Maine Wills

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

   In the Name of God Amen. I Richard Hays of North Yarmouth in the County of York and Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Husbandman being Sick and weak in Body, but of a Sound & disposing Mind and Memory, thanks be given to God; therefore calling to 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 and dispose of the Same in the following Manner & Form.

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

   Item. I give & bequeath to my dearly beloved Wife Mary One third part of my Estate both real & personal by her freely to be possessed & enjoyed during her natural Life:

   Item. I give & bequeath to my well beloved Son Richard the one half of my Estate both real & personal forever by him freely to be possessed & enjoyed.

   Item. I give & bequeath unto my well beloved Daughter Eleoner on Quarter part of my Estate both real & personal by her forever freely to be possessed and enjoyed.

   Item. I give & bequeath unto my well beloved Daughter Mary One Quarter part of my Estate both real & personal forever by her freely to be possed & enjoyed.

   And I appoint Edward Eastis of North Yarmouth afores^d Husbandman and Mary my well beloved Wife to be Executors jointly to this my last Will and Testament hereby utterly disallowing revoking & disannulling all and every other former Testaments Wills Legacies & bequests & Execut^rs by me in any Ways before named willed & bequeathed ratifying & confirming this & no other to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & Seal this twentyseventh Day of November Annoque Domini. One Thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty one.

Signed Sealed published pro-    nounced and declared by    the Sd Richd Hays as his    last Will & Testament in    the presence of us the Sub-    scribers    Daniel Tucker    Iabez Bradbury    Stephn Longfellow		Richard Hayes (Seal)       his mark
Probated 2 October 1752. Inventory returned 2 Oct. 1742, at £2781: 5: 0, by John Stover, Thomas Jones and Wait Webber appraisers. Source: Maine Wills, 1640-1760 (Portland, Me., 1887), p. 684, citing Probate Office, 8, 189.