Maine Wills

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

   In the Name of God Amen. In the twentieth Day of June 1753, I Iohn Starbird Husbandman, being very Sick and weak of Body, but of perfect Mind & Memory, thanks be given to God therefor calling to mind the Mortality of my Body, & knowing that its appointed to 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 recomend to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Execut^x not doubting but at the General Resurrection, I shall receive the Same again by the mighty Power of God, and as touching such worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this Life, I give demise and dispose of in the following Manner and Form.

   Imp^rs. I give & bequeath to my dearly beloved Wife Sarah y^e half of the produce of my Farm as long as She continues my Widow.

   Item. All the household Furniture within Doors freely & clearly to be at her Disposal.

   Item. To my Son Richard a piece of Land on the Head of Merryconeage Neck, beginning on Benj^a Bunker's Southwest Corner on the East Side of the Marsh then running South 5 Deg^s West 43 Rods, South 80, Deg : West 19 Rods, West 5 Deg^s North to the Bay, then running by the Bay to the head of Merryconeage Neck turning into a Creek of Marsh including the Marsh.

   Item. My odd Ox and my Mare Colt my new Swivel Chain together with one half of my Carpenters Tools.

   Item. To my Son Iohn I give my Homestead containing Sixty Acres whether more or less on Merryconage River to Richards East Line, and running by Richards Line a Cross y^e Carrying place to the West Side of the Carrying place including y^e South Marsh; together with one half of my Stock the other half to remain with my Wife to be at her command.

   Item. To my Son Moses I give Forty Acres on the South Side of my Land together with the Thatch Bed lying on y^e South Side of the great Creek. The remaining part of y^e Land that in not yet mentioned I bequeath to my Sons Richard & Iohn equally to be divided betwixt them.

   Item. I give to my Well beloved Daughter Elizabeth Fifty pounds old Tenor to be paid by my Sons John & Richard a twelve Month & a Day after my Decease. Item to my well beloved Daughter Abigail one hundred pounds old Ten^r to be paid partly out of my quick Stock by my Son Iohn in a twelve Month & a Day after my Decease by Son Iohn.

   Item. To my Daughter Hannah One Hundred pounds old Tenor, to be paid partly out of my quick Stock when She arrives to Nineteen Years of Age by my Son John. Item. To my Daughter Sarah one Hundred pounds old Tenor to be paid when She arrives to the Age of Nineteen Years, Sixty five pounds of Said Sum to be paid by my Son Richard old Tenor & twenty five by my Son John. Item I order my Sons Richard & John to pay in equal Proportion about Seventy pounds old Tenor which I owe to M^r Winchel out of my Estate. As to my other Small Debts I order my Son John to pay them out of my Estate.

   Item. my Broad Ax & my other Axes & Hoes & Chains & Plow & other Utensils I bequeath to my Son John. I do likewise ordain constitute & appoint my beloved Wife Sarah my Sole Executrix of this my last Will & Testament, revoking & disallowing all former Wills & Testaments Legacys & Bequests ratifying and conferming this & no other to be my last Will and Testament.

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

Iohn Starbird (Seal)

   Signed Sealed & published pronounced & declared by the said John Starbird as his last Will & Testam^t in presence of us the Subscribers

   Rob^t Dunlop  William Woodside  Tho^s Scofield.