Will of Rev. Henry Smith - March 8, 1648 I Henry Smith, of Wethersfield, being at present in health of body and
soundness of minde, considering my mortality, and knoweing it to be my duty
to provide for my family and settle my estate, that I may leave no occasion
of trouble to my children when I am gone, and that I may be free my self
from distractions of this kind, if it shall please God to visit mee with
sickness before I dye; I doe therefore leave this testimony uppon Record as
my last Will and Testament. Then, for my outward estate, wch, because it is
little and I have well proved the difficultyes of this Country, how hard a
thinge it will be for a woman to manage the affaires of so great a family
as the Father of Mercyes hathe blessed me withall, and have had allso
experience of the prudence and faithfullness of my deare wife, who shall,
in parting with me, parte with a great parte of her livelihood, I give to
my wife full power to dispose of all my estate in howses, Lands, Cattell
and Goods whatsoever, within dores and without, only providing if she marry
again, or otherwise be able comfortably to spare it from her owne necessary
maintenance, that she give to my sonne Sammuell that part of my howselott
which was intended for my sonne Peregrine, lyinge next to the burying place,
and the land I have beyond the great River eastward, and also to him and my
2nd sonne Noah, 5 acres apeece of meadow, with upland proportionable
thereunto; and to the rest of my children unmarried, £20 apeece at the age
of 21 yeares, or at the time of her death wch shall come the soonest; and
for my two daughters that bee married, my desire is that they have £20
apeece, and every one of their children £5 apeece, either in books or such
other thing my wife shall best please to parte withall. And I desire the
Church, whose serviant I now am, to take an oversight of my family, that
they may be brought up in the true feare of God, and to see that this my
will bee faithfully prformed.
Henry Smith
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Will of Edmund Lewis - January 13, 1650/1 Line the 13th of the 11th mo. 1650. Memorandum that I Edmund Lewis
beinge Sick & Weake, but of perfect remembrance, doe make & conferm this
my last Will and testyment as followeth,
First. My Will is that my land att Watertown shall be soaled, & that
my eldest son John Lewis shall have a double portyon & the rest of my
children namely, the five youngest to have every one of them a licke
portyon of my Estate.
Secondly. My deare & lovinge wife to have the third of all my whole
Estate.
Thirdly. I desire that my wife may have a cow over & above towards
bringinge upe of my youngest children.
Fourthly:--my desire is my wife to be my whole executor to dispose of
my body & goods accordinge to my Will.
Fifthly:--my request to my son John is, to give his mother a Cow to
helpe her towards the bringinge up of my youngest children.
Sixthly:--my request to my son Thomas Lewis is to give to his mother
half of his Sheepe to help her as aforesaid.
Seventhly:--My desire and meaninge is that the Cow I ask of John & the
Sheepe I ask of Thomas is of them that they now have in their possession.
Also my request is to Thomas Hastings to be my supervisor to assist my
lovinge wife.
his
Witnesses Edmund X Lewis
John Deakin mark
Edward Burcham
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Will of John Johnson - September 30, 1659 The last will and Testament of John Johnson of Roxbury, this 30th of the
7th, '59, having my perfect memory and understanding by the blessing of my
mercyfull Father, whose reconciled face in Jesus Christ my soule waitesth to
behold. I dispose of my worldly goods and estate as followeth. My dwelling
house and certaine lands I have allready given to my beloved wife during the
term of her natural live, according to a deed wh is extant wh deede my will
is shall be fulfilled, wherein also I have given her 60 pounds for her
household furniture, wh house and lands after my wifes decease I give unto
my 5 children to be equally divided, my eldest sonne having a double portion
therein, according to the word of God. I give unto my two grandchildren who
have lived with me Elizabeth Johnson and Mehitable Johnson, each of them 5
Lbs this to be paide within one yeare after my decease. I have formerly
given to my sonnes Isaac Johnson and Robert Pepper a parcel of lands of 55
acres in the third division of the towns which I do hereby confirme.
All the rest of my lands debts and moveable goods, my debts and funeral
charges being first discharged I doe give unto my five children to be
equally divided, my eldest sonne haveing a double portion. Also I make my
sonns Isaak Johnson and Robert Pepper my executors of this my last will and
Testament, and I request my deare brethren Elder Heath, and Deakon Parke,
to be overseers of this my will and Testament, and in token of my love I
give you each 10 pounds. If my children should disagree in any thing, I dow
order them to choose one man more, to these my overseers, and stand to
theire determination.
the mark of J. J. John Johnson
Witness
John Eliot
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Will of Isaac Johnson - June 28, 1675 The Last Will and testament of Captain Isaac Johnson of Roxbury this 8
of March 1673 I haveing my perfect memory and understanding first I committ
my Soule to God in Jesus Christ, Secondly I committ my body to my beloved
wife and children to be decently buried. Thirdly I doe dispose of my worldy
goods as followeth -- my debts and funerall charges being discharged my will
is that Elizabeth my beloved wife Shall have all my moveable goods except my
apparrell at her owne dispose and the houseing and Land during the time of
her Naturall life and after her decease my will is the houseing and Land bee
divided betweene my fower children my son Isaac or his heires to have double
portion and Soe the portion of the rest to goe to theire heires that is in
case my immediate Children any of them be dead before they come to Injoy
there portion.
Also my will is that my Beloved wife bee Sole Executrix of this my last
will and I request my Brother Edward Porter and Cozen John Weld to bee
Overseers of this my Last will, my will is that all my weareing apparell be
divided betweene my sonne Isaac and my sonne Nathaniell my sonne Isaac to
have two shares or a double portion of my sd apparrell. Witness my hand this
28th of June One Thousand Six hundred Seaventy five.
Isaac Johnson Senior
Mr. Jno. Weld and Sammuell Craft appeared before Symon Bradstreet
Sammuell Danforth and Edw. Tyng Esqrs. this 10th of febr. 1676 made oath
that being will acquainted with the alte Captain Isaac Johnson and his hand
writing that verrily believe and Judge that the above sd whereto his name
is Subscribed is all his owns handwriting this thus deposed as attests.
ffreegrace Bendall, Recorder
Thomas Davenport and Edw. Tyng )Esqrs. Boston 10th
Presnt Symon Bradstreet )of febro. 1676
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Will of John Bigelow - January 4, 1703 In the name of God amen. I john Biglo of Watertown in the county of
Middlesex within her Majestie's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New
England, being weeke of body but in sound dispoing Memory prais be given to
god for the same, Do make this my last will & testament, in manner & form
following, that is to say first and principally I resign my soul into the
mercy full hands of allmighty god my Creator assuredly hoping through the
mercy of my blessed Saviour to obtain pardon commission of all my sins and
my body I comit to the earth whence it was taken, to be decently buried by
the discreshion of my executors hereinafter named and as for the worldly
good & estate the lord hath lone me I dispose thereof as follows:
Imp. I give and bequeath unto Sarah my well beloved wife, and to her
heirs & assigns forever, all the lands and movable estate, that was hers
before our marriage, and forty pounds in money, twenty pounds of s'd money
to be p'd her within one month after my decease and twenty pounds within one
year after my dece's I give unto her forty pounds waight of good pork, three
bushels of barley, and one bushel of indian corn, five pounds waight in
butter and five pounds waight in Chees, and also two sheep, and half the
flax that shall be in the house at me Deces--and that to be in full
satisfaction of her thirds.
2ndly I give & bequeath to my eldest son John Biglo, & to his heirs &
assigns forwver, twenty pounds in money to be p'd within one year after my
Deces, and in case my s'd son have an heir lawfully begotten of his own
body, I give & bequeath his s'd heir twenty pounds in money to be p'd to him
or her, when it shall be twenty one years of age, or day of marriage which
shall first happen, but if it hapon my s'd son deces without an heir as
above s'd, then my will is y't ye aboves'd twenty pounds be equally divided
between my children then surviving.
3rdly I give & bequeath unto my son Jonathan Biglo, and to his heirs &
assigns forever, twenty five pounds in money to be p'd him within one year
after my deces.
4thly I give & bequeath unto my son Daniell Biglo and to his heirs &
assigns forever, twenty five pounds in money to be p'd him within one year
after my deces.
5thly I give & bequeath unto my son Samuel Biglo and to his heirs &
assigns forever ten pounds in money besides what he hath already had, to be
p'd him within one year after my deces.
6thly I give & bequeath unto my son Joshua Biglo and to his heirs &
assigns forever two parcels of lands lying on the westerly side of bow brook
in s'd town, Purchased of Lieut Chas Hammond as may more fully appear by the
deed of the same, and twenty five pounds in money, to be p'd him within one
year after my deces.
7thly I give & bequeath unto my son James Biglo fifteen pounds, which I
lent him as may appear by a bond under his hand and seal, and I give &
bequeath to my said son James's son James Biglo ten pounds in money to be
p'd him if he shall live to the age of twenty one years, but if it so happen
that he deces before s'd age, then ye s'd ten pounds to be equally divided
between my s'd son James surviving children, when they shall be of the age
of twenty one years or day of marriage which shall first happen.
8thly I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Flagg and to her heirs &
assigns forever, twenty five pounds in money to be p'd her within two years
after my Deces.
9thly I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Stern's children
twenty five pounds in money, to be p'd them, when they are twenty one years
of age, or day of marriage which shall first happen.
10thly. I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Learned, and to her
heirs and assigns forever, twenty five pounds in money, within three years
after Deces.
11thly. I give & bequeath to my daughter Martha Wood's children, lawfully
begotten of her own body, twenty five pounds in money to be p'd them equally
alike, when they shall arrive at the age of twenty one years or day of
marriage, which shall first happen.
12thly. I give & bequeath unto my daughter Abigail Herrington & to her
heirs & assigns, twenty five pounds in money, to be paid within four years
after my deces.
And I nominat, ordain & appoint, my above s'd son Joshua Biglo and my son
in law Isaac Learned my Sole Executors to see this my last will & testament
performed and all the rest and residue of my estate not herein bequeathed,
after all my just debts and funerall charges are p'd my will is that it be
divided between my s'd executors, that is to say, two parts of three, to my
s'd son Joshua, and one third to my son in law Isaac Leanered, and do
request my trusty and well beloved friend, Capt. Benj. Garfield to be my
overseer of this my last will & testament, my s'd executors to allow him out
of my estate for his cost & charges resonable sattisfaction to his content,
Revoking & making null & void all former or other wills by me heretofore
made. In witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this fourth day
of January one thousand seven hundred two/three, and in the first year of
the reign of our lady Anne, by the Grace of God over England & Queen.
his
Signed, seald & Published John X Biglo
Sam'l Livermore mark
Daniel Harrington Witnesses
Munning Sawin
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Will of Thomas Lewis - August 11, 1708 In the name of God, Amen. I Thomas Lewis of Bristol in ye County of
Bristol in New England, being aged and very Infirm, and not knowing when
or how soon I may be Removed out of a Chaingable world, to prevent Jarrs
& Contentions after my Decease do make constitute and ordaine this to be
my last Will & Testament in manner and form following; that is to say, I
commend my Soul into ye hands of God and body to ye earth to be decently
buried at the Discretion of my friends, and as to my temporal estate which
it hath pleased God of his mercy to lend me, I give bequeath and bestow in
the following manner, Viz: After my ffuneral Charges and Just Debts are
payed and sattisfyed by my Executrix hereafter mentioned, I give and
bequeath unto my aged and beloved wife all my whole estate both Reall and
personal after my decease During her natural Life with full power and
Authority by Virtue of these presents to make sale of ye whole my Two acre
lott in Bristol with the Dwelling house thereon except what I have before
given by deed of Gift to my Daughter Hepzebath or any part or parsell of
my said lott to such person or persons who shall appear to purchass the
same hereby Impowering of my said wife Hannah Lewis to make, sign, seal
and fully to execute a good and sufficient Deed and Legall Convayance of
the said two acre lott or any part or parcell thereof so sold as aforesaid
for her necessary & Comfortable livelyhood During her natural life and
after her Decease what shall be Remaining of my estate to be Devided to
and among my Children in as Just and equal proportion as may be according
to the direction of the law in such case made and provided, having a
regard allwayes to what any of my Sons or Daughters have had formerly of
my estate before my decease. And of this my Last Will & Testament I
constitute and ordain my Beloved wife Hannah Lewis my sole Executrix
Hereby making null & voydd all other and form Wills Legacies or Executors
by me in any wise before this time named willed or bequeathed and in
Testimony hereof I Thomas Lewis have hereunto sett my hand and fixed my
seal the Eleventh day of August, A. D. 1708.
Thomas Lewis [Seal]
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Will of John Freeman - October 17, 1724 In the name of God Amen, I John Freeman Senr. being in Perfect health &
memory, blessed be God for it, doe make this my last will & testament as
followeth. First bequeath my soul to God Almighty hoping through the merits
of Christ Jesus to receive a joyful resurrection, my body to the Earth to
be buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named. First I give &
bequesth to my son William Freeman 300 acres of land lying upon the head of
Caranoakr to him & his heirs forever. I doe give to my son William all the
rest of my estate real & personal as money, bills, bonds, goods & chattels
& I doe make my son William sole Exor. of this my last will & testament.
Witness whereof I have set my hand this 17 Oct 1724.
John IF Freeman
Wm. Bridges
Henry Bedingfield
Recorded Feb. 16, 1725, Surry Co., VA
[Deeds & Wills Book 7 Page 623]
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Will of Leonard Tarrant - February 23, 1791I Leonard Tarrant of the State of South Carolina, and District of Ninety
Six, being of sound mind and memory Do, make and ordain this my Last will
and Testament, Revoking all other wills by me made, and Do Direct my
Executors after Named, to comply with this will. First, I have given unto
my Sons, Benjamin, and Leonard, and Samuel Tarrants, and Nelly Daniel, all
that I Ever meant, or Intended, they should have from me or my Estate, I
mean my Children Above mentioned is to have no more from my estate.
Secondly I give and Bequeath to my beloved wife Mary one horse worth Seven
pound and Sadle and feather bed and furniture, thirdly I give to my Daughter
Elizabeth Kirby, five pound out the money Arising from the sale of my Estate,
fourthly I give to my son Reuben Tarrant all my wearing appearel and Large
Bible, which is all I ever meant, or Intended he should have from my Estate,
fifthly I give my Grand Daughter, Elizabeth Tarrant, Daughter of Samuel
Tarrant, fifteen pounds Sterling to be paid out of the money Arising from
the sale of my Estate, which I Direct my Executors to keep for her untill
she marries, or comes of age, Sixthly, I Direct my Executors to sell all my
Estate to the Best advantage upon twelve months Credit, and after paying my
Just Debts, I give to my wife Mary one fourth part of the money arising there
from, after paying my debts, the Ballance to be Equally Divided between my
two sons John and James Tarrants. Lastly I Do appoint John Tarrant, James
Tarrant and my wife Mary Executors to this my Last will and Testament, in
witness where of I have here unto set my hand and Seal this Twentythird Day
of February one thousand Seven Hundred and Ninty one.
his
Leonard X Tarrant
mark
Signed sealed published and pronounced by the Said Leonard Tarrant as his
last will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and the
presence of Each other have subscribed our Names.
L. Tarrant
Samuel Tarrant
Rowland Tarrant
SC Will Book A, page 41, Apt. 7, file 461 |
Will of William Bridges - August 1, 1756 In the Name of God Amen. This first Day of August One thousand seven
Hundred and fifty six, I William Bridges of the County of Granville &
Province of North Carolina Being of sound mind & memory Praise be God for
ye same, & calling to mind the Uncertainty of this Life, Knowing that it
is appointed for all Men to Die, Do make, Ordain, Constitute & Appoint this
my Last Will & Testament in manner & form following, Vizt,
Impris I Give & bequeath unto my Daughter Mary the Wife of Henry Porch
five Shilling to be Paid her after my Wife's Decease
Item I Five & Bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of William
Freeman five Shilling to be Paid her after my Wife's Decease
Item I Five & Bequeath unto my Daughter Susannah, the Wife of John
Hancock, five Shilling to be Paid her after my Wife's Decease
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Grandson Thomas Bridges son of William
Bridges two Cows & Calf, two Pewter Dishes & two Plates Pewter, and all that
he has now in possession Except a Bay Horse named Fidler that to be Returned
to my Executor the Cow & Calf & Pewter to be Paid him after my wife's
Decease
Item I Give & bequeath unto Amy the Daughter of William Porch a Cow &
Calf the male Kind (of their Increase) for William Porch her father, the
female for her Self & to be Paid her after my Wife's Decease
Item I Leave a Tract of Land of one Hundred acres & Plantation unto
Joseph Bridges after my Wife's Decease and to the Heirs of his Body Lawfully
begotten and so to the Heirs of them & their body lawfully begotten & so
shall attain it & forwards on, Heirs then to the next of Kin and so to
Continue to them & their Heirs Lawfully begotten & Proceeding for Ever
After my Wife's Decease Then I Give unto Mary Daughter of Thomas Bridges
one Negro man named Bib to be Delivered to her when shall attain to the Age
of Eighteen Years if in case my Wife should Die before that, and if my Wife
should Die before She attain to Eighteen Years, then my Executor or
Executors to Hire out the negro Yearly and what comes out of the Hire to
Mary three Pounds Virg.a money yearly till she comes of Eighteen years, and
when she shall attain to Eighteen years then to Pay her what remained out of
the Hire besides the three Pounds, with the Negro to be Delivered by my
Executor Exors. to Mary the Daughter of Thoms Bridges and to her and her
Heirs for Ever
Item I do Leave unto my beloved Wife Susannah During her Natural Life all
my Lands Goods Chattles & Credits and after her Decease, my Legacies being
Paid & my Debts & Funeral Expenses are fully Satisfied & Paid then I Give
unto my son Joseph Bridges all the Rest, Residue & Remainder of my Estate,
he Paying as is before Specified & mentioned by me as my Last Will &
Testament
Lastly I do nominate, Constitute & appoint my son Joseph Bridges my Sole
Executor of this my Last Will & Testament hoping he will Execute & perform
the same as my Trust is in Reposed Given from under my hand & Seal the Day
& year above.
his
William WB Bridges
Danl Potter mark
Ambrose Crane
Jeremiah Perry
Proved May Court 1762, Granville Co., NC
[Unrecorded File]
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Will of David Brown - October 21, 1801 In the name of God Amen --
Know ye that I, David Brown of Charlton in the County of Worcester,
Yeoman -- Being of sound mind & Memmory, Thanks be to almighty God, Do
publish this my last will and Testament in manner & form following. That
is to say, First I give & bequeath unto my beloved Wife, Prudence Brown,
The sum of Seven Hundred Dollars, two of which I wish her to dispose of in
maintaining and Educating my Daughter Sally, born of the body of her, the
said Prudence. I also give unto the said Prudence one good Bed and bed
Furnature and one Side Saddle --
Item. I give & bequeath unto my son Samuel Brown, Seven Hundred Dollars
to be paid to him or his guardian when my real Estate shall be Disposed of
as hereafter mentioned-
Item. I give unto my Daughter Huldah Morey one bed & beding and also one
Suit of Mourning apparel --
Item. I give & bequeath to my sons Ebenezer, Jacob, Elijah, & David
Brown & to each of them Respectively one Equal and undivided Part of the
Residue of my Real & Personal Estate after paying & Discharging all my just
Debts & Dues & before mentioned bequests, Reserving however so much of the
residue of my Estate previous to the Division between my sons aforesaid
That my daughter Sally Brown shall have two thirds as much Property as
either of my four sons aforesaid, Ebenr., Jacob, Elijah, & David, out of
the Residue aforesaid.
Item. I most Earnestly recommend unto each & every of my sons aforesaid
that in the case that Huldah Morey my Daughter should be reduced to low &
needy circumstances that they should contribute unto her a comfortable
support and maintenance --
and lastly I give & bequeath unto my son Ebenezer Brown aforesaid all
the Residue of my Estate both Real & Personal of what name or Nature soever
-- Whom I do hereby Constitute together with Ebenezer H. Phillips of
Charlton aforesaid, Physician, as my Executors of this my last will &
testament, hereby fully Authorizing and Empowering them my Executors to
Dispose of and to sell to the best advantage for the purposes aforesaid,
all my Real & Personal Estate which Real Estate lies and being in Charlton
and is the farm on which I now live, Revoking all former wills by me made --
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this twenty first
Day of October in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Eighteen Hundred & one.
David Brown
Signed & sealed Delivered & Declared my the above named David Brown to be
his Last will & testament in the Presents of us who have here unto
Subscribed our names as witnesses in Presence of the Testator
Elisha Thompson
Nathel. Goodell, Jr.
Josiah Blanchard
Filed: November 14, 1801. Proved: Dec. 8, 1801.
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Modified: 10/6/02