Monday, October 29, 2012

Amanuensis Monday - Will of Edward Larkin (1611-1652) of Charlestown, Mass.

Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started his own Monday blog theme several years 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
 Edward Larkin (1611-1652) of Charlestown, Massachusetts.  He married Joanna Hale (??) in 1639 and they had six children:  John Larkin (1640-1678), Elizabeth Larkin (1641-1719); Hannah Larkin (1643-1704); Thomas Larkin (1644-1677), Sarah Larkin (1648-1725), and Joanna Larkin (1649-1713).


Edward Larkin died testate, having written a will on 15 7th month 1651, which was proved in the Probate Court on 6 2nd month 1652.  The will reads (Middlesex County [Mass.] Probate Records, Probate Packet 13,609, accessed on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,416,788, original papers in probate packet, transcribed by Randy Seaver):

"15th of ye 12th month 1651

"I Edward Larkin being weake in body yitt having perfitt memory and understanding doe make this my last will and Testament in manner and forme following.

"Imprimus I committ my soule to God who made it and gave it And I only rely and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, I comitt my body to bee decently buried,

"I alsoe give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Jone Larkin A full third pt of my estate:  it being rightly valewed, to bee first deducted, And more I alsoe give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Jone Larkin the full sume of five pounds likewise to be first deducted out of my estate: and these twoo parts to remaine with my whole estate in her hands untill the tyme of the division of My Estate and payment of my childrens portions as hereunder is specified.

"I alsoe give and bequeath unto my eldest son John Larkin a dubbell portion of my estate after my wife has hers out of the whole and my will is that my son John shall let his portion remaine in my wifes hands until he bee twenty and one years ould and then my wife with the other executer to pay his portion to him upon demand:  but if hee or any of my children also doe dye before they have receaved their portions then it to be equally divided to my wife and the other children who remaine then alive:  provided alsoe that if the Lord shall please to take away my wife by death before the childrens portions bee payd then my will and I desire the Deacons of our church to joyne with the other executor to so order and dispose of that portions wch I bequeath to my children as may be most advantagious to their benefitt until they have them payed unto them, Alsoe if my wife shall marry before the legacies bee paid then my will is that he whom she marries and shee shall retaine the legacies in their hands till the due tyme aforementioned provided they put in sufficient security that the childrens portions may be preserved for them.

As for my son Thomas and my daughters Elizabeth, Sarah, Johanna: and the child with which my wife now goes and is bigg wth I doe hereby will and bequeath unto each of them a equal portion of my estate which remains after my wife and son John have theirs to be paid them by my executors if they live or by the Deacons (of sd church then Being) at their ages of twenty years: but as before if any of them Decease in the meane tyme then the survivors or survivor to have it equally amongst them or given to him or her if only one surviving:

"John Green    .............................................................. Edward Larkin
John Pentecost

"This will was presented to ye Court the 6th of ye (2) 1652 and by them accepted upon Record.
P me Tho: Danforth Recorder"

On the reverse of the will was:

"As for my daughter Hannah whom my beloved brother and sister Penticost have taken into their hands to keep and provide for I doe give and bequeath unto her ten shillings to bee layed out in good books for her at her Age of eighteen years to be delivered unto her

"And I Edward Larkin doe entreat my beloved brother Robert Hale to Joyne with my beloved wife Jone Larkin and to bee my full and sole execitors of this my last will and Testament the day and date before written"

An inventory was taken on 14 11th month 1651:  

"A True Inventory of the lands, housing and goods of Edward Larkin wheelmaker of Charltowne Lately Desesed Prised and truly vallewed by Robert Hale, Thomas Brigden and John Penticost."

The inventory totaled 123 pounds, 19 shillings and 6 pence. The real property included a dwelling house and a yard, a marsh, hay lot, two acres of planting ground on "mysticke syde" valued at 90 pounds.  The personal property included his wearing apparel, furniture, household possessions, firearms, tools, lumber and books.

Edward Larkin is one of my 9th great-grandfathers, through his daughter, Sarah Larkin (1648-1725), who married John Wheeler (1643-1713) in 1664 in Concord, Massachusetts.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/10/amanuensis-monday-will-of-edward-larkin.html

Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver

5 comments:

Midge Frazel said...

Hubs line ! Thanks for the info!

gophergenealogy said...

Have you read "From Deference to Defiance Charlestown, Massachusetts 1629-1692, by Roger Thompson." It is very interesting. Hale and Larkin are both in the index, as well as Joshua Tidd.

RitaLynn said...

Do you know who John Larkin b. 1640 married?

Rita

Randy Seaver said...

Hi Rita,

I think that John Larkin married Joanna Hale (1646-1693) on 9 November 1664 in Charlestown, Mass., according to the Charlestown vital Records book.

Jim Brosnahan said...

To anyone with knowledge. Did Edward Larkin come from Ireland? thanks Jim Brosnahan