Sarah's father, Thomas Hearne (or Harns as he was known in Canada) owned property in Phillipse Patent, Dutchess County, NY according to a book titled Dutchess County, N.Y. Tax Lists, 1717-1787 (Rhinebeck, NY, Kinship, 1991) page 270 and the tax records for the 'Southern Precinct' of Putnam County show Thomas paid taxes from 1759 to 1766. "Records Relating to the Revolutionary War -- Forfeited Estates", a document put out by New York State Archives states, "As the Revolutionary War progressed and funds for prosecuting the war became scarce, the real and personal property of loyalists was confiscated and sold to raise money for the State. Although initially only personal property was confiscated, in 1779 the legislature attainted 59 loyalists (abolished their civil rights) and declared their real property forfeited.
On August 29th, 1780, Thomas and two other men were apprehended and brought before the Committee for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies at Albany and charged with "having been with the enemy." In Minutes of Commissioners for Conspiracies, dated February 5, 1781, Thomas, of Kingsbury, Charlotte County was discharged from confinement for good behaviour.
His rights abolished and land confiscated, Thomas and his family moved to Lot 11, Concession 4, Fredericksburgh in Canada. Did Sarah and her family move with him at this time? We have no way of knowing when Sarah came to Canada or if Nathan was still alive to come with her. Sarah applied for a land grant as Sarah Howard, widow, December 1797 and received the grant in June 1799. Thomas died in 1803 at Fredericksburgh, Lennox and Addington County and Deborah also died in Fredericksburgh.
Sarah remarried to a man named Irish, date unknown. She also applied for another land grant, January 1818, as Sarah Irish but that duplicity was discovered and the application was not successful.
She was widowed again before she wrote her will in 1830. It appears that she died in 1846 as her will was registered March 23rd of that year. All of her children were living when she wrote her will yet she only named Nancy and Eratus in it. Eratus died in 1832, many years before his mother. Both Seth and Erastus outlived their mother. Nancy acted as Executrix of her mother's will.
Transcription: Will of Sarah Irish Reg’d 23 March 1846 at 9am on the Oath of Reg Buck At Consecon To the Registrar of the County of Northumberland Herewith is the last will and testament of Sarah Irish in the words following to wit
In the name of God amen. I Sarah Irish of the Township of Ameliasburgh in the Midland district and province of Upper Canada widow being weak in body but of sound mind and memory thanks be given unto God Calling to mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men thus to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament. that is to Say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of almighty God who gave it and my body I do recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors never doubting but at the final resurrection I shall know the same again of the Mighty Power of God and as to my worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devize and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. First, I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Nancy Bowers two Hundred acres of land viz lot number twenty one in the sixth Concession of the Township of Alnwick in the Newcastle district Also I give to my beloved son Eratus Howard the sum of ten shillings Currency which amount shall be paid to my said son Eratus Howard by my daughter Nancy Bowers before mentioned To this my last will and testament I constitute and ordain Samuel Butler Bowers and George Bowers yeomen Executors and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disaccount all and every other former testament will legacie bequests and executors given in any unbeforementioned wills and willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty fourth day of June in the year of our lord One thousand Eight Hundred and thirty.
Sarah was born about 1763. She passed away about 1830.
Upper Canada Land Petitions "H" Bundle 4, 1798 (RG1 L3, Vol 224 (a))
Upper Canada Land Petitions "I-J" Bundle Miscellaneous, 1795-1837, (RG 1L3, Vol. 266(a))
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