Description
In The Name of God Amen this fourth Day of November AD 1778 I John Wilkins of Middleton in the County of Essex Gentleman Being very Sick But of Perfict mind And Memory Thanks be to God therefor Knowing it is appointed For all men once to Dye, Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament That is to Say Princaply and firs[t] of All I Give and Recommend my Soul into the hand of God Whoo Gave it, And my Body I Recommend to the Earth to be Buried in Dec[e]nt Christian Bureial at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter Named, Nothing Doubting but at the General Resurection I shall Rec[e]ive the same again by the mighty Power of God, And as Touching sutch wo[r]ldly Estate where With it hath Pleased God to Bless me with in this Life –
I give Demise and Dispose of the same in the following Manner And form --
Imprimis: I Give to my well Beloved wife Neomi Wilkins And my Daughter Neomi Wilkins all my Estate Reail and Personal so long as they shall live.
Item I give to my Cousen Benjamin Wilkins all my Estate Reail and Personal after the Dec[e]as of my Wife and my Daughter aforesaid.
Further my will is that my Cousen Benjamin Wilkins shall Take the Care of my wife and my Daughter as long as They shall live and see that they are well provided for With Every Neses[s]ery of life and see that the farm which I Now live on is well Carred [Carried] on and in all respects.
Item I give to my Cousen Daniel Wilkins of Amherst one hundred Pounds to be paid by my Executor after my wife and Child Are Dec[e]ased.
Item I Give my Servent maid Dina one hundred pounds to Be paid her by my Executor after the Decease of my wife And Child if the said Dina shall live with my wife and Do for her as well as shee is Capible off[;] further my will is That the said Dina shall have a h[a]ndsom maintanance out of my Estate if shee lives with my wife and Daughter as Long as they live.
Item I Give my Se[r]vent maid Dinan a fether Bed and Bedding.
Item I Give to Peter Frizer which ware formerly Servant Ten pound paid by my Executor in One year after The Decease of my wife and Daughter.
Further my will is that my Cousen Benjamin Wilkins shall be my sole Executor of this my last will And Testament, and it is my will that my Executor shall sell so much of my land to pay my Debts where it is least Damage.
And I Do hereby Utterly Dissalow, Revoke & Dissanul all Every Other former will Testaments leg[ac]ies and bequests And Exec[uto]rs by me in any ways Before Named willed & bequea[the]d Ratting Rattifying and Confirming this and No other To be my last Will and Testament.
In Witniss whereof I the said John Wilkins have here Unto sett my hand seal the Day and Year herein before Mentioned [John Wilkins, X his mark]
Signed Sealed Published prounounced And Declared by the Said John Wilkins as his last will and Testament in presence of Us the Subscribers [signatures, Elisha Upton, Edmund Perkins, Joshua Wright]
[Note/comment: the scribe, Joshua Wright, often capitalized the first letter of the opening word of the line]
