In 1705–’07–’15, Edward Larkin, Jr., was a deputy to the General Assembly. His will was proved in 1741. It gives “To wife £100, all household goods and improvements of homestead and profits of saw mill, for life, to bring up the young children, and then the said homestead to go to son Stephen, but the goods and £100 to be free and clear to wife. To son Stephen, the homestead at death of his mother. To son Nicholas, £100 and 50 acres, at death of wife, and saw and grist mill. To son Daniel, a farm at age. To daughter, Elizabeth Babcock, 10 acres where she lives with house and orchard for life, and then to one of her sons as she sees fit. To daughter Penelope, £30. To daughters Tabitha and Lydia, each £50 at eighteen. To son Nicholas, 10 acres of salt marsh. To son Joseph, 50 acres adjoining land formerly given him. To grandson Joseph, my son Edward’s son, 5s., his father having had. To sons John and Samuel, 5s., they having had. To sons, John and Samuel, rest of estate.” The inventory showed, among other things, books, three beds, pewter, loom, linen wheel, woolen wheel, card, seven cows, two pairs of oxen, horse, 37 sheep, etc.
The will of Mary Larkin, widow of Edward, Jr., was proved in 1743. It gives “To son Nicholas, £50, and bonds against him if he is not able to pay them. To son David, great bible, and the mortgage to be cleared off his land, and a house built 16 feet square if he lives to be 21 years of age. To daughter Tabitha, a horse. To daughter Lydia, a little bible and £100. To daughters Tabitha and Lydia, all wearing apparel and a double portion of what is left over the debts. To three sons, the rest equally.”
Descendants of Edward Larkin, the original immigrant, are still found in the state. Many of them take a notable pride in their Irish ancestry. Since the first Edward’s time, other Irish Larkins have come to Rhode Island and have done their share toward the upbuilding of the state.
WILLIAM HEFERNAN, AN EARLY RHODE ISLANDER.
William Hefernan, or Heffernan, was another early Rhode Island settler of whose Irish origin there can be no doubt. He is first heard from at Newport, but in 1671 was an inhabitant of Pettaquamscutt. In May of the latter year “His Majestie’s Court of Justices” met at Pettaquamscutt and “ordered that a warrant bee issued out to William Hefernan, to warne in the inhabitants of this Plantation to attend tomorrow morning, at six of the clock, at the house of Mr. Jireh Bull.”