Born: ca. 1720
Died: 23 January 1789, Morris Co., New Jersey
Buried: First Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Woodbridge, New Jersey. Tombstone inscription: Esther, wife of Benjamin Freeman, died Jany. 23, 1789 aged 69 years.
Married:
1) Charles Marsh
2) Benjamin Freeman, Sr. ca. 1775 as his third wife
Records:
1756 - Sep. 20 - Esther was named in her father's will along with her sisters:
Moreover my Will is and I do order that my Son William Cutter shall pay to my Daughter Sarah Jaquesh the Sum of five pounds and to my Daughter Hannah Dennis the Sum of Ten pounds and to my Daughter Esther Marsh the Sum of five pounds all in curr't. money of this Province within the space of one year after my decease & also my Son Richard Cutter shall pay to my Daughter Rebecka Cutter the Sum of Twenty pounds in curr't. money of this Provice within the space of one year after my Decease And also my Son Joseph Cutter shall pay unto my Daughter Mary Baker the Sum of Twenty pounds of curr't. money of this Province within the space of one year all to remain to my abovesaid Daughters and each of them their Heirs & assigns foever.1764 - May 28 - Esther and her son Richard were granted letters of administration in Charles Marsh's estate.
1787 - June 7 - will of Esther Freeman of Hanover, Morris County, being the wife of Benjamin Freeman. People named in will:
- daughter Sarah Tucker, 1/6 personal estate
- daughter Elizabeth Bird, 1/6 personal estate
- daughter Mercy Bald, 1/6 personal estate
- daughter Jane White, 1/6 personal estate
- daughter Hannah Cutter, 1/6 personal estate
- son-in-law Samuel Cutter, 1/6 personal estate
Executors: Kelsey Cutter and Samuel Cutter, Wit: William Johnes, Timothy Johnes, Liber 30, pp. 231-232.
In the Name of God Amen, I Esther wife of Benjamin Freeman of the township of Hanover County of Morris and State of New Jersey and by the consent of my Husband this seventh day of June one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven, being sound of mind and memory do make this my last will and testament. And first of all I devote and dedicate my soul to God its rightful owner and my Body I commit to the earth to be buried in Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executor, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as to my worldly estate with which it hath pleased God to bless me I dispose of the same in manner following:
Imprimis, I will that my just debts and funeral charges be first paid by my executor. Item I give to my beloved daughter Sarah Tucker one sixth part of my money or personal estate and my silver spectacles.
Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Elizabeth Bird one sixth part of my money and one fourth part of my clothes.
Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Mercy Bald one sixth part of my money and one fourth part of my cloths and my silver snuff box.
Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Jane White one sixth part of my money and one fourth part of my clothes.
Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Hannah Cutter one sixth part of my money and one fourth part of my clothes.
Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved son in law Samuel Cutter one sixth part of my money.
Item, I hereby constitute my trusty friends Kelsey Cutter and Samuel Cutter sole executor of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other and former wills by me made ratifying and confirming this to be my last will and testament.
In witness, whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Esther Freeman {seal}
Benjamin Freeman {seal}
Signed sealed from own hand, published and declared to be the last will and testament of Mrs. Esther Freeman in presence of William Johnes, Timothy Johnes, Morris County --1789 - Jan. 2 - executors sworn and appraisers sworn
Morris County
Kelsey Cutter & Sam'l Cutter executors of the last will and testament of Esther Freeman deceased being duly sworn according to law did severally declare that the within writing contains a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods, chattels, & credits of the said deceased as far as have come to their knowledge or possession or to the possession of any other person or persons for their use.
Kelsey Cutter
Samuel Cutter
Sworn at Morristown the 2d day of January AD 1789 before Jabez Campfield
Morris County: Jonas Phillips one of the appraisers of the within inventory being duly sworn according to law did declare that the goods, chattels and credits in the said inventory set down and specified were by him appraised according to their just and true respect--- ---- and values after the best of his judgment and understanding & that Silas Ayres the other appraiser was present at the same time & consented in all things to the doing thereof and that they appraised all things brought to their view for appraisement.
Jonas Phillips
Sworn at Morristown the 2d. Day of Feb. 1789 before Jabez Campfield.1789 - Jan. 10 - Benjamin Freeman of Hanover, Morris County will abstract.
Wife, Esther, goods, a negro and bond against Henry Freeman for £100. Sons, Gilman, Jacob and Samuel. To my son, Benjamin 5 shillings, and my daughters, Elizabeth Johnson and Rachel McCurry. Son Samuel's son Benjamin, a cow. Son Jacob's daughters Phebe and Elizabeth, some linen. Executors - friends Samuel Tuthill and David Fairchild. Wit: Benjamin Woodruff, Josiah Lambert, Nathaniel Beers. Liber 30, p. 2291789 - Jan. 17 - Inventory of Benjamin Freeman's estate made by Jonas Phillips & Silas Ayers £1,346.14.10.
1789 - Jan. 19 - Renunciation of executors Samuel Tuthill & David Fairchild. After this it would fall to next of kin to execute the will. Between Jan. 20 and 22 Benjamin's three sons, Benjamin, Samuel and Gilman renounced executorship.
1789 - Jan. 22 - Renunciation of executorship by Esther Freeman, widow, wit: Hannah Cutter, Jacob Freeman, Samuel Freeman.
1789 - Jan. 30 - Esther's will was proved:
The. Rev'd. Dr. Timothy Johnes and William Johnes two of the witnesses to the within will being duly sworn according to law did depose and say that they saw Esther Freeman the testatrix therein named sign and seal the same and heard her publish promise (?) and declare the within writing to be her last will and testament and that at the doing thereof the said testatrix was of sound and disposing mind and memory as far as these deponents know and as they verily believed and that they signed their names as witnesses to the said will in the presence of the said testatrix. Timothy Johnes, William Johnes, Sworn at Morristown 30th January AD 1789 before Jabez Campfield, Surrogate
The foregoing will being proved Probate was granted by his Execellency Governor Livingston unto Kelsey Cutter and Samuel Cutter they being first duly sworn well and truly to be executors the same, exhibit a true and proper Inventory and render a just and true account when thereunto lawfully required. Given under the prerogative Seal the day and year above written -- Bowes Reed, Register
Morris Townsp.
Kelsey Cutter & Samuel Cutter the executors in the within testament named, being duly sworn according to law, did dispose and say, that the within Instrument contains the true last will and Testament of Esther Freeman the testatrix therein named, so far as they know and as they verily believe that they will well and truly perform the same by paying first the Debts of the said Deceased and then the Legacies in the said Testament specified so far as the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased can thereunto extend; and that they will make and exhibit to the Prerogative Office of New Jersey a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular goods, chattels and credits of the said Deceased that have or shall come to their knowledge or possession or to the possession of any Person or Persons for their use and render a just true account when thereunto lawfully required.
Kelsy Cutter
Samuel Cutter
Sworn at Morris Town1789 - Jan. 31 - inventory of estate £233.11.3 made by Jonas Phillips and Silas Ayers.
30th Jany AD 1789
Before Jabez Campfield.
Mrs. Esther Freeman's Will & Inventory Morris 1789 Engrossed & Probated Recorded in Lib. No. 30 of Wills, page 231. Examined, 724N
An inventory of the goods, chattels and credits of Esther Freeman of Hanover in the County of Morris & state of New Jersey deceased taken this 31st day of January AD 1789 by her executor and appraised by Jonas Phillips & Silas Ayers.
- 1 muslin apron 19/1 do. Hankerchief 4/ 4 caps 4/ £ 0.10.0
- 1 cotton (?) gownd [gown] 20/ 1 silk gownd, apron 6 of silk cloack 40/ £ 6.0.0
- 1 gause Hannkerchief 1/ 6 gloves 1/ 1 gownd 18/ £ 1.0.6
- 1 petticoat 27/ 2 hankerchiefs 3/6 1 ---- apron 4/ 1 Do. [Ditto] 4/ £ 1.18.6
- 8 pair stockings 20/ 1 cloak 10/ 3 shifts 23/ £ 2.13.0
- 1 long cloak 20/ 3 shifts 25/ 6 pillow cases 10/ £ 2.15.0
- 3 Petticoats 15/ Six wescoat (?) 6/ 2 short gown 21/ £ 1.5.0
- 2 pair Jackets (?), 2/ 2 shifts 3/ stays 4/ 4 caps 1/6 £ 0.10.6
- 1 pair gloves 3/ 1 cap 1/ 1 fan 0/9 1 table cloath 2/ £ 0.8.9
- 1 mantle coath 2/ box thread 1/6 2 pair shoes 2/ £ 0.5.6
- 1 book 3/9 3 pair sleeves 2/ old ---- 3/9 £ 0.9.6
- 2 bonnets 7/6 woolen & linen yarn 14/ £ 1.1.6
- Negroe wench & beading £ 40.0.0
- 1 siding chair £ 7.0.0
- umbrella /6 dun horse 160/ £ 8.0.6
- 5 sheep 50/ £ 2.10.0
- 1 bond against Henry Freeman £ 100.0.0
- 1 Do. in the hand of Sam'l Cutter £ 40.0.0
- 1 Do. in the hand of Do. £ 7.10.0
- 1 bead [bed] and beading [bedding] 120/ blanket 20/ £ 7.0.0
- 1 spectacles 20/ snuff box 10/ silver thimble 3/ £ 1.13.0
- 1 pair silver buckles £ 0.12.0
- [Total] £ 233.11.3
Elizabeth
Esther
Richard
No children with Benjamin Freeman
Conflicting information - consider the source:
Find-a-Grave - Benjamin Freeman Sr.'s record indicates that he was married four times
1) Christiana Gilman md. ca. 1737 - her children
- Gilman b. ?
- Benas b. 1744
- Rachel b. 1746
- Sarah b. 1749
- Benjamin b. 1754
- Samuel b. 1756
- Elizabeth b. after 1756 - she may be the daughter of Benjamin's second wife
2) Rachel (--?--) b. 1714, md. Benjamin ca. 1757, d. 1774
3) Esther Cutter / Cutler - md. ca. 1775 - can't locate marriage record
4) Esther Nash md. ca. 1777 - can't locate marriage record, no known children - is this true? Or is she the woman who made the will?
The tombstone - pictured above does exist and it states that Elizabeth, wife of Benjamin Freeman died Jan. 17, 1789. Is this Esther (Cutter/Cutler) (Marsh) Freeman or Esther (Nash) Freeman?
The will above names one certain daughter of Charles & Esther (Cutter/Cutler) Marsh - Elizabeth Marsh who married Jeremiah Bird in 1767 at St. John's Church, Elizabeth, NJ. The will does not name Esther (Marsh) Clark who was living at them time of the will. Her son Richard Marsh is not named in the will. It's possible that Richard & Esther received all their inheritance from their father's estate and were not considered to be owed more.
Revised 11/20/2019
Revised 11/20/2019
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