Monday, June 15, 2020

Amanuensis Monday - 1720 Will of Joseph Grout (1649-1720) of Watertown, Mass.

This week's document for transcription is the 1720 will of Joseph Grout (1649-1720) of Watertown, Massachusetts, in Probate Packet 9,960 in the Middlesex County, Massachusetts probate court records:
The transcription of this Will is:

In the name of god Amen.  I Joseph Grout of Watertown in the county
of middlesex within his majesties provinc of the masachusets bay in new
England husbandman, do make & declare this Instrument to be my last
will & testament. first I Resign my soul into the mercyfull hands of almighty
god my gloryous Creator, & my body I commit to the earth from whenc it
was taken to be decently ^by^ my executor buried, hopeing for a blessed Resurrection.
And as for that portion of this worlds goods which god hath lent me I dispose
thereof in manor as followeth:

(1) I give & bequeath to my loving wife Susanah Grout as her dower one
one third part of my Estate both Real & personal to be posesed by her
according to the direction of the law for settling Intestat Estas.
or  comfortable maintenanc out of my estate dureing the term of her
Remaining my widow, which she shall see cause to accept of.

(2)  I give & bequeath to my loveing daughter Susanah Smith in addision
to what she has allredy received the sum of twenty pounds in money or
goods within the space of Eight years affter my decease to be payd to her.
I give & bequeath to my loving daughter mehittable Grout fifty
pounds in mony or goods to be paid within Eight years affter my
decace and I do hereby apoint and Impowr my dutyful son Joseph
Grout to be my Executor to perform this my last will and testament.
And to enable him thereunto I hereby give & bequeath to him my
whole estate Real & personal with the reversion of my wifes
thirds.  In confirmation hereof I have hereunto put my hand & seal
this first day of September one thousand seven hundred & twenty, & in
the seventh year of his majesties Reign Georg by the grace of god
over great britain &c King.

Signd seald & ownd                                                Joseph Grout  {seal}        
in the presence of us                                               his g mark
Abraham Brown    }
Simon  S  Tainter   }    sworn 4 - 9 1720
Sam'll Gearfeild    }                      pd 17%
                                           will prov. admd
                                         Committed to the Ex'e
                                          bond 200'lb to pay
                                           debts & legasis
                                                 T F  J p
                                           Court day. Camb. 4 Nov'r
                                                 1720

The source citation for this probate case file is:

Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Probate case files, Packet #9,960 (3 images), Joseph Grout of Watertown, proved 4 September 1720; "Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871," indexed database and digital images, New England Historical and Genealogical Society, American Ancestors  (https://www.AmericanAncestors.org : accessed 30 May 2020); Original records in Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Court Records, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

This probate packet contains 3 separate papers:  the wrapper is the first image, the will is the second image, and the proof statement and bond are on the third image.  There is no inventory, distribution or account in the probate packet, since son Joseph Grout received all of the real and personal property after the widow's reversion, and was to pay his two sisters money or goods within eight years.

Joseph Grout died after 1 September 1720 when he wrote and signed his will, and before 4 September 1720 when his will was proved in Middlesex Probate Court by his named executor.  Executor Joseph Grout and Samuel Gearfield posted 200 pounds bond on 4 November 1720 and the executor agreed to carry out his father's will.   

Joseph Grout (1649-1720) married Susanna Hagar (1653-1731) in about 1680 in Watertown, Massachusetts.  They had four children, all born in Watertown.  The children were:

*  Susanna Grout (1681-1724), married 1710 Zachariah Smith (1684-1724).
*  Joseph Grout (1683-1758), married 1717 Mary Harrington (1692-1774)
*  Mary Grout (1687-????).
*  Mehitable Grout (1689-????).

Joseph and Susanna (Hagar) Grout are my probable 7th great-grandparents.  I descend through their son Joseph Grout (1683-1758) who married  Mary Harrington (1692-1774) in 1717 in Watertown, Massachusetts.

                                     =========================================

NOTE:  Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent  TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme years ago called "Amanuensis Monday."  John offers this definition for "amanuensis:" 

"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

Copyright (c) 2020, Randall J. Seaver

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