Maine Wills

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

   In the name of God Amen the twenty fourth day of Novemb^r in y^e year of our Lord God one thousand Six hundred & Ninety & Eight I Samuel ffernald of Kittery in y^e County of york in y^e Prouince of y^e Massachusets Bay in New England shipwright, being very sick & weak in body but of perfect mind & Memory thanks be giuen to God therefore Calling unto mind ye Mortallity of my body doe make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament/ That is to Say principlely and first of all I giue and recomend my Soul into ye hands of God that gave it and for my body I commend it to ye earth to be buried in a Christian like & Decent manner at y^e Discretion of my Executrix Nothing Doubting but at y^e generall Resurrection I shall receiue y^e Same again by the mighty power of God

   And as touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to Bless me in this life, I giue Devise and dispose of the Same in y^e following manner & form.

   Imp^rs I giue and bequeath unto Hannah my Dearly beloued wife my now Dwelling house and out houses with the Neck of Land belonging to me upon which s^d house Stands Dureing her Naturall life And what Land I haue on y^e Eastern Side of a Creek commonly called Spinneyes Crick Dureing her Widowhood Alsoe all My houshold Goods and Moveable Estate for ever She paying all my Just and Legall Debts.

   Item I giue unto my welbeloved Son Nathaniel ffernald when he is twenty one years of Age my Island that is in Piscataqua Riuer in y^e Province of New Hampshier he paying to his Sister Martha ffernald when she is Eighteen years of age ten pounds in Money Curr^t in New England Alsoe I giue to him after my wiues Decease my now dwelling house, out houses, w^th the Neck of Land on which my house now Stands And all y^e land y^t I have on y^e Eastern Side of a Crick commonly called Spinneys Crick Lying and being in y^e Township of Kittery/ which Land on y^e Eastern Side of y^e aboue s^d Crick he shall haue possession of Soe Soon as he comes of twenty one years of Age in case my wife Should Marry after my Decease/ All which tracts of Lands aboue Specified I giue to my aboues^d Son Nathaniel ffernald his heires Execut^rs Administrat^rs or Assignes for ever

   Item I giue to my welbeloued Daughter Sarah ffernald twenty fiue Acres of Land lying and being in y^e township of Portsm^o on y^e Plains in y^e Prouince of New Hampshiere to her & her heires Execut^rs Administrat^rs or Assignes for euer.

   Item I giue unto my welbeloued Daughter Hannah ffernald twenty fiue Acres of Land lying and being in y^e township of Portsm^o on y^e Plains in y^e Prouince of New Hampshiere to her & her heires Execut^rs Administrat^rs or Assignes for euer.

   Item I giue unto my welbeloued Daughter Martha ffernald ten pounds in Currant Money of New England to be paid to her her heires Execut^rs Administrat^rs or Assignes by my Son Nathaniel ffernald when she is Eighteen years of Age

   Item I doe Constitute make And ordain my Dear and Louing wife to be my Sole and onely Executrix of this my last Will & Testament Desiring my brother John Spinney to be Assistant to her in any business in w^ch she desires his help.

   And I hereby utterly disallow revoak and disannull all & euery other former Testaments and Wills by me in any ways before this time made, Ratifying and confirming this to be my last Will and Testament.

   In witness whereof I haue hereunto Set my hand & Seal (after y^e incepting of y^e word sister in y^e twenty fifth line & her in y^e thirty Ninth line in y^e foregoing page) the day & year aboue written being y^e twenty fourth day of Novembr Anno Domini. 1698

Signed Sealed & deliuered    by ye sd Samuel ffernald    as his last will & Testament    In ye presents of    William ffernald    Elizabeth ffernald    John Newmarch		his mark Samuel S F ffernald (his Seal.)
Probated 3 Janry 1698. Recorded 14 Febry 1698-9. Inventory returned at £281: 18: 0 by Samuel Spinney and William Godsoe, appraisers 22 Dec. 1698, who recite that said Fernald deceased 1 Dec 1698. Source: Maine Wills, 1640-1760 (Portland, Me., 1887), p. 125, citing Probate Office, 1, 57.