Estate of John Rowe of Gloucester
Essex Probate Docket # 24287

The nineth Day of the moneth called Aprel in the year of our Lord god one thousand seven hundred: I John Roe Snr of Glocester in the County of Esex in New England being weak of body but of Real and Sound memory and mind and not knowing when it may please god to take mee out of this world Do therefore hereby Declare & make knowe this my Last Will and testament in manner and forme as followeth first I commit and comend my soul into the hands of God the father of Spirits And my body to be buried at the discretion of my Executor, hereafter named: And for my goods and Estate.
First I give and bequeath unto my Eldest Son Stephen Roe one acre of upland at the northern end or corner of my planting field next unto Thomas Withams house
Ite I give more unto my Son Stephen Roe one acre of salt meadow lying at Starknaught harbour at the east corner of my meadow: more I give to my Son Stephen one common Right also one quarter of my saw mill if already my son Stephen Roes own proper right.
Item I give to my Son John Roe one twelveth prt of the Sloop the Friend(ly?) Adventure which I hadof Joseph alin: it is to be under stood and my wish is that the one halfe of the advance by improvement of said prt of sloop shall bee my son Johns after my decease the other halfe for my Executors for their pains the said halfe to bee accounted unto my sd son after my decease when he shall arive unto the Age of twenty one years.
father more it is to bee under stood and my will and meaning Is that my lands and housing cattle and sheep and all other my goods and moveables of all sorts as well Reversion(?) as in possession: after all my funeral Expenses are payd and discharged: That then what Estate of all sorts as above Expressed shall bee remaining shall bee equaly divided amongst all my naturall Children. Viz- my four sons & four daughters provided neverthe less that in Case Either of my Children do dy before he or They bee married that then the Rest Surviving shall inherit as copartners Excepting unto my Son Stephen and unto my Son John that portion above their Equall Shares: which I have already given:- unto them:
farther more it is my mind And will and my meaning Is that it shall bee at the Liberty and choise of my Executors That in case they, or either of them will keep all my Lands in their own hands That then the proportion by aprizement unto Each of their brothers and sisters shall bee accounted their Equal shares and is according unto the true intent and meaning of this my Last will and testament:- provided alwayes and it is to bee under stood A my will is that in case through providence I should marry againe and my wife should survive mee, that then she shall bee suteably and comforably maintained by the produce of my whole Estate Exepting unto John and Stephen that which I given to them above their Equal shares it is to bee under stood and my meaning is to bee comfortably provided for during her natureal Life and if she continueth my widdow but in case my wife should marry againe in case I should marry with one that then she shall not injoy nore claime any of my Estate after mariage with another man:
and I do by these presents constitute apoint and ardaine my two sons Stephen Roe and Samuell Roe to bee my Executors unto this my Last will and testament and bee it herby declared that all my Lands given in this my Last will is within the town of Gloster annything herein contayned to the contray in anny wise not with standing in witness wherof or unto this my Last will I have here unto sett my hand and seal the day and year first above written: published sealed and subscribed in the presence of us

The mark of John Curney
The mark of Abigail Curney
Esekiel Collins

Inventory of estate of John Roe of Gloucester (1640-1700)

An Inventory of the goods and estate of John Roe of Gloucestre decesed

# The Dwelling house and barne and about twelve acres of Land and the
orchard at ------------------------------110=00=00
# pasture Land about ten acres at ------ 020=00=00
# meadow about nine acres -------------- 040=00=00
# seven acres at Starknaught harbour --- 024=00=00
# Eighteen acres of vacant Land at ye head of the
cape ----------------------------------- 002=00=00
# Three acres of Land Lying comon ------ 003=00=00
# one saw mill three quarters of it at - 020=00=00
# weareing apparell -------------------- 013=16=00
# Books at ----------------------------- 001=00=00
# one twelveth prt of A sloop ---------- 024=00=00
# three oxen at ------------------------ 013=00=00
# seven Cows --------------------------- 019=00=00
# two two year old cattle at ----------- 003=00=00
# 5 cattle year and vantage old -------- 008=00=00
# 2 calves att ------------------------- 001=10=00
# 41 sheep and Lambs att --------------- 012=02=00
# one horse and furniture -------------- 004=10=00
# 1 Bed in the Lower Room -------------- 006=00=00
# 2 other beds at ---------------------- 007=00=00
# table Lining and table --------------- 001=00=00
# ? - and brass ------------------------ 002=14=00
# chests and chars Spinig wheels and other Lumber
  -------------------------------------- 002=10=00
# Iron potts and traniels(?) fire shovel and tongs
  -------------------------------------- 000=18=00
# A weavers loom(?) at ----------------- 001=10=00
# indinan Corne at 3 shils pr bushell -- 005=05=00
# carts ploughs chanes axes Betle(?) wedges and other
 Husbandry tools ----------------------- 002=14=00
# swine -------------------------------- 005=04=00
# two guns & a sword and other amunition 001=14=00
# Cordwood cutt in the woods and at ye landing place
 --------------------------------------- 002=00=00
# yarn woel and cloth - and flax ------- 001=15=00
# more clothing ------------------------ 003=15=00
# cash---------------------------------- 009=00=00

1700 Glstr(?) : October: 22 Apizd by us
Joseph Allin
Jeffery Parsons
Ezekiel Collins
**** No total was entered, but a total may be determined by adding (pounds=shilling=pence)****

Source: Essex County Registry of Probate, Salem, Mass. No. 24,287

Submitted by: Walter Olson

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