Maine Wills

 From York County Probate Records, Volume One (1680-1706)

   In the name of God Amen I ffrancis Champernown Gentleman. Inhabitant of y^e Island commonly called by the name of Champernouns Island in y^e township of Kittery in y^e Province of Maine in New England/ being weak of body but of Sound and perfect Memory, doe make & ordaine this my last Will & Testament In manner & form following : Viz^t Imp^rs I commit my Soul to God hoping by his Mercy through y^e Merrits of Jesus Christ to enjoy life Eternall And my body to y^e earth to be Decently buried in Such manner as my Executrix hereafter named Shall think fit. And as for my temporall Estate and goods with which it hath pleased God to Endew me/ after my Just Debts and ffunerall Charges are paid/ I give & bequeath as ffolloweth/ Item/ I make ordain and constitute my welbeloved wife Mary Champernoune full and Sole Executrix of this my last will & Testament

   Item. I giue bequeath & confirm unto my s^d Executrix the one halfe part of y^e s^d Champernouns Island which I now possess to her my s^d Executrix for ever, which I have already given by Deed under my hand and Seal to my s^d Executrix.

   Item I giue and bequeath & confirm unto my Son in Law Humphrey Elliot & Elizabeth his now wife And their heires for ever the other part of my s^d Island, which I have alredy giuen by Deed under my hand and Seal to y^e s^d Humphrey & Elizabeth his wife/ Item I giue and bequeath unto my Son in Law Robert Cutt my daughter in Law Bridget Scriven my daughter in Law Mary Cutt and my daughter in Law Sarah Cutt, and to their heires for ever all that part of three hundred Acres of Land belonging unto me lying between Crokets Neck and y^e land formerly belonging unto Hugh Gunnison on y^e Estern Side of Spruce Creek to be Equally Devided between y^e s^d Robert Bridget Mary & Sarah Except what I have not before the making of this my last will and Testament disposed of to any other person And alsoe Excepting thirty Acres of land in this my last will & Testament hereunder giuen to Elizabeth Small.

   Item/ I giue & bequeath unto Elizabeth Small my Servant Maid and to her heires for ever, in behalfe of what I formerly promised her. Thirty Acres of Land at Spuce Creek which s^d thirty Acres of land part of y^e afores^d three hundred Acres, it is my will shall be first laid out by my Executrix and my ouerseers here under named And alsoe I doe giue and bequeath unto y^e s^d Elizabeth Small, ten pounds to be paid to her in Cattle & ten pounds in goods which is in Lieu of what I promised her

   Item I giue and bequeath unto my Son in Law Richard Cutt the Sum of fiue pounds to be paid by my s^d Executrix

   Item, in respect of y^e great affection that I bear unto my Grand Child Champernoun Elliot Son of Humphrey Elliot I doe by these presents Adopt declare & make the s^d Champernoun Elliot my heire Giuing to him y^e s^d Champernoun all y^e Lands of Right belonging unto me or that may belong unto me, either in old England or in New England not by me alredy disposed of And doe by this my last Will and Testament Appoint and constitute him y^e s^d Champernoun my Execut^r of all my Estate that either is or may be of Right belonging or be due unto me in old England from any pson, And y^e same to have & enjoy to him y^e s^d Champernoun and his heires for ever.

   Item/ I doe hereby Constitute Robert Mason Esq^r John Hincks Esq^r Maj^r John Davis of York and Robert Elliot of Great Island Merchant my Louing ffriends to be overseers of this my last Will and Testament And desire they may Se the same performed and be Assistant to my S^d Executrix.

   Lastly I doe declare and publish this to be my last Will and Testament Annulling and making void all former & other Wills and Testaments/ In witness whereof I haue hereunto put my hand and Seal this Sixteenth day of Novemb^r in y^e year of our Lord God one thousand Six hundred & Eighty Six Anoque Reg Regis Jacobi Secundi Secundo.

Signed Sealed deliuered     and published to be the last     will & Testament of ffrancis    Champernoun Gent in ye prests of us/    William Milborn    Edm : Gach    Robt Elliot		ffrancis Champernoun (his Seal)
Sworn to 28 December, 1687. Recorded 18 August, 1698. Source: Maine Wills, 1640-1760 (Portland, Me., 1887), p. 121, citing Probate Office, 1, 54.