John Stevenson was the oldest son and inherited his father's lands. [1]
1666 John Stevenson was a freeholder in Newtown, Long Island, New York on 4 December 1666, and again on 4 January 1667. [2]
1670 "December 13, 1670. The last will & Testament of John Stevenson ... I give my house & land with ye share of meadow lying by John Burroughs being a share of salt meadow, unto my sister Sarah Hais & her child after her, with ye crop that is sowed upon it. Ye rest of ye upland & ye meadow at ye South Sea to my brother Edward & also my meadow before John Lorrison to my brother Thomas. Also I give two cows and a calf to my sister & her child, my half share of ye gray mare to my brother Edward. Further I do give my brother Thomas two steers only he shall instead of them put in two cows of his own & they with my house shall be divided equal betwixt him & my sister & her child. Also a breeding sow unto my sister & brother Edward. Further I also bequeath all ye rest of my estate as debts bills or what else to me equally divided ? another half mare & a colt to my brother Edward. Memorandum ye house & Land to my sister is to be understood ye home Lott. Further my mynde is that if my sister & her child should dye before they marry, that then ye legacy to return to my brothers equally to be divided & that this my sisters present husband Patrick Hais have nothing to do with these legacyes. Witness my hand John Stevenson. Witnessed Francis Doughty and Samuel Moore. Memorandum that my brother Thomas be my sole executor of this my will & testament." [3]
1670/71 On 2 March, "Letters of Administration granted to Thomas Stevens upon ye estate of John Stevens dec'd. Whereas John Stevens late of New Towne at? Middleborough dyed in ye month of December last & having made a will wherein he leaves his brother Thomas Stevens to be his Exec' to take care of ye p'formance of what in ye said will is exprest w'ch according to ye usual course of ye law ought to be first recommended to ye court of Sessions for that Ryding, but it so falling out that no court is to be held untill ye month of June next during w'ch time ye estate of ye deceased may be impaired for want of power in ye executor to look after it. These are therefore to certifye that tha'forementioned Thomas Stevens broth' to ye deceased & by him in his will left executor is by me admitted & confirmed executor to all Intents & purposes of ye whole estate together w'th ye goods or chattles of what nature or kind so ever or heretofore belonging or in any wise apperteyning to ye aforesaid John Stevens deceased. And ye said Thomas Stavens hath hereby full power & lawfull Authority to Acte in ye premises & to dispose thereof as Executors or Adm' by ye Lawes of this governm't are allowed to do. Given under my hand & seal at Fort James in New Jork this 2d day of March in ye 23th year of his Ma'ties Reigne Anno Domini 1670.1" [4] [5]
[1] John R. Stevenson, Thomas Stevenson of London, England, and his Descendants (1902), 14, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[2] John R. Stevenson, Thomas Stevenson of London, England, and his Descendants (1902), 14, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[3] New York Probate Records, 1629-1971, New York, Will 1-113, [FamilySearchImage].
[4] New York Probate Records, 1629-1971, New York, Will 1-114, [FamilySearchImage].
[5] William S. Pelletreau, Abstracts of Wills on file in the Surrogate's office: city of New York, Vol. 1, 1665-1707 (New York: The New York Historical Society, 1893), 14, Will 1-2.59, abstract, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive], [GoogleBooks].