Introduction

From York Registry of Deeds (1640-91)

The Will of John Leads

   In the name of God Amen, I John Leds husbandman, In the County of yorke being very sicke & weake, & drawing neare to my last end, make this my last will & testament, being of a naturall good vnderstanding & of a disposed mind; I bequeath my soule unto god, In y^e strength & merritts of my Lord & Saujo^r Jesus Christ, in hope of a Joyfull resurrection, & my body to the earth to descent buriall; As for y^t little Estate the Lord hath giuen mee I do dispose as followeth/

   First that all my debts lawfull shall bee payd, & my funerall charges out of y^t little I haue; I do giue vnto my sonn John Leads my house & Land now In yorke, with y^e writeings deeds, & Assurances, as also my too gunns my sett of Wedges, my mortissing axe & my sword/

   I will also giue to my wife, my weareing Cloaths with my Chest, & what is in it, & all my debts that are due to mee/ I also give to Samuell Sayword my broad axe/ & that this my last will & testament bee truly Performed, I do make & Constitute Mr Hene: Sayword, & his wife Mis Mary Sayword executors, as Witness my hand this 15^th day of Novemb^r 1678:

Attests John Jefferys/     & Tymothy Yeales/		John Leads his marke
Sworn to by attesting witnesses 10 Nov 1678; allowed in Court 1 Apr. 1679; recorded 4 April 1679; Inventory returned at £43: 19: 5. [Source: Maine Wills, 1640-1760 (Portland, Me., 1887), p. 82, citing Registry of Deeds, 5, 33.]