William Tefft

"The first persons of the name in America were William and John Teffe, or Tefft, the former of whom settled in Boston not later than 1635, and the latter in Portsmouth, R. I. It is probable that these brothers were accompanied by a sister Sara, for there stood until recent years on Cole's farm, near Cole's Station, Warwick, R. I., a memorial slab, with the following inscription: "Here lieth ye bodie of Sara Tefft, interred March 16, 1642." This stone is now in the possession of the Rhode Island Historical Society, and is the oldest monumental slab in the State."

There was a large emigration from Rhode Island to Wash- ington County, New York, in 1766, Nathan Tefft, Nathan, Jr., William, and Asa being the first of the name in that quarter. Other Teffts penetrated into Vermont, some remaining but a short time, and removing to Erie County, New York, while others remained permanently, the family name being still per- petuated there.

The first emigrants were:

I. William, m. Anna .

2. John. m. Mary Barber.

3. Sarah (probably), d. March 14, 1642.

William and Anna had:

Lydia. m. Deeble, and had son Abraham, who rem. from Boston to Haddam, Conn. William emigrated from England about 1633; settled in Boston, and carried on the tail- oring business. He was made a freeman December 24, 1638, and with his wife Anne, was admitted to the church on August 2, 1640.

His Last Will and Testament.

Entered and recorded at the Suffolk Probate Office, Novem- ber 23, 1672.

"The first day of the third Month, one thousand six hundred and forty-six, I William Teffe of Boston, of the Massachusetts Bay, doe make this my last Will and Testament First, I give vnto my daughter Lydia, the Summe of twenty pounds, partly for the discharge of Seaven pounds which I received for her in England being a Lagacie given unto her by one Robert Elvinge, deceased, and partly as a Lagacie from (myselfe) so as shee never make other demands of the Said Legacie given by Said Robert Elvinge, and So She doe not marry without her mother- in -lawe's Consent, or the consent of Such friends as her Said Mother Shall leave her vnto. To be payed in fours of the youngest Cattle, at due prices except the least of all, and in such of the household goods and mon (ies) as indifferently shall reach to the making up thereof according to the proportion of it (excepting the feather-bed whereon I now lye and vppon the praisement of the goods within two months after my decease, her Said portion to be putt forth for her best advantage vntil her age of twenty years or day of marryage with consent as aforesaid if shee shall live therevnto, even either of them.)

Itm. I give my least Steere Calfe vnto the Eldest child of my brother John Teffe, to be delivered vppon demand, after my decease if he be then living, paying for the charge of the Keeping of it after my decease vntil it be demanded. All the rest of my goods and chattells, whatvoever, together with my dwelling house and garden and grounds vnder and about it, and all the buildings there vppon, and fences about them, and also together with my land at Long Island and the barne and fruites growing vppon the Said ground both vnder my house and at Long Island, I give and bequeath vnto my beloved wife Anna Teffe, whom I make sole Executrix of this my last will, to her and to her heires and Assignes, forever, and in testimonial thereof I have here vnto sett and putt my hand" William Teffe

In presence of Thos. Leverett, John Harrison, John Ingolsby.

Testified before the Governor (Mr No) well, Mr Hibbins by Thos. Leverett and John Harrison. 2. (9) 1648. Copia Vera. This Will was entered and recorded Nov. 23, 1672.

Widow Anna m. Deacon Henry Allen, carpenter and house- wright, whose residence was in Weymouth, and his business in Boston. She d. March 8, 1673.

"The Tefft ancestry, comprising many hitherto unpublished records of descendants of John Tefft of Portsmouth, Rhode Island;" by C. H. W. Stocking

Other Sources:

"Early New England Gravestones", Rhode Island Historical Society Collections, Volume 12, No. 2, April 1919, Rhode Island Historical Society, p.40.

A Partial Record of the Descendants of John Tefft, of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and the Nearly Complete Record of the Descendants of John Tifft, of Nassau, New York... by Maria Elizabeth Maxon Tifft, Peter Paul book Company, 1896

Descendants of John Tefft (Tifft)

John Tefft was born in England, and died 1674 in Pettaquamscott, Rhode Island. He married Mary.

John, his brother William and their sister Sara arrived in the Boston, Massachusetts area circa 1633. The early Tefft family was an intensely patriotic family participating in the Colonial, Revolutionary and 1812 wars. The Tefft/Tifft name is of Saxon origin meaning “the place where a house has stood.” The name appears in early Saxon annals.

William was a tailor and bought a dwelling in Boston in 1638. He was declared a freeman on 24 Dec 1648 and admitted to the Church on 02 Aug 1640. His will was probated 23 Nov 1672.

Sara and John moved to Portsmouth, Rhode Island. All that is known of Sara is she died 16 Mar 1642. Her headstone is the oldest in the state and is in the possession of the Rhode Island Historical Society.

John is listed as a freeman in Portsmouth, Rhode Island in 1655. He is listed again in 1671 residing in Pettaquamscott, Rhode Island. His will was proved 30 Nov 1674.

Sources:

http://stephentowngenealogy.com/johntefft.html

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Mar 3 2018, 21:40:39 UTC