Nathaniel Mowry

     Nathaniel was born in 1644 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. On 14 May 1666, Nathaniel’s future father-in-law, Edward Inman and Nathaniel’s brother, John, bought 2000 acres of land from William Minnion of Punskepage, Massachusetts on part of what is now Woonsocket. These three men became the first proprietors of the settlement here that became known as Sayles Hill and also Mowery Hill. Nathaniel married Joanna Inman, daughter of Edward Inman I and Elizabeth Hopkins, on 28 August 1666 in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island.³ Nathaniel & Joanna had children: Nathaniel, John, Henry [1670-9/23/1759] [m. 1701 Mary Bull & 2nd. 1726 Hannah Packard], Joseph, Martha [ -1775][m. 5/08/1718 John Smith], Sarah [m. Richard Phillips], Mary, Joannah [m. 8/04/1709 Walter Phetteplace], Patience [ -1734][m. Joseph Smith], Mercy [m. Edward Smith & 2nd 11/26/1741 Willuam Hall] & Experience [ -1718][m. John Malavery].⁴ A certain tract of land located in the far Northwestern part of Providence County, also the same corner of the state of Rhode Island, in a deed dated 16 May 1704, “ laid out unto the said John Inman” described in part as “some distance westward from that tract of land about Wesquadomesett belonging to Edward Inman & his partners & a little way distant from the now dwelling house of John Malavery . . . & adjoyneing to the Easterne part of Joseph Phillips his land, the said Phillips being son in law to John Malavery;” The next documented transaction dated 16 May 1704, “laid out unto Nathaniel Mawrey. . . adjoyneing to the Northerne side of the westerne part of the percell of land wheron the said Nathaniell Mawrey his son John Mawrey now dwelleth . . .not farr distant west Ward from the Tract of land lying Neare about the place called Wesquadomeset, the which belongth unto Edward Inman & his partners.” The partners of Edward Inman were his son-in-law, Nathaniel Mowery and Nathaniel’s brother, John Mowery. These family members, including John Malavery, were the founders of a settlement in this area known as Sayles Hill or Mowery Hill. Nathaniel made his will on 18 March 1718 at Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island.

I Nathaniel Mowrey of Providence, in the colony of Rhoad Island and Providence Plantations in New England, yeoman being weak of body, but of sound and dissposesing memory (praise be given to God for the same) doe make this my last will and testament in manner and form following: First and principally, I commit my sperit into the marcifull hands of Almighty God my Creator: and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried after the descression of my executor hereinafter named: and as to the worldly estate which the Lord hath lent mee in this present life, I give and bequeathe as followeth: Imprimis; I give and bequeathe unto my son Nathaniell Mowrey, one hundred acres of land which is scituate and lieing upon the hill called Wansecutt hill within the township of Providence aforesaid: to have and to hold the said hundred acres of land, be it more or less, with the priviledges and appurtinances unto him my aforesaid son Nathaniell, his heirs and assigns forever. 2dly, I give and bequeathe unto my son John Mowrey Ten acres of land which lieth adjoyning to his homestead, and also Thirty acres of land lieing upon the west side of the aforesaid Wansecutt hill, within the township of Providence aforsd, it being the one halfe of sixty acres of land which lieth in partinorship betwixt my son John Mowrey and myself, to have and to hold the said ten acres unto him my sd son John, and unto his heirs and assigns with all singulier the priviledges and appurtinances thereunto belonging forever. 3dly, I give and bequeathe unto my son Henry Mawrey fifty acres of land to be taken of on the north side of my homestead, where on I now dwell, which is scituate within the towneship of Providence above said and upon Wesquotomsit hill, the said fifty acres to be devided of with a straight line and to be of equall breadth throughout from East to West on the North side of my sd homestead: to have and to hold the said fifty acres of land with all and singulier the priviledges and appurtinances there in contained unto him my said son Henry Mawrey his heirs and assigns forever. 4thly, I give and bequeathe unto my son Joseph Mawrey the remainder parte of all my homestead which I suppose to be one hundred and ten acres of land with the dwelling house standing there on, orchard, and all other and singulier, the priviledges and appurtinances there unto belonging: he allowing the priviledge of the dwelling house to his mother during the term of her naturall life: to have and to hold the said hundred and ten acres of land be it more or less, with the dwelling house and orchard and priviledges afore sd unto him, my afore sd son Joseph Mawrey, his heirs and assigns forever: provided he doth not charge the money I have had of him, so as to have destitution out of my other estate: it being under that consideration of the money I have had of him that I give him so much more thean the other of his brothers. 5thly, I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Martha Mawrey, one half house lott, so-called, in a late devision made in and about the towne of Providence aforesaid: and halfe a right in the Common Lands on the east side of the seven mile line in said Providence, the said halfe lott and halfe right in the commons being in the originall right of Richard Pray: Item, I give and bequeathe unto my aforesaid daughter Martha a small piece of meadow lieing att a place called Popple swamp neare Mateteconnet: within the towne ship of Providence aforesaid. To have and to hold the said Lands, Commons, Meadow and Priviledges aforesaid unto her my aforesaid daughter Martha Mawrey her heirs and assigns forever. 6thly, I give and bequeathe unto my loving wife Johannah Mawrey my dwelling house dureing the term of her naturall life, and, after her decease, to go to my son Joseph or his heirs or assigns aforesaid: Item: I give and bequeathe unto my sd loveing wife all my house hold goods of what sort so ever to be equally devided amongst my six daughters, namely Sarah Phillips, Mary Arnold, Johannah Pheteplace, Patience Smith, Marcy Smith & Experince Malavory, and to be unto them, there Heirs or assigns forever. 7thly, I give and bequeathe unto my aforesaid six daughters, as namely: Sarah Phillips, Mary Arnold, Johannah Pheteplace, Patience Smith, Marcy Smith, & Experience Malavory: all my whole stock of cattle to be equally devided amongst them my aforesaind six daughters and to be unto them, their heirs and assigns: excepting onely one Cow I have already varbaly given to my daughter Martha Mawrey and a maire coult which is not to come into the division. And my will is that my two sons Joseph Mawrey and Henry Mawrey shall take the care and provide for theire mother, my wife, during the time of her naturall Life as she may have nessesaryes fit for her condition in her old age: and I doe name and appoynt my son Joseph Mawrey to be my sole executor to this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I do hereunto sett my hand and seale this 18th day of March, in the fourth yeare of his Majestye's Reigne, George, King of Greate Brittan, etc., Anno Dom. 1717-18.
Nathaniel Mawrey his X marke - Signed, sealed and pronounced in the presence of us: John Mawrey Joseph Bolkcome Richard Waterman, Jr.

Nathaniel departed this life on Thursday, 24 March 1718 in Providence. His will was probated on 18 April 1718.