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Monday, August 8, 2011

Amanuensis Monday - the will of William Hagar (????-1684) of Watertown, Massachusetts

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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 William Hagar (????-1684) of Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  He died testate, and his will was written 10 January 1683/4, and was proved 1 April 1684.  The will reads (transcribed from Middlesex County Probate Records, Volume 6, pages 126-128, LDS Microfilm 0,521,762):

"Dated 10 11 month 1683.

"I William Hager of Watertowne being sick in body, yet through God's goodness sound in my memory, do declare this to be my last will & testament as followeth

"1.  I give unto my loving wife Mary Hager seven pounds a year to be payd quarterly one third part in money & the other two in on halfe in Indian corn & the other in English grain to be payd yearly during the term of her annuall life.   Also I give and bequeath unto my loving wife aforesd the east end of my dwelling house & cellar for her use during her lifetime.  Also my will is that if my loving wife shall stand in need or more than the abovesd seven pounds a year that then she shall have so much out of my estate payd by my executor as my loving wife shall stand in need off.  Also I give unto my loving wife ten pounds to be payd in such necessary household stuff as my loving wife shall choose for her use and to dispose of at her death to whom shee will.

"2.  I give unto my daughter Ruhama Waight two pounds to be payd within one year after my decease in corn & cattle.

"3.  I give unto my daughter Hannah Priest five pounds to be paid within two years after my decease in corn & cattle.

"4.  I give unto my daughter Susannah Grout fifty shillings to be paid within three years after my decease in country pay.

"5.  I give unto my daughter Sarah Whitney five pounds to be paid within four years after my decease in corn & cattle.

"6.  I give unto my daughter Rebecca Healy three pounds to be payd within five years after my decease in corn & cattle.

"7.  I give unto my daughter Abigail Hager eight pounds one halfe to be payd at her marriage the other halfe to be paid within one year after in corn & cattle.

"8.  I give unto Mehitabel Hager eight pounds one halfe to be payd at her marriage the other halfe to be payd within one yeare after in corn & cattle.

"9.  Also I nominate & appoynt my loving sons Samuel Hager & William Hagar Executors to this my last Will to receive all due to me & to pay all my just debts & that my son Samuell shall have thirty pounds more in housing than my son William and then my whole estate both lands & moveables shall be equally divided between my two sons Samuel Hagar & William Hagar also my will is that my two sons pay all debts ... legacys equally.  Also I assigne my body to the dust from whence it was taken & my spirit to God that gave it, declaring this to be my last will & testament.  In witness wherbe I sett to my hand
................................................... William Hagar" (his mark)
"In ye prsnce of us
Robt Harrington
Benjamin Garfield
Richard Cutter"


A true inventory of the estate was taken 10 February 1683 by Robert Harrington, (an unreadable name) and Benjamin Garfield.  It showed real estate valued at 264 pounds:

*    A homestall contayning about eight acres with a dwelling house and outhouses belonging to it with a small orchard (100 pounds)
*    Nineteen acres of upland on the little plaine (30 pounds)
*    Twelve acres of upland on the great plaine (20 pounds)
*    Seventy acres of upland called Dividend land (70 pounds)
*     Eighteen acres of upland lying on Bungry hill (9 pounds)
*    Twelve acres of upland lying near Edward Sanders's (6 pounds)
*    Three acres of meadow in ... meadow (15 pounds)
*    Seven acres of meadow in Thatcher's meadow (14 pounds)


The personal estate totalled 89 pounds, 14 shillings, and the total estate was apprized at 353 pounds, and 14 shillings.

On 1 April 1684, Samuel Hagar and William Hagar took oath in court that this was a true inventory and if any more should appear they will cause it to be added hereto.

My link to William Hagar is his daughter, Sarah, who married Nathaniel Whitney (1647-1733), son of John and Elinor (--?--) Whitney. 

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