Monday, November 26, 2012

Amanuensis Monday - Will of Thomas Carter (1566-1652) 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 Thomas Carter (1566-1652) of Charlestown, Mass.   He married Mary --?-- in about 1602 in England, and they had six children:  Joseph Carter (1604-1676); Thomas Carter (1607-1694); Samuel Carter (1616-1681); John Carter (1618-1692); Mary Carter (1619-1673); Hannah Carter (1620-????).


Thomas Carter died testate, and his probate records are in Middlesex County Probate Records, Probate Packet 4,043 (accessed by Randy Seaver on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,386,050).  His will was written 5 May 1650 and reads:

"The last will and Testament of Thomas Cartar of Charlestown made the fifth day of the third month A thousand six hundred and fifty  Thomas Cartar weak in body but whole in my understanding and memory do make here my last will and testament in menner and forme following imprimis I comitt ... my soule unto God ... I comitt my Body to be decently buried And for my outward estate I due dispose of it to be disposed of as followeth.

"I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Carter my now dwelling house with the garden ground the Barne, and the five acres of Land which lies in the feild behind and above my house, with all my househould stuffe; alsoe two Cowes and three Cows Commons and a quarter alsoe halfe the Evry of all my ground and she to have all this as long as she lives; she each year fynding and allowing halfe the ear corn for all the ground. I give and bequeath unto my eldest son Thomas Cartar after my wives decease my now dwelling hous garden and barne with the five Akers I bought of my son Samuell, and the three cows commons and a quarter And a Cow hay Lott lying without the Noll (by Ralph Mousalls Land) wch was given me in the divident, Also the Dwelling hous that Thomas Cartar my son now dwells in; Only out of this house I will and bequeath to my son Samuell Cartar to bee payd him by my son Thomas Cartar ten pounds Also I give and bequeath unto my two sons Samuell and Joseph the twoo Akers of ground that lies on mistick Syde ... to be equally divided amonst them, and to be theirs wthin a month after my decease. I also give unto my son Samuell Cartar after my wives decease on of my hay Lotts without the Neck, wch I bought of goodman Potter.

"I also give and bequeath after my wives decease unto my son Joseph Cartar three Akers of Land lying at moltons poynt bought of Mikel Bastoe Also a hay Lott bought of mr Lyn without the necke, alsoe one cows Coman.

"I bequeath and give after my wives decease unto my son John Cartar A cow and three heifers.
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Brinsmead, and unto my daughter Hanna Gre-- [Green] four akers of land lying nere in Bunkers within the Neck and my will is that to this foure Akers there shall be added as much out of my houshould goods as shall make them up to be worth twenty pounds but this to be theirs after my wives decease.

"I alsoe give and bequeath after my wives decease, unto my beloved grand-children Caleb Cartar, Joseph Cartar, John Green, and John Brinsmead, A hous and the Ground belonging to it wch is about an Aker, wch Land and the ould hous I bought of goodman Robinson, and a new hous to be sett upon the garden platt where the ould house stands which I give amongst the four children aforenamed to be theirs forever.

"witneses the marke of William Dad ................................. Thomas Cartar.
John Green John Fuller.

"Alsoe for the scotchman my will is that he shal be sould to mr Russel upon resonable agreement and upon his good demeanor I do give him three quarters of a year of the time he is to serve. And I ordain my eldest son to be my executor of this my Last Will and Testament/"

The inventory of Thomas Carter of Charlestown was made 25 June 1652. It includes the "servant Mathew the Scothchman", sward, muskett, bandoliers, a green rug, etc.

My ancestry is through the son Joseph Carter (1604-1676), whose probate records I posted last week in Amanuensis Monday - Will of Joseph Carter (1604-1676) of Woburn, Mass.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/11/amanuensis-monday-will-of-thomas-carter.html

Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver

No comments: