Monday, September 5, 2011

Amanuensis Monday - the will of George Stearns (1690-1760) of Waltham MA

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Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started a 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 will of George Stearns (1690-1760) of Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  He was the son of John Stearns and Judith Lawrence, and married Hannah Sanderson (1689-1770) in 1712.  They had eight children:  Jonathan Stearns (1713-1758); Abigail Stearns (1716-1798); Judith Stearns (1716-????); David Stearns (1717-????); Hannah Stearns (1719-????); Lydia Stearns (1724-????); John Stearns (1727-????); Daniel Stearns (1729-1779).

George Stearns died testate. His probate records (original papers) are in Middlesex County Probate Records, Packet #21,234 (accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,421,526). The will of Mr. George Stearns, yeoman late of Waltham, written on 8 February 1760, was presented to the Probate Court by his son, Daniel Stearns, the Executor, and was proved on 14 July 1760. Daniel Stearns (yeoman of Waltham), David Stratton (yeoman of Waltham) and Ebenezer Cutter (Gentleman of Lincoln) posted bond of 300 pounds. The will reads (transcribed by the author):

"In The Name of god Amen. I George Stearns of Waltham in ye County of Middlesx in ye Province of Massachtts Bay in New England yeoman upon this Twenty Eighth day of Febry Anno Dom 1760 In the Thirty Third year of His Majtes Reign, being of sound & Disposing mind & memory for it I Bless God, Calling to mind ye Mortality of my Body, Do make this my Last Will & Testamnt. Vizt. First I recomend my precious & Imortal soul into ye merciful hands of God that gave it in Hope of ye forgiveness of all my sins for ye merits sake of my Gracious Redeemer, & my Body I comit to the Earth from whence it was Taken to be buried in a Decent Christian manner ... Hopes of a Glorious Resurrection at ye Last day. And as for ye Worldly Estate wherewith it hat pleased God to bless me with in this Life I dispose of in the following manner:

"Imps. I Give to my Beloved wife ye Improvemnt of one Third part of all my Estate During her natural Life. My Exectr to bury me & my wife in a Decent & Christian manner.

"Itm. I Give to the heirs of my Dutiful son Jona Stearns Decd Thirteen pounds six shillings & eight pence Lawful money to be Equally Divided amongst them and to be paid to them after my wifes Decease as they come of Lawful age being with that their Fathr had recd is their full portn of my Estate.

"Itm. I Give to my Dutiful son David Stearns his heirs &c thirteen pounds six shillings & eight pence Lawful money and all my wearing apparrel which together with that he hath already recd is his full portion of my Estate to be paid in four years after my wifes Decease.

"Itm. I Give to my Dutiful son John Stearns Fifty three pound six shillings & eight pence Lawful money it being his full portion of my Estate to be paid in two years after my Decease.

"Itm. I give to my dutiful Daughtr Abig Peirce her heirs &c the Sum of Eight Pounds six shillings & Eight pence Lawful money to be paid in one year after my Decease.

"Itm. I give to the Children of my Daughtr Hannah Hager Decsd Thirteen pounds six shillings & eight pence Lawful money to be paid to them as they arrive at Lawful age.

"itm. I give to my two grand-daughters Vizt. Molly & Eunice Hammond thirteen pounds six shillings Lawful money to be Equally Divided between them to be paid in Seven years after my wifes Decease.

"Itm. I give to my three Grand-daughters Vizt. Sarah, Lois & Lydia Fuller thirteen pounds six shillings & eight pence Lawful money to be paid to them as they arrive at Lawful age.

"Itm. I give to my grand-daughter Hannah Hager one Cow at ye time she arrives at Lawful age.

"Itm. I further give to my Daughtr Abigl Peirce and to my Daughtrs children vizt ye children of my Daughter Hager Decd, my Daughtr Hammond Decd, & my Daughtr Fuller Decd, all my Houshold Goods of Every Denomination and my Three cows it being their full portion of my Estate and to receive the same At my wife's Decease. This article to be Equally Divided to my sd Daughter and my sd Grand Children.

"Itm. I give to my Dutiful son Danll Stearns his heirs and assigns all my Lands and Tenements in the Town of Waltham & also I give him all my utincils of Husbandry & my oxen & sheep & hereby will & require him to provide for his mother all needful assistance of Every Kind durign her Life. Likewise I do appoint my sd son Danll my residuary Legatee & Executor of this my Last Will & Testament hereby willing & requiring him to perform the same in Every article thereof And do hereby utterly revoke & Disanull all other & former wills by me heretofore made & Do Ratifie this to be my Last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day & year above written.

"Signed Sealed published & pronounced ....................................George Stearns
by ye sd George Stearns to be his Last Will
& Testamt in presence of
David Stratton
Phinehas Child
Ebenr Cutter"

The will mentions these children by name:  Jonathan (who died in 1758); David; John; Daniel (executor); Abigail (Stearns) Peirce; Hannah (Stearns) Hagar (who died before 1760).  It mentions children of daughters Hannah (Stearns) Hagar, Elizabeth (Stearns) Hammond (who died before 1760) and Lydia (Stearns) Fuller (who died before 1760).

My ancestry is though Abigail (Stearns) Peirce (1716-1798), who married  Samuel Peirce in 1739.  This will provides an original source with primary information and direct evidence that Abigail Peirce is the daughter of George Stearns.  Of course, more evidence is required to prove that this Abigail is the wife of Samuel Peirce.

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