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1804. Will of John James Bezanson, of Chester, #106, Dated 20 May 1800. Probated 9 March 1804 at Lun. pg. 203, by John Creighton, Judge of Probate; Executors Anthony Vaughan and Peter Corkum, wit. Anthony Vaughan, John Prescott and Joseph Dimock.

After discharging my Just Debts and Funeral Expenses, I Give and Bequeath to my loving wife, Anna Mary, the Use of 1/3 of all my Real Estate, with all the privileges and appurances thereto belonging while she lives and likewise the Free Use of the House and Lot on which I now live, with the Use of the Meadow up at Still Water, while she Lives and Remains my Widow, and if she marries a man that can agree with my children and they with him, he shall with her share, in all the above demised priviledges: but if they cannot agree together, he shall leave the house, but the improvement of 1/3 of my real estate shall be her dowry while she lives. After my youngest child is of age, the lot on which I now live may be let to either of my sons, with whom she choose to live, but still she shall have the government of the place.

I Give and Bequeath unto my well beloved son, Joseph, all the land or lands I have possessd of on Oak Island in this Township, likewise an Equal Share with each of his brothers hereafter named, in the 500 acre Lot I, Draughed ? in this Township to him and his heirs and assigns forever, likewise what he stands indebted to me, he shall be discharged of at my death.

I give and bequeath to my well beloved sons, Alexander, John George, Gideon, John, John Casper, John William, Peter and Benjamin, to each of them an Equal Share of all the Estate, Real and Personal, I Stand possessed of not other ways disposed of in this my Last Will and Testament, to them, their Heirs and Assigns forever. Yet it is my will that they keep together with their mother and sisters and peacefully submit to the ruler of the family and to exert themselves jointly in paying my lawful debts till they are paid, and if any one of them shall refuse to comply with those conditions, he shall have no share of my estate until my youngest child is of age.

Not withstanding, if any one of them shall choose to marry and settle himself before my debts are paid, they shall choose what place they will, of my land on the Main, except the place on which I now live, and there by the judgement of my Executors shall have their portion set off to them, but still to assist in discharging my debts, but if any of those settled shall refuse to assist in paying my debts they shall loose all the profits of the Mill and Stream on which it stands.

If they two [?] First of them, that shall settle, shall choose the place I bought of John Pennals, if is thought by my Executors, to be more than their Portion of my Estate then shall they pay the value of the overplush[?] to him or them that is deficient.

It is likewise My Will that the Meadow up at Stillwater shall be Equally Divided among my eight sons, last mentioned, after their Mother hath done with it, according to this My Last Will and Testament.

I Give and Bequeath unto my well beloved daughters, Ann Mary and Barbara, all the land I possessed on the Gooseberry Island, to be delivered to them when they marry or are of age on the same conditions as my sons last mentioned, to them, their heirs and assigns forever, but if they leave my family and refuse to assist in paying my debts then they are not to receive any of my estate till my youngest child is of age, or if after they have their portions set off to them, they refuse to assist in the same they shall lose all the profits arising from the Mill. But if they shall carry it well toward their mother and submit to my wishes as here expressed, they shall have each of them a cow and a bed after my debts are paid or when they shall get married, but if the land on the Gooseberry Island shall be thought by my executors to be worth more than £100 currency the over plush shall be paid to my sons last mentioned.

It is my will those of my children that have not got education, shall have as good given, as those that are grown up.

I likewise Constitute, Make and Ordain Mr. Anthony Vaughan and Mr Peter Corkum of this Town, to be the Executors of this My Last Will and Testament and Do Hereby Disallow, Revoke, and Disannul, all and every Former Will and Legacy Testament Bequests and Executors by me in any way wise named, Willed or Bequeathed heretofore ratifying and confirming this to be my Last Will and Testament, in Witness whereof I have Set My Hand and Seal hereunto this 20 th. day of May in the Year of Our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred.

John J. Bezanson, made his mark.²

It would appear that after Jean Jacques Jacob's death his family remained in the Chester area for about 15 years, and possibly did not go their separate ways until after their mother died. Alexander remained on the homestead. He bought out the interests of several of the others.⁸

The career of Jean Jacques is remarkable. His religious zeal was more than matched by his business acumen. His father died when he was about a year and six months old. He had no schooling, and remained illiterate all his life, yet the land transactions in his name, all properly drawn up, witnessed and "signed" with his "X" far outnumber those of any other man in the settlement and make up a large part of Book#2 of the Land Records, kept at Bridgewater. He also ran a lumber mill and a grist mill, farmed, and engaged in shipbuilding.

He made several moves, the final one being to the homestead at Middle River, just beyond Chester. In 1791 tax records his address is given as "The Islands" and he paid 5 sh. tax (the highest). At his death he owned property on Oak Island, Gooseberry Island, and Mark Island, as well as 20 other lots varying from 4A to 500A, several of the 4A lots being in Chester.

He made a good marriage. His wife was the daughter of Jacob Loy, a German- speaking Swiss. In his early business Jean Jacques was associated with her brother Alexander. None of J.J.'s eleven sons equalled his achievement.

His descent was French, and probably his mother tongue was also French. But Pattersons says (PANS, MG1, 743): "The inhabitants of Montbeliard were ethnologically more German than French, having been annexed by the latter only a little over half a century before their emigration. (This refers to the Montbeliard families in general, not specifically to Bezanson). They spoke a corrupt dialect of French, with a German intonation. From their sufferings which they had endured for their religion after their annexation to France, they had a strong antipathy to the French and Romanists, which has continued among their descendants to this day. In fact, they do not wish to be called French, but speak of themselves as Swiss." But Bezansons, through many generations, insisted on their French heritage. It is certain that Jean Jacques spoke German and English as well.

He and Anna Mary Loy were married in the Dutch Reformed Church at Lunenburg (afterwards the Presbyterian --MG4, 86). The clergyman was Bruin Romkies Comingo, who preached and kept records in German. For the Germans in his congreations (e.g. Eisenhauers) this meant a proper spelling of their name. But it is probably from Comingo's records that the name Besancon began to be spelled with a 'z'. However, the land records indicate that Jean Jacques did indeed have papers, for the land transactions all give the spelling Besancon. 1792 Land Petition, unused (i.e. not granted): "Besancon, John Jacque...lately moved to Chester with his family, wife & 8 children, built a Grist Mill on Middle River...at his own expense...and has also purchased a Saw mill and has been at considerable expense in repairing of it..adjacent to said mill there is a tract of land (formerly surveyed to one Griffin) which tract he always understood was intended for such persons who might erect Saw and Grist Mills...but since his arrival in Halifax has been informed it is reserved by your Excellency for His Majesty's use tho' of material benefit to him and his poor family." Recommended by J.W. Schwartz, Halifax, 30 Dec., 1792. Wentworth refused saying it was required for His Majesty's use.

Evidently, from the baptismal records, the first five children of Jean Jacques and Mary were born at Lunenburg, the next four probably on The Islands - or at least some distance from Lunenburg, because of the time that elapsed between birth and baptism. The last four were born at Middle River and are recorded in the Chester Township Records.

Jean Jacques made his Will before his youngest son was born, which may explain why, on his sudden death in 1806, he was declared intestate. Later Bezansons carried on the shipbuilding business in Chester.⁹

Died, at Chester, in the 72nd year of his age, Mr. Joseph Bezanson. Although Mr. B. was advanced in years, he was very healthy and active until shortly before his death, which was very sudden and unexpected. He took his breakfast on Thursday, 25th inst., in his usual health, after which he took his axe and went to the woods to work as was his custom. About two hours after, a young man who was passing near where he had been at work, heard a call from some one as though in want of help. He followed the sound, and found Mr. B. in a state of great weakness, and without the power of helping himself. He soon obtained assistance, and got him to his home. In a few hours, however, he lost the use of all his faculties.

He continued to breathe until Friday morning, the 26th, when, as we humbly hope, his emancipated spirit was borne by angels to Abraham’s bosom. Mr. B. professed religion a number of years ago in connection with the Baptist church, and continued a zealous supporter of the gospel, and advocate for the truth, till the time of his death. He has left a widow and large family of children and grand children to mourn their loss. Mr. B. was among the oldest inhabitants of this township, and was esteemed by all as a respectable member of the community. - Communicated by James Mosher, Esq. Chester, Jan. 31, 1849.⁸

It would appear that after Jean Jacques Jacob's death his family remained in the Chester area for about 15 years, and possibly did not go their separate ways until after their mother died. Alexander remained on the homestead. He bought out the interests of several of the others.⁷