Maine Wills

 From Maine Court Records (1661-93)

In the name of god amen

   I Charles Nelson of Kittery in the Province of Maine being weake & Infirme of body but of sound & perfect memory and Knowing the vncertainty of this life on Earth and being desireous to setle things in order Doe make and declare this my last Will and testament in Manner and forme following

   first I commend my soule to allmighty god who gave it, my body to the earth from whence it was taken to be buried in such decent and Christian manner as to my Executrix hereafter mentioned shall be thought meet and convenient trusting through the merrits of Jesus Christ my saviour to obtaine a blessed resurection/ and as touching my temporall Estate I Dispose of it as followeth/ first I will that all those Debts which in right & conscience I owe to any person or psons whatsoever shall be well and truely paid in convenient time after my Decease by my Executrix hereafter named

   Item I giue and bequeath vnto my Daughter Hannah one Cow to be delivered to her when she shall desire it : Item I Giue and bequeath vnto my youngest sone Samuell Nelson all those lands which were giuen to me by the town of Kittery Item I giue and bequeath vnto my Eldest sone John Nellson my home stall with all the buildings thereon together with all my land from y^e river side to the brooke aboue the highway being about seven acres—allwaise provided that my sd sone John Nelson shall be at halfe the Charge of building & finishing the vallue of as much houseing for his brother Samuell Nelson as shall be vppon the said Johns land when he receiues it into his hands. Item I giue and bequeath vnto my Dear & loueing wife Mary Nelson (whom I make my sole Executrix) all my Estate of what nature soever Dureing her Naturall life or Widdowhood and my will is that my sd Executrix shall haue the full vse and Disposeing of all my lands as well as other Estate Dureing her life or Widdowhood and then the Moueable Estate to be giuen to my Children at her Discretion and my will is that my two youngest Daughters namely Martha and Lidia shall haue their Maintenance vppon y^e place as long as they continew with their Mother/ and my will is that my sone John shall haue fire wood for his owne vse from of his brother Samuells land In witnesse whereof I haue set to my hand & seale this seventh Day of August in the yeare of o^r lord anno domini one six hundred Eighty & Eight

Charles Nelson his marke C (a seal)

Signed sealed & delivrd in y^e presence
   of vs Joseph Hill
   Steeven Tobey
   John Tobey
   Jos Hamond