Lincoln County Probate Records

In the Name of GOD, Amen. The Thirty-first Day of December, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand, seven Hundred & ninety, I Matthew Hastings, of Vassalborough, in the County of Lincoln and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Gentleman, being weak in Body, but of sound and disposing Mind and Memory, and knowing that I must shortly leave this earthly Tabernacle, do commit my Soul into the Hands of the all-merciful Author of it, firmly trusting, through the Merits of my most beneficent Saviour, in a glorious Resurrection to internal Life ; and my Body to be interred at the Discretion of my Executors. And with Regard to that earthly Substance with which it hath pleased God to endow me, I will and dispose of it in the following Manner, viz.

First. I will that all my just Debts and Funeral Charges shall be paid.

Secondly. I give devize and bequeath unto Mary, my beloved Wife, all my Live Stock and In-Door Moveables, forever, and the West Room in my Dwelling-House, during her natural Life.

Thirdly. I give, devize and bequeath unto my Son-in Law, Dodivah Townsend & Sarah his Wife, my Homestead Farm, with the Buildings & Appurtenances thereof, except my Wife's Living in the said West Room, together with all my Carpenter's Tools and farming Utensils, he paying what I am indebted to William Howard Esqr and also Ten Bushels Indian corn & eight Bushels English Grain to my said Wife, p Annum, during her Natural Life and keeping two Cows & one Horse for her, during the same Term : and also supply her with Wood enough for one Fire during said Term.

Fourthly. I give, devize and bequeath unto my Son Moses Hastings, my Lot of Land at Sandy River, together with my Right in the Lot lately improved by Reuben Page, to the Westward of the West Pond, near said Vassalboro' with the Privileges & Appurtenances thereof To have and to hold the same unto him the said Moses, his Heirs and Assigns forever.

Fifthly. I give, devise and bequeath unto the Heirs of Mary Brooks, Twenty Pounds, to be paid out of a Note of William Brooks's now in my possession.

Sixthly. I give devize & bequeath unto my Daughter Abigail Butterfield, Twenty Pounds, to be paid out of a Note payable to the late John Rogers, deed, on whose Estate I was Administrator.

Seventhly. I give devize and bequeath unto my Daughter Hannah Evens, Twenty Pounds, out of a Note in my Possession against her Husband Nathaniel Evens—This Legacy to be paid as soon as possible after my Decease.

Eighthly. I give, devize and bequeath unto my Daughter, Mercy Page, the Debt her Husband Reuben Page owes me.

Ninthly. I give, devize and bequeath unto my Daughter Susanna Greely, Fifteen Pounds, to be paid out of the Debt her Husband, Joseph Greely, owes me.

Tenthly. I give devize and bequeath unto the Children of Joseph Kelly, by my Daughter Rebecca, viz. To William Kelly Ten pounds, to be paid when he comes of age- To Sarah Kelly, Six pounds, to be paid when she comes of age- These Legacies to be paid by Jonathan Combs out of the Legacy hereinafter bequeathed to him.

Eleventhly. I give and bequeath unto Mary Combs & Elizabeth Rogers, all my Interest in a certain Saw-Mill, Dam & Privilege at the Outlet of the West Pond in Winslow, they paying the legacy to Kelly's Children above bequeathed, and fully discharging me and my Heirs from all Claims on the Estate of their late Father John Rogers, deed, on which I was Administrator.

Twelfthly. I make, Ordain, constitute and appoint the said Moses Hastings and Dodivah Townsend, joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and annulling all former or other Wills by me heretofore made. In Witness whereof I do hereunto set my Hand and Seal the Day and Year herein first before written.

N. B. The following Words were interlined before sealing &c viz "and bequeath"—"and farming Utensils"—"said"—"The Heirs of"

Matthew [his Mark] Hastings (seal)

Signed, sealed and declared
by the said Matthew Hastings,
the Testator, to be his last
Will and Testament, in
presence of us

W. WILKINS

Moses Hastings Jun
Thankful X [her Mark] Robins

Witness to Thankful Robins's Mark

W. WILKINS

Probated 18 Jan., 1791. [IV, 192-3.] Noah Woodward, of Hallowell, and Philip Snow, of a place called Washington, sureties. Inventory by Nathaniel Reynolds and Ephraim Butterfield, both of Vassalborough, and Noah Woodward, of Hallowell, 14 Ap., 1791. [IV, 218.] Henry Sewall and Samuel Colman, both of Hallowell, commissioners to examine claims. [V, 1 79.] Advertisement of sale of real estate 14 May, 1793. [V, 181.] Account filed 29 Ap., 1794. [V, 182-3.]

Source: The Probate Records of Lincoln County, Maine, 1760 to 1800 (Portland, Me.: Printed for the Maine Genealogical Society, 1895), p. 202, citing Lincoln County, Maine, Probate Records.