The following is a rather detailed abstract of the 1538 will of 
Elizabeth LEWYS, and is taken from "The English Ensigns," by Paul 
C. Reed, Part II (TAG 75:133-34). Refer to the source article for 
additional analytical comments concerning the content.

In the name of god amen yn the yere of owr lorde god M ccccc xxxiij & the xiij 
day of Januarye I Elyzabeth lewys of the p[ar]yshe of battell ... make thys my 
p'sent testament ... fyrst y bequeth my sowle to almythey god to owr blessyd 
lady saynt mary & to all the hly co[m]pany of hevyn my body to be buryed yn the 
chappell of owr blessyd lady yn the p[ar]yshe chrche of battell aforesayd nyght 
[sic] to the place where davyd lewys late my husbond ys buryed ... [she gave 4d.
to the high altar, she gave a pound of wax to maintain the light before the 
blessed Trinity each year for eight years, she left 33s. for masses, alms and 
charitable works on the day of her burial, 20s. "all my monthys day" and another
20s. "att my yerys mynde"; she also stipulated that masses be said for her for 
three years after her decease] ...It' I bequeth to Kateryn the Wyfe of John love
a sylver salt vj sylver sponys & my grete carvyd chest It' I bequeth to Alyce 
the wyfe of luke pylcher my best furred gown & to the same luke vj sylver sponys
It' I bequesth to Alyce the wyfe of Thomas pylcher my russett gowne purflyd wyth
shankys [fur from the legs of animals used for trimming outer garments] & my ij 
best kyrtels [an outer petticoat] It' I bequeth to Johanne the doughter of luke 
pylcher my lytyll payer of corall bodys [bodices?] gawdyd wt sylver & a fyne 
shete It' I bequeth to Elyzabeth the doughter of kateryn love & to Thomas 
pylcher to eyther of they a fyne shete It' I bequeth to Thomas pylcher the 
fether bed that I lye yn yn the loft chamber over the hall wt all that 
belongyth therto & all the other beds yn the howse ... accept the grett fether 
bed yn the chamber next to the steyers the whyche I bequeth to Edward alford 
wt all thyngys that belongyth to ytt ... to be yn the kepyng of Thomas pylcher 
unto the tyme that the sayd Edward comyght to the age of xxij yerys ... & yf 
the sayd edward do happen to dye ... [it is to remain to] the other chyldren of 
chylde of Anne late the wyfe of John alford ... It' I bequeth to Johanne Alford 
a matteras a blankett a bolster & a cov'lett It' I bequeth to John pylcher 
otherwyse callyd benyng an old nobyll It' I bequeth to laurens pylcher an 
angell nobyll It' I bequeth to the forsayd Edward Alforde iij sylver sponys 
It' I bequeth to the forsayd Johanne Alforde my grett barred gyrdyll wt sylver 
& blewe corse & a great payer of bodys of corrall gawded wyth sylver & iij 
sylver sponys  It' I bequeth to alyce the wyfe of thomas pylcher my best gowne 
lyned wt saynt Omerys wursted & my blake worsted kyrtyll It' I bequeth to 
Johanne Symond wedow my other gowne lyned wt saynt omers worsted It' I bequeth 
to kateryn the wyfe of John love my second best  furred gowne It' I wyll that 
the goddys before bequethyd to the children of John Alford shall remayne yn the 
kepyng & bestowyng as ytt ys above rehersyd ... It' I Wyll that all the stuffe 
yn the byggar chest yn the chamber wher I lye shall be bestowed to Edward 
Alford & Johanne Alford yndyfferently ... It' I bequeth to Rychard love sonne 
of the forsayd katyn love my second slyver cuppe It' I bequeth to keteryn smyth 
my rounde gowne purfyllyd wt shankys It' I wyll that yf luke pylcher wyll nott 
delyver to Thomas pylcher all the evydend[e]s that he hath or any man for hym 
co[n]cernyng the howse wyth the appertenance[e]s that I now dwell yn yn battell 
wtyn one moneth next after my deth that the same luke shall have nothyng of the 
goodys to hym before bequethyd It' I wyll that yf Wyllyam pylcher do clayme or 
sue or vex or trobyll Thomas pylcher for any tytyll or untrest that he wold 
have yn the house that I swell yn then I wyll that the same thomas shall have 
lxxxiijs iiijd the whyche I have lent the same Wyllyam before thys tyme It' I 
wyll yt John love shall pay or cause to by payd ... to Thomas pylcher my sonne 
iiijli xvjd the whyche he become dettor to pay unto me or ellys he nor hys 
wyfe to have no part of the goodys & stuffe before ... bequethyd The resydue 
of all my goodys ... nott bequethyd ... I geve & bequeth to Thomas pylcher my 
sonne Whome I ordyn & make my sole executor ... & I ordayne the foresayd luke 
pylcher to be the overseer therof thys wytnessyth s[ir] John catyto p[ar]yshe 
preyst of Battell Robert trolloppe John aylard & other

In the name of God amen I Gerad Vinzant of the County of Lincoln farmer being 
very sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto
God calling unto mind my last will and testament that is to say I give and 
recommend my soul into the Almighty God that give it and my body I recommend to
the earth to be buryed in a decent manner. Nothing doubting a general 
resurrection I shall receive the same again by the might powers of God and as 
touching such owrdly where with it has God to bless me with in this life I give
in wise and dispose of the same in the Following manner and form First I give 
and bewuest to mary my dearly Beloved wife the bed bedsted and furniture on 
which we lie together with two and calves one young mare colt [meho?] one ew 
and two wethers the the uncalest copper kettle the smallest pot but on the tea 
kettle with scepag therto belonging one box iron and heater one tin collender 
one looking glass one bible she had of her father one printer desk and one long
bason and four plates Second that land purchase of John Smith must be paid 
according to agreement of my estate and one third of the yearly profit to my 
wife with the above during her widowhood my well beloved James to have the land
with his mothers and at her or marriage him to enjoy the whole land the wagons
two led plow iron with all the tools to be equily divided between my son Gerad
and James my well beloved daughters Rachel one bed and furniture her choice 
eitgher of them three horses in Gerad's custody one cow and calf her spining 
whell sacte her trunke and one forty pound note on John Smith and John 
Fullemwider payable in the year 88 four pounds levied of my estate to purchase
her a saddle the same and tackling.  Must be with james and my wife for the 
use of my family and at my wife's death to be divided between James, Rachel and
Elizabeth equals likewise my still order to be between Gerad and James during
the term of seven years my wife receiving the fourth during her life or 
widowhood and at the end of seven years James is to have the still wholesale 
to himself my wife is to enjoy her saddle and bridle and spinning whell as 
above. The largest (here is a big tobacco spot) I order to James at his 
mother's death the rest of my personal estate at my death to be aprised by two
honest men and to be divided between my Daughter Mary Maganhey one shilling and
no more and my son Jacob one shilling and no more.  I ordain my wife Mary and
my sone Gerat and James Vinzant executers of this my last will and testament. 
In witness whereof I the said Garret Vanzant have to this my last will and 
testament set my hand and seal the twenty third day of March in the year of one
thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven.

Signed sealed and acknowledged by the said Garrett Vanzant the testator as his
last will and testament in the presence of us who were present at the signing
thereof,
       Samuel White
test   Jacob Costner                                Garrett Vanzant
       Micahael Costner

Probated
Rutherford County January Court 1788
This will was lawful present in open court & order to be record

Mary Vanzant's last will and testament is as follows First I give to my [firs]t
Daughter Mary Megayhey five shillings Jacob Vanzant likewise five shillings 
Garrett Vanzant also five shillings, Rachel Vanzant two pounds Elizabeth 
Vanzant likewise two pounds I likewise give to Rachel two pewter plates & to 
Elizabeth I likewise give two pewter plates & one shaving Dish I likewise give 
to Elizabeth my Gold Ring the two silver tea spoons I have & I give one of them
to Elizabeth the other I Give to Rachel, I likewise give my wearing Clothes to 
be Equally Divided Between Rachel & Elizabeth and after the above articles &
same left which I have Given to Each of the above Named Mary Megayhey Jacob 
Vanzant Garret Vanzant Rachel Vanzant & Elizabeth Vanzant are paid to Each one 
according as above Given, the Ballance I Give & bequeth with the ballance of my
worldly Estate where with it has pleased God to bless me, to My Beloved son 
James Vanzant be the amt. thereof More or Less & I likewise Constitute & ordain
my son James Vanzant My Executor to this my last will & testament. I writing 
whereof I set my hand & seal this 29th Day of January 1796

                                      Test.
Robert H Taylor [attes]t                       her
   his                                   Mary   X   Vanzant[Seal]
Wm. X Jones                                    mark
   Mark

   The last Will & Testament of me Margaret Green of ye Township of Concord in
the County of Chester in the Province of Pensilvania Widow being Sick & weak in 
Body but in Sound & perfect Mind & Memory & knowing ye uncertainty of this Life
have thought good to dispose of what worldly Estate it hath pleased God to 
bestow upon me I give devise & dispose of the Same in manner & form following:
   Imprimus, It is my Will that all my just Debts be paid.
   Item I give & bequeath unto my Son Robert Green the Twenty pounds formerly 
given to him by ye Will of my deceased Husband.
   It I give & bequeath unto my Son Thomas Green one Bay Horse branded with M 
on the near Shoulder & G on the near Buttock.
   It I give unto my Daughter Mary one black Cow with a Starr in her fforehead 
now about Seven years old.
   It I give unto my Grandson Henry Green a Young Mare going two year old bay 
colour & branded with M on the Shoulder & G on the Buttock.
   It I give unto my Cousin Henry Guest one Bay Mare branded with M on the 
Shoulder & G on the Buttock all running about White Clay [?] Creek.
   It I give & bequeath unto my son Thomas one great brass kettle.
   It I give unto my Daughter Mary two flax Hatchels.
   It I give unto Benoni Moore Alias Peacock Ten pounds to be paid in Eighteen 
Months time after the Date hereof.
   It I give unto Elisabeth Walker one Ewe Lamb & also five pounds likewise paid
in Eighteen months time.
   It I give unto Thomas Moore one brown Heifer Calf being the biggest
   It I give unto Mary Stroad another brown Heifer Calf being the least.
   It I give unto Mary Fleming one black Cow with one white foot & white at the 
Tail End about five years old. 
   It I give unto John Moor one Roan Horse branded with BS on the far Shoulder &
 [I or T] G on the near Shoulder.
   It I give unto Susanna Moor one great Iron pot.
   It I give unto George Moor one brown bay Mare branded on the near Shoulder 
with M & on the Buttock with G & Colt branded with the Same Letters. 
   It I give Devise & bequeath unto the Rest of my Grand Children to wit the 
Children of my son Thomas & Daughter Mary & children of Mary Fleming Excepting 
those herein mentioned all the Residue of my Estate to be equally divided among
them after my just Debts are paid & the Legacys before mentioned.
   It I constitute Nominate & Ordain & by these presents have constituted 
Nominated & Ordained my loving Son Thomas Green & my Grandson John Moor my 
Executors of this my last Will & Testament revoking & making void all former 
Wills & Testaments by me made & do by these presents Ratifye & Confirm this to
be my last will & Testament.
   In Witnesses whereof I have hereunto sett my Hand & Seal this 7th day of 
the Seventh month September Anno Domino 1708.
                                                           her
                                                  Margaret  M  Green   Seal
                                                           mark
Signed & Delivered in presence of
   Ffrancis Pinick
           his
   William  P  Pose
           mark
 Tho. Pierson

Proved Oct. 6, 1708, Chester Co., PA
Filed in Philadelphia Co., PA Will Book C, page 133.

   I, Thomas Holcomb of Simsbury in the County of Hartford, do make this my last
will and testament: I give to my wife, Rebeckah, 1/3 part of my moveable estate,
to her and her dispose forever, my two guns only excepted. Also, I give her the
improvement of the 1/3 part of all my improvable land during all the time she
remains my widow, and also the improvement of 1/2 of my dwelling house, both
lower and upper rooms, and cellar. I give to my eldest son, Thomas Holcomb, 6
acres of land lying on the north endo of that land I bought of Bissell, west of
that I have already given him, being the north corner of my land. I give unto my
son Daniel Holcomb 3 acres of land where his house and orchard now standeth, and
that free from any incumbrance of improvement by my widow. I give unto my five
younger sons, viz., Daniel Holcomb, Consider Holcomb, Return Holcomb, James
Holcomb, and Enoch Holcomb, all my lands within fence, both meadow and upland,
with all the remainder of the land I bought of Bissell, with all the land given
and measured out to me in the last division, and also my lott of land under
Popatunock, to them in equal shares. I give to my four younger sons, Consider,
Return, James, and Enoch, with my two daughters, Elizabeth and Rebeckah, all the
lands that shall or may be set out to me, or properly appertaining to my estate,
my Town division agreed on, to them in equal shares; but in case the Town
division shall be nullified and a division be made to the proprietors, that then
my will is that my two eldest sons, Thomas and Daniel, shall have equal shares
with my six other children last named, if such a division be made to the
proprietors. I give to my sons, Consider and James, my dwelling house and barn,
with my fourth part of the grist mills at the Falls to be to them in equal
shares. I give to my two sons, Return and Enoch, my two guns. I give to my two
daughters, Elizabeth and Rebeckah,20 pounds to each. I appoint my wife Rebeckah
and son Daniel executors.

Witnesses: Nathaniel Higley, John Griffen, Samuel Higley

[It is not known if this is an abstract or transcription, in whole or in part.
It was obtained from a web site which includes a reference to "Manwaring 3:64".]

   Will written 10th day of December 1751, I Albert Vansandt of St Georges
Hundred and County of New Castle. I give & devise to Son James Vansandt his
Heirs full and equal half o my Plantation and Tract by Lands of Abraham Golden
and Abraham Pierce, allowing Sarah my beloved Wife to enjoy the said half o my
Land and Plantation together with all and every Appurtenances and shall and may
take the Yearly benefits use and posesion until said Son James arrive to Twenty
one Years. If my Land be let upon any Term, I forbid that the same be let to any
Irishman whatsoeve. Wife to give my said Son Seven Years Schooling and some
beneficial Trade so he be an Accomplished English Scholar and a Compleat
Workman.
   The other half of my Land I give to my Son Harmanus Vansandt his Heirs and if
he has the same Apprais'd by two Indifferent men and the Apprais'd Value to
dispose of in the following manner (to say) reserving five pounds to himself and
the remainder to divide Equally between himself, his Brother Garret, his Sisters
Christian Dushane and Rebekah Marteen and do desire that my Sons Harmanus and
James sell not their Lands to any Seperately but one to the other to keep the
said Land and Plantation wholy and entire etc.
   I give and bequeath unto Sarah my beloved Wife the third of all my moveable
Estate together with all the Crops of Wheat and Rey; Green and dry, the Sorrell,
Mare at the Apraisement, and I give her the side saddle Curb Bridle the Feather
Bed and furniture whereon I usually lie and all goods and furniture made and
procur'd by her since she became my Wife, but if she Marries an Irishman or any
of that Extraction, then she shall depart of the said Land and forever quitt
Claim to the said Land and Plantation and every the goods afsd. Item I give and
bequeath unto my Son John Vansandt the Sum of One Shilling and acquit and
forever discharge him of all he owes me. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter
Elizabeth Joudon the Sum of One Shilling and no more Item I tive and bequeath
unto my Daughter Ann Borom the Sum of Twenty pounds Current money. Item I give
and bequeath all the residue of my Estate to my Sons Harmanus and Garret and my
Daughters Christian Dushane and Rebecka Marten between them. Item I give and
bequeath my Begest Bible to my Sons Harmanus and James and to the Successor of
them forever. Item I name Consitute and appoint my Trusty Friend John Vance Esq
of the above Court to be a Trustee for my Wife and Youngest Son. Item I forgive
my Son Harmanus all the Costs of an Attachment I paid for him ordering my
Executors to deduct from each ones share as much as I have charged him or her in
my Book and such or so much as I have not charged I give and forgive them. Item
I Nominate Constitute and appoint my said Wife and my older Son Hermanus
Vansandt to be my whole and Sole Executors.
   Wit: Jacob Vandegrift                                    Albert (AV) Vansandt
   Ann (A) Vandegrift
   Tho: Brown