Josiah Hunt II

     Josiah was born on Sunday, 11 March 1674 in Long Neck, Westchester, Westchester County, New York. He was the son of Josiah Hunt I and Rebecca Harrison. Josiah inherited "Grove Farm" from his grand father, Thomas Hunt, in 1694 as per will. He was known as "Josiah of Grove Farm". He was president of the trustees for the erection of the First Episcopal Church in Westchester, 4 September 1700. Josiah had also been trustee of the Freehold in 1692. Josiah was a church warden & elderman in 1702. Josiah married Abigail Hustis circa 1695 in Westchester, Westchester County, New York. Josiah & Abigail had children: Jacob [11/06/1696-1758][m. Phebe Quimby], Rebecca [3/25/1698][m. Pell]], Caleb [12/10/1699][m. 6/30/1727 Sarah Hallock 1702 d/o John & Hannah], Ester [7/01/1701], Rachael [3/06/1703 - 1761][m. Edmund Fowler s/o Henry II], Solomon [4/06/1705][m. Catharine Bishop], *Tabitha [ 9/25/1707], Lydia [10/22/1710] [m. Walter Briggs].³ Josiah made his will on 31 October 1743 at "Grove Farm", Throgs Neck, Westchester County, New York.

In the name of God Amen – I Josiah Hunt of the Burrough Town of Westchester in the County of Westchester and province of New York Yeoman being far advanced in years but of sound disposing mend and memory thanks be to God for the same calling to mind the uncertainty of this life the certainty of death & the uncertain time and hour thereof do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following – First and principally I commit my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and my Body to th Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors herein after named - - and as touching such worldly Estate as I have I do dispose of the same as follows: I will that all my Just debts and Funeral Charges be paid and fully satisfied in some convenient time after my decease by my Executors herein after named – Item I give and bequeath to my Son Jacob Hunt the sum of Ten pounds Current Maney of New York – Item I give and bequeath unto my Son Caleb Hunt the sum of Ten pounds like money – Item I give and Bequeath unto my Son Solomon Hunt the Sum of fifty pounds like money – Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Daughter Tabitha Hunt over and above what I shall hereinafter give her the Sum of two hundred pounds like money – Item I do hereby give and devise and bequeath further to my said Son Jacob Hunt all those my Lands Adjoining to my homestead in Grove Farm whereon I how dwell which said Lands I purchased from the Trustees of Westchester with some other divisions containing about sixty acres to the same more or less Scituate and being on Frogs Neck in Westchester aforesaid as the same is bounded and lying between the said Grove Farm the Land and of Thomas Barster JohnHunt and the Highway from Westchester to the Ferry to have and to hold the same to my said Son Jacob Hunt his Heirs and assigns forever he paying to my Executors hereinafter named the Sum of Fifty Pounds Current Money of New York for the use of my Four Daughters Rachel Fowler Rebecca Pell Lydia Briggs and Tabitha Hunt to be paid as follows: to wit twenty five pounds thereof to be paid at one Year after my decease & the other twenty five pounds to be paid at two years after my decease which said of Sum fifty pounds I will my Executors do pay and divide equally amongst my said four daughters share & share alike and if in case my said Son Jacob Hunt or his heirs executors or Assigns shall neglect or refuse to pau the aforesaid Legacie of Fifty Pounds at the times herein limited then & in such case I do hereby give and grant unto my Executors herein after named full power & Authority or the Survivor of them to sell and dispose of the aforesaid Lands herein devised to my said Son Jacob Hunt in fee simple to any person or persons & to execute such conveyance as they or the Survivor of them shall think fit for the best price or prices that they or the Survivors of the can get for the same and the Money Arising by virtue of such Sale I do hereby will and order shall be Equally divided and paid by my Executors to and Amongst my said Four Daughters Rebcca Pell Rachel Fowler Lydia Briggs & Tabitha Hunt Share a & share alike – Item I give and bequeath unto my Executors hereafter named the Sum of Five pound to each of them – Item I will and do hereby give full power and authority to my Executors hereinafter named or the Survivor of them within some Convenient time after my decease to sell and dispose to the best Advantage they can All my other Land of Lands Whatsoever Scituate lying and being on Frogs Neck aforesaid with the Hereditaments and Appurtenances thereof in fee simple to any person or persons & to make and Execute such deeds & Conveyances for the same as they or the Survivors of them shall think fit and the Moneys arising there from to be for the use of my said four Daughters as is hereafter Expressed – Item I do hereby give and bequeath unto my said Four Daughters Rebecca Pell Rachel Fowler Lydia Briggs & Tabitha Hung all the rest and residue of my moveable and personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever together with the Moneys arising by virtue of the Sale if those Lands I have herein ordered my Executors to sell all which premises I will & Ordain equally divided amongst my said Four Daughters share & share Like – Item I give and devise unto my said Son Jacob Hunt & to his heir heirs and assigns forever a twenty five pound privilege in the Common of Westchester. Lastly, I do nominate Constitute and Appoint my son in law Walter Briggs and my friend Anthony Bartow to be the Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking & Making Void all other Wills by me hereto fore made. In Witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this thirty first day of October in the Year o our Lord One Thousand and Seven Hundred and Forty three – Signed Josiah Hunt – Witnesses: Edward Stevenson Basil Bartow Duncan Read Increase Bartow.⁴

Josiah departed this life in Throgs Neck at "Grove Farm". His will was probated on 14 February 1746.