York

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From my book "Line of Descent of George Roger Gilbert"

THE YORK FAMILY

BY WILLIAM M. SARGENT, ESQ.

There is scarcely a family in Savage's Dictionary less noticed than this; and it is the more surprising because records do exist, though widely scattered, yet sufficiently definite to insure gratifying accuracy in the earlier generations and to lay the foundation to which successors of the name may add their succesive courses.

Of the six heads of families mentioned with the information, all except a certain James, who was of Stonington, L. I., are referrible to the parent stem of Richard, who was the common ancestor of all the Yorks in this part of New England, with the few exceptions hereafter noted. These people seem to have clung with a tenacity that is rare to the earlier cradles of their race, Dover, North Yarmouth, Falmouth, and Gloucester.

In the Court papers of Rockingham County, N. H., 1659-1672, page 457, is recorded this imperfect will of the first Richard York, unsigned unquestionably from some overpowering physical disablity, after it had been carefully drawn up, and somewhat incautiously signed by the attesting witnesses in advance.

As it has been generally overlooked in its obscurity, never reaching print heretofore, and since it furnishes the best point of departure from which to chronicle the progress of this family, it is considered worthy a prominent place herein.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF RICHARD YORK, OF DOVER

In ye name of God Amen ye lator will & testamT of Richard Yorke who being well stricken in yeares but ripe in memory this 23; day of Aprile 1672, Viz: I doe leave & bequeath to my son Jno. York yt I now live in my farme ye dwelling houses & out houses Privledges & ye apptnances thereunto belonging together wth ye stocke wch shall remaine upon ye farme after my decease & ye legacies here mentioned shalbe paide & what stock of cattle & sheepe & swine shalbe left after ye legacies be paide shalbe equally devided between my son Jn. Yorke & daughter Elizabeth & my son Benjamin Yorke & my daughter Grace Yorke and likewise alsoe I doe leave & bequeath to my wife Elizabeth Yorke during her life time one third pte of ye estate & one cow only my son John Yorke paying ye just debts to any pson or persons yt can be made justly appeare. Also I do leave & bequeath to my daughter Rachele Halle five pounds & also I doe leave & bequeath to my son Benjain Yorke that tract of land wch I hold by Towne Grant scituate lying & being near ye second fall of Lampill River adjoining unto yt which was lately Jno Martyns lott together wth one yoke of oxen & alsoe doe leave & bequeath to my daughter Grace York tenn pounds also leave & bequeath unto my two grandchilren Rich: Yorke & Benjamin Yorke fiftie shillings apeese Alsoe to my daughter Grace Yorke legacies is to be paid at her day of marriage or eighteen years of age.

Now I, Richard living & being ripe in memory doe so acknowledge this to be my last will & testamt signed sealed & acknowledged, in the presence of us to be his act and deede datd ye 23 of Aprile 1672.

Witnes us the marke of

Nichos ( ) Doe. [SEAL{

ffrancis Thorn

An imperfict will of Rich; Yorke brought in to the countee Court held in Portsmth 30 June 1674 this Court Appoynts his Widdow Elizabeth Yorke & Jno Yorke Administer to ye estate and order yt ye estate be devided according to this imperfect will & give securitie yt they will pform ye same accordingly

Elias Stileman Cle.

Vera copia of ye originall as it is upon file attest

Elias Stileman Cleri.

Besides this will the records contain little concerning Richard York, but that show him to have been a worthy settler who was in good standing in his community and church, and by steady industry in his life as a planter, he had accumulated a respectable competency. He appears first in Dover on record in 1648. In 1656 he had a grant of one hundred acres from the Town which he devised to his son Benjamin. This land appears to have been at Oyster River, as the son in 1675 is taxed there. It appears from a ded (Rockingham Reg. 2 - 80) dated 7 Aug. 1661, that he had before that date bought fifty acres at Littlejohn's Creek of William Hilton, which he then sold to Joseph Austin, his wife Elizabeth joining in the conveyance. In 1669 he signs the Church petition. His widow some time after his decease in 1674, married William Graves, who in 1701 ( Rockingham Reg. 9 - 621), is called of Exeter, whither they had probably removed.

(Id. 3 - 182) "It is agreed betweixt William Graves on the one part, and John York his son in law on ye other part, that what the sd William Graves hath received of Richard York's estate, it shall be to ye use of sd Richard York deceased during the lives of the sd William & Elizabeth Graves.

8 June 1681. Acknowledged at Court at Dover."

FIRST GENERATION

(1) Richard and Elizabeth York.

SECOND GENERATION

2 i. John, b. ; m. Ruth ?

3. ii. Samuel, b. 1643; m. Hannah _? d. 18 March, 1718.

4 iii. Elizabeth, b. _.

5. iv. Rachel, b. ; m. ______Hall. (Capt. Benjamin Hull)

6. v. Benjamin, b. 1654.

7. vi. Grace, b. after 1654; m. John Gilman of Exeter.