Notes for: Josiah Cleaveland

Josiah Cleaveland was a man of wealth and prominence in both town and church at Canterbury.

Excerpts from his will (Plainfield, Conn. Probate rec. B, 136-141) (some punctuation, spelling and capitalization modified for clarity):
"In ye name of God Amen. Ye 28th day of December A.D. 1750, I, Josiah Cleaveland of Canterbury, in ye co. of Windham, Colony of Connecticut in New England, having for a long time been exercysed with infirmities of body, but now of perfect mind and memory, blessed be God. Therefore calling to mind ye mortality of my body do make & ordain this my last will & testament as followeth. ... Item * to my daughter Abigail Adams, 250 pounds. ... * Item, I give to my grandson Benjamin Brown a yearling horse colt & saddle & gun & so much of bills of credit old tenor as together with said colt * amount to 100 pounds, provided he lives here and takes ye care of business until May next...."