Ebenezer Britton

Note on the death location: The original designation was Whitechurch, Ontario. According to Wikipedia, Whitechurch refers to a residential community located not far from the shores of Lake Huron, apparently originally named Ulster. The history of settlement in this area (the result of the later Highland Clearances in Scotland) is much more recent than the death date of Ebenezer Britton.

However, there is a much more likely candidate for Ebenezer's death location near Toronto, named Whitchurch. This area was settled around 1792 following the Toronto Purchase.

No grave records were found for this Ebenezer (d. 1808), so there is nothing to confirm the actual location of his death at this time. Would welcome more precise information here.

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Further, there is a record of a land grant to an Ebenezer Britton in Whitchurch in 1805: http://bit.ly/qFa0u1 (note by Jack Mitchell, 11 Aug 2011)

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UPDATE: I found his will in the Ontario Archives. It features the signatures both of Ebenezer and of his wife Susanna. Text:

In the name of god amen. I Ebenezer Bretton of the Towneship of Whitchurch in the County of York and Province of upper Canada yeoman being Infirm in Body but in perfect health do make and ordain this my last will and testament in [something] following that is to say I give and recommend my Soul into the hand of almighty god that gave it and my Body Incarnend [?] to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executive and touching Such Worldly estate which it hath pleased god to [something] me with I will and bequeath in the following manner and form I bequeath to Susanney Britton my dearly Beloved wife all my real or landed Estate in the Province aforesaid being knowen and commonly discribed by the name of Lote No 80 on the East Side of Yonge Street in the County aforesaid for and during hir life time together with all my houshold good Cattle and all the rest of my life Stock on Said lote as well as all debts and [something] affaires belonging to me in this Province also it is my will and last testament that after the desease of my wife Susanney Bretton that my yongest Sone Ansel Bretton Shall have and Enjoy that [something] of land that I am now in possession of being Lot No 80 on the East Side of Yonge Street as is above discribbed to him and his being Executors administrators and assignes forever also I will that my Sone Jebediah Bretton Shall receive from my Executrix the sume of one Pound New York Currency in cattle an Produce aforesaid sume after my decease

Page 6 left-hand side also I will and bequeath to my Daughter Susanney Tivey the Sume of one pound New York Currency to be paid hir out of my Esteate by my Executrix Susanney Bretton in cattle an Produce after my decease also I will and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Stav[?]weather the Sume of one Pound New York Currency to be paid hir out of my Esteate by my Executrix Susanney Bretton in Cattle or Produce after my deceas also I will and bequeath to my son Abithen[?] G Britton the sume of one Pound New York Currency out of the Property of Cattle and a meare[?] that I left in the Possession of my auldest Sone Ebenezer Britton in the Staite of New York also I will and bequeath to my Son Washington Bretton the Sume of one Pound New York Currency out of PProperty of coues and a meare that I left in the Possession of my auldest Sone Ebenezer Britton in the Steate of New York also I will and bequeath to my daughter Shatuin[?] Benton the Sume of one Pound New York Currency out of said Property of three coues and one meare that I left in the Possession of my Said sone Ebenezer bretton in the Steate of new york aforesaid also I will and Bequeath to my said auldest Sone Ebenezer Bretton the Sume of two Pounds New York Currency of the Property of the three coues and a meare that I left in his Possession being a part of my moneable Esteate and I allso ill it for him my said auldest Sone to be Executor in full for all and Singular of the Parts and Par[cels?] of my Esteate belonging to me in the United Steates of North America and lastely I will it so that after paying to my three Sones and one daughter in the United Steates of Amireca the Several Sumes aforesaid that whatever may remain of my Esteate in the United States of North may be divided into Eight Equel parts and for Each of my Sones and daughters to have one Equal Share of said Property and I do herby utterly disallow, [something] and disavow all and Every other former Testament and wills by me in every way before named willed and bequeathed thus[?] notifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and Testa ment. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Sete my hand and Seale this Second day of may one thousand Eight hundred and Six

Ebenezer Britton

Signed Sealed published and Pronnounced by the Said Ebenezer Bretton as his last will and Testament In the presence of us who in his Presence and the Presence of each other have hereunto Subscribed our names

Wm Graham Witness Thomas Copeland Joseph Minthorn

[Note by Jack Mitchell, 29 November 2013]

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Aug 27 2016, 3:40:27 UTC

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• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Feb 6 2020, 16:07:33 UTC