12 acquiring land, the records showing one hundred or more estates to which he held the titles, located in what is now comprised in the towns of Norwalk, Wilton, Ridgefield, New Canaan, Westport, and Weston. The ability to make these large acquisitions would seem to indicate the substantial character of the contents of the hair trunk. On the 19th day of October, 1709, Alexander Resseguie married Sara Bontecou, daughter of Pierre* and Marguerite (Collinot) Bontecou of New York. She was born in France and reached New York with her parents in 1689. The summer preceding his marriage was probably spent in preparing a home, which, though its exact location cannot be pointed out, was undoubtedly in the extreme southern part of Ridgefield, a new town created from lands purchased of the Indians the year previous. We have evidence that he soon began the career of a force and virtue of these presents Lawfully, peaceably and quietly have, hold, use, occupie, possess and injoy Said Demised and bargained premises with ye appurtenances free and clear, And freely and clearly acquitted, Exonerated and Discharged of, from all and all manner of former and other gifts, grants, bargains, Sales, Leases, Mortgages and other Incumbrances Whatsoever. Furthermore, I the said Samuell Saint John, for myself my heirs Executor and administrators Do Covenant and Ingage ye above Demised premises to him the said Alexander Resseguie, his heirs and assigns against the Lawfull claims or Demands of any person or persons whatsoever forever hereafter to Warrant Secure and Defend. In witness whereof I have here unto sett my hand and Seale this first day of Aprill in ye year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and nine, and in ye Eighth year of her majesties Reign, Queen Ann. Signed, Sealed and Delivered in ye presence of us witnesses. SAMUEL SAINT JOHN. THO. HANFORD, JOSEPH SAINT JOHN. ( s.) Samuel Saint John, the Grantor and Subscriber to ye above Written Instrument, personally Appeared on ye first Day of Aprill, 1709, and Did acknowledg ye same to be his free and Voluntary Act and Deed. Before me, Recorded Aprill 6th, 1709. Per JOHN COPP, Record'r. JAMES OLMSTEED, Justice of peace. *The compiler of this work is a descendant of Pierre Bontecou, through the line of his son Timothy. It was the original intention to publish a gene alogical history of all his descendants, but so far as the Resseguie line is concerned this object has been defeated, as explained in the introduction. "In 1708, John Belden, Samuel Keeler, Matthew Seymour, Matthias St. John, and other inhabitants of Norwalk, to the number of twenty-five, pur farmer, and had, in a short time, wrested part of his land from the grasp of the forest and reduced it to a condition of tillage, by the following extract from the Colonial Records: Newhaven, August 9th. 1711. The Colony of Connecticut is debtor to sundry persons in money, as followeth, that is to say . . . To Mr. Allexander Russigue of Norwalk, for 40 bushels wheat taken out of Mr. Jno Williams' sloop at New Haven, at 4s. 6d. per bushel. 9.0.0." Until his death he evidently pursued the even tenor of his way as a private citizen and pioneer farmer, holding no office, and probably wanting none, and leaving but little trace of his life. save the record of his possessions. He died in October, 1752. His wife survived him until May, 1757. The place of their sepulchre is unknown, but it was probably in the old cemetery in the southern part of Ridgefield, in which but two ancient stones remain to mark the spot where many lie interred. The following is the will of Alexander Resseguie: "In the name of God, Amen. I, Alexander Resseguie, formerly of Ridgefield, now of Norwalk in ye County of Fairfield and Colony of Connecticut, being weak of body but of a disposing mind and memory, praised be God; calling to mind ye mortality of my body, and yt is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament. That is to say principally and first of all I give and bequeath my soul to God who gave it; and my body I recommend to be decently buryed at ye discretion of my execrs hereafter named, nothing doubting but at ye generall ressurrection I shall receive ye same again by ye mighty power of God to bless me within this life. I give, demise and dispose of ye same as followeth, my just debts and funerall charges being first paid: I give and bequeath to well beloved wife Sarah, ye use & improvement of ye one-half part of my house & barn and homlot, said building standing or lying in ye southerly part of Ridgfield Town, during ye terme or time she shall remain my widow. ITEM. I give and bequeath unto my loving sons Alexander, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, all my land and real estate that I shall die possessed of or have any right to; except what I have before given away by deed of gift to them and their heirs and assigns forever, to be equally divided amongst them my said four sons. Lastly, I do hereby appoint, constitute and fully impower my well beloved wife Sarah to be my executrix, together with my loving son Alexander Resse chased a large tract between that town and Danbury. The purchase was made of Catoonah, the chief sachem, and other Indians, who were the proprietors of that part of the country. The deed bears date Sept. 30, 1708. At this session (1709) it was ordained that it should be a distinct township, by the name of Ridgefield.” — History of Connecticut, by Benj. Trumbull, D.D., Vol. I., page 460. guie executor of this my last will and testament; and do hereby disannul & revoke all former wills and testaments by me made, ratifying and confirming this & no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 3a day of October Anno Dom. 1752. ALEXANDER RESSEGUIE. Signed, sealed, published, pronounced & declared by ye said Alexander Resseguie, ye testator, to be his last will & testament. I presence of us, ye subscribers. SAML OLMSTED, EZRA HICCOK, NORWALK, October ye 24th ins., A. D. 1752. Then personally appeared Saml Olmsted, Ezra Hickock, and Thadeus Mead, ye evidences to within written will and gave oath yt they see Mr. Alexander Resseguie, now dec'd, sign, seal, and heard him declare ye same to be his last will and testament, and yt they judged him to be sound in mind and judgment at ye same time and yt they signed as evidences at ye same time in presents of ye testator. Before me, SAMLL SMITH, Justice of peace. Att a court of Probate held in Fairfield Decemr 19th, 1752, Personally appeared Sarah Resseguie named executrix & Alexander Resseguie named executor to ye foregoing will & exhibited said will to said court in order for probation and they then accepted ye trust committed to them by ye testator, said will being proved is by said court approved and ordered to be recorded. Test. DAVID BURR, Clerk." "AUG. ye 14th, 1754. An Inventory of Mr Alexander Resseguies Estate late of Ridgefield, dec'd &c. We the subscribers being appointed and sworn as ye law directs to take the Inventory of the Estate of the above sd Resseguie Dec'd, and have done it in ye manner following, viz : |