Monday, November 19, 2012

Amanuensis Monday - Will of Joseph Carter (1604-1676) of Woburn, 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 Joseph Carter (1604-1676) of Woburn, Mass.   He married Susanna Chamberlain in 1644, and they had four children:  Joseph Carter (1645-1706); Johanna Carter (1647-1698); Henry Carter (1648-????); Susanna Carter (1649-1708).


Joseph Carter died testate, and his probate records are in Middlesex County (Mass.) Probate Records, Probate Packet 4,020 (images of original probate papers accessed by Randy Seaver on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,386,050).  His will, dated 30 December 1676 and probated 13 April 1677, reads:

"The Last Will and Testament of Joseph Carter Senior now of Charlstown made the 30th Day of December 1676.

"Imprs.  I Comitt my Soule into the hands of God my Creator and my bodie to the Earth therein to be Buried.  After all my just debts be duly paid and Satisfied.

"Item I Give and bequeath unto my loving wife Susana Carter all my Estate whatsoever I ... may belong unto me at the time of my decease I freely give unto her for her more Comfortable Subsistence during her life time but not to dispose of it.

"It:  I give unto my Grandson John Willson son of John Willson the one halfe of my four acre lott of a plant ground lying in Woburn after my wives decease that is to say that ... 2 acres lying next his fathers land to be laid out from the highway ... the pine Swamp.

"It:  I give unto my Daughter Susana the wife of Henry Summers of Woburn the sum of five pounds in good pay After my wives decease.

"It:  I give unto my Daughter Joanna the wife of John Willson of Woburn the sum of five pounds After my wives decease - in good paye.

"It:  I give unto my Granddaughter Susana Carter one feather Bed and bolster & two pillows with one Rugg and blanket After my wives decease.

"It:  My Will is that what soever Estate may remaine After my wives decease mee or except what is above given by legacies that it shall fall unto my Son Joseph Carter and unto his Children after him.

"It.  I make and ordaine my son Joseph Carter and my wife Susana Carter to be my Joynt Executors to this my last will - And I allso Desire my loving friends Deacon John Carter & Thomas Carter to be my overseers to this ...
....................................................................................... his
"Witnesses .................................................... Joseph   X   Carter
James Cleg ,,,,........................................................... mark
Thomas ..."

The inventory of the estate of "Joseph Carter Seniour of Wobourn, who deceased ye 30 of ye 10 month, 1676," was apprized by Thomas Peirce and John Russell and was accepted by the Court on 1 12 month 1677.  The inventory totals 139 pounds, 6 shillings, and includes the following real estate:

*  Housing and land adjoyning (60 pounds)
*  Four acres of land (12 pounds)
*  Two acres and a half of land (2 pounds)
*  Two parcels of meadow (18 pounds)
*  Woodlands with all town privileges (14 pounds)

My ancestry is through Johanna Carter, daughter of Joseph and Susanna (Chamberlain) Carter, who married John Wilson (1672-1735) in 1672.

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

Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver

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