Robert was born in Beverly but was living in Manchester when he married Mary Leach. They had their first child there and moved back to Beverly about 1714. Robert is mentioned occasionally in the Beverly town records. He was a surveyor of highways in 1720.1 On the province tax list for 1735 he is called an ensign.2 In 1739 he was elected a selectman and continued in that office to 1746, when he was also a tax assessor, overseer of the poor and a surveyor of highways for District 2. By then he had been promoted to a captain. By 1759 his grandson Nathaniel was apparently living with him. He was abated 20 shillings, 5 pence of his 1759 poll tax with the note "Nathaniel Haskell removed to Manchester last March." Nathaniel, being over sixteen years old, would have had his poll tax paid for by Robert if he was his guardian. Nathaniel's father died when his children were young, and their mother didn't remarry until Nathaniel was 12. He (and possibly his brothers) may have been sent to Beverly to help on his grandfather's farm. The same tax record seems to refer to an abatement based on Nathaniel "being a crippel," but this far more likely refers to Robert. On the town tax list for 1760 he has listed as having 1 horse, 2 oxen, 6 cows, 16 sheep, 3 swine and £35 cash. On 15 October 1765 he was chosen to be in the grand jury pool for the following month.

The will of Robert Haskoll:

In the name of God amen, I Robert Haskoll of Beverly in the County of Essex in New England, gentleman, being in health of body, and of sound disposing mind, do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following

Imprimis, and first of all I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of almighty God thro Jesus Christ in hopes of a glorious rseurrection at the last day, and my body to the earth to be buried in such decent Christian manner as my executor hereafter named shall see meet.

Item, my will is that all my just debts and funeral charge be first of all paid out of my estate by my executor

Item, I give all my wearing apparel to my two sons William and Paul in equal shares

Item, I give to my son William one fifth part of all the residue of my estate real and personal for quantity and quality to be to him his heirs and assigns forever

Item, I give to my son Paul two fifths parts of all the residue of my estate both real and personal for quantity and quality to be to him his heirs and assigns forever

Item, I give to the children of my son Benjamin decd one fifth part of the residue of my estate both real and personal for quantity and quality to be to them in equal shares their heirs and assigns forever.

Item, I give my daughter Ruth ten shillings to be paid in one year after my decease, my will also is, that in case my said daughter Ruth shall by the providence of God be brot to such difficulties as she may have no house to dwell in, then in such case she shall have a room in my home to improve during her natural life only for her own use.

Item, I give to my daughter Eliza. one fifth part of the residue of my estate both real and personal; for quantity and quality to be to her, her heirs and assigns forever, she paying my son William ten pounds in one year after my decease. And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said son Paul sole executor of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty third day of March Anno Domini 1765

Robert Haskoll

signed, sealed and declared to be the last will and testament of Robert Haskell in presence

Isc Woodberry
Joseph Wood
Saml Goodridge

entered into probate 6 May 1776 by Paul Haskell.3

children of Robert Haskoll and Mary Leach:4

i. William b. 4 November 1713
ii. Robert b. 29 July 1715
iii. Benjamin b. 27 June 1717
iv. Paul b. 17 November 1719
v. Ruth b. 16 November 1721

child of Robert and Elizabeth (Goldsmith) Quarles) Haskell:5

vi. Elizabeth b. 5 Aug. 1726

vital records sources: Robert's birth record comes from Vital Records of Beverly, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, vol. 1 (Topsfield, MA: Topsfield Historical Society, 1906), 166. He was baptized on 2 April 1693 ( Baptisms of the First Church in Beverly 1667-1710 (Boston: 1903) 27). His burial record comes from the Beverly vital records, vol. 2, 466, taken from a First Parish Unitarian Church record, which says "Capt. Robert," age 84 years. His first marriage is recorded in Vital Records of Manchester, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849 (Salem: Essex Institute, 1903), 171, his second is from Vital Records of Ipswich, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, vol. 2 (Salem: Essex Institute, 1910), p. 211, taken from a Hamlet Parish Church record, no day given. Their intentions to marry were published in Beverly on 14 March 1724/25 (Beverly vital records, vol. 2, 153) and in Ipswich the day before.

11. Beverly town meetings, vol. 3-5 (1711-1774), Family History Library microfilm #864847 (Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971).
2. Ibid.
3. Essex County, MA, Surrogate's Court, vol. 351:555.
4. Vital Records of Manchester, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849 (Salem: Essex Institute, 1903), 56 (William); Vital Records of Beverly, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, vol. 1 (Topsfield, MA: Topsfield Historical Society, 1907), 171 (includes William also). Corroborated in the original town record mss (see ancestry.com images), of which there are several, once recorded as a group in Beverly except for Ruth (this explains William's appearance) and some also appear separately.