Lt. James John Bill

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• (IV) John (3) Bill, son of Philip Bill, was born about 1667. He went with his father to New London. He married (first) Mercy Fowler ; (second) Hannah Rust. He finally located in Lebanon, and was highway surveyor there. He died in 1739. His will was dated April 21, 1736, proved January 28, 1739. Children: John, baptized December 16, 1696; Abigail, November I, 1702; born at Lebanon: 'James, mentioned below' ; Laurana ; Benajah.
• (V) 'Lieutenant James Bill, son of John (3) Bill, was born at Lebanon, Connecticut, September 20, 1703, and died November 9, 1781 (gravestone). He married, in 1727, Kezia French, daughter of John French. He resided in the village of Goshen, part of Lebanon ; was highway surveyor, grand juror. He and his wife quitclaimed their rights in land of John French at Norwich. His will was dated March 20, 1781, proved November 27, 1781. Her will was dated May 20, 1783, proved March 13, 1786. They lived in later life in Exeter, part of Lebanon. Their gravestones are standing in the old burial ground there. Children : Lurania, bom August 29, 1728; Amos; Peleg, mentioned below ; James, born February 20, 1736; Oliver, October 27, 1737; Lucy; Kezia, March 14, 1741-42; Betty, September 5, 1746.
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History of the Bill Family - Page 133:

Lieut. JAMES BILL..., second son of John and Mercy (Fowler) Bill; was born in Lebanon, Sept. 20, 1703, and married in 1727, to Kezia French, a daughter of John French. He resided in the south part of Lebanon, in what is known as " Goshen Society," where he spent his whole life. He seems to have been, from all we learn, a highly respectable and worthy man. He was admitted to the First Church in Lebanon, April 25, 1725. He was of the thirty persons who united in organizing the church in Goshen Society, Nov. 26, 1729, to which church his wife was admitted in 1730.

His name appears very frequent among the various records of the town, from which we learn that he was a Surveyor of Highways for many years ; also a Grand Juror.

1735, Aug. 25. James Bill and Kezia Bill, his wife, sign a quit-claim or release, dated at Norwich, of a certain portion of John French's estate, wherein occurs these words: "Our honored father, John French." In 1745-6, Feb. 10, as we have already seen, he was a witness, together with John Newconib and Rev.Eleazar Wheelock, to the will of his brother, John Bill of Lebanon.

In 1750, Nov. 14, his name appears in the Lebanon deeds, as having sold a piece of land in Goshen [Lebanon], to Noah Webster.

The Lebanon town record says, " Lieut. James Bill died Nov. 9, 1781, aged 78 years, on the 20th of Sept. last." His will is dated March 20, mi, proved Nov. 27, 1781. By his will he gives to his wife Kezia one-third of his real estate during her natural life, and her personal estate forever. To his eldest son, Amos, he gives £80. To my grandson, Abiel, the only surviving son of my son Peleg, deceased, he gives £5. To his son James £5, and' lands in Chatham, He appoints his son Oliver, Executor, and gives him land in Goshen. To his daughters, Lurana Woodruff, Lucy Abel, Kezia Pratt, and Betty Williams, I give lauds which I bought of P. Marsh, and E. Carpenter.

The inventory of his estate amounted to £583 1is. 10d. (Wind. Prob. Kec. 10 : 448.)

Kezia Bill, widow of Lieut. Joshua Bill, made her will May 20, 1783: proved March 13, 1786. She describes herself as residing in Exeter Society [Lebanon], and she gives to her eldest daughter, Lurana, a gbld necklace; and to her daughters Lucy, Kezia, and the heirs of Betty, each, threequarters of the residue. The witnesses to her will were Mrs. Patty Bill, and Mary Bill. (Ibid. 12: 24.)

In the cemetery in Exeter Society, in the town of Lebanon, half way down the inclosure, at the right hand of the path under an apple-tree, is a gravestone with this inscription: "In memory of Lieut. James Bill, Who Died Nov. 9th, 1781, in the 79th year of his age.

" My flesh shall slumber in the ground, Till the last trumpet's joyful sound: Then burst the chains with sweet surprise, And in my Saviour's image rise." At the right hand of this gravestone is another with this inscription: In memory of Mrs. Kezia, Relict of Lieut. James Bill, Decest, who departed this life, Feb. 12, 1786, in the 83d year of her age. Onr rest together is in the dust."

in his 79th year

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 20 2018, 9:22:15 UTC

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