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There is no record of Mary's marriage to Joseph Russell in the Dartmouth town or Monthly Meeting records, but her marriage to Thomas Cornell says she was the widow of Joseph Russell, and her death record in the Friends records refers to her as the widow of Thomas and the daughter of Abraham and Mary Tucker. Abraham's will names her "Mary Rusell" and gives her £12, aside from what he had already given to her.1 When she married Thomas Cornell, there were many witnesses, as was the custom with Friends marriages. Close relatives were listed separately, and they were her brothers Abraham and Henry, sons Caleb and Joseph Russell, stepson Peleg Cornell and Robert Barker, whose relationship to Mary or Thomas isn't obvious other than his marriage to a Tucker cousin.

In her husband Joseph Russell's will, written on 13 November 1747 and probated on 3 May 1748, she was bequeathed the following:2

ye use & improvement of all ye new end of my now dwelling house dureing ye time she shall remain my widdow. I likewise give to my said wife two cows twelve sheep & ye best horse kind that I shall leave at my decease: together with all ye debts wich shall be due or owing to me from any person or persons at my decease either by specialty or other ways: I likewise give to my said wife ye use & improvement of all ye easterly part of my orchard so far westerly as that row of trees as was cut down for ye drawing of my son Josephs shop across said orchard.

In her husband Thomas Cornell's will, written on 25 May 1763 and probated on 2 August 1763, she was bequeathed the following:3

all the household goods she brought with her when she came to live with me, also all the nots of bad for money which was made to her and also all the notes with her name Mary Cornel upon the back of sd notes. I also give unto my said wife one cow she to take her choice out of my cows, also my riding beast which came of the mair she brought with her, the sd cow & riding best to be kept on my form I now live on during the time she shall remain my widow. I also give unto my sd wife one woman's side saddle & bridle, all the above said gifts that I have in this my last will & testament given to my said wife I give free & clear to be at her own dispose and it is to be understood I give it in lue of her right of dower and power of thirds in my estate. Moreover, I give unto my said wife during the time she hsall remain my widow sufficient fier wood cut fit for the fier place in my great chamber, also my great chamber to live in with a priviledge in my ketching w hat she shall have acation of to do her own work in. Also I give unto my sd wife one hundred pound of good pork a year & yearly during the time she remains my widow, to be frocured by my son Peleg Cornell and also eight bushel of Indian corn in like manner as aforesaid...I give and bequeat unto my wife Mary Cornel one quarter part of the use and improvement of my orchard during the time she shall remain my widw...one hundred pound of good beaf & three bushels of rye a year & yearly during the time she remains my widow.


children of Mary Tucker and Joseph Russell:4

i. Mary, b. 1 June 1704, d. by 20 December 1723
ii. Abraham, b. 19 March 1705/06
iii. William, b. 2 December 1708
iv. Abigail, b. 19 March 1711
v. Caleb, b. 9 August 1713
vi. Martha, b. 24 June 1716
vii. Joseph, b. 8 October 1718
viii. Mary, b. 20 December 1723
ix. Patience, b. 8 October 1727




vital records sources: Her birth is in Vital Records of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1850, vol. 1 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1929), 287, taken from the Dartmouth (Friends) Monthly Meeting records, which say "1 day 12 month 1683" (Julian form). Her second marriage is in Vital Records of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1850, vol. 2 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1930), 405, taken from the Dartmouth (Friends) Monthly Meeting records, book BMD 1699-1880, p. 410. Her death is in Vital Records of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1850, vol. 3 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1930), 26, taken from the Dartmouth (Friends) Monthly Meeting records, which say Mary Cornell, widow, "5th day of the 12th month 1769," recorded immediately after and with reference to the birth of Mary and her siblings and the deaths of her father and stepmother.

1. Bristol Co., MA, probate file 26394.
2. Bristol Co., MA, probate file 22135.
3. Bristol Co., MA, probate file 6912.
4. Vital Records of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, to the year 1850 vol. 1 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1929), 204-215.

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