Lincoln County Probate Records

In the name of God amen, I James McCobb Esqr of Georgetown in the County of Lincoln, and province of the Massachusetts Bay in new England, being sound in mind and memory, but advanced in Age, and calling to mind my mortality, do make this my last will and Testament in the manner following—

Imprimis, I recommend my soul to God and my Body to the dust in hopes of a future resurrection to eternal life through the merits of Christ my Saviour

And as touching such Estate as it hath pleased God to bestow upon me, I dispose of the same as follows

1st. I give unto my well beloved wife Mary for her extraordinary kindness & attention to me in my old Age, the One half of all the improved, Cultivated, or uncultivated upland, and the One half of all the salt marsh, which my Farm contains on Honeywells point, so called, laying on the west-side of Kenebeck River, together with all the Building which belong to said Farm which Farm I bought of Samuel Waterhouse as by his deed to me will appear ; which half of said Farm and all the buildings as above I freely give & bequeath to the said Mary my wife to be hers forever, and to do with the same as she may think best—this being my free gift exclusively of her right to the One third part of all my Real & personal Estate, after the above—and also Six Milch Cows with Calves, One pair of Oxen—together with my oldest black mare and Six Sheep to be hers forever in the same way and manner and for the same reasons as the land and buildings above mentioned are—

2d I give to my Son Samuel McCobb, One hundred Acres of uncultivated land which does not Join or lay adjacent to this Farm called the Homestead, or any other of my Farms which are any way or in any manner cultivated or improved this to take place after my decease.

3d I give to my four daughters, now married viz Isabele Parker, Elizabeth Mains, Francis Cushing and Margaret Lee, One hundred Acres of Uncultivated land each which does not Join or lay adjacent to this Farm called the Homestead or any other of my Farms which are any ways, or in any manner cultivated or improved.—this to take place after my decease

4th I give and bequeath to my Daughter Nancy now unmarried One hundred and Fifty Acres of uncultivated land which does not belong to this Farm or adjacent thereto being the Homestead so called, or any other of my Farms which are any ways or in any manner cultivated or improv'd—(this to take place after my decease

5th I give to my Son in law, Mark Langdon Hill, for his kindness and particular attention to me in my Old Age Fifty Acres of Land bounding on the North & west side of the mill pond so called near my present dwelling House, forty Rods on the front and continuing the same width and running back about a Westerly Course until the said Fifty Acres of said land is compleated to have and to hold the said land, to him, his heirs & assigns forever—this to take place after my decease.

6th I give and bequeath to my three youngest Children who are not of age to act for themselves—viz Thomas my son & Polly—and Jenny my two daughters, for their maintenance, educating and bringing them up, the whole and every part of my estate both Real & Personal, which shall remain after my disease,—excepting what I have given to my other Children agreable to the foregoing Will, and also to my well beloved wife Mary & to my son in law Mark,—as is before expresed and reserving at the same to my well beloved wife Mary One third part of all and every thing appertaining and belonging to my Real & personal Estate by which she is entitled by law,—meaning for her dowry exclusively of what I have given her in the foregoing will—and I do hereby revoke all former wills & Testaments by me heretofore made and declare this & this Only to be my last will & testament—in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of September in the year of our lord One thousand seven hundred & Eighty seven

NB. The Fifty Acres as enterlined was done before the signing hereof

James McCobb [seal]

The foregoing will is signed sealed published pronounced and declared by said Testator as and for his last will and Testament in presence of us who in his presence and in ye presence of each other have hereunto set our names as witnesses—

Eli Perry
Ebenezer Storer
Martha Perry

Lastly I do hereby appoint my said wife Mary Execrutix and Captn. Samuel Nicols of Newcastle in the County of Lincoln Executor of this my last Will and Testament as is written in the foregoing Instrument—hereby revoking and disanulling all former Wills and Testaments by me in any manner made confirming this foregoing will and no other to be my last Will and Testament—In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the tenth day of September Anno Domini One thousand seven hundred & Eighty seven—and further I do hereby appoint the said Mary my Wife & said Samuell Nicols as above to take the particular charge of my three youngest Children as heretofore mentioned viz Thomas my Son & Polly and Jenney my daughters educating & brining them up in such a manner as to enable them to act and do for themselves—

N B the alteration Samuel &
enterlineation witness as above was
made before the signing hereof

James McCobb [seal]

Signed sealed published and
declared by the said Testator to
be his last will in presence of us
all who have subscribed hereto
as witnesses in presence of the
Testator and of each other

Ebenezer Storer
Eli Perry
Martha Perry

Disallowed 28 Jan., 1789, from which decision executors appealed 20 Feb., 1789. [IV, 59.] Decision affirmed by Supreme Court 7 July, 1789. Mary McCobb of Georgetown, widow, Adm'x, 15 Sep., 1789, [IV, 77-78.] Samuel Nickels, of Newcastle, guardian unto Thomas, minor son, Mary and Jenny, minor daughters, 7 Sep. ,1789. [IV, 78 to 80.] Inventory by Thomas Rice, of Pownalborough, Dummer Sewall, of Bath, and Joseph Booker, of Georgetown, 28 Sep., 1789. [IV, 136 to 142.] Widow's dower set off 30 Ap., 1790. [IV, 143.] Petition of heirs for a division. [IV, 144.] Division of estate by Thomas Rice, of Pownalborough, Dummer Sewall, of Bath, and Henry Totman, of Georgetown, 7 Aug., 1792. Heirs mentioned : Rachel McCobb, Isabella Parker, Beatrice Mains, Margaret Lee, Frances Cushing, Nancy McCobb, Mary McCobb, Jane McCobb, Thomas McCobb. [V, 103 to 106.] Account filed 31 May, 1796. [VII, 34 to 45.]

Source: The Probate Records of Lincoln County, Maine, 1760 to 1800 (Portland, Me.: Printed for the Maine Genealogical Society, 1895), p. 185, citing Lincoln County, Maine, Probate Records.