Detail from Thomas Holmes' 1687 map of Pennsylvania, showing part of Middletown Township and the crook in the Neshaminy Creek. Land was surveyed in a bloc for several people, including "Widdow Hurst [sic: Hayhurst], Richard Thatcher, John Scarbrow [sic: Scarborough], Nicholas Walne, and John Town". This block was later subdivided, and John Scarborough's land butted against William and James Paxson at one end and Nicholas Waln at the other.
Photocopy of the will signed by John Scarbrough in 1696. My thanks to Adam Boyd for sending it to me, April 2008.
Here is my transcription of the will:
In the name of God, Amen. I, John Scarborough of the parish of St. Sepulchers, London, Blacksmith being in perfect health and of sound mind and memory, thanks be to God, but calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye, doe make and ordain this my last Will and Testament consisting of two parts in manner and forme following (that is to say) first and principally I give my soul into the hands of God who gave it me and for my body I commend it to the Earth to be buried in decent manner as my Executrix hereafter named shall think fitt. And touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise bequeath and dispose the same in manner and forme following first I give and devise unto my eldest son John Scarborough for his life my two hundred and fifty Acres of Land, with the Town Lott which lyeth in the County of Bucks in the province of Pensilvania in America which said Land my said Son is now in possession of, and which said Land butteth at one end thereof upon the Land of William Paxton and James Paxton and at the other end upon the Land of Nicholas Waughan [sic: Waln] And my Will and meaning is that after the decease of my said son John Scarborough I give and devise one hundred and fifty Acres thereof unto my grandson William Scarborough for his life and to the Right heires of his body, and the other hundred Acres residue of the said Two hundred and ffifty Acres to be at the sole disposall of my said son John And as for all my personall Estate here in England which consists of ready money bonds bills, debts securities goods household stuffe Chattles and Implements of my trade whatsoever I give and bequeath the same to my dear and loveing wife Sarah Scarbrough during her life for her use she paying and satisfying thereout my funerall charges and all such Debts as I shall owe to any person or persons without delay, And also desiring my said wife to give the residue of what she shall leave at her decease to my son William Scarbrough and my daughter Elizabeth Scarbrough to be equally divided between them share and share alike And of this my last Will and Testament I make and ordain my said Dear and loveing wife Sarah Scarbrough my full and whole Executrix And I doe hereby revoake and annull all former Wills and Testaments by me at any time heretofore made ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this ffifteenth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety and six.
(s) John ScarboroughSigned sealed published and declared to be the last Will and Testament of the above named John Scarbrough in the presence of
(s) William Penn Jur
(s) Tho: Barnard
(s) Saml Harrison
(s) Robert Hutchinson
Acknowledged before me by ye sayd John Scarbrough
(s) Wm Penn
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The following accompanied the will, from Adam Boyd:
(Photostat copy of original presented to Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania, in 1933 by Henry Scarborough, a lawyer of Philadelphia, a descendant of this John Scarborough's son John. Copy received through Dr. Jerome Shaffer of Swarthmore College.)
--------------------------------------------------I visited the Historical Society of Pennsylvania 24 October 2000 and in the John Scarborough file (Gen Z 52 #207) found a photocopy of the will and the following information:
"The original of this apparently unprobated will was purchased by Henry W. Scarborough, Esq., of Philadelphia, Pa. from Miss Sarah B. Paxson of Solebury, Pa. 7/9/32. She received it from her father W. Wallace Paxson and he from his father John Knowles Paxson and he from his father Aaron (son of Thomas Paxson) Aaron Paxson was one of the Executors of the will of his wife's kinswoman Jane Margerum Scarbrough the wife of the noted Quaker Preacher John Scarborough into whose possession the will had doubtless come from John Scarborough his father (the son of the testator) John Scarbrough of London. All of the said Scarbroughs and Paxsons resided in Solebury Township, Bucks Co., Pa."
[On the reverse of the photostat of will is written] "John Scarborough, son of Wm. Scarborough of Hoosier Lane, London, who was born 1598, belonged to Peel Monthly Meeting of Friends and is buried at Bunhill Fileds. (letter from Henry W. Scarborough 15 June 1922 to the Pennsylvania Genelogical [sic] Society)"