Will of Thomas Holbrook - December 31, 1668In the name of God, Amen. Anno Domino, Dec. 31, 1668, Thomas Holbrook, of Weymouth, in New England, being sick and weak in body, but of good and perfect memory, thanks be to the Lord, and minding the uncertain estate of this transitory life, and desiring to settle that estate that God hath blessed me with all, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following, committing my soul to Almighty God through Christ my Saviour and Redeemer, and my body to decent burial, and for the settling of my temporal estate I do order, give and dispose the same in manner and form following. That is to say, first, I will that my debts and funeral expenses be truly paid out of my estate. Item, I give and bequeathe unto Jane, my beloved wife, during her life, my whole estate, of what quality and quantity soever the same be, at her dispose for her necessary and comfortable maintenance, and do request my son John Holbrooke and my son Wm. Holbrooke, and my son Tho. Holbrooke to be helpful to my wife in assisting of her in what she may have occasion to dispose of for her subsistence and comfortable maintenance during her life, and give their mother the best advice, as she is ancient and weak of body, suitable to her necessity without being burthensome to any. Item, I give and bequeathe unto my endeared children all my estate, of whatever quality and quantity soever the same shall be, that shall remain at my wife Jane's decease, there being six of them, three sons and three daughters, to be equally divided between them, always provided that my eldest son, John Holbrooke, shall have a double portion, and the rest of my estate to be equally divided, viz, unto my son, Tho. Holbrook, my son Wm. Holbrook, unto my daughter Anne Rennolds, unto my daughter Elizabeth Hatch, and unto my daughter Jane Drake, to be equally divided amongst them as near as may be; and in case any or either of my sons or daughters should decease before my wife Jane, then the share of the deceased to remain to their respective children and my grandchildren. Item, I give unto my grandchild John Holbrooke the eldest, my sword. Item, I give unto my grandchild Peter Holbrooke my gun and my gray mare colt. Item I give unto my grandchild Wm. Holbrook my musket. Item, I give and bequeathe unto all my grandchildren that shall be living at my wife Jane's decease, two shillings apiece. Item, I do hereby make and ordain my loving wife, the above said Jane Holbrooke, executrix during her life, and at her decease, I do appoint, make and ordain executor of this my last will and testament, my loving son John Holbrooke, whom I do order and entreat to perform this my will, and pay the legacies out of my whole estate of what shall remain at my wife's decease. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written, as on the other side. The mark of Thomas T.H. Holbrook Published, signed and sealed in presence of Rebecca R. R. Burrell Wm. Chase Whereas Peter Holbrooke my grandchild hath been as a servant, and hath been helpful to me Tho. Holbrooke and my wife Jane in our old age, for the space of about eight years before the date of these presents, and still remains with us as a dutiful child, I, Tho. Holbrooke, senr., this 31st of Dec., 1673, do will and bequeathe unto my beloved grandchild Peter Holbrooke, his heirs and assignees, my dwelling house and about three acres of orchard and arable land, situate and being in Weymouth, bounded with Edward Kingman's land, and the River Northerly and Easterly, and the highway Southerly, and the River Westerly, or the creek descending from the River, as the said Peter Holbrooke's proper state of inheritance. To have and to hold after the decease of me, Tho. Holbrooke and Jane my wife, and not before. And I, Tho. Holbrooke, do hereby declare not to alter in any particular form my aforesaid will dated this day was five years since, but in this respect as aforewritten concerning my beloved son and grandchild, Peter Holbrooke, which accordingly I do desire my son John Holbrooke as Executor in all points to fulfil. Dated Dec. 31, 1673. Published, signed and sealed in the presence of Tho. White, Wm. Chase. T. H. |
Will of Capt. Michael Pierce - January 15, 1675I, Michael Pierce of Scituate, in the government of New Plymouth in America, being now by the appointment of God going out to war, against the Indians, doe make this my last will and testament: First I do committ myself and wayes unto the Eternal God; nextly concerning that estate which God has blessed me with, I thus dispose. First I give unto my beloved wife Annah Pierce, during her life, the westward end of my now dwelling house in Scituate aforesaid which I last built to dwell in, and the bed in it, with what appertenances to it, to use and dispose of, as she shall see cause, and the one half of my other household stuff for her use during her life, and then to be disposed of to my children as she shall see cause. Also my will is that for my wifes yearly maintenance, that my son Benjamin Pierce shall pay unto her twelve pounds per year, one half in money and the other half in provisions, and also sufficient firewood for her use in the house during her life; and I give unto my son Benjamin aforesaid my now dwelling house and barn in Scituate afroesaid, and all the land which I have in Scituate excepting that I bought of Benjamin Bates of Hingham, and that which I bought of William James of Scituate and excepting the abovesaid westerly end of my abovesaid house, during my wife's life as abovesaid, out of which abovesaid Estate in house and lands given to my son Benjamin, he shall pay unto my aforesaid wife for her maintenance twelve pounds a year, as abovesaid during her life, and sufficient firewood also as abovesaid. And I give unto my son John Pierce all my lands in Hingham, in the Massachusetts, and my land in Scituate which I bought of William James, of Scituate, paying out of it to my son Ephraim's two children Eserikum Pierce and Ephraim Pierce, to each of them fifteen pounds at the age of twenty and one years; provided that neither my son Ephraim aforesaid, nor either of his after him, or any by or under him, shall go about to molest my said John of or upon the attempt of the three or four acres of meadow land in Hingham aforesaid which my father gave unto my said son Ephraim which is not yet so fully confirmed to me as by my son Ephraim's promise it should have been. Also I give unto my aforesaid son Benjamin all my movable estate in cattle and boats, and household goods, and such like, excepting that which I have disposed of to my wife as abovesaid, out of which said movable estate my said son Benjamin shall pay these legacies which I give to my children as followeth: first I give unto my son Ephraim Pierce, five pounds. 2 I give unto my daughter, Abigail Holbrook five pounds. 3 I give unto my daughter, Elizabeth Pierce 30 pounds. 4 I give unto my daughter, Sarah Pierce 30 pounds. 5 I give unto my daughter, Anna Pierce, fifty pounds. 6 I give unto my daughter, Mary Holbrook, 20 pounds. 7 I give unto my daughter, Abiah Pierce, thirty pounds. 8 I give unto my daughter, Ruth Pierce, thirty pounds. 9 I give unto my daughter, Persis Pierce, 50 pounds. Also I give unto my grandchild Elizabeth Holbrook five pounds to be paid her by my son Benjamin aforesaid at her day of marriage or 21 yers old. Also I give unto my grandchild Abigail Holbrook five pounds, to be paid her by my son John Pierce aforesaid at her day of marriage, or twenty-one years of age. Also my will is, that if it should please God that my beloved wife aforesaid should be afflicted with lameness or sickness so that the abovesaid 12 income be not sufficient to maintain her in comfortable manner, that then what shall be meet by my overseers to be added for her comfortable maintenance shall be equally payed her yearly by my son Benjamin Pierce and my son John of that estate which I have given them as aforesaid. Also I make my abovesaid wife my executrix and my son Benjamin Pierce abovesaid my executor of my last will and testament, and also I the abovesaid Michael Pierce my truly and will beloved friends Cornett Robert Statson and Isaac __________ and my brother Mark Jennes [Eames] and my brother Charles Stockbridge overseers or witnesses of this my abovesaid last will and testament. In witness wereof I set my hand and seal this fifteenth of January 1675. Witnesses: Benjamin Woodworth Michael Pierce Charles Stockbridge |
Will of Jonas Bond - July 30, 1601[Proved at Bury St. Edmunds, Sep. 22, 1601] In the name of god Amen The Thirteth day of July Annon dni 1601. I Jonas Bonde of Bury St Edmunde in the County of Suff and Diocese of Norwch being weake & sicke in body yet good and perfect of remembberance (Thanked by god) make this my present Testament and last will in maner and forme followang ffirst I give & bequeath my soule into the hands of Almighty God trusting thorough the meryts of Christ my saviour to have mercy wth him to live forever and my body I will to be buried in xpian manner when yt shall please god to call me out of this life. Item I give and bequeath unto Oliver Bonde my eldest sonne my howse at Hawley, wth appurtencs to have & to hold for him and his heyres for ever also I give him ten pounds of lawfull English money to be paid to him by my Executrix at the full age of one and twenty yeares. Item I give unto John Bonde the elder, John ye yonger, Bartholomewe & Wm my fowre middle sonnes fiftene pounts a piece of good & lawfull English money to be paid to them & every of them when they attayne to their several ages of one & twenty yeares. Item I give & bequeath unto Thomas Bonde my yonger sonne my howse at Woolpitte with all the land & ground both free & copy thereunto belonging to have & to hold to him & his Heyres forever paying that money that is to be paide out of the same specified in the deeds made unto me. Alsoe I give unto Thomas my sonne ten pounds of lawfull English money to be paid him at his full age of one & twenty yeeres. Alsoe I give unto Hester Woode my wives sister three pounts to be paid at her day of maryage. Item I give unto Elizabeth & Margaret my daughters Ten pounds apiece of good & lawfull money of England to be paid to them at the age of one & twenty and if the one Dy I will the other daughter to have the whole xxlb All my goods Chattals debts Implements and housholdstuffe whatsoever moveable & Imoveable I give and bequeath unto Rose my wyfe whom I make & ordeyne sole executrix of this my present Testament & last will, she to pay my legacies & debts as my Trust is in her. I witnesse that this is my last will I have sette my hand & seale The day and yeare abovesaid. [Jonas Bond] Henry Warren Wm Shippe George Lawson Augustin Gooch James Randall John By |
Will of Hugh Parsons - January 11, 1683/4[Jan. 11, 1683] I Hugh Parsons inhabitant of the Towne of Portsmouth on Road Island in the colony of Road Island and Providence in New England do make this my last will and Testament in minde and following. First my minde and will is that all my just Debts which I of Right owe or am indebted to any person or persons by justly and truly paid by my executrix hereafter named in som convenient time after my decease; also I make my Loving Wife Elizabeth Parsons sole Executrix to all my estate and after mine and my Wifes Decease, my will is, that Hugh Bayly, my Grandson possess and injoy, this, my house and Land I now Live on to him and his heirs forever; with one-third of my store, and moveables that shall be there left; but in case Hugh Bayly shall die before his coming to injoy what I have here bequeathed to him, then my will is that what I have here bequeathed to him shall be and remain to his heires and next of kin which shall be found surviving after mine and my Wifes deceases and further my will is, that my Wife Take Care for the bringing up of my Grandsonn, and that he Live and be subject and helpful to hir during hir natural life and after hir so charge my said Grandsonn, Hugh Bayly to have and injoy what is hereto bequeathed to him and his heires forever and in case my Wife should Dye before my said Grandsonn come of age or capable to manage for himself- Then I leave him with his estate bequeathed to him in the Care and Trust of my overseers hereafter named. They to improve it for his best Advantage and behoofs of my Grandsonn, paying them also out of said estate for their care and trouble thereon. And to my daughter Hannah Mattison I give one shilling and to my Grand-Daughter Hannah Mattison foure eue sheeps to be delivered to her at the day of sixteen years or day of marriage by my Executrix or overseers in Trust. And the Remaining part of my Estate undisposed of I freely give and bequeath to my Wifes two daughters, Living on Long Island near Oyster Bay, namely Susannah Carpenter and Elizabeth Doty. Lastly I desire my Loving friends, James Baker of Newport and William Cadman of Portsmouth and George Lauton of Portsmouth to be my overseers of this my last Will and Testament to see it performed after my decease. In witnee-- I have on the day and year first above written set my hand and seale. Signed sealed and owned Hugh Parsons In the presence of Wm Cadman Joseph Martin William Cadman and Joseph Martain Witness that upon their solemn engagement do testify that they saw the above said testator Hugh Parsons sign and seal the above written and heard him declare it to be his last will and testament and that then he was of a disposing mind to the best of their understandings taken before us this 14th of March 1683 John Albro assistant |
Will of John Watson - March 26, 1650I John Wattson being very weake in Body but in perfect memorye doe ordaine this to bee my last will and testament in manner and forme as followeth: first my debts being discharged, my dwelling howse and all my movable goods, I give and bequeath unto my wife, and the use of my meadow and swampe, till my Sonne John come to bee of twenty yeares of Age. And my will is that shee should bring up my children. And my will is that my Sonne John should have my meadow and swampe at that Age aforementioned, and further it is my will that my wife should have pay to my daughter Sarah five pounds when shee is eighteene yeares of Age, and to my daughter Mary allso five pounds at eighteene yeares of Age. And further it is my will that my Sonne John shall pay to his mother five poundes when he comes to his lands, And it is my will allso that if any of my children departe this Life before they come to the Age that is before mentioned, that then the portion of that that dyes, shall bee equally devided betweene them that are livinge or if two should departe before they come to the before mentioned Age, then that that lives should have the portions of both the others. If all should dye then that it should returne to my wife: And if my wife should change her estate to marry againe It is my will shee should give security to my overseers for the performance of my will for my childrens portions: and my will is that in case my Children should not bee well educated or not well used, then my overseers dispose of them so as they may be brought up in the feare of God, and my wife to Allowe what shall be thought meete for the bringing of them up, and I doe ordaine my Beloved ffreindes John White and Gregory Willterton to bee overseers of this my will mark witness John ) Wattson John Moodye his Francis Barnard. |
Will of Thomas Olcott - November 10, 1653In the name of God, amen. I, Thomas Olcott of Hartford, being weak in body, but through the mercy of God of perfect memory, yet calling to mind the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof, do make and ordain my last will and testament in manner and form as following: First, I commit my soul into the hands of my most merciful Father and blessed Redeemer and eternal Comforter, hoping and being fully assured that it shall be kept safe in the arms of those everlasting mercies which have from eternity before time loved it with a infinite and everlasting love, and in time manifested this love unto me in (by a mighty and unresistible power) plucking me out of the chains of darkness and the dungeons of sin and misery, and translating of me into the kingdom of his dear Son. My body I commit to the earth from whence it come, and out of which it was formed, knowing and being perfectly persuaded that the Lord by his almighty power will raise it up at the last day, and then both body and soul shall be reunited, and this frail and mortal body shall be made like unto the glorious body of the Lord Jesus. My wife I leave her to the care of the church whereof the Lord hath made her a member, and to the counsel and advice of them in general and my overseers, and Mrs. Hooker in particular, and desire their utmost care and endeavor for her good, and I earnestly desire her to attend their counsel and advice to the utmost. The children which the Lord of his mercy hath given me, I firstly commit them into the arms of that mercy, and beseech the Lord to make good his everlasting covenant that he hath of his rich mercy made with them, and to circumcize their hearts that they may love and fear him forever; and secondly, I leave them to the love, care and faithful endeavor of the church with whom they live and whereof they are members, entreating them according to the covenant of the Lord, that they would be helpful to them and watchful over them, both for their outward and spiritual good. And touching the wordly goods which the Lord hath been pleased to lend me, my will is, that after my debts are paid and discharged, that my estate shall be disposed of as followeth, viz: Unto my dear and loving wife I give unto her the sum of twenty-eight pounds per year during her life, to be made fair unto her out of my estate, partly out of what rents and yearly annualties are coming to me, and partly so much of my estate to be put to it as will procure so much to be assured to her during her life; the whole remainder of my estate, except twenty pounds, I give and bequeath unto my children, five or six, more or less, as it pleased the Lord to leave me, which are surviving, to be divided, if I have six children, into seven equal parts, or if seven children, into eight equal parts, and I do give and bequeath unto my eldest son Thomas two equal parts of the estate so divided, and unto the each of the rest of my said children one equal part of the estate so divided; my mind and will is, that each of their parts and portions shall be due unto them and payable unto them at the age of twenty-one years, or day of their marriage, which shall first happen; as also, that if any of my said children shall die or depart this life before that their portion shall become due and payable, that then their part and portion shall be equally divided unto those that are surviving, I mean each of them, both eldest and youngest, to have each of them an equal portion. Also my desire and will is, that my estate which I have given to my children may be ordered and improved to the best advantage of my said children, by my overseers. And my mind is, that my said overseers may be paid out of my estate for such time and cost and expenses as they shall be at, in ordering my estate from time to time, as also that the said overseers would so order of the bringing up of the children as they conceive may be best for the children's spiritual and temporal good. And the rest of my estate not given, I give and bequeath as followeth: Unto my dear and tender mother, Mrs. Margaret Charlfount, for her own peculiar use, two pounds; to my dear and much respected sister, Mrs. Mary Hardy, five pounds; to my indeared friend and faithful counsellor, Mrs. Hooker, fifty shillings; to my revered teacher, one pound ten shillings; to my mother, Hoare, twenty shillings; to my brother, Will. Wadsworth, one pound; to brother Will. Lewis, senior, one pound; to my overseers of this my last will, each of them apiece, three pounds. My desire is, that all my said legacies shall be paid within one year after my decease. I do make and ordain my loving wife and my son Thomas, executors, of this my will; and I do desire my dear brethren and friends, Mr. John Talcott and Edward Stebbin, to be overseers hereof, and desire their utmost care and faithfulness herein. And lastly, I do desire to leave a record of God's faithfulness and goodness towards me, who hath been infinite and abundant in his goodness and fatherly mercy toward me even unto admiration, who though he hath seemed to me to deny for a long time, yet hath heard all my prayers, supplied all my wants, overcome all my evils with his goodness, and when I have been as proud and stubborn as I could be, yet then hath he magnified his rich compassion to me, that all whom it may concern, especially my wife, children, kindred, and friends, may learn to humble and abase themselves before that God, to seek and to wait upon that God who is nearest to help when all other help is furthest from us, and to love and fear and serve that God forever, who is a God full of mercy, and faithful in his covenant to his poor servants and their seed. And I do revoke all other wills by me made, and do acknowledge this as my last will and testament, and in witness hereof have hereunto set my hand and seal this 10th day of November, 1653. Thomas Olcott Witness by us, Henry Hardeye, Elizabeth Roberts. |
Will of Abigail Olcott - January 12, 1692/3I, Abigail Olcott, of Hartford, being at present of good understanding and memory, blessed be God, do consider that I am aged, and the shadows of the evening are come upon me, and therefore, the counsel of the Prophet, -- "Set thy house in order," is very seasonable for me. In obedience thereto, first, I do commit my soul to God in Jesus Christ, trusting through his mercy, my sins are washed away in his blood, and that through his righteousness, I shall be accepted of the Father, and obtain a glorious resurrection; --and my body I commit to the earth, to be buried in a comely decent manner, in the common burying place. And for that estate the Lord hath blessed me with, after my just debts and funeral charges are contented and paid, I do give an bequeath the same as followeth. I have formerly given my son Thomas, a piece of gold, I give my son John, a ten shilling piece of gold, and to my son Samuel and daughter Elizabeth Hyde, I give my biggest piece of gold, to be divided between them. I also, give to my daughter Hyde, my two black gowns, my mohair petticoat, my silk cloak, my wearing linen, a dozen diaper napkins and a dozen of holland napkins; and to my daughter- in-law, Sarah, I give my cloth gown, cloth petticoat and serge cloak. It is my will that the fifty pounds I gave to Thomas and Mary, my grandchildren by a former writing, shall be paid out of such debts as are due to me. And the rest of my estate, both real and personal, I give and bequeath the same, to my sons, Thomas, Samuel and John, and my daughter Elizabeth Hyde, to be divided equally to them, except my son John, who is to have a double share, the rest of my children having formerly received from me considerable. And what I give to my children, I give it to them and the heirs of their bodies now living, --save only that which I give to my son John by this will, is to him and his heirs forever. Finally, I do, in the fear of God, command my children to know, fear and serve the God of their father, that so the blessing of the covenant may be their portion when I shall be gathered to my fathers; and desire, that they may live in love and peace one with another, that the God of love and peace may bless them. I do hereby renounce and make null all former wills by me made, by word or writing, and declare this to be my last will and testament, and do constitute and appoint my beloved sons Thomas and John Olcott to be Executors thereof. And if any difference should arise about the distribution of my Estate, amongst my children, I wholly refer the determination thereof to my loving friends Col. John Allyn and Doctor Thomas Hooker, to whom I refer my children for to take advice and counsel in any thing that shall arise of difficulty in their affairs. And for the confirmation hereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal, this 12th day of January, 1692. Abigail Olcott Signed, sealed and declared in the presence and witness of John Allyn Richard Edwards |
Modified: 8/14/00