FOURTH GENERATION I 9

generation he was a large landholder, although not large in proportion to the landholders of the preceding generation, whose estates numbered thousands, in— stead of hundreds of acres. A part of his land was given to him before his father’s death, but the greater portion he obtained by purchase. In 1721, he was given by his father, one hundred and fifty acres on Tower Hill. This is the farm now owned and occupied by William Nichols. It was afterwards given by Robert to his son Thomas, called College Tom.” The old Mansion House (built perhaps by Robert), was still standing a few years ago. In 1739, he received from his father by deed, two hundred acres of his Boston Neck land. This Robert gave to his sons Richard and Jonathan, by will, having previously given them by deed when of age, as the custom then was, twenty acres. This land was not given as a means of support, but as a qualification for them to become freemen, or voters. His mansion house,” which was on the farm, now owned by Thomas G. Hazard, was given to his son Jonathan by will; also to Jonathan and Richard was given a farm of three hundred acres, near Worden’s Pond, —-land inherited from his father as residuary legatee. His father bought this land in 1710, of Samuel Sewall.

One hundred and thirty years have passed since the death of Robert Hazard. Perhaps his will shows us as much of his character, as can be traced at this late day. It shows us a man who left nothing to chance, and who attended to all minute details, and used an even~handed justice in the equal distribution of his worldly goods. The will bears date March I I, 1762. . . . Being sick and weak in body but of a sound mind and in perfect memory, &c. Item, I give to my beloved wife Sara/a, my Mulatto woman called Lydia, also four cows, such as she shall choose, to be kept yearly and every year, for and during the sum— mer season, by my two sons final/oar; and Ric/yard, and ye winter season by my son Thomas Hazard, yearly and every year, also a black mare, called her mare, also sixty pounds of sheep wool to be delivered to her yearly and every year, twenty pounds by my son 527mm: Hazard, and twenty pounds by my son yonaz‘laaa Hazard, and twenty pounds by my son Ric/yard Hazard, also one equal share of my Puter, Brass, Iron, and wooden vessels; also two of my feather beds, with furniture belonging to them, such as she shall choose; also one room in my Mansion House, such as she shall choose, together with a privilege in the Kitchen, Cellar, Cheese House and well; also ten bushels of apples yearly and and every year, to be choosen by her in y'3 Fall of ye year out of ye orchard ad— joining my Mansion House; also three barrels of cider to be provided her yearly and every year by my son Ric/zardHazard; also one ofmy largest silver spoons, one salt spoon, also three silver spoons marked, I. R, and R. 3., S. H., I. R. B. and two other spoons, as she shall choose; also three hundred weight of good Pork to be provided for her yearly and every year, one hundred weight by my son T/zomaj, one by my son fanat/zan, and one by my son Richard; also two hundred weight of good Beef to be provided in the same manner; also twenty bushels of Indian corn, . . . also two hundred weight of Flower; also the use of the improvement

of