An Interesting Will in the Corey (Cory, Corrie) History in Portsmouth, Rhode Island

My eight-great-grandmother Mary Earle (1640-1718) lived her entire life in Portsmouth, Newport Co., Rhode Island. She had two husbands, the first being my ancestor William Corey (or Cory). They wed c. 1655 and William died in 1681. Mary's second marriage was c. 1683 to Joseph Timberlake. He passed in 1693. Just 53 when she was widowed the second time, she lived the last quarter century of her life as a widow.

Thus she died at an advanced age of about 78 years old, far beyond the life expectancy at the time. Her will dated Aug. 12, 1717, bequeaths portions of her estate to many children, in-laws and grandchildren. She had 11 children (10 Corey, 1 Timberlake), four of which predeceased her.

She gave significant (if modest) bequeaths to most of the family, but she gave an unusual (and humorous) gift to her son-in-law:

"I give and bequeath to my son in law Charles Gonzales Moreno the five cords of wood that he owes me."

That was it. That unpaid wood kept him from getting a larger share of the estate! Lesson: Don't get on the wrong side of your mother-in-law. (However, his wife received a good portion.)

There was another interesting bequeath. Mary had an Indian girl as an indentured servant. I have found no evidence that any of my ancestors owned a slave, and this is my first knowledge of a servant. They are, of course, much different things. This was bequeathed to her one Timberlake child. The will states:

"I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Jeffries the term of years I have in my Indian girl Dina, she performing covenants according to Indenture."

Two interesting entries.

Miguel de Cervantes 400-Year Anniversary

Friday, the 22nd was the 400th anniversary of the death of Miguel de Cervantes, Spain's best known author. The country celebrated Cervantes today, the anniversary of his burial. While most of the world is recognizing the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death today, Spain and many Spanish-speaking countries are celebrating Cervantes, whose best known work is Don Quixote. We encountered this intricate statue of Cervantes in Cartagena, Colombia, in 2012. 

This Day in Horn Family History: "Old Raven" Dies

My seventh-great-grandfather Wilhelm Kraft Rabenold [alternate spellings Rabennalt, Rabenalt, etc.] died this day in about 1749 in Lowhill Township, Northampton Co, PA [1]. My No. 568 ancestor was born Dec. 15, 1698, in Ichstedt, Germany. [2]

He married Maria Magdalena Bauer on May 30, 1730, in St. George's Chapel, Lichtenburg, Germany. [3] They Immigrated to America on the ship Samuel, landing in Philadelphia on August 30, 1730.

Descent:

284 Johann(es) Peter Rabenold/t b. 1728, Lichtenberg, Germany; d. 1807, Northampton County, PA.

142 Peter Rabenold b. 1754; d. 1828, Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA.

71 Susanna Rabenold b. Oct. 28, 1782, ‪Lowhill Township, ‪Northampton County, ‪PA; d. January 20, 1853, South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA.

35 Anna (or Hannah) Koch b. Mar. 14, 1815, Macungie, Lehigh Co., Pennsylvania (or Whitehall Township, Lehigh, PA); d. after 1838.

17 Mary Ann Meitzler b. Aug. 7, 1835, near Allentown, PA; d. 10/7/1910, Tiffin or “south of Tiffin,” Seneca Co., OH.

8 John Henry Franklin Horn b. Aug. 12, 1861, Allentown, Lehigh Co., PA; d. Sept. 30, 1953, Yuma Rural, Yuma Co., Arizona.

4 Frank Eugene Horn b. Nov. 9, 1882, Shenandoah, Fremont/Page Co., Iowa; d. July 8, 1960, Pleasant Hill, Contra Costa Co., California.

My dad: 2 Leroy Kenneth Earl Horn b. April 4, 1910, Douglas Co. near Girdner, Missouri; d. May 30, 1991, Richmond, Contra Costa Co., California.

[1]Book: The Descendants of Wilhelm Kraft Rabennalt & Maria Magdalena Bauer Rabennalt "Old Raven", 1698-1998 by Jessie D. & Benjamin J. Raubenolt, ‪New Image Graphics, 1998 - ‪270 pages.

[2] Transcript of German birth certificate.

[3] Book: The Descendants of Wilhelm Kraft Rabennalt & Maria Magdalena Bauer Rabennalt "Old Raven", 1698-1998 by Jessie D. & Benjamin J. Raubenolt, ‪New Image Graphics, 1998 - ‪270 pages.

Immigration: 30 Aug 1730, To Philadelphia on Ship Samuel. — Ancestors of Franklin Phillip Stahl354 — Jesse Dean Raubenolt, II, Research of Jesse Raubenolt,(E-mail dated May 5, 1999), "Electronic."