Lincoln County Probate Records

In the Name of God amen the twelth day of January Anno Domini 1769 I James Work of Topsham in the County of Lincoln yeoman being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and Memory, thanks be given unto God,—therefore Calling to mind the Mortality of My body and that it is appointed unto all Men once to dye, 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 he buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executor 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 where with it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life I Give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form—

Imprimis I give and bequeath to Margret my dearly beloved Wife all my household furniture with the one half of My Cattle and Sheep (Except, one Cow and Calf, and five Sheep out of her half which I give to my son William or is hereafter Mentioned) to be at her disposal forever, as also one third of all My Lands with one third of My House and barn with one half of all My farming tools during her natrual Life

Item I give to my well beloved son Ebenezer Work whom I likewise Constitute make and ordain my sole Executor of this my Last Will and testament all and singular My Lands Meassuags and tenements by him freely to be disposed of (after my said wifes desease) the two thirds of which to be freely possessed and Injoyed by him during her life togeather with the one half of all My Cattle and sheep with one half of all my farming tooles

Item I give to my well beloved son William Work one Cow and Calf and five sheep

Item I give to my well beloved Daughter Janne Dunlop ten shillings to be paid her out of my Estate by my Executor within twelve Months after my Death

Item I give to my well beloved Daughter Elizebath Orr ten shillings to be paid to her out of my Estate by my said Executor within twelve Months after my Death

And I do hereby utterly disalow revok and disannul all and evry other former Testament Wills Legacies and bequests and Executors by Me in any ways before named willed and bequeathed Rattifying and Confirming this and no other to be My Last Will and testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written

James O [his Mark] Work (Seal)

Signed sealed published
pronounced and declared by
the said James Work as his
Last Will and testament

in the presents of us the subscribers

William Thorne
Prince Rose
Willliam Thorne Junior

Probated 12 Ap., 1769. [I, 164.]

Source: The Probate Records of Lincoln County, Maine, 1760 to 1800 (Portland, Me.: Printed for the Maine Genealogical Society, 1895), p. 41, citing Lincoln County, Maine, Probate Records.