• On Saturday, July 7, 1674, Abigail “Messenger”, the deserted wife of Richard Darling, requesting by petition an act of divorce and separation from said husband, with permission to remarry, on account that her husband, according to his own acknowledgement, had broken the marriage ties by committing adultery, and there upon had absconded, etc. “Ordered, petition postponed six months, within which time petitioner’s husband is ordered to come and purge himself of said charge, or in default, the petitioner will then be at liberty to prosecute her suit.
2445, p 7• This petition was postponed six months within which time Richard Darling was ordered to appear and answer the charges, but no final disposition appears on the record. On 1 September 1674 Abigail Messenger Darling conveyed her house and land “where I now live” to Jonathan Davis.
2430
• Torrey manuscript cites Miner Anc. (?) 127
2448; NY Rec. 65:246; Messenger 2:41.
• In the proceedings of the Court of Sessions of the North Riding held at Jamaica, NY, dated 13 December 1676, “Abigail Darling and Zachariah Mills bound over by the last court for having a bastard. To appear againe tomorrow morne.” On 10 June 1680 Abigail Mills “quondam Darling” petitioned for a remission of the fine for cohabitating with present husband before marriage.
2430, p 10• Will dated 9 May 1696. Probate: 17 Sep 1696; Wife, Abigail, to have house & part of the personal estate. Rest of land to son, Zachariah.To daus. Abigail & Sarah, £15 at age of twenty one. Wife sole exx.
2444,2445, p 7• He died in Jamaica, NY, between 9 May 1696 and 17 September 1696, the dates of signing and proving his will.
He married between 1 September 1674 and 10 June 1680 Abigail Messenger Darling, “widow” or ex-wife of Richard Darling and daughter of Andrew Messenger of Jamaica, LI, NY.
2430, p 10• Listed as second child.
2446, p 9• On Dec. 12, 1662 he was granted a home lot in Jamaica. Zachariah was town clerk in Jamaica for many years. There were no marriages or christenings in his family 1681-87, but there was one burial.
2446, p 9