Will of Timothy Brownson 1701-1766

Timothy Brownson, the son of Cornelius Brownson, was born in Woodbury, Connecticut June 10, 1701. In Woodbury he married Abigail Jenner on April 30, 1729. In the Woodbury town records we find the birth records for his first 7 children staring with Huldah May 5, 1730, followed by Amos, Timothy, Richard, Gideon, Nathan and Elizabeth. The family later moved to Salisbury, Connecticut. In Salisbury two more sons were born Asa and Eli. The Salisbury records also contain the death record for Elizabeth in 1761. Most family trees for Timothy and Abigail’s family also list another daughter named Abigail. There are a number of dates given for her birth the most commonly used date is August 8, 1850. That date is two years after the birth of last child Eli. There is no record of her in any of the surviving records from Woodbury or Salisbury. The Brownson family history suggests that there are references to her in the Woodbury and Salisbury town records a statement that we cannot confirm. Timothy died in Salisbury in 1766. Timothy is buried in Salisbury along with his daughter Elizabeth. Abigail Jenner Brownson moved back to Woodbury near her family and is buried in Woodbury. Timothy’s probate file is found in the Sharon Probate District Volume-C page 126. His probate file is divided into 3 sections. The first section is his will which starts “In the name of God Amen”. He then names his wife and children. Each separate bequeath is marked by the tern “Item”. The first” Item” concerns Abigail “My beloved wife Abigail”. The second “Item” is to the oldest son Amos, “I will and bequeath to my Beloved son Amos 20 schillings”. Following tradition he names his children in order of birth: Amos, Timothy, Richard, Gideon, Nathan, Asa and Eli. At the end he leaves instructions that the dower share left to his wife is to be equally divided among all of his children except Huldah and Nathan. “Referencing the third above mentioned to my beloved wife Abigail……Be divided among all of above named children except Huldah and Nathan.” This is the only place where his daughters are mentioned. The only daughter in the will was Huldah who was married and living in Massachusetts. Her father apparently did not want any of the family possessions to pass to her husband. Nathan had by that time moved to Georgia. The 2nd section is a detailed list of his personal property. The 3rd section is primarily a distribution of the real estate. “A distribution of the Estate of Timothy Brownson late of Salisbury in Litchfield County.” The date “18th Day of November AD 1766.” To “Abigail Brownson widow” he leaves 43 acres and one-half of the Dwelling house. As the oldest son Amos received one-half of the Dwelling house which he was to share with his mother in addition of other property. “ No 1 …. and we have divided and set off to Amos Brownson one acre on which the Dwelling house Stands”. He divides the distribution into sections which he numbers. No 1 to Amos, No 2 to Richard, No 3 to Asa, No 4 to Eli, No 5 to Timothy and No 6 to Gideon. Nathan is not included in the distribution of the property. At the end he names his daughter Huldah who he identifies as Huldah Squires. “And we set off and Distribute to Huldah Squires the Daughter of the said Timothy Brownson”. There is no mention anywhere in the probate file of a daughter named Abigail. Click on images to enlarge.