[S599] Rev. William W. Johnson, Johnson Genealogy, 20-21: "David Johnson's will, copied from the probate records of Worcester Co., Mass., is as follows:" Know all men, by these presents, that I, David Johnson, of Leominster, in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Gentlemen, being of sound mind, but far advanced in life,do make and establish this to be my last will and testament.
Firstly— I will order and bequeath that at my decease, all my just debts, and the expense of a Christian burial for me, and the expense of settling my estate, be paid out of my estate by my executor hereinafter named and appointed by me.
Secondly— To my wife, Prudence, that she receive out of my estate whatever may be due to her agreeable to the marriage contract made by me with her bearing date the eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and ninety-seven, and also a smal ironpot, a bread trough, a sieve, a pint beaker, a tin skimmer, a salt cellar, an iron skillet, a wooden bowl, a chopping knife, two large earthen pots, three milk pans, a foot wheel, a loom and tackling, a maple table leaf, a pair of bellows, and a sugar box, and all my provision, meaning grain, meal, meat, cyder same, etc., of which I shall die possessed.
Thirdly—To my son Josiah Johnson, two suits of my best wearing apparel, including two of my best hats, three pair of my best stockings, of which I may die possessed, and a gun, and one-third part of my augurs, chisels, gouges, shoemaker's tools, and hand saws; and one-fifth part of the remainder of my estate of which I have not herein otherways disposed.
Fourthly—To my son Luke, three chairs, three iron pitchforks, one dung fork, two iron hay hooks, two hutt rings, and two wedges, one horse collar and tram, a grain fan, one iron bar, and one-third part of my augurs, chisels, gouges, shoemaker's tools, and hand saws.
Fifthly—To my son David Johnson, one of my best feather beds, one blue bed quilt, one woolen sheet, one pillow, one tow sheet, my ivory headed cane, one-third part of my augers, chisels, gouges, shoemakers' tools and hand saws, and one-fifth part, of the remainder of my estate of which I have not herein otherways disposed.
Sixthly—To my daughter Lucy, now the wife of Henry Sweetser, one pewter platter, three pewter plates, one toasting iron, one third part of my beds and bedding of which I have not herein otherways disposed; and one-fifth part of the remainder of my estate of which I have not herein otherways disposed.
Seventhly—To my Daughter Elizabeth—now the wife of Samuel Evans, one pewter platter, three pewter plates, one-third part of my beds and bedding of which I have not herein otherways disposed; and one-fifth part of the remainder of my estate of which I have not herein otherways disposed.
Eighthly—To my grand-daughter Annice, now the wife of Nathaniel Low, Jr., one pewter platter, three pewter plates, one third part of my beds and bedding of which I have not herein otherways disposed, and one-fifth part of the remainder of my estate of which Ihave not herein otherways disposed.
Ninthly—To my daughter Lucy and Elizabeth aforesaid, and my said grand-daughter Annice, one brass kettle, one iron pot, two dish kettles, one small spider, one fire shovel, one pair of tongs, one pair of large Andirons, one iron crane and hooks belonging to the same, and three chests, to be equally divided among them.
And Tenthly—I hereby appoint as the Executor of this my last Will and Testament, Asa Jonson of said Leominster, Gentleman, to execute this Instrument in the most prudent and discreet manner he is able, an to receive a reasonable compensation out of my estate for the same.
Hereby ratifying this to be my last Will and Testament, and no other Will orWills whatever. In witness of which I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of July in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and ninety-eight. Signed, Sealed, Published and Pronounced in the presence of
Rebecca Johnson. DAVIDJOHNSON. [Seal.]
Thomas Lincoln.
Oliver Vose.
[S957] Elliot G. Storke, History of Cayuga County, New York (Syracuse, N. Y.: D. Mason & Co., 1879), 443–45:Niles was formed from Sempronius March 20th, 1833....The first settlements were made in 1792....The Conovers settled about a half mile west of Niles, on the David Pratt farm....
Edward and John Ellis, brothers, came in from Ashfield, Mass., in the winter of 1795, with an ox-sled....
Settlements were made in 1802, by David Johnson, Hugh McDowell, John Rooks and Joseph Carr. Johnson, who was five years a Revolutionary soldier, being present at the surrender of Burgoyne and the evacuation of New York by the British, came in from Buckland county, Massachusetts, and settled near West Niles or Pennyville, on the farm now occupied by James Duryee. About 1817 he removed to Twelve Corners, to the place now occupied by his son Roswell, where he died June 22d, 1840. He married Prudence Coburn, who was born in Boston, November 13th, 1765, and died February 12th, 1849, by whom he had nine children, only two of whom are living, viz : Clara, wife of Abraham Van Etten, and Roswell, both in Niles, the latter on the homestead at Twelve Corners.
