THE STILEMAN FAMILY.

The name of Elias Stileman* (or Styleman) appears on "The Herald's Visitation of Hampshire, England," in 1634, and his coat of arms and crest are described. This was either the emigrant, or more likely the father of the emigrant, Elias Stileman', who was one of the early settlers in Salem, Mass. (perhaps 1629). He was tavern keeper, constable, and clerk of court, and died 1662. He seems to have had a daughter, Damaris, whose daughter, Ruth Langford, is mentioned in Ruth Tarlton's will. He also had one son, Elias Stileman2, who was born in England in 1615, and lived with his father in Salem till he removed to Portsmouth, N. H., in 1658. He was admitted to the church in Salem in 1639, and made a "freeman" in 1642. His first wife was Mary, who died soon after 1684, over sixty years of age; the second wife was Mrs. Lucy Willis. By Mary he had one son, Elias Stileman3, who was baptised in Salem, Mar. 15, 1640-1, and married, Apr. 10, 1667, to Ruth Mannyard. He died soon after, leaving a daughter, Ruth, who married, about 1692, Richard Tarlton, of New Castle, and from whom all the New Hampshire Tarletons are descended.

Elias Stileman had a cousin, Richard Stileman, who was born in England in 1611, and lived some years in Cambridge and Salem, and in 1655 removed to Great Island (New Castle), where he died 1678. By his first wife he had a son, who died young; and by his second wife three daughters, two of whom married, and one son, Richard, who died before 1703, probably unmarried, leaving a will now on record. And so, while the cousins, Elias and Richard Stileman, have many descendants now living, they have none bearing the name of Stileman.

*America Heraldica, p. 133.

N. E. Hist. and Gen. Register, Vol. 51, p. 347. Savage's Gen. Dict. of N. E. Settlers, Vol. 4, p. 192. N. H. State Papers, Vol. I.

Hon. or Maj. Elias Stileman' was "almost always in office" while he lived in Portsmouth; for while his residence was on the island, both parts were practically one at that time and often spoken of as Portsmouth. He was one of the original members of the Congregational church there. His name appears some thirty times in Vol. I, New Hampshire State Papers, as selectman, councillor, commissioner, lieutenant, etc., in connection with various kinds of public business. He died in 1695, leaving a will now on record, and a copy of which is given below and also a copy of the will of his granddaughter, Ruth (Stileman) Tarlton.

WILL OF MAJOR STILEMAN.

The Laft will and Teftament of Major Elias Stileman, Newcaftle, December eighteenth, One Thousand Six hundred ninetyfive.

In the name of God, Amen. I, Elias Stileman being sick of body, but of good and perfect memory, blefsed be God for it. Do make and ordain this my laft will and teftament in manner and form as followeth, hereby revoking all former wills.

I give and bequeath my soul to God that gave it to me, hoping in and through the merits of our Lord and blessed Savior to inherit everlasting life.

Item I give and bequeath my body to the earth whereof it was made, there to be decently buried.

Item I give unto my grand daughter, Ruth Tarlington, all my books, excepting two or three books that my wife shall choofs for her ufe.

Item-I give unto my faid granddaughter the gold ring I had at the burying of Mr. Richard Martin deceafed.

Item I give unto my faid granddaughter the Silver Salt Seller I had of my laft wife.

Item-I give unto my daughter in law Elizabeth Alcock my Gold Ring I had of James Treworthy.

Item I give unto my faid daughter in law, Elizabeth Alcock all that parcell of land on the other Side of the highway beyond the houfe that was James Weymouth's and adjoining to the land of John Taber or the land that lyeth below the houfe

of the faid James Weymouth, of which two parcells she hath her

choyce. Item

I give unto my daughter in law Johanna Cutts, the gold ring I had at M. E. Vaugh's burial.

Item I give unto my three daughters-in-law, each of them a gold ring of the like value of the ring given unto Johanna Cutts.

Item I Give and Bequeath unto my dearly Beloved wife, Luce Stileman, all my houfehold stuff, both within doors and without, of what kind so ever, as also all my stock of goods, moneys and plate, Excepting what is already given away, to her and her heirs forever.

Item I give unto my Said wife, Luce Stileman, all my Stock of cattel at her farm at Sturgeon creek to her and her heirs forever.

Item I give to my wife, Luce Stileman, During her naturall life, all the houfe and land we now live in.

Item I give and bequeath unto my grandfon, Elias Tarlington, son of my granddaughter, Ruth Tarlington, all the houfe and houfeing and land that I now live in, to him and his heirs forever, after the deceafe of my wife, Luce Stileman, my said grandson paying to whom my said wife shall will it to be paid, that is to say ten pounds a year, until the forty pounds is completed, the said forty pounds to be paid after my wife's deceafe :

Item I give unto my grandson, William Tarlington, son of my granddaughter, Ruth Tarlington, the sum of five pounds to be piad by my grandson, Elias Tarlington to be paid within a year after he is possesd of the houfe given him by me.

Item I make my beloved wife, Luce Stileman, my whole and sole executrix to this my last will and testament.

Item I do make my beloved friends, Mr. Samuel Daniel of York and Mr. John Shapleigh of Kittery, overferers of this my last will.

Witnefs

ELIAS STILEMAN. (Seal)

ROBERT ELLIOTT,

JOHN HINCKS,

FRANCIS TUCKER.

Pro's of New Hampshire.

The within named, Robert Elliott and John Hincks, Esq, and Francis Tucker, all of Newcastle, in the Province aforesaid, appeared before me at Portsmouth in said Pro's and made oath that they did see the within mentioned, Elias Stileman, Sign, Seal and Publish the within written will contained in this sheet of papers to be his last will and Testament and that their names subscribed thereto as witnefses is of their own hand writing. In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and affixed the seal of the Office of Probate of Wills and Granting letters of Administration, at Portsmouth, this 30th day of December, one thoufand six hundred ninety-five in the Seventh year of his majesties reign.

THOMAS PARMER, Judge.

Witness, WILLIAM REDFORD, Reg's.

Entered and recorded according to the original Janry 4th, 1895-6.

WILLIAM REDFORD, Reg's.

WILL OF RUTH TARLTON.

In the name of God Amen the fourth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seaven hundred and seaven I Ruth Tarlton of New Castle in the Province of New Hampshire New England widdow being sick and weake in body but of whole and perfect minde and remembrance, Love and praise be unto Almighty God, make and ordaine this my present testament concerning herein my last will in manner aud forme following that is to say first and principally I commend my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my maker and redeemer, hopeing and assuredly believeing that through the meritt of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ I shall receive a pardon of all my sinns, and be saved, and my body to be burried in decent Christian manner, and after my funeral charges are discharged and paid I will that all my debts that are of right be paid and contented.

I give and bequeath unto my four children Elias, William, Richard and Ruth my dwelling house I now live in with the land belonging and appertaining (that is) I will that my daughter

shall have the choice of the best room in said house, and the residue and remainder of the said house and land I will that it be equally divided between my aforesaid three sonnes.

Items. I give and bequeath unto my said daughter my best Bedd and bedding with the curtains belonging, And alsoe I give unto my said daughter all my Cotton and all my Linen Cloaths and all my wearing cloaths with the great Brafses for a Chimney, that are in the best chamber chimney

Item I give unto my aforesaid four children eight silver spoons (that is to say) two spoons to each child, one of said spoons haveing a ffork to the end of it that that be in my Sonn Elias dividend, And I alsoe give unto my aforesaid sonn Elias a silver chaine and whiftle. Verte.

Item I give unto my said four children five Gold Rings, that is, to my said Sonns each of them one, and if my Husband Richard Tarlton deceased his daughter shall come into this Country then one to her but if she come not then I give unto my aforesaid daughter Ruth two Rings and Elias his ring to be a Ring that was given his Grandfather at Mr. Martinns funeral.

Item I give unto my Sonn Richard and daughter Ruth my silver tankard equally to be divided betwixt them; and all the rest and residue of my goods chattells Debts, ready money &c. I give unto my said four children equally to be divided, my sonns to receive their aforesaid parts & portions at their several ages of one and twenty years, and my said daughter shall receive her said portion at the age of one and twenty years or day of marriage and to be paid or delivered unto them by my Executor hereafter named. And if it shall please God that any of my said children shall happen to dye and departe this life before they shall arrive to the age of one and twenty years or day of marriage that then the part or portion of him or her soe dying shall redound to the survivors by equal portions, and if it should please God that all my aforesaid children should dye and departe this life before their several ages of one and twenty years or day of marriage that then and in such case my minde and meaning is, and I doe hereby give and bequeath all and every the aforesaid part and portions of aforesaid four children unto