Joane (Willey) Lester (abt. 1624 - abt. 1660)

Born about 1624 in England

Wife of Andrew Lester — married 2 Mar 1655 in New London, Connecticut Colony

Descendants

Died about 1660 at about age 36 in New London, New London, Connecticut Colony

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Biography

Joane was born c. 1625. Her first husband spells her name as Joane in his will. Her maiden name is given as Willey in some family trees, but there is no contemporary documentation for that name.

• “Miss Caulkins in her "History of New London" made a wild guess in her statement that Robert Hempstead married Joanna Willey and that ‘his was the first marriage in the colony.’ There is no record of his marriage; nothing to indicate Isaac Willey had a daughter Joanna; in the few instances where his wife's name is recorded it is given as Joane, not Joanna. Further, and the greatest proof of all, no relationship is mentioned in Joshua Hempstead’s Diary with the Willey family though they were living in New London during his lifetime.” 564

Her birthplace is probably either in England or in New England. The town of New London CT was not founded until 1646, so she was not born there.

Family

New London, New London, Connecticut

Husband 1: Robert Hempstead, c. 1646 ^[1]

Child: Mary Hempstead

Child: Joshua Hempstead

Child: Hannah Hempstead

Some sources list a child named Caulkin, but Robert made no mention of such a child in his will.

Husband 2 Joane married her 2nd husband, Andrew Lester, on 02 March 1654/55.

Excerpts from Robert Hempstead's Will

From Connecticut Land Records, Vol. 3, ps 9-10.

The Last Will of Robert Hemstid. September 30th, 1653.

I beeing in pfect memory yet mortall, considering ye uncertenty of my time & nothing more certon than my change, God haveinge blessed me with a portion of these outward thinges, doe dispose of this my state as followeth:Commiting myselfe unto God,

Item: I give unto my sonne Joshua ye rest of my Land after his mother's decease, Therty Ackers of upland upon ye westward side of Nahantick River at a place called Mezsargents head, which I Leave to my wife Joane freely to dispose of ass she sees good for her own pper use, only in case my sonne be capable of improuving land before his mother's decease that then hee shall have that land at Mistick.

Item: All ye land that I Leave to my sonne after his mother's decease but what before is exempted, I Leave to the disposing of Joane my wife dureing her life. Item: All ye rest of my goods I leave to my wife Joane. In case providence so order that she never marrie my will is that some of ye upland I Leave to my sonne she shall have free Leave to dispose of & alsoe make sale of if the benefit of her or her children shall see call for it.

Item: In case any of ye children die, that ye portion or portions of ye Deseased shall be given to ye surviving childe or children.I leave my wife Joane my executrix, & Obadiah Bruen & John Gadger ffeffies in trust to see with my wife her performance of this my will.

Witness my hand,Robert Hemstid.Witnesses heareof: James Morgan (his marke), William Meade.

This is the last will of Robert Hemstid, returned to be recorded, Drawed out of his owne will, confirmed with his owne hand by meObadiah Bruen, Recorder.

The age of my three children: Mary Hempstid was borne March 26, 1647.Joshua Hempstid my sonne was borne June 16, 1649.Hannah Hempstid was borne April 4, 1652.This I Robert Hempstid testifie under my hand.

Proved in court upon oath June 13th, 1655. Court Record, Page 73--13 June, 1655: The last Will of Robert Hempsted, with Inventory, was now exhibited, approved, and was presented to Mr. Obadiah Bruen (for Record?).

Death

Joane died c. 1660, New London, New London, Connecticut

Burial

1660 New London, New London, Connecticut^[2][3]

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S1114149816 Genealogical Publishing Co.; Baltimore, MD, USA; Volume Title: New England Marriages Prior to 1700
2. ↑ Source: #S1114149758
3. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60611063/joane-hempsted

• Source: #S1114149807 Book Title: Hyde Genealogy, or, The Descendants, in the Female as Well as in the Male Lines, From William Hyde, of Norwich With Their Places of Residence and Dates of Births, Marriages, &c, and Other Particulars of Them and Their Families and Ancestry vol
• John Howland of the Mayflower and Descendants - Person Sheet http://dgmgenealogy.info/HowlandDescendants/ps06/ps06_023.htm
• Hempstead, Joshua. Diary of Joshua Hempstead of New London, Connecticut (New London County Historical Society, 1901) Page X
• Ancestral File(R) (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998) data as of 5 January 1998
• Willey, Henry. Isaac Willey of New London, Conn., and His Descendants (E. Anthony & Sons, New Bedford, Mass., 1888) Page 3
• The Allen Family - Appendix I, some of the ancestors and descendants of Samuel Converse, Jr., pg. 770 (names Joanna Willey as wife of Robert Hempstead)

Footnotes

• Source: S1114149758 U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Source: S1114149807 North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Source: S1114149816 U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• Lester, James. The Lesters: A Brief History and Genealogy of the Lesters of the Massachusetts and Connecticut Colonies (Calumet Press, Gary, Indiana, 1926) Page 20