Monday, November 8, 2010

Amanuensis Monday - Will of Jonathan Hubbard (1659-1728) of Concord MA

Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started his own Monday blog theme many months ago called Amanuensis Monday. What does "amanuensis" mean? John offers this definition:

"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

The subject today is the probate file of Jonathan Hubbard (1659-1728) of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, one of my 8th great-grandfathers.

The probate records of the estate of Jonathan Hubbard of Concord (1728) are included in Middlesex County [Massachusetts] Probate Packet #12,191 (accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,397,101). His will was written on 25 August 1724, and was proved on 25 November 1728. It reads:

"In the Name of God amen. The twenty fifth Day of August Anno Domini one Thousand and seven hundred and twenty four. I Jonathan Hubburd of Concord In the County of Middx within the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England yeoman, being of perfect mind and memory and calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing that it is appointed to all men once to dye do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament (that is to day). Principally I recommend my Soul into the hands of God who gave it and my body I recommend unto the Earth to be duried in Decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executor nothing Doubting but at the General resurrection I shall receive the same of the Almighty power of God. And as touching such worldly things and affairs wherewith I hath pleased God to bless me here in this life I Give and Dispose of the Same in manner and form following.

"Imp. I Give and Bequeath unto my well beloved wife Hanah Hubburd all my moveables in the house for ever and the entire use and Improvement of the East end of my house from top to bottom with the use of one half of the cellar under the West end of said house also three pounds of mony to be paid unto her by my Executor yearly, twelve bushels of Indian Corn and Six Bushels of rye, one hundred pounds of pork and fifty pounds of beef and sufficient firewood provided and brought unto her door and all this yearly During her Widowhood. I also Give unto my wife one cow which is to be kept both Summer and winter for her use and benefit during her widowhood by my said Executor. also two Bushels of malt, two Barrels of cyder and what apples she needs yearly and his Improvement of a third part of the garden.

"Item. To my daughter Mary Daviss I give one featherboard and a boulster.
To my son Jonathan Hubburd three pounds of money and my cane.
To my Daughter Hannah Temple three pounds of money.
To my Son Samll Hubburd three pounds of money and my muff.
To my Son Joseph Hubburd three pounds of money.
To my Daughter Elizabeth Heywood one feather bed and a boulster.
To my Son John Hubburd three pounds of money.
To my Son Daniel Hubburd the one half of my village right and three pounds of money.
To my Son Thomas Hubburd three pounds of money, and to my Daughter Abigail fletcher three pounds also.

"Item. I give all my wearing Apparel unto my Sons to be equally Devided among them and my books unto my sons and daughters to be equally distributed among them.

"Item. I Give and Bequeath unto my son Ebenezer Hubburd whom I make the Sole Executor of this my last Will & Testament the residue of all my Estate both real and personal paying out the several legacies abovesaid within four years after my Decease Providing for my wife as aforesd and burying her in case She Dies my widow in Decent and Christian Burial, and I do hereby utterly Revoke and disallow all other Testaments and Wills, Legacies and Executors by me before made or named, Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament and In Witness whereof have set my hand and seal this day and year above.

"Signed, Sealed, Published Pronounced & Declared by sd. Jonathan Hubburd
as his last Will and Testament In presence
of us the Subscribers .................................................... Jonathan Hubburd (signature)
Samuel Meriam
William Good (?)
Timothy Minott"

No inventory, distribution or account for the estate was included in the probate packet.

Jonathan Hubbard, son of John Hubbard and Mary Merriam, married Hannah Rice (1658-1747) in 1681.  They had eleven children between 1682 and 1700.  He named all of his eleven children in his will, all adults in 1724 when he wrote his will, with youngest son Ebenezer Hubbard receiving the real estate.  For genealogy researchers, the real prize in this will is the surnames of his daughters. 

My ancestral line back to Jonathan and Hannah (Rice) Hubbard is their son, Samuel Hubbard (1687-1753), who married Sarah Clark (1681-1720) in 1709. 

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