Maine Wills

 From York County Probate Records, Volume Eight (1705-53)

   In the Name of God Amen. The twenty seventh Day of August One thousand Seven hundred & Fifty two. I Iohn Owen of Falmouth in the County of York & Province of the Massa : Bay in New England Chair Maker, being very Sick & weak in Body but of a Sound & disposing Mind & Memory, thanks, be given unto God, Therefore calling unto Mind the Mortality of my Body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, Do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament that is to say principally & first of all, I give & recommend my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it, and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executors, 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 wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life, I give demise & dispose of the Same in the following Manner & Form.

Imp^rs. It is my Will that all my just Debts & funeral Charges be first paid out of my Estate.

   Item. I give & bequeath to Margaret my dearly beloved Wife the Use & Improvem^t of all & Singular my Estate both real and personal during her natural Life.

   Item. I give & bequeath to my Daughter Mary Owen y^e Sum of fiue Shillings to be paid by my Execut^r after my Decease.

   Item. I give & bequeath unto each and every of my Sons hereafter mention'd, Viz^t. Iohn Thomas William Gideon Samuel and James Owen an equal Share of all & Singular my Estate both real & personal to be equally divided amongst them after the Decease of Margaret my Wife to be by them their Heirs & Assigns freely possessed & enjoyed. And I do constitute make and ordain Jabez Fox Esq^r of Said Falm^o and Margaret my Wife joint Executors of this my last Will & Testam^t And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all & every other former Testaments Wills Legacys Bequests & Executors by me in any Ways before named willed and bequeathed, ratifying & confirming this & no other to be my last Will & Testament

   In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & Seal the Day & Year aforewritten.

John Owen (Seal)

   Signed Sealed published pronounced & declared by the Said John Owen as his last Will & Testam^t in y^e Presence of us the Subscribers.

   Sam^l Cobb jun^r Simon Gookin, Stephⁿ Longfellow.