Nathan Scovell

• Reference: Full text https://archive.org/details/surveyofscovilso00brai/page/162 "A Survey of the Scovils or Scovills in England and America; Seven Hundred Years of History and Genealogy" by Homer Worthington Brainard pp. 162-166

20. Nathan /3 Scovell {Benjamin /2, John /1), born about 1724; bapt. 1725 at East Haddam; died Sept. 11, 1787; married Sept. 8, 1749, at Colchester, Connecticut, Elizabeth Gates, born May 8, 1729, at Colchester; died Aug. 7, 1787, in Lebanon, Connecticut; daughter of Josiah and Grace (Rathbone) Gates* of New Salem Society in Colchester.

On Nov. 7, 1738, Nathan Scovell, then aged 14 years, chose his brother Edward as his guardian. {Hartford Probate Records, vol. 13, page 35.) Within one or two years after his marriage he removed from the southeastern part of Colchester, selling on Nov. 23, 1751, to Abial Stark land on the New London road at a place called Param. {Colchester Land Records, vol. 6, page 4.) In this deed he is called "Nathan Scovel, late of Colchester, now of Lebanon." He may have returned to Colchester later. In 1783 he was in Colchester, and {Colchester Deeds, vol. 12, page 297) conveyed to his sons Solomon Scovel of Lebanon and David Scovel of Colchester 120 acres of land with buildings thereon, situated on the highway from New London to Hartford. He spent his last days in Lebanon and was buried in a cemetery in the northern part of Lebanon, near the Columbia line, about three miles from Willimantic. Near the site pointed out as that of his house in Lebanon are an ancient mill-pond and mill which may have been constructed and used by him. The gravestone inscription and the family Bible still preserved agree in giving his age as 72 years, and, if they be correct, he was born in 1715. If he had been born as early as that, he would have been of age in 1738 and a guardian would have been unnecessary. This early date cannot therefore be accepted, since it is against the action of the Probate Court and also conflicts with the date of his baptism. Gravestone inscriptions follow : —

Josiah Gates, father of Mrs. Elizabeth (Gates) Scovell, was born 1682, and married May 9, 1714, Grace Rathbone, born July 16, 1695 {^Joseph*, John^, John', Richard}). Josiah Gates was son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Freeman) Gates, married July 6, 1675, and grandson of Stephen and Ann (Hill) Gates. Elizabeth Freeman was daughter of Edmund Freeman of Sandwich, Mass.

In Memory of Mr Nathan Scovell In Memory of Mrs Elizabeth who was the first person Consort of Mr Nathan Scovell buried here who died who died August 1st 1797 with the camp disorder in ye 68th year of her Age. September 11th 1787 in ye 72nd year of his Age.

Death leaves a melancholy gloom In God I long did wate It makes an empty seat Till death he struck my fatal Yet living mortals allway come stroke And join this long retreat. In heaven I mean for to retire In Christ for me enquire.

Children horn at Lebanon.

48. i. Jerusha, born July 30, 1751 ; married (1) Cary Leeds; (2) Wells.

49. ii. Elizabeth, born March 11, 1752; married Anderson Martin.

50. iii.Lucy, born March 22, 1755; married Samuel Church.

51. iv.Nathan, born May 8, 1758; married Ruth Harris.

52. v. Solomon, born Sept. 16, 1759; married Molly Dewey.

53. vi.Moses, born Dec. 6, 1762; married Rachel Baker,

vii. David, born Feb. 23, 1765; record of marriage not found. He was living at Colchester Aug. 30, 1783, when his father deeded to him and his brother Solomon jointly land in Colchester, already mentioned. On Feb. 19, 1790, he deeded this land to his brother Solomon, and this is the last mention of him in Colchester. His later history has not been found, nor any trace of a family or descendants, but there may have been one. It is possible that he is the David Scovell who with Nathan Scovell had grants of land in Surry, N. H., but these can be better identified with descendants of Arthur (1) Scovel bearing the same names.

54. viii. Sarah Anne, born Oct. 23, 1770; married Paul Carpenter.

55. ix. Amherst, born Oct. 20, 1774; married Sarah Little.

Will of Nathan Scovell.

"In the name of God Amen. I commit my soul to God that gave it, my body to the grave decently buried. My Will is first that my wife Elizabeth Scovell shall be executor to my Estate. 2nd I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid wife Elizabeth Scovell the one half of my now dwelling house, also one third part of all the Estate now or shall be in my possession at my decease, all which shall or may be at her own disposal during her widowhood, excepting only my working tools. Also I give and bequeath unto the aforesaid Elizabeth one certain Bond of the sum of Two Thousand pounds lawful money, being upon my four eldest sons, viz.: Nathan, Solomon, Moses and David, for four fifths of her good and honorable maintenance & also her decent and honorable burial at her decease, also for the good security of giving their sister Sarah Ann Scovell 4/5 of Seventy pounds lawful money including what I have given her. 3rd I give to Amherst Scovell, he being my youngest son, all the lands and the above excepted tools, excepting one certain piece of land lying on the south side of the mill stream, bounded as follows: Beginning at the corner bound by the saw mill, thence running up stream four rods, then turning southerly and running four rods, then turning Easterly four rods, then turning and running four rods to the first mentioned bounds, which I give for a public burying place. Excepting blacksmith's tools all the other abovementioned tools I give and bequeath, with one horse worth ten pounds, or so much other neat stock as will make ten pounds to said Amherst Scovell, only the said Amherst shall pay unto his sister Sarah Ann Scovell one fifth part of seventy pounds, including what I have given her. Also the said Amherst shall give to his eldest sister Jerusha Wells six pounds when he is twenty three years old ; when he is twenty four years old he shall pay to Elizabeth Martin six pounds. When he is twenty-five years old he shall pay unto Lucy Church six pounds; and when he is 26 years old he shall pay unto Sarah Ann Scovell six pounds. The above mentioned lands given to my son Amherst Scovell is all the lands I now have or shall have at my decease, excepting only the thirds which I give to my wife Elizabeth Scovell, which I give to him the said Amherst at her decease or marriage.

4th I give to Robert Williams, son to Lucy Church, ten pounds out of my moveable Estate; in case he shall decease without heirs I give the above sum to his mother, Lucy Church.

5th All just debts shall be paid; the remaining part of my moveable estate, if any there be, I give equally divided amongst my four daughters, viz : Jerusha Wells, Elizabeth Martin, Lucy Church and Sarah Ann Scovell, which is their portion in full, excepting my wearing apparel, which I give to my three sons, viz. : Nathan, Moses, and Amherst Scovell, equally divided, which is all I have given them because I have given the two eldest of them their portions before. 6th I give my Bay mare to my wife Elizabeth Scovell during her widowhood. 7th I give my black two year old colt and one two year old black heifer and one black year old heifer to my daughter Sarah Ann Scovell; the abovesaid creatures to be part of her portion, said creatures to be kept and appraised to her the said Sarah Ann in November in the year of our Lord 1788.

This is my last Will and Testament which I here acknowl- edge by setting my hand and seal this 31st day of August in the year of Our Lord 1787.

In addition to the above I give to my daughter Sarah Ann Scovell eleven of my sheep in like manner as is above written. The above addition & interlineations was made before signing or sealing.

Signed and sealed in NATHAN SCOVELL (Seal)

presence of

DAVID SCOVELL WILLIAM BOLLES SOLOMON SCOVELL

The will was proved Oct. 3, 1787. The original will, probably in the hand of David Scovell, is on file in the Probate Office of Windham District, Willimantic, Connecticut, and is also recorded on pages 179 and 440 of the records of the said district. The estate inventoried £317.17.3, the personal property being valued at £122.17.3 and the sixty-five acres of land at £189.

Children horn at East Haddam.

15. i. Edward, born April 9, 1704; married Deborah Ackley.

16. ii. Sarah, born Oct. 9, 1706; married Hezekiah Spencer.

17. iii. Amy, born March 14, 1708-9; married Adam Rogers.

18. iv. Benjamin, born about 1711; married Abigail Chapman.

19. v. Keziah, bapt. Sept. 9, 1716; married James Stewart,

vi. Lemuel, bapt. Aug. 23, 1719. He was living Nov. 7, 1738, then aged 19 years, when he chose his brother Edward Scovell as his guardian. No later mention of him has been found.

20. vii. Nathan, bapt. 1725; married Elizabeth Gates.

• Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Dec 11 2020, 19:49:32 UTC

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• Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Dec 11 2020, 20:24:38 UTC