Maine Wills

 From York County Probate Records, Volume Nine (1743-58)

   In the Name of God Amen. The first Day of Iune in the Year of Our Lord 1754. I James Grindall of Kittery in the County of York in New Engl^d Yeoman being weak in Body, but of perfect Mind & Memory Thanks be given unto God, therefore calling to Mind the Mortality of my Body, and knowing that it is appointed for 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 hoping thrô the Merits Death & Passion of my Saviour Iesus Christ to have full & free Pardon & forgiveness of all my Sins & to inherit everlasting Life : And my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at y^e Discretion of my Executor hereafter named nothing doubting but at y^e Gener^l 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 and Form, that is to Say,

   First I will that all my those Debts & Duties that I do owe in right or Conscience to any manner of persons whatsoever, Shall be well & truly paid or ordered to be paid in convenient time after my Decease by my Executor hereafter named.

   Item. I give & bequeath unto my well beloved Daughter Ann Raynes five Shillings lawful Money to be paid by my Executor.

   Item. I will that my Daughter Eleoner Grindall Shall be maintained with the Produce & Income of my Estate during her natural Life and to be decently buried at her Death.

   Item. I give to my well beloved Grand Son James Raynes my dwelling House Barn & all my Land in Kittery & Else where with the Fences to him his Heirs and Assigns forever.

   Item. I give unto my Sister      Tucker the Use of one Room in my House during her Widow Hood. Item. I appoint my well beloved Friend Andrew Westcoat to be my only & Sole Executor of this my last Will & Testament, And to be a Guardian to my Grandson James Raynes. I reserve my Stock of Creatures & Moveables to defrey my funeral Charges & the Overplus to be equally divided between my two Daughters Anna & Eleoner. Furthermore my Executor is to receive all the Debts due to me, and after my just Debts are satisfied and paid the Overplus to be delivered to my Daughter Anna Raynes. I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all & every other former Testaments Wills and Legacies Bequests & Executors by me in any Ways before this time named willed & bequeathed ratifying & confirming this & no other to be my last Will & Testament. In Witness where of I have hereunto Set my Hand & Seal the day and year above written.

Iames Grindall (Seal)

   Signed Sealed published pronounced & declared by the Said Iames Grindall as his last Will & Testament in the presence of us the Subscribers, Viz^t Joseph X Weeks his mark j^r Ioanna X Weeks her mark Timothy Gerrish jun^r.