Hi, fellow Dutton descendants, cousins, and lurkers: I am in the (intermittent) process of transcribing summaries of every DOTON / DUNTON / DUNTING / DUTTEN / DUTTON file in the Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Records. Most of this information does not tie in with my DUTTON line but I'd hate to have it go to waste. The following is one of a series of messages giving my findings. Key: Text is summary unless enclosed in "double quotation marks." All spelling, especially of names, is as found. Formatting is for readability, especially lists. I apologize for any error which, although I have worked hard to avoid it, may have crept in. ----- Probate file number, name, date: 6596 Jerusha Dutton 1758 Indexed in Folsom and Rogers, Registers of Probate and Insolvency, "Index to the Probate Records of the County of Middlesex, Massachusetts, First Series, From 1648 to 1871" (Cambridge, MA: 1914) as: Dutton, Thomas -- Westford -- 1759 -- Administration -- 6596 Family History Center Microfilm # 397047 Summary: --------------- "6596 Thomas Dutton 1759 --------------- To Judge Danforth "These are to inform your Honours that my Late Husband Thomas Dutten Dyed seized and possesed of an Estate intestate and I by Reason of old eage am not able to Admi.er. on the same. Thairfor These are to pray [y]our Honour to grant a Letter of Admi.on. on sd. Estate to my son Joseph Dutten and it will greatly oblige your ver. Humble Servent Westford September 3th[sic] 1759 Wido Hannah herXmark Dutton Tesst David Dutton Joseph Dutton Junr." --------------- "Capt. Jabez Keep genleman & Mr. John Aboott & Mr. Ebenezer Stone all of Wesford in ye County of Middx" are appointed to take an inventory of "all the personalle Estate Whe[torn] Mr. Thomas Dutton late of Wesford died seized of ... given under my hand this 15th day of September A.d 1759 and in ye 33d year of his majestys Reign Thomas Read Justice of pea[torn]" "Sept ye 17th 1759 the above Named Jabez Keep John aboott Ebenezer Stone appeared and made oath that they woudl strictly abied[?] to the above Commission and deal therein acording to their best skill and Judgment before me Thomas Read Just of pea[torn]" --------------- Bond is given by "Joseph Dutton Cordwainer John Reed junr. husbandman both of Westford & John Dutton of Billerica housewright" for the performance of "Joseph Dutton this day admitted adminstrator of the Estate of his father Thomas Dutton late of Westford aforesd. Deceased Intestate" the inventory to be reported "at or before the fifth Day of Decembr. next ensuing" and the account to be rendered "at or before the fifth Day of September ... One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty" "Sealed and Delivered in Presence of [witnessed] Andw. Bordman Jonathan Stickney [signed] Joseph Dutton John Read Jr John Dutton" --------------- "An Inventoray of the Esteate of Thomas Dutten late of Wesford in the County of Middlesex Decd. intestate To be Exhibbeted to the Honouerable Samuel Danforth Esqr. Judge of probates for the County of Middlesex. Taken by us the subscrebers this Eighteenth Day of September A.D. 1759. by Vartue of a Wirant to us granted by the Worshepfull Thos. Read Esqr. which being annaxed to this inventoray may more fully appear. -- (viz)" The inventory is very detailed, with even the bedding being enumerated in detail. There is a lot of old iron, and other such items that related to smithing. Livestock was included: one hog, one pig, two cows (one black, one red), one brown heifer, and a horse. "In the Whole [L-pound-sign] 38:16:1 Lawful money To the above we } Jabez Keys[?] } subscribe our Hands } John Abboth[sic] } Commett. Ebenr. Stone }" --------------- [on the back of another document] "Meddlesex ss. Sept. 25 1759. Mr Joseph Dutton the adminstr. exhibited the within Inventory on oath -- S. Danforth J. prob." "No 6596 Thomas Dutten's Enventory Reg fee[??] 3/-- 25th. Septembr. 1759 Entd. Lib.34.page 158 Westfd" "Inventoray of the Estate of Thos. Dutten -- A.D. 1759.--" --------------- Darrell