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 Crispus Richards (1681-1763) of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, one of my 7th great-grandfathers.
The will of Crispus Richards (1681-1763) is included in Essex County (Massachusetts) Probate Court docket #23,539. It was written on 10 April 1756, and proved by the Court at Salem on 11 July 1763. The will reads (transcribed from Essex County Probate Records, Volume 340, pages 399-400, on FHL Microfilm 0,875,026):
"In the Name of God Amen, The tenth day of April anno Domini 1756 I Crispus Richards of Lynn in the County of Essex in the Province of ye Massachusetts Bay in New England yeoman, being decaying in body but of sound mind calling to Mind ye Mortality of body knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, do make & Ordain in this my last Will and Testament, that is to say principally and first of all I recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it, and my body I recommend to ye Earth to be buried in christian and decent Manner at the discretion of my Execetutor hereafter named and as touching my worldly Estate I give demise and dispose of as follows: And my will is that all my just Debts and funeral Charges be duly and honestly paid by my Executor out of my Estate.
"Imprimis I give and bequeath to my beloved Wife Sarah all my indoor moveable estate to be at her own Disposal and also the Improvement of the one half of my real estate during.
"Item I give and bequeath to yt several Children of my Son Joseph Richards dec-d (Viz) to William Richards, Joseph Richard, Mary Richards, Ebenezer Richards, Hannah Richards, Esther Richards, John Richards & Martha Richards to each of them the Sum of one Shilling lawfull Money to be paid by my Executor within two years after my decease & wifes and that to be their Portion out of my Estate having given their father his portion in his life Time.
"Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Esther Estess one pound six shillings and eight pence to be paid by my Executor out of my Estate within one year after my decease and wifes & that with what I have heretofore done for her to be her portion out of my Estate.
"Item I give to my daughter Sarah Ingulls one pound six shillings & eight pence to be paid by my Executor out of my Estate within two years after I & my Wife shall decease & that with what I have already done for her to be her Portion out of my Estate.
"Item I give & bequeath to my grand Daughter Thankfull Stocker one pound six shillings and eight pence to be paid by my Executor out of my Estate within two years after my & wifes decease & that to be her portion Out of my Estate.
"Item I give & bequeath to my daughter Mary Richards ye Sum of four Pounds per year annually each and every year so long as she shall remain unmarried & in Case she marries then to have one Pound six shillings & eight pence to be paid by my Executor out of my Estate.
"Item I give to my daughter Deborah Richards ten pounds to be paid by my Executor within one year after my decease & Wife's & that to be her portion out of my Estate with ye Priviledge of my west Chamber till married & no longer.
"Item I give devise & bequeath to my son John Richards (whom I likewise constitute make and ordain sole Executor of this my last Will & Testament) all & singular my Housing & Lands Messuages & Tenements in Lynn and elsewhere to him my sd son his heirs and Assigns forever & also all my outdoor moveable Estate of what Name & Nature soever to be to them & his Heirs forever and I do hereby ratify & Confirm this & no other to be my last Will & Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal,
"Signed, sealed, published, pronounced & declared by the sd ................................ his
Crispus Richards as his last Will & Testament in ........................................ Crispus x Richards
Presence of we ye Subscribers ............................................................................. Mark
William Collins, Theophilus Burrill & William Watts."
The will was presented to the Court at Salem on 11 July 1763, with Theophilus Burrill and William Watts making oath that they were present when Crispus Richards late of Lynn deceased signed, sealed, heard him publish and declare this to be his last will and testament, and that he was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best of their discerning and that they, together with William Collins, affixed their hands at the same time in his presence as witnesses. The Executor appeared and accepted that trust. The will was proved, approved and allowed by the Judge of Probate, the Honorable John Choate Esquire.
The given name Crispus is very rare in New England. In this case, Crispus Richards was named after his maternal grandfather, Crispus Brewer (1626-1707), who was married to Mary, and had Mary Brewer (1653-1706), who married John Richards (1644-1713) and was the mother of Crispus Richards.
In this will, Crispus Richards names the children of his deceased first son, Joseph Richards (1703-1748), his son John Richards, and his daughters, including their married surnames. Daughter Hannah Richards (1711-1740) married John Stocker and had one child, Thankful Stocker, who is mentioned in the will. Wife Sarah (Collins) Richards died in June 1757 after the will was written. Daughter Mary Richards died in 1758 after this will was written.
1 comment:
It is great to read these all wills and the information that can be found is priceless.
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