Appendix 2 -- Modern Rendition of Petition of Daniel Hovey regarding his
brother-in-law Thomas Andrews.
"September 27, 1683'
This may inform this Honored Court and may it please your Honors, to take
notice touching the relations of this worthy gentleman Mr. Thomas Andrews, my truly
loving, dear and well-beloved brother-in-law. I did more than forty years ago, marry his
loving and well-beloved sister, Abigail Andrews, by whom the Lord blessed me with six
sons and one daughter, five of which sons are yet living; so that by this it may appear
that we are surely related to this deceased gentleman. But in brief, he had six
nephews and two nieces, as follows: there is the son and daughter of his brother,
namely, John. Andrews and Sarah Connant, his sister, both of which are considerably
debtors unto his estate, as also Mrs. Elizabeth Glover who is married to Mr. John
Glover, formerly living at Boston, now at fwanfy(?), which also is debtor to the estate.
There is myself, also debtor to the estate, five shillings upon the (promise?) of some
things he lent me for my present use and gave me order to use and keep them until he
called for them; there is Daniel & John Hovey two of his nephews, debtors to the estate
for fcolin(?) their children about four pounds. There is also Thomas, Joseph and
Nathaniel Hovey, three of his nephews which never had the value of one shilling of the
estate of their uncle's that I know of. I humbly draw your favor to overlook my
weakness in endeavoring to lay this narrative before your Honors. Yet, when there
shall appear a visible estate of my loving brother's you may have so much as these few
lines may afford as touching the settling of his estate upon his relations that we quietly
and peaceably with the Lord's blessing may have the benefit of the use of his estate
which he left undisposed of now the good Lord of Heaven to influence your heads and
hearts by the light of His Holy Spirit as that a given sentence may proceed from you as
God may have honor yourselves joy in the day of Christ and no persons or person may
have cause of complaint but that we may bless God for His mercy to see justice and
judgment full running in our streets. So prays your humble petitioner.
DANIEL HOVEY, SR."