William Crofts' Will, 1688/9

See William Crofts (abt.1612-1689)

William Craft 1688/9 will and inventory in Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991 part of Ancestry.com, "Probate Records 1638-1691"; digital image, direct link by subscription and free shareable image from ancestry.com

Will dated 5 March 1688/9, proved 26 : 9 mo. 1689. The inventory of his estate was taken 11 March 1688/9.

In the name of God everlasting, Amen.
I, William Crafts of the towne of Lyn N. E. being of good & sound memory & understanding & rationally disposed & having atteined to the years of a good old age & being sencible of the neer approach of my end being at this time labouring under sickness & weakness of body have I taken this opportunity to setle the affairs of my family & doe leave this s my last will & testament.
Imprimis, I resigne my soule into the hands of Him, that gave it & my body to the duct willing a descend interment thereof suitable to my rank & quality.
As for the disposall of my outward estates my will is that my dear & loving wife have improvement of my whole estate during her natural life she making noe strefs or wast theirof.
Item my will is that what my wife bequeathed away by a will made formerly by her & signed by myself, it may stand good & valid ..."
Item, my will is that my son Thomas Ivory be possessed of that parcell of that land lying neer my dwelling house, which I bought of Timothy Allen provided he let my daughter Sarah Chadwell have that four acres, which was bought of Mr. Thomas Laughton by my wife's former husband, which my son Thomas Ivory hath now in possession to be at her own absolute disposal.
Item I bequeath to my loveing cousins the eldest child of Peter Frattingham and of Nathaniel Frattingham & of Samuel Frattingham & of William Frattingham sometimes of Charlestown to the eldest child of each of the said Frattinhams I bequeath as a legacy of my love to them twenty shillings in silver to be paid to them after my wife's decease. Item I will to Jonathun Thomson of Aburn the son of James Thomson five pounds.
Item, twenty shillings to Hannah Frattingham, the daughter of William.
Item to my son Thomas Ivory ten pounds.
Item I bequeath to Ruth Bayley five pounds.
I bequeath to Jeremiah Shepard pastor of the church of Lyn ten pounds.
All these several legacies after my wife's decease together with twenty shillings to Benjamin Rednap. And my will is that my moveables together with my lands lying within the bounds of Lyn be responsiable for the payment of the abovesaid legacies vis. three acres of marsh at high point bought of John Head.
Item, 2 acres of marsh lying between Potter & Thomas Ivory in the town marsh. Item, one acre & a halfe of upland & meadow ground lying between Benjamin Rednap & Jno. Davis. Item six acres of upland more or less lying between Hugh Alley & Eleazer Linsey, bought of John Head, this with what other estate I am possessed of or may be possessed of to be responcible for the payment of said legacies & the remainder of my estate after the payment of my honest & due debts & legacies I doe bequeath to my wife's 2 daughters Lois Burrill & Sarah Chadwell to be equally divided between them to their sole & absolute dispose, only I bequeath to Lois Chadwell forty shillings in silver, a feather bed with furniture & 2 covers, this alsoe to be paid after my wife's decease. Item I constitute my son in law John Burrill senior to be executor to this my last will & testament to see it fulfilled according to all true intents and purposes all former wills to be void & of none effect & this to stand firm & substantiall & I have hereto set my hand this 5th day of March 1688/9.

William [his mark] Crafts

Signed and sealed in the presents of us,

John Bread

Allen Bread [--?word--]

Thomas Chadwell