Maine Wills

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

   In the Name of God Amen. The fourth Day of July One Thous^d Seven Hundred & fifty two, I Nathaniel Gatchel of Wells in the County of York in the Province of the Massa. Bay in New England Cordwainer, being infirm in Body but of perfect Mind & Memory Thanks be to God for it, calling to Mind my own Mortality, and knowing that it is appointed to man once to die, do make & ordain this my last Will & Testam^t that is to Say principally & first of all, I recommend my Soul into the Hands of God who gave it, and my Body to y^e Earth to be Buried in decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executrix hereafter named, nothing doubting but at y^e general Resurrection, I Shall receive the Same again by the mighty Power of God. And as touching such worldly Estate wherew^th it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life, I bequeath and dispose of the Same in Manner & Form following, Viz^t.

   Imp^r. My Will & Desire is that all my just & lawful Debts be duly & honestly paid by my Execut^x hereafter named, & that they may be paid out of my moveable Estate.

   Item. I give & bequeath to my beloved Son Zebulon Gatchell five Shillings lawful Money besides what I have already given him in full of his Portion to be paid by my Execut^x within one Year after my Decease.

   Item. I give & bequeath to my beloved Daughter Susannah Young five Shillings lawful Money besides what I have already given her in full of her Portion to be paid by my Exec^x w^thin one Year after my Decease.

   Item. I give & bequeath to my beloved Daughter Abigail Gatchell five Shillings lawful Money to be paid to her by my Execut^x within one Year, after my Decease.

   Item. I give & bequeath to my beloved Daughter Anne Gatchell conditionally one half of my Homestead Lands whereon I now dwell, provided my Wife Should have no other Child by me, otherwise if my Wife Should have another Child by me then my Said Daughter Anne to have but one third part of my Homestead And the other Child yet unborn to have one full part of my Said Homestead to be divided into three parts.

   Item. I give & bequeath to my beloved Daughter Miriam Gatchell conditionally one half of my homestead Lands whereon I now dwell provided my Wife Should have another Child by me, then my Said Daughter Miriam to have but one third part of my Homestead, and the other Child yet unborn to have one full part of my Said Homestead to be divided into three parts.

   Item. I give & bequeath to my beloved Wife Esther Gatchel y^e Improvement of all my Lands in Wells during her Widowhood all which Lands afores^d I formerly bought of Samuel Curtis of Wells in the County afores^d as may more fully appear by a Deed of Sale from under his Hand & Seal bearing Date the 27^th Day of April 1750. And further my Will is that my Wife take due Care to educate the Said Children out of y^e Profit, of y^e Estate.

   And I do hereby Nominate Constitute & appoint my beloved Wife Esther Gatchell to be the Sole Execut^x of this my last Will and Testament, And I do hereby revoke & disannul all other and former Wills & Testaments by me made, and do hereby ratify & confirm this & no other to be my last Will & Testam^t.

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

Nathaniel Gatchell (Seal)

Signed Sealed published pronounced & declared by the aboves^d Nathaniel Gatchell to be his last Will & Testament in presence of us the Subscribers,

   William Low  Daniel Chaney  David Low.