Esther (Willis) Broom (abt. 1722 - aft. 1759)

Born about 1722 in Thornbury, Chester County, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Wife of James Broom — married 3 Sep 1740 in Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware, United States

Descendants

Died after 1 Dec 1759 after about age 37 in Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware, British Colonial America [uncertain]

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Biography

Esther was the mother of Jacob Broom, a signer of the United States Constitution.^[1]

Esther was a child when her father, John Willis Jr., died about April 1732.^[2] In his will, he bequeathed to his only son John Willis III all his real estate when he came of age, and to Esther and her sister Ann Willis equal shares of all his personal estate when they came of age. He also specified that should John III die before coming of age, his real estate would default to Esther and Ann in equal shares when they came of age. John did in fact die before coming of age, and so the two daughters would each inherit one-half interest in their father’s real property.

In 1740, in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Esther married James Broom of Wilmington, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.^[3]

In 1743, Esther’s mother Mary (Webb) Willis Smith died. In Mary’s will, proved October 1, 1743, she specifies regarding her personal estate that “pursuant to the Will of [their] father I order an Equal division thereof between my two Daughters Hester Broom & Ann Willis.”^[4] Mary nominated as executors her brother William Webb of Kennett (Chester County, Pennsylvania) and Esther’s husband James Broom of Wilmington.

On September 24, 1743, the personal property of Esther's father John Willis Jr. was appraised.^[5] Its total value was £356, which consisted of "one negro man called Jack" (£55), household goods (£38), husbandry goods (£54), cattle (£41), and notes, bonds, and interest due (£168).

Mary's executors William Webb and James Broom watched over the property that John Willis Jr.'s children were to inherit when they came of age. Between the years 1743 and 1749, they kept a running account of payments and credits.^[6] The account shows that Ann’s brother John Willis III died in late September or early October, 1748. The real property in Thornbury that he was going to inherit would now pass to his two sisters. On April 27, 1749, William placed an advertisement for its sale in the Pennsylvania Gazette.^[7]

On May 29, 1749, William Webb and James Broom, "Executors of Mary Smith dec'd," filed what appears to be the final account of John Willis Jr.'s property, both real and personal.^[8] It's total value was £677 1 sh. 10 p. The largest components were the £250 appraised value of the Thornbury plantation, with the notation "but not sold", £129 [sic] 9 sh. 5 p. paid to “James Broom as…[unclear]” and £139 9 sh. 5 p. paid to Ann.

Esther died sometime between December 1, 1759, when she and others in her family were mentioned in a will,^[9] and July 15, 1791, when James wrote his will, which did not mention Esther.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Campbell, William W. Life & Character of Jacob Broom. Historical Society of Delaware: Wilmington, 1909.
2. ↑ FamilySearch.org. Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994 Click here. Chester County, Estates 1700-1810, Estate Group 375-495. John Willis Jr., Estate No. 442. Film 1429104, Image 485.
3. ↑ Ancestry.com, U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935. Women's Minutes, Concord Monthly Meeting, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. 3 Nov 1740. Page 127. Image 65. In the minutes of the 3 Nov 1740 Quaker monthly meeting, “Esther Willis but now Broom” was condemned for marriage by “a priest” rather than in the Quaker tradition.
4. ↑ FamilySearch.org. Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994 Click here. Chester County, Wills 1713-1720 and 1736-1755 vol 1-3, A-C. Mary Smith. Will Book B, Vol. 2, page 141. Images 275-276.
5. ↑ FamilySearch.org. Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994 Click here. Chester, Estates 1700-1810, Estate Group 375-495. John Willis Jr., Estate No. 442. Film 1429104, Image 487.
6. ↑ Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994 Click here. Chester County, Estates 1700-1810, Estate Group 753-884. Mary Smith, Estate No. 854. Film 1429107. Images 674-676.
7. ↑ Mixed Genes Family Tree. Click here. Then click on Notes at the bottom of the page. Accessed 25 Jun 2023.
8. ↑ FamilySearch.org. Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994 Click here. Chester, Estates 1700-1810, Estate Group 375-495, Estate No. 442. Film 1429104, Image 482-484.
9. ↑ Hitchcock, Frederick H. A Calendar of Delaware Wills, New Castle County, 1682-1800 Click here. Abstracted and Compiled by the Historical Research Committee of the Colonial ‘Dames of Delaware County. New York: 1911. Page 58. Will of Robert Taylor (or Naylor), written 1 Dec 1759, probated 20 May 1760. Robert mentions “friends Esther, Jacob, Isaac and Abraham Broom” and names James Broom and David Bush Jr. (a nephew of James) executors.
10. ↑ Mixed Genes of the Van Rooijen – McCullough Clan. James Broom Timeline. Click here. No date. Accessed 29 Jun 2023. More information about James Broom and Esther Willis can be found at Mixed Genes of the Van Rooijen – McCullough Clan. James Broom and Esther Willis. Click here. No date. Accessed 29 Jun 2023.