Rev. Jabez Wakeman

The following data regarding Rev. Jabez Wakeman, son of Rev. Samuel, is of interest. It was procured by Mr. Emory McClintock :

FROM STEARN'S "FIRST CHURCH IN NEWARK," 1853, PP. 106-109.

' ' Jabez Wakeman was about fourteen years of age when his fa- ther died, and in the will direction is given that he be kept at school and enter college the next August. The delay of a year, however, seems to have occurred, for we find by the catalogue of Harvard College — "the college," as the will denominates it — that he was graduated in the year 1697. About a year and four months after this date, the people of Newark, wishing to obtain an as- sistant for their worthy pastor, had their attention turned towards this young graduate, and appointed a committee to treat with Mr. Wakeman and Mr. Prudden for that purpose. But the resigna- tion of Mr. Prudden, which took place early in June following, gave a new aspect to affairs, and shortly afterwards measures were adopted to secure Mr. Wakeman's services as a candidate for the pastoral office. He was first engaged to preach in that ca- pacity for a year, but scarcely was the year half out before the ardor of the people pressed the question to an issue, and at a meeting held on the 15th of April, 1700, ' it was particularly in- quired of every person whether they desired Mr. Jabez Wakeman to be called to the pastoral office in this town, and they every one manifested their willingness thereto, and also voted the same.' "

"The salary of Mr. Wakeman was, at first, ^60, but it was soon after raised to ^80, the same with that of the two Piersons.

• * * # A subscription was also raised to procure for him a ' settlement,' that is a homestead or ' accommodations,' as in the case of his predecessor ; in pursuance of which a house and its appurtenances were purchased and presented to him by a deed of gift, 'as the town's act and deed.'

"Mr. Wakeman became the sole pastor of this congregation at the early age of about twenty-one years. He was a young man of great promise, amiable, accomplished, and remarkably popular in the pulpit. The attachment of the people to their young and

WAKEMAN GENEALOGY. 131

talented pastor appears to have been deep and tender. Under his ministry the congregation became so much increased that addi- tional accommodations were required for public worship, and the town ordered a gallery to be built across the north end of the meeting house. But the hopes of the people and the fair earthly prospects of the young minister and his family were destined to an early reverse. In the autumn of the year 1704 that fearful malady, the dysentery, prevailing in a fatal form among the people invaded his family. His little son Samuel, a child of two years old, and an only one, died on the 29th of October ; and only nine days later the father followed, leaving a childless widow and a disappointed flock to shed tears over his early grave."

From the same, foot note to page no; tombstone near church :

" Here lye the Remains of ye Revd. Mr. Jabez Wakeman, the faithful pastor of ye Church of Christ in this place, who Departed this life, Octr. 8th, 1704. ^Etatis 26.

" Hoc sunt tumulo Wakeman venerabilis ossa.

" By him lies his son, Samuel, died Sept. 29, 1704. ^Etatis 2d."

Dates corroborative of above, extracted by E. M. from Newark Town Records:

Jan. 2, 1698-9: Looking towards employment of Mr. J. W. "to

join with Mr. Pruden." June 9, 1699: Closing with Prudden; committee to look out ,

J. W. evidently not there. Aug. 8,1699: Committee asked people to vote, and they voted

for Mr. W.. who must have preached there. Nov. 16, 1699: Unanimously voted to treat with Mr. W.,

" ;£6o for this year." April 19, 1700: Call to pastorate, as quoted in detail above. May 19,1700: Town committee to act with church committee

to treat with Mr. W. Aug. 16. 1700: Committee "to procure a settlement," and

raise (by taxing those who subscribed)

"money to procure a settlement," meaning a

homestead. Sept. 30, 1700: £60 salary. Feb. 28, 1700-1: Deed of gift from town, mentioned above.

132 WAKEMAN GENEALOGY.

Nov. ii, 1701: ,£60 "for year past," ^80 for future, also 70 acres " if he settle among us."

Nov. 2, 1702: Same as last year for salary.

March 10, 1703-4: Building gallery in meeting house.

Oct. 12, 1704: Salary to be paid same as last year ("Mr. Wakeman's salary"); vacancy in pastoral office; Mr. Prudden asked to preach pro tempore.

Mr. W. 's uncle by marriage, Samuel Kitchel (whose wife, Elizabeth Wakeman, had died earlier), was one of the first settlers of Newark, and J. W.'s cousins were there in 1699.

Here followeth an Inventory of the Estate of Samuel Wakeman, Jun'r, son of Rev. Samuel Wakeman, late of Fairfield, dec d - taken and apprised this 4th day of June, 1 69 1, by us whose names are under written.

£ s. d.

His wearing apparel at ■ . 09 1 5 o

Arms and Ammunition at 02 03 o

Books at 00 10 o

Bed, bedstead, curtains, valence, bolster and pillow . . 12 00 o

Plate 10 10 o

Sheets at 09 00 o

A rug and coverlids at 07 10 o

A bed, a bolster, a bedstead, curtains and valence at . . 09 05 o

Woman's apparel 10 00 o

A chest and a box at 00 18 o

Napkins 03 02 o

Towels 00 10 o

Pillow beers 04 00 o

Table linen . » 01 03 o

Six leather chairs 03 00 o

Four chairs and a chest 01 too

Two boxes at 00 06 o

A case with six bottles 00 10 o

A pair of hand irons at 00 18 o

A warming pan 00 07 o

A long table at 02 10 o

A looking glass at 00 05 o

A tramill and 2 pairs of fire tongs and fire shovel. ... 01 05 o

WAKEMAN GENEALOGY. I33

£ s. d. A frying pan at 00 06 o

Two old chests at 15s., a pot, iron and pot hooks 10s . . 01 05 o

A table, two linen wheels, 4 cushions at 01 02 o

Two looking glasses at 00 05 o

Pewter platters at 09 09 o

3 pewter basins at 01 00 o

Porringers . , 01 15 o

2 small basins 4s., 9 spoons 00 n o

3 candlesticks, a tankard, a salt cellar, a paster cup. . . 01 10 o

3 brass kettles at 06 00 o

2 brass skillets at 00 08 o

Earthen ware at 00 12 o

23 lb. flax at 00 15 4

2 doz, trenchers and wooden ware at 00 07 o

Glazier's tools 00 10 o

2 glass bottles, a brush and 2 brackets, a gimlet . . . 00 04 o

An axe and hoe, a cross-cut saw at 00 10 o

To two bags with wheat in them 00 17 o

A parcel of feathers at 00 15 o

Wheat ios., a meat trough & sieve at 12s 01 02 o

Old iron 6s., glass and led and old boxes ios 00 16

Old cask 00 07 o

Pork, old cask, and tubs & molasses 04 10 o

To two hives of bees 01 00 o

To one three-year-old heifer at 2>£ os - od., to three

swine 05 05 o

A bed and bolster at 07 00 o

To a house and homestead at 190 00 o

To two acres of land in the old fields at 16 00 o

To four acres of meadow at 32 00

To six acres and three-quarters of land in Sasco Neck . 40 00 o To one parcel of land near Jonathan Sturgeis house at . 20 00 o To a long lot, and juts off in commons, Compo land-and

wolf swamp and Pauls neck, all . . 15 00 o

Samuel Roberson, Samuel Wilson, Eliphalet Hill.

The widow & relict of Sam'll Wakeman, deceased, appeared in

Court this 2d day of December, 1691, and affirmed that the above

inventory is a true inventory of her deceased husband's estate,

but do refuse to swear.

Nathan Gold, Clerk.

134 WAKEMAN GENEALOGY.

An inventory of the Estate of Samuel Wakeman, dec'd, being exhibited to the County Court this 2d of Decamber, 1691 ; the Court as yet not approving said Inventory do appoint Sarah Wakeman, widow, Relict of said Sam'll, with Mr. John Edwards, to administer on the said Estate, they to pay and receive all just debts due to and from the said Estate, and preserve it from em- bezzlement and return an account, called for.

Nathan Gold, Clerk.

The will and inventory of Samuel Wakeman, deceased, being exhibited to the County Court in Fairfield this 8th of March 1691/2, and this Court do approve the said will excepting the part that respects Mary Wakeman, the eldest daughter of said Samuel Wakeman, for whom there not being provision in said will for her living, to which part of said will this Court do refuse a farther liberty to say, by reason it is thought there may be some way found to provide for said Mary.

The will of Samuel Wakeman, deceased, formerly presented as above, the probate thereof then do found by reason that the eld- est daughter of said Samuel was not provided for in said will ; the said eldest daughter of said Samuel being now provided for as followeth, viz. : the County Court this 1st November, 1692, do or- der the widow, Relict of said Samuel, to take the said child, daughter of said Samuel, and do for her as to the bringing her up, until she arrive at the age of eighteen years, or marriage if sooner, and to see that she have suitable education. Capt. John Burr and said John Wakeman is appointed by this court to be overseers to the said child, and that the said child shall not be placed out to be brought up by any other without the consent of one of the said overseers with the said widow ; and whereas said John Wakeman was appointed executor with the said widow in said Samuel's will; said John Wakeman strongly refusing the said trust, this Court do order that said widow, Relict of said Samuel, shall have the sole power of executing the said will, and this Court do approve the said will and inventory and order them to be recorded.

Nathan Gold, Clerk.

Capt. John Wakeman and Lieu't Joseph Wakeman, adm's to the Estate of Mr. Albert Denny, late of Fairfield, deceased, ac- cording to a former order of Court, having this 12th day of June, 1708, exhibited an inventory of the said estate in order to a pro- bate. The said inventory being proved, is by the Court approved and ordered to be recorded, and the Court do continue Lieu't

WAKEMAN GENEALOGY. 135

Joseph Wakeman his administration on the said estate, he to pre- serve said Estate from embezzlement, and to pay and receive all just debts due from and to said estate, and return an account of his administration to the Court in Fairfield as soon as conven- iently he may, or when called thereof by the Court. In order to a farther settlement.

And Capt. John Wakeman and Lieu't Joseph Wakeman do acknowledge themselves jointly and severally bound to the Court of Probate in Fairfield in the Recognizance of two thousand pounds cash, that he the said Joseph Wakeman shall faithfully perform his works of Administration according to the above order of Court.

Capt. John Wakeman and Lieu't Joseph Wakeman gave oath before the Court June the 12th, 1708, that the foregoing Inventory of the Estate of Albert Denny, late of Fairfield, dec'd, both real and personal that at present they can obtain, excepting what debts and credits are yet to be accounted for, belonging to the Estate within the Court of Connecticut, is a true Inventory accord- ing to the best of their knowledge.

John Denny, son of Albert Denny, late of Fairfield, dec'd, ap- peared before the Court of Probate held in Fairfield June the 4th, 1708, and declared that he hath made choice of his uncle, Lieu't Joseph Wakeman, of Fairfield, to be his guardian, which the Court do approve and confirm.

INVENTORY OF THE ESTATE OF CAPT. JOHN WAKEMAN.

Here followeth an Inventory of the Estate of Capt. John Wakeman, late of Fairfield, deceased.

£ s. d.

To wearing apparel, one carter hat l£ 2s , 2 old hats 4;£, old cloth cloak i£ ios., old hanging coat is. 6d., broadcloth coat is. 6d., druget coat is. sd., old stuff coat is 2d., Callaminco lot of cloth, serge vest 18s., for a pair breeches 5s., 2 pair linen breeches 4s., 2 pair old stockings 4s., 2 shirts 8s. . 07 02 06 2 neckcloths 5s., a feather bed & bolster 5s., 4 yds. new

fine ticking S£ ios 08 15 00

A feather bed and bolster, 66 yds. old ticking 08 00 00

Six feather pillows, 25 yds 02 10 00

A feather bed and two bolsters, 70 yds. old 07 00 00

Old bed, part feathers, 20s 01 co 00

A set of curtains \£, new bedstead ios 04 10 00

A great bedstead & cord 9s., 3 small chairs 7s 00 16 00

136 WAKEMAN GENEALOGY.

£ s. d.

2 great chairs 10s., new trunk 15s., cupboard 20s. ... 02 05 00

A chest 7s., a table with 2 drawers 8s 00 15 00

A table with one drawer 9s., a tankard 7s 00 16 00

Laced cupboard cloth & 2 cushions 4s., 5 glass bottles

also 00 06 06

Brass candlestick 4s., box, iron and one heater 5s. . . 00 09 00

A fine coverlid 20s., checked coverlid 10s 01 10 00

3 old coverlids 10s., a carpet 4s 00 14 00

2 woolen wheels 12s., a linen wheel 6s 00 18 00

17 pound wollen yarn, 3s. 4d. pound 02 16 00

3 new sheets i£ 17s. 6d., 10 pr. sheets at 12s. 6d. per pr. 08 02 06

2 pr. sheets more, new i£ 10s., 1 old sheet 3s 02 13 00

One fine linen sheet 15s., 3 doz. &6 fine napkins 3s. each. 07 01 00

3 table cloths 21s., 6 pillow cases 24s 02 05 00

2 fine Holland pillow cases 7s., 2 fine linen pillow cases

5s 00 12 00

15 napkins and towels 01 10 00

In plate and money 6£ 8s. in pay 09 12 00

6 yds. tow cloth 15s., 30 lb. of iron 15s 01 10 00

A fine flowered fustian blanket 01 00 00

A fine mantle 2£, 7 yds. drugget 35s 03 15 00

Small trunk is., old books 8s., bedstead and cord 8s. . . 00 17 00

Old bedstead and small cord 6s., new coverlid 15s . . . 01 01 00

4 old coverlids xos. , old trunk and chest 4s 00 14 00

2 paper books, part written, 4s., cradle 5s 00 09 00

417 feet pine boards i£ 5s., 2 old boxes 6s 01 11 00

Old warming pan 2s., 17 old cask 12s 00 14 00

Trundle bedstead 3s. , old iron 5s 00 08 00

35 bushel peas 10^, 16 bush, corn 48s., 3 bush, barley 12s. 13 10 00

5 old casks 3s., about 6 pound hops 6s 00 09 00

3 bush, malt 12s., 2 bush, rye 6s 00 18 00

20 pound coverlid yarn 2£ 02 00 00

A brass kettle, 25 pound, 4^, 26 pound pewter ?>£ 18s. . 07 18 00

6 pewter plates gs., 3 pewter porringers 6s 00 15 00

5 old pewter basins 5s, 3 old platters 4s 00 09 00

1 large old pewter basin and old porringer 00 02 00

1 pewter platter 3s.. small bellmetal skillet 5s 00 08 00

Brass skillet 8s., pewter pot 2s 00 10 00

2 old cups & 2 old salt-cellars, all 3s ... 00 03 00

Earthen ware 2s., a meal sieve is. 6d 00 09 06

3 wooden rollers & 1 tray 2s., 2 knot dishes 3s 00 05 00

A hand pail, can, and little wooden dishes . - 00 02 00

WAKEMAN GENEALOGY. 137

£ s. d.

6 trenchers is., frying pan 6s 00 07 00

One iron pot 12s., 1 iron pot gs., 2 pair pot hooks 3s. . . 01 04 00

A tramill 5s. , 2 iron pot hooks 2s. 6d 00 07 06

Old bell-metal skillet is., 1 pair tongs 2s. 6d 00 03 06

In the cellar 4 meat barrels 8s., 2 barrels 5s 00 18 00

Beef in the barrel 12s., 2 bush, turnips 3s 00 15 00

2 gallons bottles 4s., 2 small tight casks 5s 00 09 00

A tub and butter in it 1 os., jars 6d 00 10 06

2 oxen i2;£, 5 cows \~i£ 10s., a three-year-old steer 3^ 10s. 33 00 00

3 steers, cow 3 y's old 8£, 2 cattle 2 y's old \£ 12 00 00

1 calf 15s., a sorrel horse i£, a black i£ 04 15 00

17 pounds and y^ tryed tallow 8s. gd., 1 pair stilliards

12s 01 00 00

Horse-kind, in the woods 3/*, beetle-rings 4s. . . . 03 04 00

A lamp is., tape loom is., small table 2s 00 03 06

35 sheep 15^ 15s., cart rope 4s 15 19 00

Half bushel 00 07 06

A pillion cloth 10s., 1 pepper mill is 00 11 00

A roasting iron is., old curtain's valence 2s 00 03 00

Iron crow 141b. weight 9s., 7 lbs. of flax drest 12s. gd. . 01 01 09

House, barn and homestead 120 00 00

Land over the creek . . 16 00 00

Land in the old fields 70 00 00

Salt meadow next the beach 50 00 00

4 acres of meadow below the wolf swamp 28 00 00

yi acre of meadow he had of Peter Burr 03 o > 00

A small lot of meadow below Peter Burr's inclosure . 11 00 00

His island in the thirds 15 00 00

~iy z acres pasture land by the Round Hill 37 ro 00

Land at two mile Rock 80 00 00

Long lot i20;£, land at Compo 20^, all 140 00 00

His farm in the woods 50 00 00

3 fat hogs at 45s. each 06 15 00

4 small swine and a sow 03 00 00

A bed pan and chamber pot 06 06 00

A churn 2s., barrels 2s. 6d. 00 04 06

Ten bush, of rye i£ 15s., ^e in the barns \\£ . . . . 15 15 10

Wheat in the barn 13^ 10s., barley in the barn ?,£ 10s. . 17 00 00

Flax not drest j£ 17s 01 17 00

Crop on the ground 05 00 00

Plow chain 15s., plow and plow irons i£ 01 15 00

Cart and wheels, with the irons belonging to them ... 01 00 00

138 WAKEMAN GENEALOGY.

£ s. d.

Yoke, yoke irons and clevis 6s 00 06 00

2 meal bags 5s 00 05 00

Horse gears 10s., 2 axes, irons for draft yoke 7s 00 17 00

Old saddle 2s. 6d., land at New work $£ 04 02 06

Cooper's tools, viz., spoke, shave & crows 2s. 6d 02 06 00

Hand saw & drawing knife, tap borer 3s 00 15 00

Brass wimble is., heeding knife 8s., adze 5s 00 14 00

Hoes 4s., crows is. 6d., joynting stock 4s 00 09 06

2 jointing irons 7s., old hand saw 2s 00 09 00

Old board axe is., his right in commonage 30 01 00

His right in a grant for a tract of land above New Milford 05 00 00 848 17 3

The above Inventory taken and appraised this 6th day of December, 1709, by us.

Nathaniel Burr, Samuel Squire.

Also a gauging rod & 2 pitchforks.