1776 Jonathan Chesshire, of Chesterfield, Burlington County, dated his will on December 8. That plantation in Hanover, where John Molsbury lives, to be sold, and the money to be g-iven to the following legatees; the male children of my cousins, John, Jonathan, Joseph, Samuel and Robert Kirby, to have a double share, and the female children of all their father's aforesaid to have each a half, as they come of age. An equal share is to be given to the children of Joseph Hopkins; whose names are, Moses, Asa, Joseph and Burzelai Hopkins, and Mary Hopkins. To my brother, Samuel Chesshire's widow and children, £100. Cousin Mary Lownsbury, £20, and to her son, Samuel Lownsbury, £10. Cousin, Mary Woodward, wife of Jesse Woodward, £5. Cousin, Elizabeth Fowler, £5. To Chesterfield Monthly Meeting, £20, for building the new meeting house. To the children of John, Jonathan, Joseph, Samuel and Robert Kirby, and Joseph Hopkins, the rest of moneys. Cousin, Ann Hopkins, wife of Joseph Hopkins, my bed. To Amy Kirby, wife of Robert Kirby, a bed. Executors—Cousin, Robert Kirby, and Gervas Pharo. Witnesses — Barzillai Ivins, Zachariah Cleavenger, Israel Kirby. Proved March 17, 1777. [1]
1777 Inventory, £1,445.5.0, made by John Bullock and Benjamin Kirby. Dated March 14. [2]
1787 The estate of Jonathan Cheshire, of Burlington County, was administered by Gervas Pharo and Robert Kirby. Jonathan Kirby, father of John, Mary, Joseph, Caleb, Hannah, Farnsworth, and Jonathan Kirby, complained that the administrators had not exhibited their accounts. Deborah Kirby was a legatee of the will. [3]
1777-91 The account of the estate of Jonathan Chesshire listed receipts and payments over this period of time. Payments of £9.1.10 were made for legacies on 5 March, 1787 to Ann Ivins and on August 17, 1780 to Ann Chesshire and Samuel Chesshire. Payment of £9.1.10 was made to Martha Wetheril, daughter of Samuel Chesshire. There were many payments "in hard money" to various members of the Kirby or Hopkins [as noted] families, many of which were either £6.12.0 [Mary] or £8.16.6 [Alice, Mary, Mary Hopkins] or £13.4.0 (twice £6.12.0)[Joseph Jr] or £17.13.0 (twice £8.16.6)[Isaac, Abraham, Joseph Jr, Caleb] or £27.6.9 [Abigail, Rebecca, Sarah, Phebe, Charity, Ann] or £37.0.6 [Noah, John, Abraham, Isaac, Josiah, Saml Hopkins - a legatee, Jacob, Noah, John, Caleb] or £54.13.6 [Israel, Job, Abel, Robert, Richard, Barzilla Hopkins (new paper money), Samuel Hopkins (new paper money), Joseph Hopkins Jr], suggesting that the payments represented either one or two shares. Land tax of the plantation late said Chesshire where John Walburg lived was paid on 7 March 1779. [4]
[1] A. Van Doren Honeyman, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 34. (Wills and Administrations 5, 1771-1780) (1931), 90, [InternetArchive].
[2] A. Van Doren Honeyman, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 34. (Wills and Administrations 5, 1771-1780) (1931), 90, citing Lib. 18, p. 127, [InternetArchive].
[3] Burlington County, New Jersey, Miscellaneous Probate Papers 1778-1815, book C, image 95 of images 94-130, [FamilySearchImage].
[4] Burlington County, New Jersey, Miscellaneous Probate Papers 1778-1815, book C, image 101 of images 94-130, [FamilySearchImage].