Green Brook History
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Descendants of Thomas Vail 

Children of Samuel Vail and Abigail Hadden are:

Notes

Samuel Vail,Jr.: yeoman. custodian. overseer, assessor to Westchester,

Samuel (3) Vail came to the vicinity of Plainfield, just when is not known, and died at Woodbridge, N. J., 26 June, 1733. Like his brother, John (3), Q. P., he had bought a large tract of land along Green Brook, just S.W. of Plainfield, in what is now Somerset County. This plantation was bought about the time that John (3) bought his farm, which was in what is now North Plainfield, from the Dutch proprietor Peter Sonmans, 3 April, 1732, and hence it would seem that Samuel left Westchester only a little over a year before his death.

On this plantation Samuel (3) settled his two eldest sons, John (4) Jr., b. 1708, and Stephen (4), b. 1710. This farm was located two miles up the stream from the Raritan.Most of the Vails that lived around Green Brook and Plainfield were descended from John and Samuel. 

The children of John (4) Vail, Jr., and Stephen (4) Vail,  both before and after the Revolutionary War took up farms S-W of Plainfield under the mountains in a settlement still called Green Brook Village. Plainfield was their post office address after its establishment in 1800.

With the distribution of the unoccupied back lands in 1700, and the later division among the settlers of interior tracts in 1717, many of the younger generation moved inland. But not till the last allotments were made in 1734-'39, did any considerable number venture beyond the town lots of Elizabethtown, Woodbridge and Piscatawaytown. The attraction of new land after this date induced many to settle further towards the interior and to occupy fertile farms on Cedar Brook and Green Brook and the rich valleys beyond the mountains. So that by 1750 there were occupied farms scattered over the country from the Raritan River and Staten Island Sound on the East to the Passaic River near its source and the mountains beyond (O. B. Leonard).

Samuel's Will, dated 6/19/1733, probated 8/18/1733 in Westchester County bequeathed the following:

 -  John, Jr. received 137 1/2 acres and a slave
 -  Stephen received 137 1/2 acres and a negro boy names "Toney".
 -  Thomas received land in Westchester County.
 -  Isaac received the land his father bought from Thomas Jennings, (12 acres).

Samuel Vail, eldest son of Samuel and Elizabeth Vail, was born at Westchester, New York, December 4, 1678, died June 26, 1733, buried at Westchester, New York. He married (first) Abigail (???), (second) Sarah Farrington. His children were: John, of whom later; Stephen, born April 22, 1710, married Esther Smith; Samuel, born April 15, 1711; Phebe, born September 13, 1712, married David Turner; Thomas, born November 3, 1714, married Mary Griffin; Isaac, born August 3, 1715; Joseph, born October 3, 1718; Abigail, born February 12, 1720; Mathew, born January 29, 1726; Sarah, born December 3, 1728; Elizabeth, born December 17, 1731. He bequeathed to his sons John and Stephen land at Green Brook, New Jersey.

"ln the name of GOD Amen. Anne 12 The nineteenth day of June in the Seventh year of our Sovereign Lord King George the Second, Anno Domini Seventeen hundred and thirty three. I Samuel Vail of the Burroughtown of West Chester in the County of West Chester and Province of New York, Yeoman, being sick and weak in body but of Sound and Disposing mind and memory, Do make this my Last Will and Testament in Manner and Form Following, that is to say. First and principally, I commit my Soul to Almighty God my Creator hoping to obtain Salvation through the Merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ, and my Body to the earth to be decently buried by my Executors, and I do Devize bequeath give and dispose of such worldly Estate as God in mercy hath bestowed upon me as follows,

      "First, I give and devize to my son John Vail his heirs and assigns forever All my one hundred and thirty seven acres and a half of land near Green Brook in Sommerset County in the Province New Jersey which land he is now in possession of. Also I give and bequeath to my said son John Vail, his Executors Administrators and assigns my negro boy Dick. Also I give and devize to my son Stephen Vail his heirs and assigns forever all that my one hundred and thirty seven acres of land and a half acre near Green Brook in Sommerset County in the aforesaid Province of New Jersey which land is now in his possession. Also I give and bequeath to my said son Stephen Vail his Executors administrators and assigns my negro boy Toney.

      "Also I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah Vail her Executors administrators and assigns forever the legacy left her by her Father Matthew Farrington late deceased. Also I give to my said Wife during her Widowhood and no longer, the use of the best room in my house and the use of my negro woman Hannah and her youngest Child and after my said wife shall marry again or dye, I give the said negro woman Hannah to my son Thomas Vail his Executors administrators and assigns forever. Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Phebe Turner her Executors administrators and assigns forever my negro young woman called Ihell,

      "Also in consideration, That my said son Thomas Vail shall undertake immediately after my decease to pay all my lawful debts and funeral charges and to maintain the family I shall leave for two years they assisting him with their labour, I give to my said Thomas the use of all my lands and meadows with the buildings and appurtenances thereto belonging (the room given to my wife during hey widowhood excepted) and of all my priviledges in the sheep pasture situated in West Chester abovesaid and the use of all the remainder of my personal Estate for the full term of two years after my decease. But if my said son Thomas shall refuse to undertake and give such security for the Payment of my debts, funeral charges and to support my family two years after my decease as my Executors shall approve of, then I hereby order my Executors to make use of said lands, meadows and premises and personal estate to the best advantage they can and out of the profits thereof for two years after my decease to support my family and to apply the remainder towards paying my debts.

      "Also I give to my beloved wife Sarah in full of all her claim and title of Dower of in and, to all or any part of my Estate on(e) third Part of the clear profits of all my lands and meadows in West Chester aforesaid to commence at the end of two years after my decease for so long a time as she shall remain my widow and no longer. Also I hereby give and bequeath at the end of two years after my decease to my son Thomas Vail his Executors administrators and assigns my negro boy Lewis and bed and furniture he lays on. Also I hereby give and bequeath at the end of two years after my decease to my daughter Abigail Vail her Executors administrators assigns my negro girl Jenny. Also from and after the end of two years from and after my decease, I give the use of one third part of the remainder of my personal Estate not hereinbefore disposed (of) to my wife during hey widowhood and no longer, and after my wife shall marry again or dye I give and bequeath the said one third part of the remainder of my personal estate to my daughter Elizabeth Vail her Executors administrators and assigns.

      "Also at the end of two years after my decease I give bequeath to my son Thomas Vail his Executors administrators and assigns a pair of Oxen, three Cows and two of my best Horses.

      "Also at the end of two years after my decease I give and bequeath to my son Isaac Vail his Executors administrators and assigns a Horse and a Mare and my Loom and Tackling. Also at the end of two years after my decease I give and bequeath all the remainder of my personal Estate to be equally divided between my three daughters Abigail, Sarah, and Elizabeth Vail for the use of them and their several Executors administrators and assigns.

      "Also at the end of two years after my decease I give and devise to my son Isaac Vail his heirs and assigns forever, he paying yearly to my wife while she shall remain my widow the one third part of the clear profits thereof the following Lands and Salt Meadows in West Chester aforesaid (to wit, the land I bought of Thomas Jennings eight acres of woodland joining to a highway near Thomas Nicholl's land and four acres of Salt Meadow part of the Patrick Meadow and joining to the Meadow of Stephen Delancy).

      "Also at the end of two years after my decease and from and after that time I hereby give and devize to Josiah Hunt and Moses Mullinex of West Chester abovesaid their heirs and assigns forever all the remainder of my Lands and Meadows and Priviledges in the Sheep pasture of West Chester aforesaid. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Lands Meadows and Priviledges with their Appurtenances to the said Josiah Hunt and Moses Mullenex their heirs and assigns in trust to and for the uses hereafter mentioned and to and for no other use intent or purpose whatsoever, that is to say if my son Thomas Vail his heirs, Executors administrators shall within three years after my decease pay such Part of my debts as the profits of my Estate for two years next after my decease shall not discharge and shall pay to my son Joseph Vail when he shall attain to the age of twenty one years for the use of the said Joseph his heirs Executors administrators and assigns the full sum of one hundred pounds New York money. AND also shall pay to my son Matthew Vail for the use of his Executors administrators and assigns when he shall attain to the age of twenty one years the full sum of one other hundred pounds New York money: Then and in such case to and for the only proper use and behoof of my said son Thomas Vail his heirs and assigns forever and to and for no other use and purpose whatsoever: But if my son Thomas Vail shall neglect or refuse to pay my debts that shall be unpaid at the end of two years after my decease as aforesaid or if my said Thomas Vail his heirs, executors administrators shall neglect or refuse to pay to my son Joseph Vail when he shall attain to the age of twenty one years one hundred pounds and to my son Matthew one other hundred pounds New York money when he shall attain to the age of twenty one years, or any part or Parcel of said several sums of money, Then in trust to sell the Lands Meadows and premises aforesaid with the buildings and appurtenances thereto belonging or if my said son Thomas Vail his heirs Executors or administrators shall not pay yearly to my wife so long as she shall remain my widow the one third part of the clear profits of the said premises, Then in trust to sell the same and out of the money arising from the sale thereof to pay the remainder of my debts, to my sons Joseph and Matthew their respective Legacies to my wife reasonable satisfaction for the third of the profits of said premises during her widowhood, the charges of the sale and the remainder thereof to my said son Thomas his heirs Executors or administrators or assigns.

      "Lastly, I nominate and appoint Joseph Hunt and Moses Mullinex and the Survivor of them to be Executors or Executor of my Last Will and Testament." *****Vail (L. S.)

      "Signed sealed pronounced and declared by the said Samuel Vail to be his Last Will and Testament in presence of Milos Oakley, Andrew Gibb, William Foster."

      This Will was duly probated 18 August, 1773, as the last Will and Testament of Samuel Vail, in New York, before Frederick Morris duly delegated and appointed, "was proved and now approved and allowed of by me," etc., "and the prorogative Seal of the said Province of New York * * to be affixed." So there is no slightest doubt as to its being Samuel's Will.

      The copy from which I have transcribed the Will was printed by Alfred Vail, and curiously enough the name printed as the signature of the Will is Stephen Vail, instead of Samuel. The heading says Samuel; the witnesses say Samuel; the probate says Samuel, -- there can be no doubt as to its being Samuel's will, even if the internal evidence were disregarded. This Will is recorded at the Hall of Records New York City, Vol. 12, p. 72.

The dates of the children of Samuel (3) Vail are taken from Alfred Vail's copy of the Family Bible of Samuel Vail, it afterwards being the Family Bible of his son Thomas (4) Vail. This Bible was in 1851 in the possession of Mr. William Vail of New York. Where is this Bible now?

Samuel (3) Vail was a man of considerable substance, owning as he did the two farms near Plainfield besides the old homestead at Westchester, the income of which in itself he thought sufficient to maintain in comfort his widow and younger children, there being probably eight of these remaining at the old home.

      He was a Weaver, or had been such, since he leaves to Isaac his "Loom and Tackling." He had a considerable number of horses, oxen and cattle, as would be expected in a prosperous farmer and land holder. His wealth is indicated also by the fact that he disposes of no fewer than seven slaves, and shows an interest in their welfare by keeping them in the Vail household. Others of the Vails besides Samuel owned slaves as will be shown hereafter. It was not till about a hundred years after Samuel's death that the Quakers took a decided stand against slavery, although in 1776-1780 several of the Vail and allied Shotwell families manumitted their negroes and the Rahway and Plainfield Monthly Meeting appointed a committee to have oversight of freed negroes and the care and education of manumitted slaves. (v. Lloyd Lewis: Myths after Lincoln, Cornwall Press, 1929, p. 102.)

Phebe Vail:

Abstracts of Wills, Vol XIV, 1786-1796 Page 152.

--PHEBE TURNER, widow of the Borough of Westchester, New York, to my sister, Abigail Bugbee, all my wearing apparel, my bed, bedding and furniture thereunto belonging, my chest, looking glass, six plates of X, pewter, one pair andirons, and my Bible to her own use forever; to my brother, Thomas Vail, one feather bed, bedding, furniture belonging thereunto; Also one cupboard, one gun, and a warming-pan. All my linen to be equally divided between my sister Abigail and brother Thomas; to my cousin, John Vail, living in New Jersey, œ40; to my brother Stephen, living in New Jersey, œ50; to my nephew Daniel, son of my brother, John Vail, œ5; to my niece, Phebe Vail, daughter of my brother, Thomas Vail, œ5; also one table, one wheel, and one pie-pan; to Phebe Bugbee, daughter of Elijah Bugbee, œ5, also one cupboard; to Daniel Pugsly, son of David Pugsly, œ5; to the Society of the People, called Quakers, œ10, to be paid to the clerk of the Meeting for the time being of the said Quakers in the Borough Town of Westchester, to the use of the said Meeting, to maintain good works. I order that my negroes shall have their liberty to choose their masters, and my executors do sell them to those whom they shall choose. All the remainder of my estate whatsoever, I give the same to my brother, Thomas Vail, and my sister, Abigail Bugbee (wife of Elijah Bugbee), and to their several and respective heirs forever, share and share alike. I make my brother, Thomas Vail, and my brother-in-law, Elijah Bugbee, executors.

Dated July 20, 1770. Witnesses, Martha Forgison, Gabriel Forgison, John Bartow, Westchester County, gentleman. Proved, June 19, 1786.

This will is recorded 3 June, 1786 -- almost ten years after the tragic death of the Testatrix. Phebe (Vail) Turner was murdered in her own home by a British soldier on Christmas eve, 1776. The delay in probating Phebe's will illustrates the confusion of the time of the Revolution and the years following.