Last Will and Testament of Sarah Ensing of Hartford

We know her as Sarah Elson (or Nelson) Ensign, wife of James, and I'm proud to call her my 8th great grandmother. 

Sarah was born in England in 1612, and made the journey by sea to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1634. By 1639 the family was living in Hartford, where they were among the founders of the town. 

Hartford historical marker (Google Images)

Founders Monument, Hartford, Connecticut
(Google Images)

Monument detail, showing James Ensign's name
Image from Ancestry.com

Sarah and James had five children:
Sarah 1630-1659
Mary 1639-1723
Hannah 1644-1711
David  1644-1727 (my ancestor)
Lydia 1649-1649

We find our way into the lives of our ancestors through documents and records. I have always thought that the inventories of household goods tell us the most about everyday life long ago.

In Sarah's words (1):

*****

Sources and Notes

1. Ancestry.com. Record of the descendants of James Ensign and his wife Sarah Nelson, 1634-1939-1960 [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.

Original data: Nelson, Martha Eunice Ensign.. Record of the descendants of James Ensign and his wife Sarah Nelson, 1634-1939-1960. United States: M.E.E. Nelson, 1960.

How I am related to Sarah Elson:

Sarah Elson (1612 - 1676)
8th great-grandmother (or my great great great great great great great great grandmother)

David Ensign Sr. (1644 - 1727)
son of Sarah Elson

David Ensign (1688 - 1759)
son of David Ensign Sr.

Abigail Ensign (1710 - 1796)
daughter of David Ensign

Eunice Gillett (1741 - )
daughter of Abigail Ensign

Merab Ives (1776 - 1843)
daughter of Eunice Gillett

John Shepherd Kinney (1802 - 1872)
son of Merab Ives

Sarah Ann "Anna" Kinney (1842 - 1935)
daughter of John Shepherd Kinney

David Jewett Crabtree Sr. (1875 - 1954)
son of Sarah Ann "Anna" Kinney; my grandfather

Elva Myrtle Crabtree (1914 - 1998)
daughter of David Jewett Crabtree Sr.

Clair Marie Harris
I am the daughter of Elva Myrtle Crabtree