Be it remembered that I Simon E. Ricker of Shapleigh in the County of York, and State of Maine, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, and being of sound and perfect mind and memory, do make and publish this my last will and testament, in manner and form following viz.
I Give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Molly RICKER one third part of my homestead, or farm on which I live, one third of the farm on which my eldest son Noah RICKER lives the same land I purchased of Joshua EMERY, one third of one hundred acres of land on which my third son Simon RICKER lives, and one third of severely six acres of land on which my fourth son Jacob RICKER lives, Also one third of my Gristmill during her natural life.
Also I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Molly RICKER all my household furniture, except as is here after excepted.
I give unto my eldest son Noah RICKER two thirds of the farm on which he now lives during his natural life; and after the death of my beloved wife Molly RICKER the other third thereof, during his natural life, Also I give unto my said son Noah RICKER, two twenty fourths of my Sawmill with two twenty fourths of said mill privilege during his natural life.
I give and devise to my third son Simon RICKER, his heirs And assigns two thirds of one hundred acres of land on which he the said Simon now lives, which said land lies in lot number four in the fourth range of lots in said town of Shapleigh, with the profits of one half of the orchard only for the term of fifteen years, and after the expiration of which time to have the whole, the said land begins at the northeast corner of said lot number four, and runs on the check line between said lot and lot number five far enough for a line to run from said Neckline south to Gen. Ichabod GOODWIN's land to contain one hundred acres after leaving thirteen acres hereafter named, and after the death of my beloved wife Molly RICKER the other third thereof, Also two twenty fourths of my sawmill with two twenty fourths of said mill privilege. Also one half of my Pew in the Baptist meetinghouse in the second parish in said town of Shapleigh. To have and to hold the same to him the said Simon RICKER his heirs and assigns forever.
I give and devise to my fourth son Jacob RICKER his heirs and assigns, two thirds of sixty five acres of land lying in lots number four and five in the third range and third division of lands in said town of Shapleigh, being the same I purchased of George HAM; and after the death of my beloved wife Molly RICKER the other third thereof, I also give and devise to my said son Jacob RICKER, two thirds of thirteen acres of land lying on the east side of lot number four in the fourth range of lots in said town of Shapleigh, and is bounded as follows viz begining on the range line between range three and four and at the northeast corner of land formerly owned by Gen. Ichabod GOODWIN, from thence running north sixty eight and one half degrees west thirty two and one half rods, thence north about twelve and one half degrees east, one hundred and thirty five rods to the aforesaid range line and north west corner of the before named sixty five acres bequeathed unto the said Jacob RICKER, and after the death of my beloved wife Molly RICKER the other third thereof, Also two twenty fourths of my Sawmill, with two twenty fourths of said mill privilege, Also one half of my pew in the Baptist meeting house in the second parish in said town of Shapleigh, To have and to hold the same to him the said Jacob RICKER his heirs and assigns forever. Also I give unto my said son Jacob RICKER the profits of half the orchard for fifteen years on the farm which I have devised to my son Simon RICKER.
I give and devise to my fifth son John RICKER, his heirs and assigns two thirds of my homestead, or farm whereon I now live, lying in Shapleigh, and Sanford, and after the death of my beloved wife Molly RICKER, the other third thereof, I also give and bequeath to my said fifth son John RICKER, two thirds of my Gristmill, with two thirds of the mill privilege, and after the death of my beloved wife, the other third thereof, Also six twenty fourths of the before mentioned Sawmill with the same proportion of the mill privilege, Also my pew on the lower floor in the Baptist meeting house in the first parish in said town of Shapleigh, To have and to hold the same to him the said John RICKER his heirs and assigns forever, I also give to my said son John RICKER my clock.
I give and bequeath unto my second son Samuel RICKER, my eldest daughter Susan HUNTRESS, the heirs of my second daughter (deceased), Molly STANDLEY, my third daughter Peggy PILSBURY, my fourth daughter Betsy SAYWARD, my fifth daughter Patty RICKER, my sixth daughter Esther RICKER, and my seventh daughter Sally RICKER, the sum of five dollars each, which said several legacies or sums of money, I will and order shall be paid, to the said respective legatees, by my Executors hereafter named within three years after my decease.
I give and devise to my Grandsons, Timothy RICKER, & Aaron RICKER, sons of Noah RICKER aforesaid, their heirs and assigns after the decease of their father, Noah RICKER, aforesaid, the farm and two twenty fourths of the sawmill and privilege, which I have bequeathed to the said Noah RICKER, during his natural life.
I give and bequeath to my grandson Simon HUNTRESS son of Nahum HUNTRESS (late of Shapleigh deceased when he shall be twenty one years of age, a piece of land, which lays in the northwest corner of lot number four in the fourth range of lots in said Shapleigh, and being all the land I own in said lot, and lays on the westerly side of the county road, leading form the Baptist meeting house in the second Parish in said town of Shapleigh to Emery's mills, and is bounded Easterly by said county road, Provided however the said Simon HUNTRESS shall live with, and serve my beloved wife Molly RICKER, or my fifth son John RICKER untill he shall be twenty-one years of age.
I give and devise unto my third son Simon RICKER, my fourth son Jacob RICKER, and my fifth son John RICKER, all my real and personal Estate not herein before bequeathed and devised, wherever it may be found, to be divided equally between them. To have and to hold to them, and their heirs and assigns forever, provided however they shall pay the before named legacies and all my just debts.
And Lastly, I appoint my third son Simon RICKER, my fourth son Jacob RICKER, and my fifth son John RICKER Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In Witness, whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty.
Signed, sealed, published, and declared, by the above named Simon E. RICKER,to be his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who at his request, and in his presence, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses to the same.
John HOOPER
Jacob EMERY
Elisha BODWELL
SIMON E. RICKER (seal)
Recorded agreeably to the original Attest Geo. Thacher Junr. Regr. State of Maine.
[York Co., Maine Probate Bk. 32, p. 372]
