MySource:WeRelate/Haven, Richard. Last Will and Testament

In the name of our Lord God everlasting, Amen. I RICHARD HAVEN, of Lynn, in the county of Essex, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, being aged, and weak of body, yet God, of his goodness, affording to me my right understanding, I take this opportunity to make this My Last Will and Testament, as followesth. I resign up my spirit into the hands of my blessed Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ; my body to the earth, to be decently buried, at the discretion of my Executor, hereafter named; and, for my worldly estate, I Will and Bequeath as followeth:

Imp. That all my just and honest debts be duly and honestly paid.

I give to my son John Haven, five pounds in good pay, to be paid within two years after my decease, fifty shillings per year.

I give to my grandson Joseph Haven, the son of my son Richard Haven, deceased, five shillings; the reason I give him no more is because I have given his father considerable before his decease.

I give and bequeath to my son Moses Haven, his heirs and assigns, forever, my dwelling house and barn, and all that lot of land, where my house and barn now stands, excepting only so much as I, in this my will, give to my daughter Hannah Gooddell; also, I give to my son Moses Haven, his heirs and assigns, two lots of land lying in Rumney marsh, containing eleven acres at least, with the full and just half of my lot of upland lying in Ramsdell's neck, so called, with all the privileges and appurtenances belonging to said house and lands, and all my moveable estate not disposed of in this my will; and he to pay all the legacies herein mentioned.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Hannah Gooddell the land her house stands on, and my little orchard, bounded westward by the land formerly Thomas Brown's; southward, by the highway; eastward, as the fence now stands; northward, within two poles where the barn now stands; my son Moses, to have half the fruit that shall grown upon the pippin tree, in said orchard, for seven years after my decease; and my will is that the yard, that now lies open, shall so remain for the use of both houses; and after the decease of my daughter Hannah Gooddell, then, if my son Moses Haven, or his heirs, shall see cause to pay to the heirs of my daughter Gooddell, the full value of the house my said daughter now lives in, and the land said house stands on, and the said little orchard, as shall be appraised by three indifferent men, if the parties cannot agree about the same, then my will is that the said house, orchard, and land, shall be to my son Moses Haven, and his heirs forever; or else, my will is that the said house, orchard, and land, as it is bounded, shall be to the heirs of my daughter Hannah Gooddell, and their heirs and assigns forever; also I give to my daughter Hannah Gooddell, her heirs and assigns, the one full and just half of my lot of upland lying in Ramsdell's neck so called.

I give to my son in law, John Tarbox, one shilling.

I give to my daughter, Sarah Whitney, one cow.

I give to my grandson, Westol Cogswell, one shilling.

I give to my grand-daughter, Hannah Parker, twenty shillings.

I give to my grand-daughter, Hannah Gooddell, my great iron kettle, and one brass pot, and one pewter platter.

I give ten pounds in pay, to be divided equally among my son Moses Haven's children.

I give ten pounds in pay, to be divided equally among my daughter Hannah Gooddell's children, to be paid within four years after my decease.

I give to my son, Nathaniel Haven, all my wearing clothes.

Further, my will is that what legacies I have given in this my will, particularly mentioning pay, that so many of them as my executor shall see cause to pay in money, there shall be one third part abated of the sum that is therein mentioned.

I will and appoint my son, Moses Haven, my lawful and sole executor to this my last will and testament; and, for the confirmation hereof, I, the aforesaid Richard Haven, have set to my hand and seal, this twenty-first day of May, Anno Domini, one thousand seven hundred and one, in the thirteenth year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King William the third of England, &c.

RICHARD HAVEN

Signed and sealed in the presence of us,

John Burrill, Jun.
Joseph Burrill
Sarah Ballord