William inherited his father's mill and he also engaged in agricultural pursuits, but his chief means of livelihood was fishing. Even before his father died he was a mariner.
His success was relatively great, as we find that at his death he left an estate of £2565 which included vessels, warehouses, saltfish and a "negro man."
During his lifetime he displayed a more than average interest in town affairs, was a selectman, and also a deacon in his church for a few years before his death. He was better known as "Ensign", which name was derived from his office in the Military Company.
Reference
Chronicles of the Haskell Family
Ira J. Haskell
Ellis Printing Company, Lynn, Massachusetts, 1943
Pages 182-183
According to the Gloucester Vital Records Thomas was "killed by a cart May 27, 1729, age abt. 18 yrs".
Jacob served as Deacon of the Second Church of Gloucester, Massachusetts
Reference
Chronicles of the Haskell Family
Ira J. Haskell
Ellis Printing Company, Lynn, Massachusetts, 1943
Page 205
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The Last Will and Testament of Deacon Jacob Haskell late of Gloucester 1757 Sept. 5
In the county of Essex in the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England yeoman Being very sick and week but of a sound mind and memory and calling to mind the mortality of the body as knowing that tis appointed for all men once to die and that tis the duty of all men to set their house in order before they die: To make and ordain this my last will and testament.First of all I recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it and my body to the earth after my decease to be buried at the discretion of my executors. And as concerning my worldly estate, which God has graciously given me, I dispose of as followeth:
I primary give to my beloved wife, Abigail one room in my house which she shall choose to live in so long as she shall remain my widow: and all of my household goods her dispose--- Excepting one bed and furniture the which gives use for my son Zebulon: likewise I give my wife a cow to be kept for her winter and summer and two gallons on syder year by year these to be provided for her by my son Zebulon: and first thee give to my wife twelve bushels of corn sixty weight of beef and one hundred and fifty weight of pork and four cord of wood cut upon bushel of malt one bushel and half of sause and two pounds and thirteen shillings and four pence in lawful money yearly and the use of a horse when she wants. These last articles to be provided by my son Jacob and the other half; by my son Zebulon. This to be in full of her third of my estate.
Item, I give to my son Jacob and his heirs whoever I appoint and constitute one of my executors that field by his house and the marsh adjoining which I bought of brother Henry and all the great field that is joining to Mr. Cheats land and one half the fore pasture adjoining his house and one half that pasture up by Benjamin Rollandses and likewise that piece of land call the flake yard and half that house I own upon it and also that woodlot called the purchase lot and the remaining part of that lot that he exchanged part of with Mr. Bray - the westerly end thereof and half that lot in the of land called the forty eight acres and one acre of marshland at the north side of the Dock - These several pieces of land together with half my house and my youngest pair of steers and one heifer two years old and another a year on shall be to him and his heirs forever he be paying the several legacies that I shall appoint and this to be in full of his part or portion of my estate.
I give to my son Abner and his heirs twenty six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence lawful money out of my estate to be paid by my executors the one half within three years after my decease and the other half within four years after the time of the first payment is due and this together with what he hath has already is in full of his portion out of my estate.
Item I give to my son Alexander and his heirs one quarter of an acre of land upon which his house standeth and thirteen pounds sixty shillings and eight pence lawful money out of my estate to be paid by my executors the one half within three years after my decease and the other half within four years after the time of the first payment is done and this together with what he has already previously had is in full of his portion out of my estate.
Item I give to my son Israel and his heirs the sum of forty pounds lawful money out of my estate to be paid by my executors the one half within three years of my decease and the other half within four years after the time of payment of his first portion of my estate.
Item I give to my son Amos and his heirs forty pounds lawfull money out of my estate to be paid by my executors the one half within three years after the time of my decease and the other half within four years after the time the first payment is due and this shall be in full of his portion out of my estate.
Item I give to my daughter Ester Stone and her heirs thirteen pounds sixty shillings and eight pence lawful money out of my estate to be paid by my executors the one half within three years of the time of my decease and the other half within four years after the time the first payment due and this together with what she has already had shall be in full of her portion out of my estate.
Item I give to my son Zebulon whom I appoint and constitute my other executor my dwelling house and barn and all my lands upland and marsh that lieth in Gloster that I have not before disposed of and my utensils for husbandry work and my livestock excepting that is before disposed of to Jacob and anything else not otherwise disposed of - he paying out the several legacies that shall hereafter be named - to his mother what I have ordered him to pay her yearly and to my son Amos what I have ordered out for him - to my daughter Ester what I have ordered out for her - to my son Israel one half of what I have ordered out for him and further I do order my son Jacob to pay to my son Abner what I have ordered out for him - to my son Alexander one half of what I have ordered out for him.
Further I do hereby constitute my two sons namely Jacob and Zebulon to be my executors to receive and account all my just dues and to pay all my just debts. And to give me and my wife decent and Christian burial after death. In testimony hereof and for confirmation of all above written I have set to my hand and seal this sixth day of April in the thirtieth year of the reign of King George the second and in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred fifty and seven ..
Signed sealed published and pronounced
In the presence of us - - -
Nathaniel Haskell
Thomas Herrick Turner
Mark Davy Somes
Jacob Haskell (signature)Sept. 5, 1757 before the Honorable John Choate Esq. Judge of Probate of wills be met for said county of Essex Nathaniel Haskell and Thomas Herrick personally appeared and made oath that they were present and saw Jacob Haskell late of Gloster did sign Seal and heard him publish and declare this instrument to be his last Will and Testament and when he did he was of a sound disposing mind and memory to the best of their discerning and they together with Mark Davy do let to their hand at above time in my presence do witness. Sworn Att. Dan Appletery
Upon which this will I pronounce approved and allow
appeared and united in trust I do give in as law in 60 days.
Sam Appletery Pub
John Choate Justice Pub(?)
Daniel Haskell was a cordwainer of Gloucester. A cordwainer was a worker in leather, and/or a shoemaker.
Reference
Chronicles of the Haskell Family
Ira J. Haskell
Ellis Printing Company, Lynn, Massachusetts, 1943
Page 220
Dorcas Haskell was unmarried.