Individual Details

Mathew Hastings

(18 Sep 1718 - 31 Dec 1790)

Mathew Hastings, b. Weston MA 18 Sep 1718 son of Joseph & Elizabeth (Edwards) Hastings (VR): d Vassalborough 31 Dec 1790 (Moses Hastings' Bible, in possession of submitter): m Dedham MA 14 Sep 1742 Mary Battle (VR), b Dedham MA 14 Dec 1721 dau of John & Abigail (Draper) Battle (VR), d Sidney 24 Dec 1804 ae 84y (VR; Moses Hastings Bible), Mathew was in Dresden in 1756 where he was chosen to lay out roads (Charles Edwin Allen, History of Dresden, Maine [1931], p 209). On 6 Nov 1759, Mathew and other inhabitants of Frankfort [an early name for Dresden} signed a petition to become incorporated into a township, The act was passed 13 Feb 1760 (Fannie S. Chase, Wiscasset in Pownalborough [1941], pp 70-71), On 15 Jul 1762, he was elected to serve on a committee in Pownalborough to choose a minister and as one of the surveyors of timber boards and cutters (TR). In 1766, Mathew, his son Moses, John Marsh, and James Bacon were among the inhabitants of Vassalborough who petitioned the Kennebec Company in Boston for a grist mill (Alma Pierce Robbins, The History of Vassalborough, Maine [1971], p. 11; TR Vassalborough). On 17 May 1771, he was appointed to notify the inhabitants of the proposed township of Vassalborough of their first town meeting to be held 22 May 1771 at the house of James Bacon, taverner (Henry D. Kingsbury & Simeon L. Deyo, Illustrated History of Kennebec County, Maine {1892], p. 1095). Mathew was elected moderator in Vassalborough in 1771 and served thereafter as moderator to 1787 as well as selectman; he also served on the Committee of Safety and Correspondance, as collector of highway taxes, and as town clerk (TR). His will, dated 31 Dec 1790 and probated 18 Jan 1791, named his wife Mary, his dau Sarah wife of Dodivah Townsend, his son Moses, his deceased dau Mary wife of William Brooks, his dau Abigail Butterfield, his dau Hannah wife of Nathaniel Evans, his dau Mercy wife of Reuben Page, his dau Susanna wife of Joseph Greely, and his deceased dau Rebecka wife of Joseph Kelly (William D. Patterson, The Probate Records of Lincoln County, Maine: 1760 to 1800 [rept 1991], pp. 202-4). He also named grandchildren William and Sarah Kelly, the underage children of Joseph and Rebecca Kelly. He bequeathed his homestead farm to his son-in-law Dodivah Townsend (Reynolds 145).

Events

Birth	18 Sep 1718	Weston, Middlesex, Massachusetts, British America
Marriage	14 Sep 1742	Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, British America - Mary Battle
Census	1790	Vassalborough, Lincoln, Maine, United States
Death	31 Dec 1790	Vassalborough, Lincoln, Maine, United States
Will	31 Dec 1790	Vassalborough, Lincoln, Maine, United States

Families

Spouse	Mary Battle (1721 - 1804)
Child	Moses Hastings (1743 - 1838)
Child	Abigail Hastings (1744 - )
Child	Katherine "Kata" Hastings (1746 - 1790)
Child	Hannah Hastings (1750 - )
Child	Mary Hastings (1752 - 1790)
Child	Mercy Hastings (1757 - )
Child	Rebecca Hastings (1760 - 1790)
Child	Susanna Hastings (1760 - 1848)
Child	Sarah Hastings (1765 - 1803)

Father	Joseph Hastings (1669 - 1725)
Mother	Elizabeth Edwards (1679 - )
Sibling	John Hastings (1700 - 1745)
Sibling	Elizabeth Hastings (1702 - )
Sibling	Lydia Hastings (1705 - )
Sibling	Mary Hastings (1708 - )
Sibling	Joseph Hastings (1711 - )
Sibling	Hannah Hastings (1713 - )
Sibling	Abigail Hastings (1716 - )
Sibling	Esther Hastings (1721 - )

Notes

Will

In the Name of GOD, Amen. The Thirty-first Day of December, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand, seven Hundred & ninety, I Matthew Hastings, of Vassalborough, in the County of Lincoln and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Gentleman, being weak in Body, but of sound and disposing Mind and Memory, and knowing that I must shortly leave this earthly Tabernacle, do commit my Soul into the Hands of the all-merciful Author of it, firmly trusting, through the Merits of my most beneficent Saviour, in a glorious Resurrection to Eternal Life; and my Body to be interred at the Discretion of my Executors. And with Regard to that earthly Substance with which it hath pleased God to endow me, I will and dispose of it in the following Manner, viz.
First. I will that all my just Debts and Funeral Charges shall be paid.
Secondly. I give devize and bequeath unto Mary, my beloved Wife, all my Live Stock and In-Door Moveables, forever, and the West Room in my Dwelling-House, during her natural Life.
Thirdly. I give, devize and bequeath unto my Son-in Law, Dodivah Townsend & Sarah his Wife, my Homestead Farm, with the Buildings & Appurtenances thereof, except my Wife's Living in the said West Room, together with all my Carpenter's Tools and farming Utensils, he paying what I am indebted to William Howard Esqr- and also Ten Bushels Indian corn & eight Bushels English Grain to my said Wife, p Annum, during her Natural Life and keeping two Cows & one Horse for her, during the same Term: and also supply her with Wood enough for one Fire during said Term.
Fourthly. I give, devize and bequeath unto my Son Moses Hastings, my Lot of Land at Sandy River, together with my Right in the Lot lately improved by Reuben Page, to the Westward of the West Pond, near said Vassalboro' with the Privileges & Appurtenances thereof- To have and to hold the same unto him the said Moses, his Heirs and Assigns forever.
Fifthly. I give, devise and bequeath unto the Heirs of Mary Brooks, Twenty Pounds, to be paid out of a Note of William Brooks 's now in my possession.
Sixthly. I give devize & bequeath unto my Daughter Abigail Butterfield, Twenty Pounds, to be paid out of a Note payable to the late John Rogers, decd. on whose Estate I was Administrator.
Seventhly. I give devize and bequeath unto my Daughter Hannah Evens, Twenty Pounds, out of a Note in my Possession against her Husband Nathaniel Evens --This Legacy to be paid as soon as possible after my Decease.
Eighthly. I give, devize and bequeath unto my Daughter, Mercy Page, the Debt her Husband Reuben Page owes me.
Ninthly. I give, devize and bequeath unto my Daughter Susanna Greely, Fifteen Pounds, to be paid out of the Debt her Husband, Joseph Greely, owes me.
Tenthly. I give devize and bequeath unto the Children of Joseph Kelly, by my Daughter Rebecca , viz. To William Kelly Ten pounds, to be paid when he comes of age- To Sarah Kelly , Six pounds, to be paid when she comes of age- These Legacies to be paid by Jonathan Combs out of the Legacy hereinafter bequeathed to him.
Eleventhly. I give and bequeath unto Mary Combs & Elizabeth Rogers, all my Interest in a certain Saw-Mill, Dam & Privilege at the Outlet of the West Pond in Winslow, they paying the Legacy to Kelly's Children above bequeathed, and fully discharging me and my Heirs from all Claims on the Estate of their late Father John Rogers, decd. on which I was Administrator.
Twelfthly. I make, Ordain, constitute and appoint the said Moses Hastings and Dodivah Townsend, joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and annulling all former or other Wills by me heretofore made. In Witness whereof I do hereunto set my Hand and Seal the Day and Year herein first before written.
N. B. The following Words were interlined before sealing &c viz- "and bequeath"--"and farming Utensils"--"said"--"The Heirs of"
Matthew Hastings
Signed, sealed and declared by the said Matthew Hastings, the Testator, to be his last Will and Testament, in presence of us
W. Wilkins
Moses Hastings Jun
Thankful X Robins
Witness to Thankful Robins 's Mark
W. Wilkins.