Lincoln County Probate Records

In the Name of God, Amen. The twelfth day of May 1787, I Jonathan Spafford of Pownalborough in the County of Lincoln and in the State of Massachusetts farmer, being very sick and Weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God. Therefore calling to 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 Soul into the hands of 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 hath pleased God to bless me in this Life, I give, demise, and dispose of the same in the following manner and form—first my funeral Charges be paid and my lawful Debts.

Imprimis. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Martha Rogers one half of my houshold Goods, except my bed for the Use of the young Children, and the remainder part of my houshell Goods I give to my Daughter Mary.

Item. I give to my Son Jacob five pounds lawful money to be raised and levied out of my personal Estate and to be paid when he comes to lawful Age for himself.

I give to my Son William five Pounds when he comes of lawful Age, it is to be raised & levied out of my personal Estate.

I give to my Son Robert five pounds when he comes of lawful Age ; it is to be raised and levied out of my personal Estate.

I give unto my Son John five pounds when he comes of lawful Age, it is to be raised & levied out of my personal Estate.

I give unto my Son Samuel five pounds when he comes of lawful Age ; it is to be raised and levied out of my personal Estate.

I give to my Son James five pounds when he comes of lawful Age, it to be raised & levied out of my personal Estate ; all which Sum to be paid to each of my heirs when they come of Age, to be prised and raised and levied out of my personal Estate by my Executors. Also my farming tools to be kept on the farm, and that my farm be improved together with all my real Estate for the support of my heirs till they come of lawful Age to take Care of themselves, and when the youngest heir comes of age then the real Estate to be prised, together with all the Remains of my personal Estate, and to be equally divided between the whole named heirs—that Martha and Mary be paid in Cash their proportion

I likewise constitute make and ordain Major John Huse and Rogers Smith my sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament, all by them freely to be possessed and improved for the support of my heirs till they come of Age. And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke & disanul all and every other former Testaments Wills Legacies and Bequests & Executors by me in any way before named, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will & Testament.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this day and year above written.

Jon Spafford (seal)

Signed sealed, published, pronounced and
declared by the said Jonathan Spafford his
last Will and Testament in the presence of
us the subscribers

William Decker
William Clark
Sary llll [her Mark] Clark

Probated 3 July, 1787. [III, 145-6.] Inventory by Ebenezer Whittier, Daniel Scott and Nymphas Stacy, all of Pownalborough, 1787, £506 : 12 : 0. [III, 246.] Account filed 8 Aug., 1803. [X, 70-1.] Advertisement of sale of real estate 17 Feb., 1806. [XI, 191-2.] Account filed 4 Oct., 1809. [XIII, 520.]

Source: The Probate Records of Lincoln County, Maine, 1760 to 1800 (Portland, Me.: Printed for the Maine Genealogical Society, 1895), p. 154, citing Lincoln County, Maine, Probate Records.