Samuel Beardsley

     Samuel was born circa 1638 at Massachusetts or possibly in Stratford, Connecticut. He was the son of William Beardsley and Mary Harvey. In his father's will, he was left land in Pequonnock in what is now Bridgeport.² Samuel married Abigail Clark before 8 March 1663/64 in New Haven County, Connecticut. On this day, Abigail, wife of Samuel Beardsley was treated by John Winthrop Jr.³ Samuel & Abigail had children: Abigail [8/10/1664], Samuel [9/__/1666], William [3/02/1668], Daniel [4/__/1671], John [10/11/1673], Ebenezer [2/04/1675], Benjamin [12/21/1677], Mary [5/01/1680][m. Jonathan Wakelee], Hannah [10/25/1682][m. John Parruck], Nathan [10/07/1686] & Sarah [m. Thomas Barnum].² In 1678, he was one of the nine Charter Members in the First Congregational Church in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connectictut until dismissed in 1695. Samuel departed this life on Friday, 24 December 1706 in Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut. John Beardsley, Jr. and Jonathan Wakelee were appointed Administrators of Samuel of Stratford's estate 10 April 1707. The Court also ordered them to provide and inventory.⁴ The inventory of Samuel's estate was taken on Friday, 15 April 1707 by Samuel Treadwell David Sherman & James Benitt and confirmed by the administrators, John Beardslee and John Wakelee. The appriasal valued the estate at £570 10s. 3d.⁴ His estate was probated on 30 April 1707. The estate of Samuel was distributed to his wife and children. His wife received her 1/3 part and the children; John, Benjamin, Nathan Mary, wife of Jonathan Wakelee, Hannah, wife of John Parruck, & Sarah, wife of Thomas Barnum, each received £73 16s. 5d.⁴