Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

322 GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE EAMILIES.
It is added, "this is inventory and all of the estate that is
known belonging to the deceased party aforsaid, only a claim of
some lands which ly within the bounds of Lynn ; the value whereof
we cannot determine at present until further insight into and
known."
The "claim of some lands" was for Nahant, which was
worthless and to which reference has already been had.
These two extracts prove that Thomas Dexter, Senior, was a
resident in Boston at the time of his death, that he died the latter
part of 1676 or early in 1677, that he had a son Thomas and a
grand-son Thomas, "and a daughter who married Capt. James
Oliver, an eminent merchant of Boston.
These facts enable us to trace one branch of his family with
certainty—that of his son Thomas—who was an early settler in
Sandwich, and died there Dec. 30, 1686. He died intestate, and
his estate was apprised on the 12th of the following January by
John Chipman, Stephen Skiff, and William Bassett at £491,5, a
very large estate in those times. He owned 240 acres of land
at the Plains, valued in the inventory at only £12, or one
shilling an acre. He owned four valuable tracts of meadow,
one on the north of Town Neck, valued at £30 ; one at
the Islands near James Allen's, £90 ; one below Mr. John Chipman's
new house, £4 ; and one at Pine islands, £40. He owned
two dwelling-houses. That in which he resided (situated about
half a mile southerly from the Glass Factory village) was a large
two story building, apprised at £40; his barn, corn-house, &c.,
£10 ; his home lot 10 acres, £30 ; and a tract of 20 acres adjoining,
at £30. His other dwelling was occupied by his son John,
and the farm on which it was situated is described as consisting of
about 28 acres of "meane land," and "two parcels of meadow that
belongs to that Seate," estimated at 8 acres, all apprised at £80.
The mill, now known as the town mill, with "all her appertenances,"
at £50. As this apprisment was carefully made,
and was the basis of the division of the estate, it shows
the relative value of different article at that time. A pair
of oxen was valued at £5, and a negro slave at four times that
sum, £20, 7 cows and one steer, £12 ; 28 sheep, £5 ; 1 mare, £2
1 colt, 10 shillings ; his silver ware at £5, 5 shs. ; and his household
furniture, clothing, tools, &c., £25 10 shs.
The estate was settled by an agreement of the Ijeirs in writing,
dated Feb. 16, 1686-7, and is signed by the widow Elizabeth
Dexter, Senior, John Dexter, son of Thomas Dexter, late of
Sandwich, gentleman deceased in his own rights, Elizabeth Dexter,
Jr., in her right, Daniel Allen of Swansea, in the right of Mary,
his wife, and by Jonathan Hallett, in the right of Abigail, his wife.
This agreement shows that Thomas Dexter, the third of the name,
was then dead, and had no lineal heir surviving.