Lincoln County Probate Records

In the Name of God Amen. I Gardner Williams of Pittston and in the County of Lincorn Being Very sick and weak in Body, But of perfect Mind and Memory, Thanks be given unto God, Calling unto Mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing That it is Appointed for all Men once to die, do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament, That is to say. Principally and first of all, I Give and recommend my Soule into the hand of Almighty God that Gave it, and my Body I Recommend to the Earth, to be Buried in decent Christian Burial, at the Discretion of my Executors ; 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 wherewith it has pleased God to Bless me in This Life, I Give devise, and dispose of the same in the following Manner and form :

First, I give and bequeathe to Policy my dearley beloved Wife ; after my debts is paid, the whole of My Estate that I now have, or shall fall to Me hereafter by Heirship Whome I likewise Constitute, Make, and Ordain the Sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disallow, Revock and disannul all and Every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacis, Bequests, and Executors by me in any wais before Named willed and Bequeathed, Ratifying and Confirming this, and no Other, to be my Last will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale, This twenty second day of April in the yeare of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty six.

Gardiner Williams (seal)

Signed sealed published pronounced
and declared by the said Gardner
Williams as his Last Will and Testament in his presents
and in the Presents of Each other have hereunto subscribed
our names

Joseph Hammatt
Seth Gay
Isaac Barnard

Probated 24 May, 1786. [III, 93.] Inventory by Henry Dearborn, Jedediah Jewett and William Barker, 7 Feb., 1787, £285 : 10 : 2. [IV, 154-5.] Jedediah Jewett and William Barker, commissioners to examine claims. [IV, 155.] Account filed 10 Sep., 1790. [IV, 156 to 158.] Distribution ordered 18 Oct., 1790. [IV, 158-9.]

Source: The Probate Records of Lincoln County, Maine, 1760 to 1800 (Portland, Me.: Printed for the Maine Genealogical Society, 1895), p. 146, citing Lincoln County, Maine, Probate Records.