Maine Wills

 From York County Probate Records, Volume Five (1725-42)

   In the Name of God amen March y^e 7^th 1740.

   I John Morse of Kittery in the County of York in New-England Blacksmith being very sick and weak of Body but of a perfect mind & memory thanks be to God for y^e same Therefore Calling to mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Dye Do make & ordain this my last Will and Testament that is to say first & principally I Give & Recomend my Soul to God who, Gaue it and my Body I Recommend to y^e Earth to be buried In a Decent Christian Burial at y^e Discretion of my Executrix hereafter named nothing doubting but at y^e Generall Resurrection I shall Receive y^e same again by y^e mighty Power of God & as Touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in Life, I Give Demise & Dispose of y^e same in the following Manner & form.

   Imprimis, I Will & Ordain that my Just Debts & Funerall Charges be first paid & Discharged.

   Item. I Give & bequeath to my beloved Wife Dorcas Morse all y^e Residue of my Estate both Real & Personal together with all my Book Debts, I Give also to my beloved Friend Naham Ward twenty pounds to be paid by my Executrix I Likewise Constitute make & Ordain my beloved Wife Dorcas Morse my Sole Executrix of this my last Will & Testament & I Do hereby Revoak & Disannul & Disallow all and Every other Testaments & Wills Legacies & bequests & Executors before named willed & bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this & no other to be my last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal y^e Day & Year above written.

Signed Sealed Published Pronounced    & Declared by ye sd John Morse    to be his last Will & Testament    In ye presence of Us.    Joanna X Oram          her mark    Samll Lunt    Joseph Gunnison.		John Morse (Seal)
Probated 21 April 1741. Source: Maine Wills, 1640-1760 (Portland, Me., 1887), p. 429, citing Probate Office, 5, 220.