Hi, fellow Dutton descendants, cousins, and lurkers: I am in the 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: 6541 Thomas Dunton 1737 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: Dunton, Thomas -- Natick -- 1737 -- Administration -- 6541 Family History Center Microfilm # 397047 Summary: "To the Honble. Samuel Danford Esqur. these are to signifie that I the Subscriber give full consent that Ebenezer Felch should take Administration on Dunten's Estate June ye 20th 1737 John [?]en" "Ebenz. Felch & Thomas Dammon both of Natick Husbandmen & Samuel Goold of Sudbury Husbandman all in the County of Middlesex" [give 500 pounds bound] "Dated the twentyeth Day of June Anno Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and thirty seven Annoque Regni Regis Georgii Secundi undecimo." [for] "Ebenezer Felch--admitted administr.--of the Estate of Thomas Dunton late of said Natick Deced. Intestate." [an inventory to be completed] "at or before the twentieth Day of September next ensuing" [and an account to be given] "at or before the twentyeth Day of June ... One Thousand Seven Hundred and thirty Eight. [witnessed] Saml: Danforth [witnessed by mark] John Dunton [signed] Ebenezer Felch [signed] Thomas Damon [signed] Samuel Gould" --------------- "Middlesex ss. Weston June 20th 1737" At the request of "Deac. Ebener. Felch of Natick ... Adminst. on ye Estate of Thos. Dunton of Natick Husbandman Decd." The following were sworn in to appraise the estate: "Samll. Goold of Sudbury, & Thos. Damon of Natick Aforesaid, Yeomen" "Before me Fras. Fullam Justice of peace" --------------- "Middlesex ss. Sudbury June ye 21st 1737" "Mr. John Goodenow of Needham" is added to "Thomas Damon of Natick and Samuel Gould of Sudbury" to appraise the estate of "Thomas Duntan Late of Natick Deceased", appeared and was sworn in "Before me. Ephraim Curtis Justice of Peace" --------------- "An Inventory of all the Real and personal Estate Goods and Chattels of Thomas Dunten late of Natick ... deceasd. May ye 29th 1737--Prized by us the Subscribers, June the 22nd 23rd 1737 as followeth" [items] "The Sum total of the whole [pounds] 627-04-03 Samuel Gould } The Thomas Damon } apprizers John Goodenow }" --------------- [a second, neater but otherwise exact, copy of the inventory] ... "Middlesex Septr. 16 1737 Mr. Ebenz. Felch the adminstr. Exhibited this Inventory on oath. [undecipherable] S. Danforth Jud. & Reg." --------------- [Ebenezer Felch gives an account: disbursements include] "Rebecca Dunton 2-1-7" "Dohn Dunton to Ballance accts. 15-10-3" [a line that begins 'Delivered to the sd. Deced. widow for her use' is XXXX'ed out.] "Middlesex January 4th 1741 Deacon Ebenz. Felch the adminstr. presented the foregoing" which was allowed by "Jona. Remington Jpro." --------------- [a small, sideways note] "memorandum For the Distribution of the Ballance--the widow to have no part in the Rent of the Place--" On an additional accounting which was given by Ebenezer Felch "July 12 1742." --------------- [a faded copy--difficult to read] "Middlesex ss. Weston Jany. 30th 1741/2" Certificate "at ye Desire and Request of Deacn. Eliezer Kingsbury of Needham ... ye Gardain of the widow Deborah Dunten Relick to Thomas Dunten late of Natick Deceased." The real estate of the deceased is to be appraised, and "a third part" is to be set "off to the widow and also such personal Estate as belongs to the widow. Before me Fras. Fullam Justice of peace" --------------- [an appraisal of real estate by boundaries] "of the Real Estate of Thomas Dunten late of Natick ... Husbandman, Deceasd. Intestate." [1] "two thirds of his Home Lott (the widow's thirds excepted)" is valued at "275-0-0 new tenour" [item] "a stip [slip?/strip??] of Land joyning to the Home lott ... as a way to accomodate the Home Lott." [item] "a wood Lott ... priz'd at Forty five pounds New Tenourd" "And Distribution made of the home lott as followeth (viz) To Isaac Dunten only son to the sd. Thomas Dunten ... To Deborah Dunten Daughter of the sd. Deceasd. ... To Susanna Dunten Daughter of the sd. Deceasd. ..." "and as to the slip of land aforementioned joyning to the Home lott. Each one to have an equal right to that according to their share in ye Home lott together with the widow and liberty of coming to it over each others lotts" The wood lot is to be held in common or sold. "May ye 25th 1750 [signed] Ebenr. Felch } Timothy Bacon } Stephen Bacon jun } Committee Moses Fisk } Nathaniel Battle } Middlesex July 2d 1750" And is accepted by "S Danforth Jprob." --------------- "Tos. Dunton's Real Estate (viz ye 2/3 [undecipherable symbol]) distributed Returned by Mr. Battle July 2d.1750" --------------- [an inventory of the real estate] "of Thomas Dunton Late of Natick in the County of Medellsix ... Decesed. Made by us the subscribers & also xxxxxxxx Have set of one third part of the said Real Estate or right of Dowry in the above said estate of Thomas Duntin late of Natick for ye Benifit & use of Deborah Duntin widow of sd. Deceased as foloweth December ye 16 1741 Item the whole Real Estate prized at 600-0-0 The widows Thirds are as foloweth ..." [signed] "Robert Cook Stephen Bacon Moses Fisk Hezekiah Coller[?] [signed by mark] Thomas Coller prizers apointed and agreed on by both partys ..." --------------- "The Estate of Mr Thomas Dunten late of Natick Deceased to the Subscribers Debtor, June ye 19th 1750" payment is made to the committee for appraisal, and they signed this as receipt. [see next item] --------------- [appointment of committee of five appraisers] "Deacon Ebenz. Felch, messrs Timothy Bacon, Steven Bacon, Moses Fisk all of Natick in the County of Middlesex & Nathaniel Battle of Deadham in the County of Suffolk" to appraise the property of "Thomas Duntan late of Natick in said County husbandman Deceased, Intestate" including all property "except what was formerly set off to his Widow for her Dower" "Eleventh Day of June 1750, and in the 24th Year of His Majesty's Reign S. Danforth J.Prob." --------------- Darrell Formerly of Springfield, Vermont Currently in Exile in Addison, Illinois darrellm@sprynet.com