Estate of Maj. John Rowe of Gloucester
Essex Probate Docket # 24289

In the Name of God, Amen. I John Rowe of Gloucester in the County of Essex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, considering the uncertainty of this Mortal Life, and being of sound mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God for the same. do make and publish this my last Will & Testament in manner and form following, (that is to say)
Firstly, I give and bequeath my Spirit to God who gave it, and my Body to the dust from whence it came-It is my Will and desire that my body may be interred in as decent a manner as circumstances and conveniences will admit I give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife Elisabeth Rowe, the sum of One Thousand Dollars, to be paid to her or her heirs or Assigns, within Six months after my decease in such Notes of hand as she or they may choose, which I may die possessed of; as also the Interest which may be due thereon, Except such Notes as may be due to me from any of my Children.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my said Wife Elizabeth Rowe, all my household furniture which came by her, a part of which is as follows vizt, Three feather Beds with the bedding for the same, Three Tables, One looking Glass, one dozen of my best chairs, one Maple desk, with every other Article of furniture & books, which she brought me Item, I give and bequeath unto my said Wife one horse which she may have the Liberty of choosing out of those which I may die possessed of, together with my chaise & sleigh with all the tackling and furniture belonging to them
Item, I give and bequeath unto my eldest Son John Rowe Jnr the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars, to be paid to him within the space of Twelve months, from and after my decease, and in case my said Son John Rowe shall have deceased, the same is to be paid to his son John Rowe when he shall have arrived at the Age of Twenty One Years without Interest therefor, & should neither of them arrive to the Period in which this legacy shall become due I give and bequeath the same to my Executor
Item, I give and bequeath to my second Son William Rowe the sum of One hundred & fifty dollars
Item, I give and bequeath unto my oldest Daughter Sarah Dennison Wife of Isaac Dennison Jnr the sum of Three Hundred & Thirty Three Dollars & Sixty six Cents, to be paid decease, after having deducted therefrom the amount of what she had originally received from me, as may be seen by my account thereof, together with a certain Note of hand with the Interest then due, given to me by the said Isaac & Sarah Dennison
Item, I give and bequeath unto my second Daughter Mary Norwood Relict of Samuel Norwood deceased the sum Three hundred & Thirty three Dollars & Sixty six cents, to be paid her, her Heirs or Assigns within the term of twelve months from and after my decease, after having deducted therefrom, the amount of what I had heretofore received from me, as may be seen by my account thereof, together with the amount of a certain Note of hand due to me from her
Item, I give and bequeath unto my grandchildren Hannah Rowe Kimball & Betsy Kimball, children of my Third Daughter Hannah Pool Kimball deceased first Wife Jonathan Kimball, the sum of Three hundred & thirty three Dollars & Sixty Six cents after deducting therefrom the amount of those things which their Mother heretofore received of me agreeable to my account therof the balance to be divided equally between them when they shall have arrived at the Age of Twenty one Years, and in case that either of the said Grand Children shall have deceased without Lawful issue, before they attain to that age, I will & order that the whole balance be paid to the remaining Grand child when she shall thereto.
Item, To my Daughter Olive Rowe I give and bequeath the sum of One Dollar, together with what she has heretofore received from me. Item to my Fifth Daughter Elisabeth Kimball second Wife to my son in Law Jonathan Kimball I give and bequeath the sum of Three hundred & thirty Three Dollars & Sixty six cents, to be paid to her, her heirs or assigns, within the space of Twelve months from and after my decease after having deducted a certain Note of hand given to me by the said Jonathan & Betsy Kimball with the Interest then due together with the amount of what she has received of me heretofore, agreeable to my account thereof
Item, To my Youngest daughter Tammey Rowe Single Woman I give and bequeath, One Feather bed, bedsted, under bed, two bed quilts, two Coverlers, six pair sheets, one pair woollen blankets, one bolster two pillows, two pair pillow cases, one Mahogony turn around Table, one Cow with the priviledge of choosing; one side saddle, should I die in possession therof--as also the Interest of Thirty three dollars & sixty six cents, to be paid to her by my Executor yearly during her natural life should the principal remain whole-- and in case she shall marry, the said principal with interst then due shall be paid to her within twelve months therefrom, or otherwise in case of accidents or sickness wereby it should be necessary to draw upon the principal for her support, I hereby order that my Exector draw from time to time upon the principal in such manner as shall render her the most effectual aid & assistance, and in case she shall die without lawful Issue, she has the Liberty of giving the aforesaid principal & Interest as well as her other effects to whom she shall think most advisable
Item, I give and bequeath unto my youngest Son Samuel Rowe the sum of Three hundred Thirty three dollars & Sixty six Cents to be paid to him within the term of Twelve months from and after my decease, together with my Mahogany desk with swelled front with the book case belonging to the same, also one feather bed under Bed, bedstead, two quilts, two pair sheets, pillows & bolster
Item To my grandson Allen Rowe, Son of William Rowe I give and bequeath the sum of Three hundred Thirty three dollars & Sixty Cents, to be paid to him after he shall have arrived to the Age of Twenty one years Item, To my grandson Amos Rowe, son of said William Rowe I give & bequeath the sum of Fifty Dollars, to be paid on his attaining the age of Twenty one years
Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife Elizabeth Rowe all the rest, residue & remainder of my household furniture & books to be disposed of as she shall think proper I will & order that my said wife, my daughter Tammy Rowe & my grandchild Allen Rowe shall have the use of the eastern half the dwelling which I now occupy as well as maintenance out of my Estate for the space of twelve months from and after my decease during which time my said grandson Allen Rowe shall be sent to school the expense of which to be paid out of my estate
Item I give & bequeath unto my wife Elisabeth Rowe, Sarah Dennison, Mary Norwood, Elisabeth Kimball, Tammey Rowe the sum of Twenty dollars each in addition to what I had heretofore bequeathed them. & to my two grand daughters Hannah Rowe Kimball and Betsy Kimball children of my deceased daughter, Hannah Pool Kimball, the sum of ten Dollars each which several sums or legacies are to be appropriated to the purchase of suitable mourning on the event of my decease I will and Order that my Executor pay all my lawful debts and settle all my accompts as soon as possible after my decease I give and bequeath unto my son William Rowe all the rest, residue & remainder of my personal Estate namely, all my farming Utensils & tools of every kind, Cattle & Stock of all kinds as also the one half of all my wearing apparel, the other half to be equally divided between my Son Samuel Rowe & my grand child Allen Rowe
Item, To my beloved Wife Elisabeth Rowe I give & devise all my Lands, Messuages & enements lying & being in the Town of Newbury in this Commonwealth, the same which formerly belonged to the Estate of her late Husband Joseph Adams deceased
Item, To my daughter Tammey Rowe I will & order that from and after twelve months from my decease, she shall have the priviledge & use of the Eastern chamber in the House which I now occupy, with full liberty to pass and repass through the front door, to and from the same, during her single State, & if she should not choose to occupy the same personally, I herby order my Executor to pay her Five dollars annually for the use thereof, so long as she shall remain unmarried, and whenever she shall enter the bonds of Matrimony or at her decease, it shall devolve as is hereinafter directed
Item, To my Son William Rowe I give and bequeath all the remainder of my papers, debts, accounts & notes bonds & obligations of every name & nature, which I have not previoulsy disposed of, as before mentioned
Item To my said Son William Rowe, I give and Devise all my Real Estate, situated in Gloucester in this Commonwealth as aforesaid, Vizt all my Lands, Houses, Messuages, Tenements, buildings & with all their priviledges and apurtnances, and likewise all other Estate of every name and description, when & wherever found, which has not been heretofore mentioned, I give and devise to my said Son William his Heirs & Assigns forever, appointing him my said Son William Rowe sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me made.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this the Seventeenth day of April, In the year of our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred.

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the aforenamed John Rowe to be his last Will & Testament in presence of us, who have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses in presence of the Testator

Jabez Tarr
John Haskins
William Saville

Source: Essex County Probate, August 3d 1801. Recorded 364-229, Dockett #24289

Submitted by: Walter Olson