Maine Wills

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

   In the Name of God amen the thirty first Day of March one Thousand seven hundred & forty one, I William Eaton of Wells in y^e County of York in y^e Province of y^e Massachusets Bay in New-England Yeoman being aged and Infirm in Body but of perfect mind and memory Thanks be to God for it Calling to mind my own mortality & knowing That it is appointed to man once to Die Do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament (that is to say) Principally and first of all I Recommend my Soul into the Hands of God who gave it : and my Body to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian Burial at y^e Discretion of my Executor hereafter named Nothing doubting but at y^e General Resurrection I shall Receive y^e same again by y^e mighty Power of God And as Touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life I bequeath & dispose of y^e same in form & manner following Viz^t :

   Imprimis my Will & Desire is that all my Just & Lawfull Debts be duly & honestly paid by my Executor hereafter named & that they be paid out of my moveable Estate.

   Item. I Give unto my beloved Son Joshua Eaton all my out Lands in y^e Township of Wells & in the County of York afores^d Together with all that Peice & parcell of Salt Marsh which I formerly bought of John Eldredge of Wells aforesaid.

   Item. I Give & bequeath unto my beloved Daughter Mary Credefor Thirty pounds to be paid by my Executor within two Years next after my Decease over and above what I have already given her and also one half of my household Stuff Excepting one Feather Bed with y^e furniture belonging to it.

   Item. I Give & bequeath unto my Beloved Daughter Ruth Eaton Thirty pounds to be paid by my Executor when She arrives to y^e Age of Eighteen Years old after my Decease over & above what I have given her & also one half of my Houshold Stuff.

   Item. I Give & bequeath unto my Beloved Son Joseph Eaton all my homestead & salt Marsh belonging to the homstead together with my Dwelling Hous Barn buildings & Fences on s^d Homstead & one Feather Bed with y^e furniture belonging to it; and further my Will is that my Son Joseph Eaton and my Daughter Ruth Eaton shall have y^e proffits of y^e Homstead & of the Stock of Cattle Excepting what may be for the paying of Legacies & Debts the Remainder of the Proffits to be for the Education Learning & bringing up my said Son Joseph Eaton untill he arrives to the age of twenty one years and my said Daughter Ruth untill She arrives to y^e Age of Eighteen years.

   And I Do hereby Nominate Constitute & appoint John Storer of Wells in said County Esq. to be the Sole Executor of this my Last Will & Testament and Do hereby Revoak & Disannull all other & former Wills & Testaments by me made and Do hereby Ratify & Confirm this & no other to be my Last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & Seal y^e Day & Year above written.

Signed Sealed published pronounc'd    & Declared by ye abovesd William    Eaton To be his Last Will & Testa-    ment in presence of us the Sub-    scribers.    Joseph Hatch    Isaac Buswell    Samll Emery    Daniel X Eldridge         his mark		William Eaton (Seal)
Probated 19 Jan. 1741. Inventory returned 19 April 1742, at £1291: 6: 6, by John Butland, Pelatiah Littlefield and Joseph Hatch, appraisers. Source: Maine Wills, 1640-1760 (Portland, Me., 1887), p. 442, citing Probate Office, 5, 252.