Will of William Worcester of Salisbury
I William Worcester being sick & weak of body but of sound and perfect memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament as follows:
Its my will that my beloved wife shall have the sum of fifty pounds which is due unto me from Thomas Clarke of Boston Iron. Munger she securing my daughter in law Rebecka the bulk of what remains due to her out of the bond. It is also my will that my wife shall have the benefit of my dwelling house orchard and house lots during the time of her widowhood and three cows common age during ye said term.
Also that my wife shall have what moneys so ever as due in England for rent, for what lands & housing belongs unto her, or any other wages due.
Item: I do give & bequeath unto my son Samuell Worcester my last ? lots of Salt marsh lying towards Merimack Rivers mouth also a silver wine bowl that hath ye letters of his name engraved upon it and a thousand of pine board towards the finishing of his house, as also all my wearing apparel, my mind is yet my grandchild William Worcester Samuels child shall have ye Silver wine bowl.
Item: I do give and bequeath to my daughter Susana Stacy my pride mare Colt.
Item: I do give unto my grand child Rebecka Stacy five pounds in household stuff, such as her grandmothers shawl thinke meet
Item: I do give and bequeath to my son William Worcester all my land within ye bounds of the new town of Salisbury, with all rights & privileges there unto belonging as also my first Higgle Pigledee lots of Salt Marsh and all my lots of Sweepage at the beach by my land at ye new town, my meaning is, my twenty acre lots abutted upon Merimack River and the seventy acres granted unto me by the town of Salisbury lying next to the land of Capt. Pike in Easterly
Item: I do give and bequeath unto my son Timothy Worcester and to my Son Moses Woster all the remainder of my lands both upland Marsh and meadow, lying and being within the bounds of the old town of Salisbury with all rights, Commonages & privileges there unto belonging (Except before Excepted) to be equally divided between them, presently, after my decease. Also I do give unto my said Sons Timothy & Moses my dwelling house, orchard and house lots: after their mothers death or day of marriage which first happens, to be equally divided between them & to have the barn presently after my decease with free egress & regress unto ye said barn to carry hay or corn of ye like. Always provided that the marsh Lots which was formerly my wives by her former husband Mr. John Hall remain to the use of my said wife, her heirs and assignees for ever.
Item: I do give & bequeath unto my son William my pride mare and a cow that is short and five pounds in household goods. All other gifts by any to my said son Comprehended in ye above estate given by me unto him.
Item: I do give & bequeath unto my Son Timothy my old horse and a cow calf cherry and five pounds in household goods.
Item: I do give and bequeath unto my Son Moses my young mare between two and three years old and also the young heifer and five pounds in household goods.
Item: I do give unto my grandchild William Worcester my cow calf the Barbar
Item: I do give unto my Daughter Stacy ye cow which is calf the young cow and also my two yearling steers
Item: I do give unto my grandchild Rebecka Stacy my two-year-old steers
Item: my will is that all the cattle before named in this, my will, be wintered with the hay provided for them if ye owners please
Item: I do give unto my Daughter Rebecka Bylie my brass Chafendish and also I give unto her a book of Mr. Anthony Burgesses concerning the trial of grace, as a small token of my special love unto her
Item: I do give unto my servant maid Hannah Hendrick ten shillings
Item: I do appoint my loving friends Capt. Robert Pike my brother Edward French Richard Wells, Mr. Thomas Bradbury to be overseers of this my will and testament and for the care and pains therein I do bequeath unto each of them twenty shillings to be paid unto them out of my library in some good English authors, as they shall like.
Lastly my will is that my dearly and well beloved wife Rebecka Worcester to be my sole Executrix unto this my last will and testament.
Item: My will is that after my wife hath taken her own books out of my library and with others shall think meet for her use. In witness whereof hereunto set my hand witness
Thomas Bradbury
Robert Pike
Edward French
Richard Wells
I have given to my witness to this last addition of the will this 18th day of October, 1662.
Thomas Bradbury
John Severance
Proved before Samuel Symonds and Daniel Denison Dec. 2, 1662 in the Norfolk county court.