I've been doing some genealogy on my Momma side of the family...it is soo interesting!
Here is the will of Mommas, mothers, mothers, fathers,mothers,
grandfathers, grandfathers, grandfather...I don't know how many...but
here it is... the Will of Rowland Stebbins:
Dated the first day of the first month, 1669 ?Know all men by these
presents, that I Rowland Stebbins of Northampton in Hampshire, in the
Colony of Massachusetts: having my perfect memory, through the goodness
of GOD, though very weak and sick in body, wayting for my great Change,
w?ch I desire the Lord in mercy to fit me for ? doe make and ordayne
this to be my last will and testament ? viz In fe I committ my soule to
God, that made it, and to the Lord Jesus Christ that redeemed it, by his
most precious blood: and doe hope it shall be united to him forever,
and my body to be in comly and decent manner buryed, hoping at the Great
Day of the Resurection, the Lord Jesus will change the vile body, and
fashion it like to his Glorious body and so shall be forever with the
Lord.
Also I do make my beloved Son John Stebbins to be my full and Sole
Executor which I hope will be faithful in all things committed to his
trust ? Also will and desire is that all my Just debts and funeral
expenses be satisfyed & paid, and as concerning my outward and
worldly Estate, that the Lord in his mercy hath given unto me I dispose
of in this manner:
Viz. I give and bequeath unto my beloved Son Thomas Stebbins he several
childred twenty Shillings apiece, to be paid within three years after my
decease those that be of age, the Sons to be twenty-one years ? and
daughters Eighteen years. I give and bequeath to my son John?s Children
that is to say to John Stebbins his first born an Iron pott, my bed and
bed clothes and all that belongs to it. My best Jackett & wascotte,
my old coate and worst paire of gray stockings. I give and bequeath to
Benoni Stebbins my best Breeches and new cotton wescotte & twenty
shillings ? I give and bequeath to my son John?s son Samuel my old
Kersey Sute and twenty shillings. I give and bequeath to my son John?s
other six Children to be paid unto them when they come to age twenty
Shillings apeece. I give and bequeath to my son in Law Merricks three
daughters, twenty Shillings apiece, to Sarah, Mary and Hannah to be paid
within three years after my decease. I give and bequeath to my beloved
Daughter Elizabeth Clarke three pounds to be paid within three years and
to her three Children twenty Shillings apeece to be paid within three
years after my decease, and to Mary the Bell Metal Skillet. I give and
bequath to Mary Maunde ten shillings to be paid within a yeere after my
desease. I give and bequeath to my son John Stebbins my Great Brass pott
and be best coate, and to my son Johns Wife my best stockings, and as
for the rest of my Estate that remaynes my will is, that it should be
equally divided between my two beloved sons Thomas Stebbins and John
Stebbins.
Also my desire is that my much honored friend Cap?t John Pynchon and my
beloved brother Robert Bartlett, would be in the overseers of this my
last will and testament. That this is my last will and Testament I
declare by setting my hand and Seale the first day of the first month
Anno Domini 1669-70. My will is that my son John Stebbins doe keepe this
my last will and testament. signum ROWLAND STEBBINS
Signed and Sealed in ye presence of William James, Thomas Hanchett, sen?r.
