JOHN WASHBURN'S WILL,1686
[MD 15:4:248+, Plym. Co. Prob. Rcds., I: 84]
Note: His Reference is to Elizabeth
Packard Washburne whom he married late in life.
John Washbourne senr of
Bridgwater" made his will 30 October, 1686, and signed it by a mark. Bequests were as
follows:
"to my Wife Elizabeth Washbourne one Bed one
Boulster one Pillow two pair of sheets one Blanket one Coverlet two chests Six bushels of
Indian Corne one bushell of Barley. ffarther with Respect to money which was my wives part
whereof I have already laid out for her we are agreed that I should Returne to her two
pounds and ten shillings which I have already done."
"to my Son John fourscore acres of upland in the place
where he hath already Built and what shall be found wanting of the fourscore acres in the
said place shall be made up to him on the Easterly side of my Land next the South Brooke
more I Give to him a lot of meadow in Cousters Kitchen lying betwene the lots of Samuel
and james: more two Lots of meadow Lying in the Great Meadow above the Great Island more I
Give to him a whole purchase Right in the undivided lands ffurther my will is
that my Son John take Care of my Brother Phillip to provide for him and on that
Consideration I farther Give to my Son John half a purchase Right in my undivided lands
and half a fifty acre lot not Yet laid out ffurther I Give to him the
Improvement of a Lot of meadow in the Great meadow Lying next to John Ames during my
Brothers Life and after my Brothers Decease the one half of the lot Shall be to my son
James . and my Son John shall Enjoy the other half
"To my son Thomas I have already Given twenty acres of
upland which he hath Exchanged for land where he hath built more I have Given him a Lot of
meadow in Cousters Kitchen lying on the outside Northerly. I have also Given him half a
purchase Right in the undivided lands of all which Lands I have formerly Given him Deed:
"To my Son Joseph I have Given twenty acres of Land lying
at Satucket pond and a lot of meadow lying at Black Brooke I have otherwise Done for him
according to my abillity And my will is that he therewth Rest Contented.
"To my Son Samuel I Give thirty five acres of land in the
place where he hath already Built and a Lot at Quatitequat joyning to his Great lot there
. more I Give half a purchase Right in the Undivided Lands. Also a lot of meadow Lying up
poore meadow River And joyning to his own lot there more a lot of meadow in Cousters
Kitchen lying on the outside Southerly. ffarther I Give to him thirty acres of Land
joyning to his Land where he hath built And also a Steere Calf.
"To my son Jonathan I Give fifty acres of Land Lying on the
outside of my land next the South Brooke and if he Should Come to Settle upon it within
the Space of two years after the date of this my Will he Shall Enjoy it as his own
otherwise my sons John Samuel Benjamin and James Shall Enjoy the Land being Equally
Divided betweene them Each of them paying to my son Jonathan fifty Shillings in Comon pay
more I Give to my son Jonathan a lot of meadow lying in the Great meadow joyning to a lot
of Goodman Turners. Also half a purchase Right in the undivided lands.
"To my Son Benjamin I Give fifty acres of Land which
formerly was my fathers lot Also a lot of meadow lying up Satucket River and joyning to a
lot of Samuel Wadsworths and half a purchase Right in the undivided lands . also two young
Steeres a yong horse a Cow a Bed an an iron pot.
"To my Younger Son James when he Shall Come to age I Give
the land which lyeth between my Son John and my Son Benjamin butting on the River and
Runing in length till it meet with the Butt of my son Samuels Land with my dwelling house
and all out housing thereunto belonging also a lot of meadow in Cousters
Kitchen joyning to a lot of Benjamin Willis and half a purchase Right in the
undivided lands.
"a fifty acre lot lying near Bear Swamp I Give to my two Sons John and Samuel to be
Equally divided between them
"A lot of meadow lying in the mouth of Black Brooke I Give to my three
sons Samuel Jonathan and Benjamin to be Equally divided between them:
"to my Daughter Mary I Give ten acres of Land to be laid
out: and one Cow.
"To my daughter Elizabeth
I Give ye mare which they have in keeping and ten acres of Land already layd out to my Son
in Law her husband
"To my two daughters Mary and Elizabeth I Give twenty acres of land Lying Down the
Town River on the northerly side and joyning to the lands of William Brett to be Equally
Divide
"To my daughter Jane I Give twenty acres of land lying down
Satucket River on the Easterly Side and joyning to the lands of Samuel Allen: further I
give to her one Cow one heiffer a bed and an iron pot:
"To my daughter Sarah I Give twenty acres of land joyning
to my Son Samuels land near his house
"ffurther all my Right and Interest in the lands Called the Majors purchase or in any
other Lands without the four mile my Will is that it shall be Equally Divided between my
sons John Thomas Samuel Jonathan Benjamin and james.
"My two old oxen I leave in the hands of my two sons John and Samuel to be sold when
fit for sale and four pounds of the money to be Disposed of for my Son Benjamin toward his
building.
"I leave on the Land which I Intend to my son James: one horse two oxen one bull two
Cows with all the ffurniture for husbandry to be Improved for the benifit of my two yonger
Children James and Sarah and my will is that when these Children Come to age the principle
be Dinded betweene them. By principle I Intend the horse oxen and other Cattell with the
tooles and ffurniture afore mentioned.
"ffor my Trustees and overseers I Do nominate my kind ffriend mr John
Thomson of Middleborough and my Brother Edward Mitchel
I do nominate and ordaine my two sons John and Samuel Executors"
The witnesses were Thomas Hayward and Joseph Alden.
"This Instrument being Exhibited unto the Inferior Court of Common Pleas held at
Plimouth" on 8 June, 1687, "By John Washbourne there in named Executor. Thomas
Hayward and Joseph Alden the witnesses above named Personally appearing made oath before
the Said Court that the Testator John Washbourne Deceased in their presence Did signe seal
and declare this Instrument to be his last Will and Testament and that he then was of a
Disposing mind and understanding to the best of their judgments.
Attests Nathaniel Thomas Clerk"
