Lincoln County Probate Records

In the Name of God Amen, I William Butler of Georgetown in the County of Lincoln Yeoman being weak in body, but of sound and perfect mind and memory (blessed be God) do this eighteenth day of February Anno Domini one Thousand seven hundred and ninety, make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following, Vizt.

Imprimis—I give and bequeath to my beloved Son William Butler all my Lands on Arrowsick Island in said Georgetown including the Farm whereon I now dwell with the buildings and appurtenances, excepting the House my said Son William now lives in, which, I give unto my beloved Daughters Sarah and Abigail during Their and each of Them remaining single and unmarried, to hold the same to him the said William Butler and the Heirs of his Body forever.—

2
Item—I give and bequeath to my beloved Son Thomas Butler and to the Heirs of his body forever Two hundred and seventeen Acres of Land fronting on Kennebec River being the easterly part of Three hundred and seventeen Acres which I own in Georgetown aforesaid on the west side of said River on a part of which the said Thomas Butler now lives, with the priviledges and appurtenances thereunto belonging together with a certain tract of Marsh on Parkers Island which I purchased of the Heirs of Edward Hutchinson Esquire.—

3
Item—I give and bequeath to my beloved Grand Son William Butler, Son of the said Thomas Butler all the residue and remainder of the said last mentioned tract of Land containing one hundred Acres and fronting in the whole width of said Tract of Land on Casco Bay to the Southward of Winnogance carrying place, to hold the same to him the said William Butler Son of the said Thomas and the Heirs of his body forever.—

4

Item—I will and order that the said Thomas Butler, Father of the said William Butler shall take care of and manage the same Lands to the use of the said William Butler and to his best profit and advantage during his Minority.—

5
Item—I will and ordain that in case my said Son William should die without Issue of his Body begotten, that then from and after his Death the Estate herein before devised to him shall enure to my said Son Thomas Butler, and the Male Heirs of his body forever.—

6
Item—I will and ordain that my beloved Wife Martha and my Daughters Sarah and Abigail Shall have the exclusive use and improvement of my Mansion House during the life of my said Wife, and I further will and ordain that my said beloved Wife during her natural life shall have the use and improvement of all my personal Estate now upon and unto my homestead Estate on Arrowsick Island appertaining belonging and being ; excepting Two Cows, Twelve Sheep and all my Farmmg Utensils and the use of my Oxen and all the Manure of the Cattle upon the Farm, which, I give to my said Son William during the natural life of my said Wife, for the better improvement of the said Farm which, the said William is to superintend oversee and manage and the annual profits thereof to be annually divided in equal Shares between the said William on the one part and my said Daughters and Wife on the other part, excepting the annual profits of the Cows and Sheep, which profits shall Accrue to the respective owners thereof for the time being.—

7
Item—I will and bequeath to my said Son William Butler at and after my Wife's decease all my said Farming Utensils, one Yoak of Oxen and Two Cows.—

8
Item—I also give to my said Son Thomas Butler, my Silver Watch, which he is to take into his possession immediately upon my decease.

9
Item—I give and bequeath to my said Sons, William and Thomas in common between Them my Share of the Fishing Boat and my Gundelow.—

lO
Item—I also leave my Yawl Boat in common between my said Wife and Daughters & my said Son William and his family.—

11
Item—I will ordain and order that my said Son William his heirs executors or administrators as a consideration for the Estate I have herein before given him, shall within Two Years after the Death of me and my said Wife and of the longest liver of Us, pay unto my said Daughters Sarah and Abigail Twenty Pounds Lawful Money each, provided They or either of Them shall so long live.—

12
Item—I will ordain and order that my said Son Thomas his heirs executors or administrators as a consideration for the Estate which I have herein before given him, shall within Two Years after the decease of me and my Wife and of the longest liver of Us, pay unto my said Daughters Sarah and Abigail Ten pounds each, provided—They shall so long live.—

13
Item—I give and bequeath unto William Preble Son of Joseph Preble of said Georgetown to be immediately paid at my decease, Sixty Pounds Lawful money four Cows, Six Sheep, a Yoak of three Year old Stears, and a Bed and Beding together with half my Share of a certain lot of Marsh on Parkers Island which I purchased jointly with John Stinson esquire from Nathaniel Johnson Robbins, being in full for his services and dutiful behaviour towards me.

14
Item—I will and order that Forty pounds shall be paid to my Daughter Martha Soaper in the proportion of Six pounds annually untill the whole shall be paid up, provided my said Daughter shall so long live, said payments to commence within one Year after my decease being in full for her services and dutiful behavior towards me.

15
Item—I will and bequeath to each of my Daughters Sarah and Abigail a Bed and Beding to be paid and delivered to Them immediately upon the decease of my said Wife.

16
Item—I give and bequeath unto my beloved Grand Son William Butler Drummond Twenty pounds to be paid him at the age of Twenty one Years, also my other part of that certain lot of Marsh which I purchased with John Stinson esquire from Nathaniel Johnson Robbins.—

17
Item—I further will and order that the residue of my personal Estate not herein particularly disposed of, shall upon the decease of my said wife be equally divided between my Daughters Sarah, Abigail, Ann Drummond and Mary Preble wife of Joseph Preble aforesaid.—

18
Item—I will and ordain my said Son William Butler, Joseph Preble and Elijah Drummond all of said Georgetown Executors of this my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and Year above and before mentioned.

William Butler (seal)

Signed sealed published & declared
by the said William Butler the Testator as
& for his last Will and Testament in the
presence of Us, who were present at the
signing and Sealing thereof.

Jas. Davidson
Benj'n Pattee
John Fisher

A Codicil to be added to and taken as a part of the last Will and Testiment of me William Butler to which this is a part. I do hereby confirm my said last Will in all Things not in and by this Codicil altered or revoked.—

I do in addition to what I have devised and bequeathed to my Two Daughters Sarah and Abigail in and by my said Will further give devise and bequeath to my said Daughters full and free liberty to cut and haul or cause to be cut & hauled for Their own use from the Homestead or Farm I live upon as much wood as They may find necessary for Their own Fires and House Use.

I also do in addition to what I have devised and bequeathed to my two Daughters Sarah and Abigail give devise and bequeath to my said Daughters Grass and Pasturage to be cut and fed from my Homestead Farm as much as may be necessary for Two Cows. Also Land proper and Sufficient for a Garden to be held by Them during Their and each of Them remaining single and unmarried.—

I do also give and bequeath to my Son Thomas Butler his Heirs and Assigns forever Two Acres of Land, bounded as follows, Viz.- easterly to the back River so called from Great Bald Head, from thence south westerly to the front or Kennebec River, on my Homestead farm, and northerly till the Two Acres is compleat.—

I do also give devise and bequeath unto my Son in law Elijah Drummond his Heirs and Assigns forever The Land property & Privileges which he now enjoys and improves in a Saw Mill in which my said Son in law is concerned, now stands, it being my meaning and intention that he and his Heirs shall hold the same forever free from the disturbance hindrence or molestation of my Son Thomas or any other Person claiming by, from, or Under me.

William Butler. (seal)

Signed sealed, published and declared
by the said William Butler The Testator as
for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament
in the presence of Us who were present at
the Signing and Sealing thereof.

Jas. Davidson
Benj'n Pattee
John Fisher

Probated 3 June, 1791. [V, 6 to 8.] Inventory by John Fisher, Benjamin Pattee and James Williams, all or Georgetown, 7 July, 1791. [V, 51-52.]

Source: The Probate Records of Lincoln County, Maine, 1760 to 1800 (Portland, Me.: Printed for the Maine Genealogical Society, 1895), p. 212, citing Lincoln County, Maine, Probate Records.