Richard Terry

     Richard was born on Friday, 17 August 1618 in England. On 13 July 1635, Richard left London aboard the ship, "James", mastered by Jonathan May, bound for New England. Listed among the passengers were Thomas Terry [aged 28 years], Robert Terry [aged 25 years] 7 Richard Terry [aged 17 years]. They landed at Salem, Massachusetts..⁴ He remained there only a short time before he removed to Springfield and then on to Lynn. Finally, in 1640, he moved to Long Island as one of the thirteen original settlers at Southold. He was made a freeman there on 9 October 1662. His brother, Thomas later settled at Southold and Robert at Flushing. Richard married Abigail Lines, daughter of father Lines and mother (?), on 22 May 1649 in the Town of Southold. He was recorder of Southold Town and its clerk from 1664 to 1673. He recorded the names and births of his children there. Richard departed this life on Tuesday, 16 July 1675 at his farm "Quashanecs" in the Town of Southold at age 56 years, 10 months and 29 days. The inventory of Richard's estate was taken on Friday, 26 July 1675. The estate was valued at £222 12s.⁵ Richard made his will before 13 May 1676 at the Town of Southold, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.

I Richard Terry of Southold in the East Rideing on Long Island being weal in body but Sound in understanding, blessed bee God, Doe make this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following: ffirst I bequeath my body to the Dust from whence it came, And my Emortall Soule to ye Lord Jesus Christ whoe purchased it with his most precious blud, by whom alone I hope for eternall Salvation. And Touching the outward estate God hath lent me, I dispose thereof as followeth: I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Abigail Terry for her life the accommodations in Town, and house & land that properly belong to that house, that is to say with 4 acres of land that joyne to the house, with the orchard and fences about the same And 8 acres of land that lyes at the North Sea, and 100 in Calves neck, and 1 in the ould field, and 100 acres of meadow in the Great meadow at Catchache. I give unto my sone Gershom Terry one half of my wood land at Catchache and my sone Samuel the other half, alsoe a piece of meadow that was my brother Thomas Terry by which I had by virtue of Exchange. I give to my daughter Abigail 20 acres of land more or less lying in the Fort neck to her and her heyrs, "thats to say, Thomas Rider's heyrs and one cowe. I give alsoe to my two sones Nathaniel & my sone Richard, my house and the land which I live upon here at Squash neck, with all the meadow that doe belong to it lying in the Fresh meadow and this to posses when my sone Richard comrd to the age of one and twenty. And I alsoe give to my sone John, after his mother’s decease, the house & accommodations in Towne with the rest of the accommodations belonging thereunto as is formerly expressed. I give to my sone Gerham a yocke of young steeres and a young mare one years ould and the Vantage, and two steeres. I do alsoe leave all my children to be at my wives command, to be educated & brought up, both for the good of their Soule and Body tell they come unto their respective age. That is to say my sones at the age of one and twenty and my daughters at eighteene. I give to my sonne Nathaniel and my sonne Richard a yock of oxen, and to have them when they come to possess the farme, with one cowe for milke. Alsoe I give my sonne John one cowe when he comes of age. And all the rest of my cattle which is not exprest I leave ot my wife for her Selfe and for the bringing up of my children tell they come of age: and forage I give to my sonne Samuell 100 acres of meadow lying at Ackabache. And I make my sone Gurshom my executor and my wife Execktreckes of this my last will and testament. And all my debts which I owe, it shall be paid out of that estate that is not disposed of, that is left in my wives hand: In witness whereof I have sett my hand and seal the day and year above written: Witness: Barnabus Windes and Sarah Windes
Postscript.-- When my wife see cause to live in the Towne, my three eldest sons, Gerson, Nathaniell and Richard shall fitt and repair her house in a habitable and comfortable manner.⁶

His will was probated on 13 May 1676. He was buried at Town of Southold, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, in the First Presbyterian Church burying ground in the village of Southold.⁷