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- I, John Richards of Boston in the County of Suffolke in hisMajtiesProvince of the Massachusetts Bay in New Engd, merchant, throdivinegrace in good and perfect health and memory, yet knowing theuncertaintyof this life on earth, and being desirous to settle thatportion oftemporal estate which God of his bounty hath made him asteward of, Domake, ordain and declare this my last will and testamentin manner andform following; First and above all things I commend andcommit my soulto Almighty God my Creator, most assuredly believingthat when thisEarthly Tabernacle shall be dissolved my soul shall bebrought to thathabitation which is eternal in the Heavens, thro theprecious death andmerits of the Lord Jesus Christ, my blessed Saviourand Redeemer. My bodyI commit to the earth from whence it was taken tobe buried in suchdecent manner as my Executors hereafter named shallbe thought meet andconvenient, hoping for and dying in expectation ofthat joyfulreserrection of the Great Day when soul and body shall berennited and beforever with the Lord. And as for settling my temporalEstate and suchGoods and Chattels and Debts which it hath pleased Godfar above mydesert to bestow upon me, I do order give and dispose thesame in mannerand forme as hereafter is expressed. And first I do renounce, revoke, frustrate and make void all TestamentorTestaments, Will or Wills by me formerly made by word or writingandappoint this my last Will and Testament and no other. Item I willthatthose just debts which I do or shall owe to any person orpersonswhosoever at the time of my decease be well and trulycontented,satisfied and paid within convenient time after my deceaseby myExecutors hereafter named. And Whereas I did on contract ofmarriage withMes Ann Winthrop now my wife give as a dower my bond toher brother, Maj.Gen. Wait Winthrop of œ2,000 conditioned, that incase of my deceasebefore her, she should have and enjoy to her ownproper use foreverœ1,000 in money of New Engd out of my estate besideswhat would accrue toher by law out of my Real Estate as per my saidBond, Dated June 1692more fully appears, I do will and order the saidœ1,000 to be paid to herin the first place or to her orders inconvenient time after my decease.
Item I give and bequeath unto my said wife all that her estate that Ihadmight or should have had with her not to be inventoried or inquiredintoby my Executors hereafter named.
Item, I give unto my said wife œ100 in money more than isaboveexpressed.
Item I give and bequeath unto my said wife œ100 worth of my plate tobeweighed to her at 6s 8d per oz.
Item I give and bequeath unto my said wife all my Householdstuff,apparrel,
arms, Books, except what is bequeathed to others hereafter in thismyWill, and in lieu of her thirds of my real estate, I give unto mysaidwife the use of my Mansion house wherein I now live with theLand,Garden, Yards together with the Warehouse Wharffe,Ship-carpenters yard,and pasture thereunto adjoining, with outhouses,Fences, priviledges andappurtenances thereunto belonging during thetime of her widowhood and nolonger, she maintaining the Houses andfences in good repair. But if shesee not cause to accept thisproposition, she is to take her Thirds of myReal Estate according toLaw and deliver the premises to whom it isbequeathed hereafter in thismy Will.
Item I will and bequeath unto my wife's two Brothers and threeSistersœ100 in money, that is to say To Maj Gen. John Winthrop œ20. ToMaj Gen.Wait Winthrop œ20. To Mes Elizabeth Endicott œ20. To MesMargaret Corwinœ20 and To Mes Martha Wharton œ20 Item I will andbequeath unto my Wifeskinswoman Mes Elizabeth Corwin who now liveswith us Three score poundsin money and œ10 worth of my plate to beweighed at 6s 8d per oz. Item Iwill and bequeath to my sister MesSarah Alline, wife to the Revd MrJames Alline of Boston œ100 in money.That is to say For herself œ40being part thereof and œ60, theremaining part for her children or Grandchildren to be distributed byher in proportion as she shall see good.
Item I give and bequeath to my sister Mes Abigail Foster, wife toJohnFoster Esq of Boston œ40 in money.
Item I give and bequeath to Lt. Colon?? Elisha Hutchinson of Bostonœ20in money, and to his son Thomas Huchinson œ50 in money and tohisdaughter Elizabeth Hutchinson œ300 in money and to his daughterHannahHutchinson œ20 in money. All these legacies and bequests to mybrotherElisha Hutchinson and his children I give on condition that hischildrenwhen they come of age shall confirm the sale of a certainparcel of landadjoining to my land which came to him in the right ofhis former wife,sister to my late wife deceased and was sold to me bytheir said fatherMay 10, 1682. I say May the tenth one thousand sixhundred and eighty twofor œ300 in money (much more than it is worthbut for my convenience) asby bill of sale on Record appears. and thathis children aforesaid domake sale and deliver sufficient conveyancethereof to me or to whom Ishall bequeath the same. and that the 8dElisha Hutchinson and 8dchildren do authentically quitclaim to theHouse and Land I now live inwhich they may make under any pretense ofright from their late aunt, myformer wife deceased. But in case of anytrouble, disturbance ormolestation given by them or any one of them orany from by or underthem, or any of them to those to whom I shallbequeath the same or totheir heirs or assignes, the said Hutchinsonand his children above namedshall forfeit the whole Legacies andBequests above to be recovered bythose to whom I shall bequeath 8dLands and Housing or by their heirs orassignes.
Item I give and bequeath to Mr. Adam Winthrop son to my Predecessorœ100in money and to his son Adam Winthrop œ50 and to his daughterMaryWinthrop œ50 in money.
Item I give and bequeath to my nephew Thomas Richards, son to mylatebrother, James Richards of Hartford Esq all yt my Mansion Houseand Landwhich I now live in lying at the Northerly end of the Town ofBoston(*)with the Lands adjacent together with the Wharffe Warehouse,Outhousing,Ship-Carpenters yarde, Pasture as well the Land which Ibought of myBrother Lt. Coll. Elisha Hutchinson as what I had in rightof my Wife,and what I bought of Mr. John Paine deceased, with theGardens YardesFences with their privileges and appurtenances, to him,his heirs andassigns forever. Reserving only the use of (*) At the corner of Foster and Ship streets.
all to my now wife during her widowhood, in case she accept of it asisabove expressed. If otherwise my wife is to have her thirdsaccording toLaw.
Item I give and bequeath to my sister in law, Mes Sarah Davieformerlywife to my late Brother Richards œ20 in money.
Item I give and bequeath unto the three daughters of my lateBrotherRichards the sum of œ600 in money. That is to say, Unto Mary,now wife toMr. Benja Alford œ200. To Jerusha wife to Mr. GurdonSaltonstall of NewLondon, œ200. To Elizabeth wife to Mr John Davie ofNew London œ200.
Item I give and bequeath to the children of Sarah daughter to mylateBrother, late wife of Capt Benjamin Davis of Boston viz. To WmDavis allthat Wharffe piece and parcell of Land lying above, againstand below themouth and entrance of the Town Dock which I purchased ofMes ElizabethWoodmansey, Relict of Mr John Woodmansey of Boston (andnow let to Mr.John Waite at œ6 per annum) with all ye priviledges andappurtenances tothe same belonging to the 8d William Davis his heirsand assigns forever.And to the three daughters of said Benjamin andSarah Davis, viz. ToMargaret Davis all that House and Land formerlybelonging to my MotherRichards lying near the Dock known by the nameof Mr. Peter Oliver'sDock, to be to her, her heirs and assignesforever. And to her sistersSarah Davis and Elizabeth Davis œ100 inmoney to be equally dividedbetween them. The money to be paid to theirFather, Capt Benj Davis fortheir use within six months after mydecease.
Item I give and bequeath to John Alford son of Mr Benj Alford, allthatpiece or parcell of land lying near Beacon Hill which I bought ofthelate Mr. Richard Knight now in the occupation of Mr. Benj Alfordforesd Ihaving formerly given it to his 8d son John but he hath nodeed of it.
Item I give and bequeath to the children of my late sister Mary, WifetoMr Thomas Hinckley of Barnstable œ500 in money. That is to sayUntoSamuel Hinckley œ50. To Sarah, wife to Nathaniel Bacon ofBarnstable œ50.To Mary Wife to Mr John Wibourne of Boston œ50. ToHannah Wife to MrNathaniel Glover of Dorchester œ200. To Mclatiah wifeto Mr JosiahCrocker of Barnstable œ50. To Bathshua Hall of Dorchesterœ50. ToMehetable Worden of Boston Widow œ50.
Item I give and bequeath to the children of my sister Ann late WifetoMr. Ephaim Hunt of Weymouth deceased œ150 in money That is to say ToLtTho Hunt of Boston œ50. To Maj Ephaim Hunt of Weymouth œ50 and To MrJohnHunt of 8d Weymouth œ50.
Item. I give and bequeath unto the children of my late sister Alice,latewife to Maj William Bradford of Plimouth the sum of œ510 in money.Thatis to say Unto Tho Bradford of Connecticott Colony œ50 To Alice,Wife toMaj James Fitch of Norwich œ50. To Hannah Wife to Joshua Ripleyof 8dNorwich œ50 To Melatiah, Wife to Mr. John Steel of 8d Norwich œ50To thechildren of the late Wm Bradford jun of Plimouth œ50 to be paidto theirgrandfather, Maj Wm Bradford and by him equally to be dividedamongstthem. To John Bradford œ60. To Samuel Bradford œ50. To MaryWife to Mr.Wm Hunt of Weymouth œ50. To Sarah, Wife to (???) Baker ofDuxbury orsomewhere thereabout œ50.
Item. I will and bequeath to Elizabeth Adams, Daughter to Alice Wifeofthe late Rev. Mr. William Adams of Dedham œ60 in money, and do alsoorderthat she be paid œ20 more for money I received of Maj James Fitchaforesdin part of her portion, so that said Elizabeth Adams is toreceive in allœ100 out of my estate.
Item. I will and bequeath to Mary Wiborne junr. daughter of John andMaryWiborne of Boston above mentioned œ30 in money, and to the eldestchildof Mrs Mehetable Worden aforesd. for the childs proper use œ30 inmoney.To Ann
the eldest daughter of Lt Tho Hunt aforesd ��30 in money, and totheEldest child of the above said Maj. Ephaim Hunt œ30 in money, andto theeldest child of Mr John Hunt aforementioned œ30 in money to bepaid tothe parents of those that are under age.
Item. I will and bequeath of my Plate as followeth. To my cousinMaryWise, to Mr. Benj Alford œ10 worth of 8d Plate at 6s. 8d per oz.ToHannah Wise, To Nathaniel Glover aforementioned œ10 worth at 6s. 8dperoz. To my cousin Elizabeth Hutchinson aforementioned œ10 worth at6s. 8dper oz. and To Elizabeth Adams aforesd. œ6 worth after the samerate.
Item I give to Maj Genl. Wait Winthrop my best silver hilted Rapierandbest belt, and my Carbine with Belt. And to my Cousin Mr BenjAlford theother silver hilted rapier and next belt and my best saddlewith pistolsand holsters thereto belonging, And whereas I am stillindebted to someof my Sisters grand-children (that are yet under age)on account ofbequests of my late Mother Richards as by her Will datedJly3. 1679 Thatis to say Unto the son of the above named Hannah Gloverof Dorchester œ5.To Samuel Hinckleys child œ5. To Sarah Bacon's twoEldest Children œ5each, To Lt Tho Hunt's two Eldest Children œ5 each,To John Bradford'stwo Eldest Children œ5 each, In all œ40. My will isthat those sums bedoubled to them, and that there be paid to the abovenamed children œ80in money proportioned as above.
Item. I will and bequeath to Harvard Colledge at Cambridge in NewEnglandœ100 in money to be paid by my Executors hereafter named to theTreasurerof said Colledge for the time being to be improved by him andhissuccessors with the advice of the President Fellows in the somemeet way,the yearly profit to be towards maintenance of poor schollarsat thediscretion of the President and Fellows for the time being.
Item. I give and bequeath to the Town of Boston œ100 in money to bepaidto the Treasurer of the said Town for the time being and by himimprovedin some meet way (or by his successors) with the advice of theSelectmenof 8d Town, the yearly profit to be towards the maintenanceof the Poorof the Town at the discretion of the Selectmen.
Item I will and bequeath to the Second Church in Boston whereof I amanunworthy member œ100 in money to be paid to the teaching OfficerorOfficers of 8d Church for the time being, to be improved by theDeaconsof the 8d Church (or others whom the Officer or Officers shallappoint)with the advice of said Officer or Officers, the yearly profitto betowards the maintenance of the poor belonging to said Church atthediscretion of said Officer or Officers:
Item, I give and bequeath to my Brother Rev. Mr. James Allin, Pastorofthe First Church in Boston œ20 in money and unto the Rev. MrIncreaseMather of the Church to which I belong œ20 in money; and tohis son, TheRev. Mr Cotton Mather œ20 in money, To the Rev Mr SamuelWillard of thethird Church in Boston œ10, To the Rev Mr Joshua Moodyœ10 and to Mr.Bayley, a preacher in Boston œ10 in money.
Item I will and bequeath to the Witnesses of this my Will thatshallappear at the Probate 20s a piece to bye each of them a Ring.TheRemainder of my estate I give and bequeath to the persons and intheproportions following viz. To my beloved wife one eighth partthereof, Tomy Cousin [hus. of his niece] Capt Benj Davis's childrenone eighth partto be equally divided amongst them by their father towhom it is to bepaid, One eighth part to my cousin, Lt Benj. Alfordfor his children tobe equally divided amongst them. One eighth part tomy cousin, Mr GurdonSaltonstall for his children equally to bedivided. One eighth part to mycousin Mr John Davie for his childrenequally divided. One eighth part tomy cousin Lt Tho Hunt of Boston.One eighth part of Maj Ephaim Hunt ofWeymouth and one eighth part toMr John Hunt of Weymouth afore mentioned. And whereas money is mentioned in all theforegoingBequests, it is because my estate lies principally in moneyorobligations for money; That my Executors hereafter named may iftheyshall see cause, pay all such Legacies or any part of them byassigningof the Bonds, or Obligations to the several Legatariesrespectively whichshall answer as if paid in money, anything aforesdnotwithstanding to bedone within six months after my decease. And incase my estate by God'sProvidence fall short of what is disposed andbequeathed in this my Will,my Will is that every Legatary be abatedproportionably. And I do herebyappoint and ordain my beloved Wife Ann,my Brother, John Foster Esq. andmy cousin Lt Benj Alford jointExecutors of this my last Will andTestament, and do hereby will andbequeath unto them œ150, that is œ50apiece. In Witness whereof I havehereunto put my hand and seal the dayand year first above written.Signed, sealed, pronounced and Delivered byJohn Richards, "as his lastWill and Testament in presence of us."
The above "will was found in his own hand writing," lying "uponhiswriting Desk in his Closet, immediately upon his decease," neithersignednor witnessed; yet it was set up as his will, "approved andallowed sofar as it concerned the distribution of his personalestate"; and thepersons named as his executors were appointed toadminister.
Dame Ann, his widow, appealed from the decree of the Judge of Probatetothe Governor and Council, who, May 31, 1694, ratified and affirmedtheprevious decree; and the whole estate seems to have beendistributedaccording to the above will
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