Introduction

From York County Probate Records, Volume Ten (1749-60)

The Will of Benjamin Welch, Jr.

In the Name of God Amen.

   This Ninth Day of May Anno Domini one thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty eight. I Benjamin Welch jun^r of North Yarmouth in the County of York & Province of y^e Massachusetts Bay in New England Husbandman being in perfect Mind & Memory Thanks be unto God therefore Calling to Mind the Mortality of my Body, and that it is appointed for all men once to die, Do make & ordain this my last Will & Testam^t that is to say principally and first of all, I give & recommend my Soul into y^e Hands of God who gave it, and my Body I recommend to y^e Earth to be buried in a decent Manner 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 with in this Life, I give demise & dispose of the Same in the following Manner & Form that is to Say,

   Imprimis I give unto my beloved Brother Thomas Welch Three Hundred Acres of Land which I have in the said Town of North Yarm^o & also my Yoke of Steers

   Item. I give to my beloved Sister Eliz^a Welch Thirty Acres of Land more that I own in said Town & also my Cow & Heifer.

   Item. I give to my Said Brother & Sister the produce of my Freight of Cordwood after the Same is sold by Ionathan True of said Town to whom I have given full Power to Sell the Same : And whom I like wise constitute make & ordain my Sole Executor of this my last Will & Testam^t. And my Will is that he be fully paid for all his Charge and Trouble therein out of the Produce of y^e S^d Freight of Wood; And the remaining part to be equally divided between my Said Brother & Sister. And I do hereby declare this & no other to be my last Will & Testament.

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

Benj^a Welch j^r (Seal)

   Signed Sealed published pronounced & declared by Benjamin Welch jun^r as his last Will & Testam^t in the presence of us Witnesses. Ionathan True Moses Bradbury Enoch Harvey.