Person:John Lay (1)

Will of John Lay, Sr.

Recorded in the Town Meeting Book (Burr, pp. 12-13) in Lyme Land Records (Lyme LR2:63). The original is in the Connecticut State Library in Hartford (New London Probate File #3063).

"My Last Will and Testament"

I John Lay of Lyme being grown aged, and at this time weak in body wherby my departure out of this life seems to be near, doe in duty to god, and for preventing of trouble after my decease amongst those whom I shall leave behind me, desire to set my house in order and setle my estate as followeth.

1. To my dear and loving wife Abigail I give and bequeath my house and home lot orchard and trees thereon, that is to say all my upland and meadow lying in the town of Lyme, excepting only the land at bride brook, to have and to hold during the time of her naturall life. Also to my dear wife I give my household goods, and my stock of cattell horses and swine.

2. To my son John which I had by my former wife I give so much of my land which is at bride brook as lies on the east side of said brook, and the rest of my land there which lies on the west side of the brook both upland and medow I give to my daughter Abigail.

3. To my son James I give so much of my calfe pasture land which lies on the north side of the path from duck river bridge to the meeting house, and the rest of my land after my wife's decease, both upland and medow I give to my sons Peter and John whom I had by my present wife, to be equally divided between them two, Peter having that part of the upland which lies by the pond and John having that part which lies by the house, with all rights and priveledges, and divisions not yet made belonging to my whole accommodations, to be equally divided between them two.

4. To my daughters Abigail, Susanna and Elizabeth, I give twenty pound a piece besides the land before mentioned given to Abigail, to be paid by my executrix, and also the use and improvement of an acre of land a piece during theyr life out of Peter's and John's land, to be planted with aple trees, and to my daughter Abigail two acres of land already planted with aple trees, and also while shee continues unmaried I give her the use of a good fir room in my house. Also I doe constitute and appoint my dear wife Abigail my sole executrix of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making null all former wills whatsoever.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 16 of January 1675.

Signed sealed and published in the presence of us
Moses Noyes Matthew Griswold Rennold Mervin

John Lay
his JIL mark

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Ancestry.com GEDCOMs
   File: G423.