Stephen BEERS

  General Notes:

b. probably in Norwalk in the 1760's; d. between 23 Dec.
1803 and 5 mar 1804; m. (prob. c. 1793), Sabra ____, who was living as
late as 1819.
He lived in that part of Norwalk which became Wilton in 1802. In his
father's will of 1800 (proved 1801), he received his father's home and a
falf share of a certain piece of land, the other half awarded to Samuel
Beers, believed to be his nephew.
In his will, dated 23 Dec. 1803, calling himself Stephen Beers of
Wilton, he left to his wife Sabra all household furnishings and one year
of provisions for "herself and my children" and the use and improvement
of the whole of his estate until "they severally arrive at the age of 10
years" to assist her in bringing them up. One third part of the
remainder of his movable estate went to her during her life.
He left to his son Moses the whole of his homestead with the privileges
and appurteneances etc. after debts and funeral expenses. The remainder
was to be divided equally among his 4 daughters - named as Elizabeth,
Hannah, Anna and Betsey.
Executors were wife Sabra and Samuel Westcot of Wilton; witnesses were
Samuel Keeler, Thaddeus Mead and Stephen Ayres; the will was proved 5
Mar. 1804.
Items from the inventory are listed below for the indication of the live
style they present and for a study of the relative monetary values
assigned to property in that day.
His dwelling hous was valued at only $24, but the combined value of
individual items of bedding (blankets, quilts, feather bed, pillows,
sheets and pillowcases) came to $33.99. Among items listed were:
7 acres rye on the ground $20.00
1 saddle and bridle 3.00
2 old axes 1.25
1 horse 30.00
6 sheep 10.00
1 loom 4.00
1 barrel cyder 1.25
1 blue broad cloth coat 1.50
1 flannel vest 1.25
1 pr. trousers 1.25
1 striped vest .50
1 pr. nankeen trousers .30
2 check flannel shirts 1.50
1 bedstead & cord 1.00
1 round table .25
1 square table 1.00
6 chairs 1.00
1 chest drawers 2.00
1 warming pan 1.00

Real estate was itemized as: 35 a., 1rood, 27 rods of the Homestead -
$708.30; 21 1/2 a. at Millstone (Milestone?) - $430; and "4 acres on York
line" - $48. His barn was valued at $10. The estate value totaled
$1371.24.
His mother's estate was distributed 11 May 1805, and the heirs of
Stephen were awarded a piece of salt meadow land lying E. of Canfield's
Island bound N by the heirs of Moses Beers, E by Josiah Raymond, S by
Ruhamah St. John and W by the heirs of John Nash. His heirs sold this
land to Hutton Smith of Norwalk for $30 to cover debts and charges
allowed by the Court against his estate.
His estate was distributed 5 Aug. 1805, and his heirs were noted as:
his widow, son Moses, Elizabeth - eldest dau., Hannah - 2nd dau., Anney -
3rd dau., and Betsey - 4th dau.
The widow Sabra was given the north room of the house with the chamber
above and one part of the cellar, with the liberty "to pass and repass
south of the house to the well" and also the east bay of the barn and
half of the floor way there plus 11 acres of land in the homestead.
Son Moses received (as the will dictated) 2/3 of the barn plus 23 a. of
land in the homestead - bound E & N on the highway, W on heirs of Moses
Beers, Jr., deceased, and Jeremiah Keeler, S on the widow's third.
The daughters got parts of the land at Milestone Hill.
Children - prob. all b. Norwalk (later Wilton):