Introduction

From York Registry of Deeds (1640-91)

The Will of John Bready

In the name of god Amen/

   I John Bready of the Town of Kittery in the Prouince of Mayne, being at this Instant on my bed being sore sicke yet through the goodness of Almighty god, as Prfect in my understanding & memory as at any other tyme heretofore : & haueing by the goodness of god through his blessing vpon my lawfull Endeauo^rs, attajned to some outward Estate, I do by this my last will & testament signify to the world my soole purpose & intention in the disposeing of it as followeth/

   1—first I do hærtily & really bequeath & freely render my spirit & soule to god, that gaue It, hopeing that in the meritts & mediation of y^e Lord Jesus Christ, I shall Inheritt euerlasting life/ secundly I do will that all my Acts of dealeing bee paid, & all my lawfull debts discharg'd/

   3ly I will that all my necessary Charges, whither in sickness or buriall of my Corp__ bee fully discharged/ 41y & lastly I do hereby will & bequeath to Saraih my wife, all & singular my Estate remajneing after the defraijng the Premisses aforesd : as well w^tsoeuer is at Present in reuersion out of my hands as w^t is in possession in hand, in maner & kind w^tsoeuer, bee It houses lands Chattles, Cloathing, debts by Accompts, or w^tsoeuer is found to Pertajne to my Estate, I do as aforesd fully & freely bequeath to my trusty & loueing wife/ to all which I subscribe this 30^th of August in the yeare of o^r Lord 1681 : as witness my hand/

witnesses/    Job Cleamons Senjor    The signe of Thomas    Roberts X		The signe of John Bready/
Sworn to by attesting witnesses 6 Dec 1681; recorded 16 June 1682; Inventory returned at £152: 12: 0, by John Wincoll and Charles Frost appraisers 21st Nov 1681; who state that John Bready "deceased October 9th 1681: " [Source: Maine Wills, 1640-1760 (Portland, Me., 1887), p. 68, citing Registry of Deeds, 5, 13.]