Will of George Lawton

Last Will and Testament document with quill pen and handwriting

George² Lawton (second son of George 1) was born about 1647 at Portsmouth, RI and died September 11, 1697. He married Naomi Hunt born September 15, 1658 at Portsmouth, RI and died January 13, 1720/21 at Portsmouth, RI. They married January 17, 1676/77 at Portsmouth, RI. She was the daughter of Bartholomew and Ann Hunt.

Their children were as follows:
Elizabeth Lawton b: Nov 15, 1678 Portsmouth, RI
+Holland Curtis
George Lawton b: Apr 30, 1685 Portsmouth, RI d: Aft 1755
+Rebeckah Little b: Abt 1688 d: Oct 16, 1755
Robert Lawton b: Oct 14, 1688 Portsmouth, RI d: Bef 1727
+Priscilla Barker b: Unknown d: Feb 12, 1731/32
Job Lawton b: Jan 22, 1691/92 Portsmouth, RI d: May 14, 1739
+Priscilla Thurston b: Abt 1688 d: Nov 19, 1738

George² Lawton was a wealthy and important man for the times.
To his son Job, he gave six hundred pounds at eighteen and “to brought up in learning.”
To daughter, Elizabeth Curtis, one hundred pounds.
Makes a good provision for his wife.
To son, Robert, the southerly part of farm and half the orchard (one hundred acres).
To son, George, rest of farm and other lands in Portsmouth and Narragansett “with housing where I dwell.

“Inventory of estate: 200 sheep, 100 lambs, 14 cows, 4 oxen, bull, 3 heifers, 2 steers, 7 yearlings, 6 calves, 2 mares, 2 colts, 11 swine, 2 Negro boys 60 pounds, Indian girl 25 shillings, 7 chairs, 3 tables, looking glass, joint stools, 1/8 Brigantine “George” and 150 pounds of lading if she comes home well, but if she doth not come home then nothing, rum and molasses 24 pounds, sugar 19 pounds 5 shillings, beds, gun, silver plate 30 pounds 10 shillings, books 30 shillings, wearing apparel, saddle, side saddle, etc.”

Ref: Arnold’s Vital Records; will of George proved Sept. 24, 1697, named wife Naomi; sons, George, Robert and Job; daughter, Elizabeth Curtis.

I wonder if the Brigantine George was involved in the triangular trade missions? In some cases these shipstraveled from New England to Africa to the Caribbean islands and back to New England. The merchant vessels carried New England rum to African slavers, African slaves on “the middle passage” to the West Indies, and West Indian sugar and molasses to New England for the rum distilleries.