Samuel² Terrill Petition for Charity 16 December 1698

Nancy Tyrrel Theodore, September 2009

On the first day of December 1698, Samuel² Terrill suffered a calamity. A fire kindled in the thatch of his home "consumed to ashes" his "house together with all his goods, cloathes & provisions," a loss of "neare one hundred pounds." Thankfully, his wife and six small children were spared. His neighbors, recognizing his "great Povertie and Necessitie," and then Samuel himself, petitioned the governor of New York to grant him "authoritie for the Collectinge and Receivinge the charity of well disposed persons" in New York City and the towns of the Island of Nassau, now Long Island.

Samuel, a blacksmith, was baptized in 1647, so he would have been 51 at the time of the fire in 1698. As for the six small children, records are scare. After removing to Brookhaven in Suffolk County in the early 1680s, there is a recorded birth of a son, Samuel³, in January of 1684^a, and other children followed. Samuel³ would have been fourteen at the time of the fire.

Of course, a petition for charity would put forward Samuel's most persuasive case.... after all, the family would be facing the Long Island winter in dire circumstances. While Samuel lost his house and possessions, we know from deeds that he had land in the Brookhaven area and in Milford, Connecticut, so he wasn't entirely penniless. However, his fortunes certainly suffered a severe blow that bleak December day.

One can only imagine Samuel's relief when he was awarded a license to collect charity on 5 January 1699^b. (Samuel²'s life and family will be more fully covered in a future article.)

New York Council Papers 42:119 & 42:126 - Box 33, Series A1894-78
(The documents are torn and partly illegible as they suffered damage in the New York State Capitol fire of 1911.)

Volume 42, Page 119: (See the original: PDF 1.5 MB)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wee whose names are here under subscribed his Mae^ts Justices of the Peace for the County of Suffolk on the Island of [Nassau] doe [illegible] to yo^r Ex.^cie that Samuell Terill of this County [illegible] of this Instant December as wee are Credibly informed by the Providence of Allmighty God from an accident of Fiare had his house with all his Goods household stuff cloathes and Provissions Burnt and Consumed to the Vallue of neare on[e] hundred pounds and that beinge a Poore man and having a Wiffe and Six small children he will be Reduced to great Povertie and Necessitie unlesse relieved by yo^r Ex.^cis Clemencie in grantinge him authoritie for the Collectinge and Receivinge the charity of well Dispoassed persons which is hum^b submitted to yo^r Ex.^cies Wisdome and great Goodnesse by

Suffolk County
December y^e 16. 1698

Volume 42, Page 126: (See the original: PDF 1.4 MB)

The Humble Petition of Samuell Terrill in most Humble Manner showeth

That y^r Ex^cys poor Petitioner hath for these many years past, been an Inhabitant of this Province, & by his honest labour & Industry, by the Blessing of God, Maintained his family. But by a sad accident y^e poor Petitioner being himselfe from home the first day of December instant, had his House together with all his goods, cloathes, & provisions, by fire kindled in ye thatch of his said house, immediately consumed to ashes, and y^r Ex.^cyes said Petitioner having a wife & six small Children, will be reduced to greate poverty & necessity, unlesse relieved by y^r Ex.^cyes wonted Clemency, & accustomary goodness, in Confidence ev^er of

Note: *This appears to be Samuel Terrill's actual signature.

a - Records of the Town of Brookhaven, Book B, 1679-1756, Page 3: "Samuell the Sonn of Samuell Turell was born the 11 day of Jenury 1684 which was born vpon his wiefe abegell."

b - Calendar of Council Minutes 1688-1783, New York State Library, Page 136: "5 Jan 1699 License to collect charity granted to Samuel Terrell of Suffolk county."

Transcriptions by NTT, September 2009