Maine Wills

 From York County Probate Records, Volume Five (1725-42)

   In the Name of God Amen the twenty seventh Day of Decemb^r in y^e Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty seven, I Lemuel Gowen of Kittery in the County of York within his Majest^s Province of y^e Massachusets Bay in New England Yeoman being bound a Voyage to Sea and not Knowing wheather it will please God to preserve my Life and return me in safety to my Native Country. I Do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament.

   Imprimis I Do Resign and submit both Body & Soul to God in hopes of his favour & Grace in Christ and as to such Worldly Estate as it has been pleased God to give me in this Life I Will & bequeath in manner & form following. That is to say I Give & bequeath unto my well beloved Wife Iudith all my Real & personal Estate to her Disposall for y^e benefit of my Children & I likewise appoint my s^d Wife Judith my whole & sole Executrix of this my last Will & Testament Disannulling all former Wills by me heretofore made In Witness whereunto I have Set my hand & Seal y^e Date above written.

Signed Sealed Pronounced &    Declared by ye sd Lemuel Gowen    as his last Will & Testament    in presence of    Jno Watkins    James fferguson.    Thos Emery.		Lemuel Gowen (Seal)
Probated 17 Oct. 1740. Source: Maine Wills, 1640-1760 (Portland, Me., 1887), p. 421, citing Probate Office, 5, 195.