Estate of Joseph Bixby of Boxford
Essex Probate Docket # 2508
There was no distribution of the estate of Joseph
Bixby until after the death of his widow, who survived him three years. Her
death is noted on boxford records, "Sarah Bixbe, a wedow of 84 years of aege
desesad in Juen the third" but the year is missing. Her husband's will was
proved 6 march 1703-4, and an inventory filed the following month, when it
is evident the widow was not living. We may assume that she had died in 1703,
as on the 17 Jan, 1702-3, she had been dismissed with other women members
of the Topsfield church to the church in Boxford, which had been organized
the preceding month. In the church record she was styled the "Widow Bixby".
The will of Joseph Bixby is on file at Salem together with an inventory of
his estate.
The last will and testiment of Joseph Bixby sener liveing in boxford being
aged and not expacting to contenew long in this world yet perfact in his
understanding and in A Resinal disposing miend: I doe bequeath my souel to
almity God who gave it mee and my body to bee desantly buried in the Earth
after my deseas; and as for my outward Estat I despos of it as heerit foloweth:
and to my son Joseph I will and bequeath forty and fouer Acors and a quarter
of land: peart of it is the land I gave him a pon mariag: which land he now
liveth uppon: also I doe give to my son gorg the Eaighteen acors of land
hee now livetath a pon and Elaven acors moer behind durty medow and and two
acors and three quarters of medow in durty medow and three acors of medow
in the slip and an acor of upland lying Round it for convenantsy of fencing
of it:
Also I doe give to my son Jonathen twenty and Eaight acors of land he now
liveath a pon which is the homested I live uppon and fouer acors of medow
in long medow which I bout of Captain Chandler: and the Reast of my land
sheall be Eaqually parted Amongst my 3 sons: and forder my will is that my
three sons Josaph Gorg and Jonathen shal keep my wief on cow winter and sommer:
and also one hog and a low hir twenty bushel of Endian corn and three bushel
wheat and two of malt one barilof sider and twelve pounf of flax tear and
six pound of sheeps woll and nien cord of woodall thes a bove s perticalers
aer to be provided yearly during hir widowhood; also the weast Eand of the
hous with the utenses in it: also thes three sons a bove named shall allow
their mother a peec of Eaigh a pear yearly.
my son daniel hath had his porsion alredy and I doe give to my son Benjemien
three oound to be payed in corn by my sons Joseph gorg and Jonathen Eaqally
a mongst them.
my Daftar Mary Ston hath had seven pound and three shilling wiethis her
porsion.
an my will is that my dafter Abegal shal have ten pound of that Estat that
my wief shal leave behind hir at hir deseas; alsomy will is that my three
sons Joseph goarg and Jonathen doe pay all my honest deats and maintain mee
and my wief with meat drink and clothingand wood and tendane and what wee
stand in need of during my natural lief and after my death beuryme desantly
which charges and disbursments my will is that my three sons joseph goarg
and Jonathen doe bear it eaqually one asmuch as a nother.
it is to be understood that I give to my 3 sons Joseph gorg and Jonathen
all the undevidad land not hear named Eaqually a mongst them also my three
sons Joseph goarg and Jonathen aer to begin todoe thair shaers in all all
that is Exprased in this Enstrument att the deat of the Enstrument: I doe
desiar that John Pebody and Thomas Redington shall bee my over sears of this
my will that it may bee parfermed in all respact according to what is Exprase
in this my last will and testiment and in testimoney that this is my las
will and testimont I the said Josaph Bixbe sener have seat tow my hand and
seall this elaventh day of november in the year of our Lord one thowsend
six hundred nienty and nien
Witnesses:
Josaph Bixbee
John Pebody Sener his j mark and seall
William foster
Abraham Redington
Sarah bixbee hir
Thomas Redington
marck s B widdow
to the desesad hat set hir hand hear to in testimony of hir consent to this
will of hir leat husband
Ess.ss. Before y Hon John Appleton Esq Judge of y probates &sc in Ipsw
march 6 1703-4-William foster and Abraham Redington of Boxford in y County
of Essex appear & made oaty y they were prsent & saw joseph Bigsbee
Senj of s Boxford signe seale & heard him publish & declare y within
written instrmnt to bee his last Will and Testamt & w he wo Did he was
of a disposeing mind To y best of their Dioscerningand y They sett to Their
hands as Witness in his p'sence -& at y same Time They Saw John Pebody
& Thomas Redington Sett to Their hand as Wittness In his p'sence
Upon whith This Will has proved approved and allowed
Attest Dan' Rogers
On back of Will:
Joseph Bixbees Sen'
Will poved approved & allowed
Record Exam
1704
Boxford
Sargent Bixbes will proved approved and allow
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