Robert Fish was born March 12, 1664 at Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island to Thomas and Mary (possibly Soule) Fish. He became prominent in the affairs of the colony and held many government offices. He was a blacksmith by trade. In April 1681 he was appointed constable. On April 9, 1686 he was made a freeman of Portsmouth. Robert was married by George Lawton, Justice of the Peace, to Mary Hall on September 16, 1686 at Portsmouth. Their children were: Robert Jr., Mary, William, Zuriel, Isaac, Alice, Jonathan, Daniel and David. Robert's will was dated December 12, 1728. At the time of his death he was a Lieutenant in the Colonial Militia. He died March 13, 1730 in Portsmouth and is buried somewhere there. His will was as follows: Executors, sons Daniel and David. Witnesses, Job Sherman, John Bennett and Wm. Sanford. "To son Robert 5 shillings, he having already had his portion. To son William lands in Tiverton. To daughter Mary Dexter, 10 pounds. To daughter Alice Peck, 30 pounds, and a pair of great andirons, and negro woman Rose, at the decease of himself and wife. To beloved wife Mary, use of south end of the house, the newest part, and sufficient room in the cellar, all the garden and half of the orchard while a widow, and the keep of a cow and horse free of cost to her as well as the keep of a swine or two, and of geese, turkeys, and dunghill fowls, as many as she pleases to keep. She to have also a supply of good merchantable firewood at her door yearly, together with 100 lbs. pork, 10 bushels Indian corn, all to be at her dwelling house, free of cost to her. As a free gift she has also 1 horse or mare, 1 cow, and all the household stuff (except andirons) to do as she pleases with. If she sees fit to demand her dower, on account of needing it, she shall have that too. Negro woman Rose to be hers for life. To son Daniel he gives negro boy Jo, and to son David negro boy Tony. together with all the rest of my smith working tools whatsoever. The rest of personal property to sons Daniel and David equally; who are also to have certain lands and use of 1/2 the house, orchard, etc., and upon death of their mother they are to have the whole, paying legacies. If either brother dies, then the other to have his share, unless issue were left by one dying. To son Jonathan lands in Portsmouth. He provides for his burial lot to be fenced about and cared for and used for "any near relatives" to bury, and erect monuments, etc., with free ingress and egress, not witting or willfully doing and damage.
Bio by John E. Sherman
Robert Fish was born March 12, 1664 at Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island to Thomas and Mary (possibly Soule) Fish. He became prominent in the affairs of the colony and held many government offices. He was a blacksmith by trade. In April 1681 he was appointed constable. On April 9, 1686 he was made a freeman of Portsmouth. Robert was married by George Lawton, Justice of the Peace, to Mary Hall on September 16, 1686 at Portsmouth. Their children were: Robert Jr., Mary, William, Zuriel, Isaac, Alice, Jonathan, Daniel and David. Robert's will was dated December 12, 1728. At the time of his death he was a Lieutenant in the Colonial Militia. He died March 13, 1730 in Portsmouth and is buried somewhere there. His will was as follows: Executors, sons Daniel and David. Witnesses, Job Sherman, John Bennett and Wm. Sanford. "To son Robert 5 shillings, he having already had his portion. To son William lands in Tiverton. To daughter Mary Dexter, 10 pounds. To daughter Alice Peck, 30 pounds, and a pair of great andirons, and negro woman Rose, at the decease of himself and wife. To beloved wife Mary, use of south end of the house, the newest part, and sufficient room in the cellar, all the garden and half of the orchard while a widow, and the keep of a cow and horse free of cost to her as well as the keep of a swine or two, and of geese, turkeys, and dunghill fowls, as many as she pleases to keep. She to have also a supply of good merchantable firewood at her door yearly, together with 100 lbs. pork, 10 bushels Indian corn, all to be at her dwelling house, free of cost to her. As a free gift she has also 1 horse or mare, 1 cow, and all the household stuff (except andirons) to do as she pleases with. If she sees fit to demand her dower, on account of needing it, she shall have that too. Negro woman Rose to be hers for life. To son Daniel he gives negro boy Jo, and to son David negro boy Tony. together with all the rest of my smith working tools whatsoever. The rest of personal property to sons Daniel and David equally; who are also to have certain lands and use of 1/2 the house, orchard, etc., and upon death of their mother they are to have the whole, paying legacies. If either brother dies, then the other to have his share, unless issue were left by one dying. To son Jonathan lands in Portsmouth. He provides for his burial lot to be fenced about and cared for and used for "any near relatives" to bury, and erect monuments, etc., with free ingress and egress, not witting or willfully doing and damage.
Bio by John E. Sherman
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