Person:Edward Fifield (3)

DEATH: He left a will on February 16, 1754 in Stratham, Rockingham, New Hampshire In the name of God, Amen, - The sixteenth day of February Anno Qui Dominch, One thousand seven hundred and fifty four, I, Edward Fifield of Stratham, being well and in bodily health, and of a disposing mind and memory, Thanks be given unto God, Therefore calling into mind the mortality of my body and kknowing that it is appointed for all ment once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, That is to say principally and forst of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executor. Nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherein ti has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispense of the same in the following manner and form after my debts and funeral charges are paid- Witnesseth--I give unto Elizabeth, my dearly beloved wife, the improvement of one-half of all my land in Stratham, aforesaid, both orchard and orchard liand, with mowing, pasturing and pasture lands and the improvements of four acres and a half of salt marsh, I have in Hampton in said Province and the use of my creatures of every sort, all so long as she remains a widow, and in case it should so happen that she should marry again, then to have the improvement of but one-third of said land, marshland and creatures, And I give unto my said wife the largest lower room at the east end of my dwelling house and one-third part of my cellar under said house with a privilege in the ovens in said house, and one quarter part of my barns so long as she remains my widow and should it so happen that she should marry again after my decease and become a widow again and should have occasion, she shall have the improvement of said house as aforesaid so long as she lives and I also give unto my said wife the whole use and improvement of all my household goods during her natural life.

Item--I give unto my beloved son, Edward Fifield, one-fifth part of my wearing apparel "besides what I have given him by deed of gift."

Item-- I give unto my beloved son, John Fifield, one-fifth part of my wearing apparel, "besides what I have given him by deed of gift."

Item--I give unto my beloved son, Joseph Fifield, his heirs, and assigns alll my homestead-viz-my dwelling house and barns in Stratham aforesaid and all my land adjoining thereto, be it more or less, and also four acres and a half of salt marsh in Hampton aforesaid which I now improve"also a quarter part of my Gilmanton right" and also all my stock of creatures of every sort, excepting only the improvement which his mother, my said wife, is to have as aforesaid and after she has done with them as aforesaid, then he, my said son Joseph, to come into quick possession of all his mother did improve.

I also give unto mys aid son Joseph, my carts, sleds, plows, chains, and all other of my husbandry tools and all the implements of every sort, whatsoever, and also one fifth part of my wearing apparel. He, the said Joseph, paying all my lawful debts, doctor's and funeral charges and also paying all the legacies I shall here-in-after mention.

Item--I give to my daughter, Dorothy Fifield, thirty pounds in Bills of credit of the old tenor, as old tenor now goes, to be paid her out of my estate by my said son, Joseph Fifield, within five years after my decease, besides what I have already given her at the time of her marriage and also one third part of my household goods after my said wife's decease.

Item--I give unto my beloved daughter, Elizabeth, thirty pounds in Bills of credit of the old tenor as old tenor now goes, to be paid her out of my estate by my son, Joseph Fifield, within five years after my decease besides what I have already given her at the time of her marriage and also one-third part of my household goods after my said wife's decease.

Item-- I give unto my Grandson, Stephen Fifield, his heirs and assigns, my fifty acre lot in Brentwoood in said Province which I bought of William Long. He, the said Stephen, to come into possesssion of it when he arrives at the age of twenty one years, His mother, the widown of my son, Moses Fifield deceased, to have the improvement of one third part of said fifty acres of land during her widowhood, he the said Stephen paying forty pounds in Billls of credit, old tenor, as old tenor now goes or other money equal to it to each of his sisters, viz- "Mehitable", "Martha", "Abigail", "Mary" and "Elizabeth", that is to say, To the said Mehitable, the said forty pounds within one year after he, the said Stephen, is twenty one years of age and to the other four sisters aforesaid, their said forty pounds, each to be paid by the said Stephen, within one year after they be eighteen years of age, which said sums I give unto said sisters.

Item-- I give unto my Grandson, Thomas Eastman, thirty pounds of Bills of Credit, of old tenor, as old tenor now goes or in other equal to it, to be paid out of my estate by my son, Joseph Fifield, when he, the said Thomas, comes to be of age of twenty one years.

Item--I give unto my two Grand Daughters, Sarah and Mary Eastman, one third part of my household goods to be equally divided between them after my said wife's decease and if one of my said granddaughters should die before when come of age (18 years), the surviving Grand daughter to have the other part of said household goods

Joseph, his son, is appointed Executor and the will is witnessed by ,

Richard Rust, Samuel Philbrick Samuel Lane

BIOGRAPHY: The American Genealogist, v.15, page 222 Edward Fifield born 27 March 1678, married Elizabeth Leavitt, daughter of Moses and Dorothy (Dudley). They lived at Stratham. He is called "Captain " in the records.