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Estate of Thomas French, Sr. of Ipswich
Essex Probate Docket # 10190
In the name of God, Amen. I Thomas French Senior
of Ipswich being weak of body yet of perfect understanding and memory doe
in case of death make this my last Will and Testament. In the first place
I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God who hath redeemed it by
the precious blood of his Son; and I commit my body to the Earth, whence
it was taken, to be buried in a Christian decent manner by my friends in
hope of a blessed resurrection to eternal life. And as for my outward Estate
which God hath graciously given me in this world I doe thus dispose of it:
Imprimis, I give and bequeath to Mary my beloved wife the Bed whereon I use
to ly, with all the appurtenances and furniture belonging thereto. Moreover,
I give to my son Thomas French my cloak and close-coat. Also I give to my
son John French one Cow, which is to make up the full summe of thirty pounds
which I formerly promised him for his Portion. Also I give to my daughter
Mary Smith, one Cow. And to my son Samuel French, I give and bequeath he
bed where he usually lieth, together with the Bedding and Bedstead belonging
to the same. Further, as concerning my lands at the Pequod lots, and my division
lot of marsh at Plum Island, my will is that my sons Thomas and Samuel French
for and in consideration of twenty pounds by them engaged according to to
order unto my son Ephraim French as the remaining part of this portion (which
summe of twenty pounds is almost all paid, and the remainder due upon demand),
I say my Will is that those my two sonns Thomas and Samuel shall possess
and enjoy the said Pequod lands, and division-lot of marsh to themselves
and to their heirs forever, to be equally divided betwixt them.
Furthermore, I give and bequeath to my sonn Thomas French my dwelling house
and homested with all the appurtenances and priviledges thereof and belonging
thereto, and also by Lot lying in Labour-in-vain fields containing twelve
acres more or less; with all the rest of my cattell, stocke of all sorts
and moveable goods (not disposed of by this my will and testament) and to
my son Samuel I give and bequeath two acres of upland joyning to Joseph Quilter's
and two acres of meadow-ground at Reedy marsh; to be possessed by them
respectively after my decease, provided always and my will is that my son
Thomas French doe give full and free libertie to Mary my wife his mother
to abide ad dwell in the said house and to make use of any room or rooms
thereof for her convenient accommodation therein; as likewise to make use
of all or any such moveable as I doe now leave in the hands of my son Thomas
(not disposed of) as my be necessary ad convenient for her use and occasions
from time to time; and all these during the term of her natural life, and
after her decease my son Thomas shall deliver to my three children John,
Samuell and Mary three of the biggest pewter dishes which shall then be left
and remain that is to say, to each of them, one. Provided also, and my will
is that my two son Thomas and Samuel doe carefully provide for their mothers
comfortable maintenance and livelyhood and what is requisit thereto during
her natural life; each of them allowing thereto proportionally to that part
of my Estate which shall be by them received by vertue of this my testament.
And if through any neglect of failure, this way of maintenance should not
be to their mother's satisfaction and content, my Will is, that those my
two sons Thomas and Samuel shall allow to their mother ten pounds yeerly;
nine pounds thereof to be paid by Thomas and twenty shillings by Samuel,
in such pay as shall be suitable and necessary for her comfortable maintenance
and livelyhood. And further, if it shall pleas God to exercise her with much
prevailing weakness or continuing sickness that the aforesaid then pounds
should not suffice to defray the charges of her expenses, my Will is that
(over and above the ten pounds, and according to the like rate of proportion)
those my two sons Thomas and Samuel shall supply her with necessaries suitable
as her condition may require, that she be not exposed to suffering for want
of what ought and might be procured for her. Also my Will is that my Lot
in Labour-in-vain fields, and the two acres of meadow at Reedy Marsh shall
stand bound respectively to my said wife during her natural like as securitie
for the true performance of this my Will as respecting her maintenance by
my two Sonns; and after he decease, the said lands (except what shall bee
alienated (if any so be) by means of the securitie aforesaid) to remain to
each of those my Sonns and to their heirs forever as is before mentioned
and declared. And lastly, I doe name, appoint and constitute my son Thomas
French to be the sole Executor of this my last will & testament.
August 3 1680
Witness: (no signatures)
Proved in Ipswich Court 28 Sep 1680, by Mary French and Samuel French
Source: Printed "Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts;
1635 - 1681," In three volumes,The Essex Institute; Salem, MA; 1916
Submitted by: Linda Herrick Smith
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