining and Residue of my personal and moveable Estate Both within Doors and without Doors, Nothing Excepted or reserved, they paying out of the same my Just Debts and funeral charges which I hereby order to be done as speadily and with as much Punctuality as may in Reason be Expected, all which to be Equally Divided Between them.

And I do hereby Constitute, make and ordain my said Two sons, Jonathan Mason & Timothy Mason, Joint Executors of this my Last Will and Testament and Do hereby utterly Disallow, Revoke and Disannul all and Every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies, Bequests and Executors by me in any wise Before named, willed and 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 Before Written.

Signed, Sealed, Published, pronounced and Declared by the said Pelatiah Mason as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us whose names are hereunder Written who Did Each of us Subscribe our names as Witnesses at his Request and in his presence.

James Lovett, George Peck, John Dexter.

Probated September 29, 1781

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146134877/pelatiah-mason

From Find a Grave contributor:

I unable to find the burial site for Pelatiah or his wife Hannah Hale Mason. They resided in Cumberland Township, Providence, Rhode Island and I assume that is where they were buried.Pelatiah is the son of John & Hannah Tillinghast Mason.

Pelatiah married (1) Hannah Hale, November 22, 1733 in Swansea.

He married (2) Judith Pierce, September 4, 1766.

He and Hannah had the following children, all born in Swansea:

1. Jonathan Mason b: 20 APR 1734
2. Timothy Mason b: 7 JUN 1736

3. Lydia Mason b: 5 NOV 1738 

4. Lois Mason b: 23 FEB 1739
5. Anne Mason b: 29 MAY 1742
6. Hepsibeth Mason b: 20 SEP 1744
7. Hannah Mason b: 16 MAY 1750
8. Zerviah Mason b: 1 NOV 1753
9. Amey Mason b: 9 NOV 1758

*******Pelatiah Mason (146134877)