Maine Wills

 From York County Probate Records, Volume Six (1736-46)

   In the Name of God Amen. The twemty ninth Day of Ianuary Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred Forty five Six. I Ierusha Spinney of Kittery in the County of York in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Widow, being Sick and weak in Body, but of perfect mind and memory Thanks be given to God, Therefore calling unto Mind the Mortality of my Body Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, That is to Say principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it, and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent Burial at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter named. And as touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life I give and dispose of the Same in the following Manner and Form.

   Imprimis. I give and bequeath to my beloved Cousin Margaret Cole my best Bed and Bedding whereon I now lie, one Pewter Platter Six pewter Plates my dark colourd Ridinghood & one Bible, My Will is that if the Said Margaret Should depart this Life, before She Shall come to the Age of Eighteen Years That the above particulars mentioned given to her I give unto my beloved Sisters Abiel Cole and Charity Cole to be equally divided betwixt them.

   Secondly, I give and bequeath unto my beloved Cousin Susanna Knight my dark colour'd Callico Gown.

   Thirdly, I give and bequeath unto my beloved Sisters Abiel Cole and Charity Cole to them their Heirs and Assigns forever all the Remainder of my Estate both Real and personal, Moveables and Immoveables wheresoever and whatsoever my Will is that it Shall be equally divided betwixt them & to be to their own proper Use Benefit and Behoof forever.

   Fourthly and lastly I make constitute and ordain my beloved Brother Robert Cole my Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every other former Wills Testaments Bequests and Executors by me in any Ways before named willed and bequeathed ratifying & confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & Seal the Day and Year in these presents first mentioned.

Signed Sealed published pro-    nounced & declared by the    Said Ierusha Spinney as her    last Will & Testament, In    the presence of Us the    Subscribers    Iohn Cottell    Robert Cole jr    Thomas Dennet		Ierusha X Spinney (a Seal)       her mark
Probated 18 Feby 1745. Inventory returned 6 Mch 1745, at £87: 18: 0, by Joseph Hammond jun., Thomas Dennet and John Godsoe, appraisers. Source: Maine Wills, 1640-1760 (Portland, Me., 1887), p. 506, citing Probate Office, 6, 172.