Amanuensis Monday -- 1682 Will of Edmond Freeman (1596-1682) of Sandwich, Plymouth Colony

 This week's document for transcription is the 1682 will of Edmond Freeman (1596-1682) of Sandwich, Plymouth Colony in the Barnstable County, Massachusetts Probate Court records.

*  Plymouth Colony, Wills, Inventories, Etc., 1637-1685, Vol. IV, Part II, 5, pages 54-55:

The transcription of this document is:

The Last Will and Testament of Mr. Edmond Freeman

sen'r exhibited to the Court of his Ma'tie held at Plymouth

the second of November 1682 on the oaths of John Fish

and Nathan Nye as followeth:

The 21 day of June in the year of our Lord one Thou-

sand six hundred eighty and two.

I Edmond Freeman the eldest of that Name in

Sandwich being in a Good measure in helth of body,

and of Capable understnading and memory doe declare

this to be my Last Will and Testament & hereby Re-

nouncing and Makeing void all other and former wills

and Testaments made by mee the said Edmond Freeman

my knowledg or privity.

Item first I Make Constitute and ordaine my

three sonnes Namely my son Edmond Freeman, and

my son John Freeman and Edward Perrey to be my

executors and my daughter Elizabeth Ellis Executrix of

this my Last Will and Testament.

Item my will is that all former Conveyances of

lands by mee Given shall stand and Remaine in

full force and vertue.

Item for the disposing of my estate my ust debts

being first payed, I doe give unto my two sonnes

Namly my son Edmond and my son John Freeman

all my Lands in the Esterly syde of the Lands

Given by mee to my Grandson Mathyas Ellis, on

the same Range to Reun as the said Matthyas his

Land doth, from the North east Corner bound of his

said Land unto the Northerly end of all my Land,

onely provided and accepted that land which is

Called the Rye field, and the Meddow which is Call-

ed hedges Meddow, the which said Rye field

and Hedges Meddow I doe give to my Grandson Thomas Paddy.

Item my lands which are to the west ward and

to the North ward of my Grand son Matthyas Ellis his

land by mee given to him.

All my said westward and Northward Lands

to be devided equally into three parts, and two

of the said three partes I doee Give unto my son

Edward Perrey, and the other said third parte I doe

Give unto my daughter Elizabeth Ellis.

All which above said Given Lands I doe freely Give

unto my abovsaid sonnes and daughter To them and

theire heirs and assigns To have and to hold for ever,

Furthermore, The one haslfe of my Lands att

Wayeranshett I give unto my Grandson Thomas Paddy

To him and his heires and assigns forever.

This is my last Will and Testament by mee --

                                                  Edmond Freeman

                                                     And a seale

Signed sealed and delivered in presence of us

                                                   John Fish      his mark

                                                   Nathan Nye  his mark 

John Fish and Nathan Nye made oath to this

will in the Court held at Plymouth the second of

November 1682.

The source citation for this deed is:

Plymouth Colony Court, will of Edmond Freeman, dated 21 June 1682, proved 2 November 1682; imaged, "Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991," Ancestry.com  (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/618010:9069 : accessed 4 August 2024), Barnstable County, "Plymouth, Wills, Inventories, Etc., 1637-1685," pages 54-57 (stamped), images 82-83 of 291; original rccords in Barnstable County, Massachusetts Probate Court records, microfilmed by FamilySearch, and indexed by Ancestry.com.

This will is a Derivative Source (because it is a court clerk copy) with Primary Information and Direct Evidence of the disposal of the real property of Edmond Freeman to his children and grandchildren.  The will names three children of Edmond Freeman:  Edmond Freeman (probably the son of Edmond Freeman (1620-1673)); John Freeman (1627-1719), Elizabeth (Freeman) Ellis (1624-1692), wife of John Ellis.  The will also names Edward Perrey (1627-1695), who married Edmond's daughter Mary Freeman (1630-1688), and it names two grandchildren - Matthyas Ellis (a son of Elizabeth (Freeman) Ellis), and Thomas Paddy (a son of Alice Freeman (1619-1651) who married William Paddy).  An inventory of the personal and real property was taken on 4 October 1682, and totaled £185, including £165 of real estate, with debts of £12.

Edmond Freeman (1596-1682) was born before 25 July 1596 in Pulborough, Sussex, England, the son of  Edmund and Alice (Coles) Freeman.  He died before 4 October 1682 in Sandwich, Plymouth Colony when the inventory was taken.  Edmond married (1) Bennett Hodsoll (1596-1630) on 16 June 1617 in Cowfold, Sussex, England.  She was the daughter of John and Faith (Gratwick) Hodsoll, and died beofre 12 April 1630 in Pulborouogh, Sussex, England.  They had 8 children.  Edmond Freeman married (2) Elizabeth Raymer (1600-1676) on 10 August 1632 in Shipley, Sussex, England.  They had one child. 

Edmund and Bennett (Hodsol) Freeman  are my 9th great-grandparents through their son John Freeman (1627-1719) who married Mercy Prence (1631-1711) in 1650 in Eastham, Plymouth Colony.

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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."

Read other transcriptions of records of my ancestors at Amanuensis Monday Posts.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/08/amanuensis-monday-1682-will-of-edmond.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear online immediately.

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share your comments on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

52 Ancestors - Week 364: #575 Bennett (Freeman) Paine (1671-1716) of Eastham, Massachusetts

Bennett Freeman (1671-1716) is number 575 on my Ahnentafel List, my 7th great-grandmother, who married #574  John Paine (1661-1731)  in 1689  in Eastham, Barnstable County,  Massachusetts.

I am descended through:

*  their daughter #287 Elizabeth Paine (1702-1772) who married #286 Jabez Snow (1696-1760) in 1720.

*  their daughter #143 Eunice Snow (1722-1816) who married #142 Nathaniel Horton (1721-1771) in 1742.

*  their daughter #71 Hannah Horton (1761-1797)who married #70 Thomas Dill (1755-1839)  in 1782.

*  their daughter  #35 Elizabeth Horton Dill (1791-1869) who married  #34 Alpheus Smith (1802-1840)  in 1826.

*  their daughter, #17 Lucretia Townsend Smith (1828-1884) who married #16 Isaac Seaver (1823-1901) in 1851.

*  their son #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922) who married #9 Hattie Louisa Hildreth (1857-1920) in 1874.

*  their son #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942) who married #5 Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962) in 1900.

*  their son #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) who married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002)  in 1942.

*  their son #1 Randall Jeffrey Seaver (1943-living)

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

1)  PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):  

  

*  Name:                   Bennett Freeman[1–2]    

 *  Alternate Name:  Bennet Paine[3]    

*   Alternate Name:  Bennett Freeman Paine[4]  

*  Sex:                      Female    

*  Father:                  John Freeman (1626-1719)    

*  Mother:                Mercy Prence (1631-1711)  

2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

 

*  Birth:                    5 March 1671, Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[1-2]    

*  Death:                   30 May 1716 (age 45), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[1-4]

*  Burial:                   after 30 May 1716 (after age 45), Orleans Cemetery, East Orleans, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[4]  

 

 3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

 

 *  Spouse 1:             John Paine (1661-1731)

*   Marriage 1:         14 March 1689 (age 18), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[1–2]   

*   Child 1:              John Paine (1690-1771)

 *  Child 2:              Mary Paine (1692-1770)

 *  Child 3:              William Paine (1695-1713)

 *  Child 4:              Benjamin Paine (1696-1713)

 *  Child 5:              Sarah Paine (1699-1772)

 *  Child 6:              male Paine (1701-1701)

 *  Child 7:              Elizabeth Paine (1702-1772)

 *  Child 8:              Theophilus Paine (1703-1755)

 *  Child 9:              Josiah Paine (1705-1728)

 *  Child 10:            Nathaniel Paine (1707-1728)

 *  Child 11:            Rebecca Paine (1709-1743)

 *  Child 12:            Mercy Paine (1712-1774)

 *  Child 13:            Benjamin Paine (1714-1716)

     

4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):  

Information about Bennett Freeman's life family was obtained from the Mayflower Families book for Stephen Hopkinssketch for John Paine[1].  

Bennett Freeman was born 5 March 1671 in Eastham, Plymouth Colony[1-2,4], the eleventh and last child and fourth daughter of John and Mercy (Prence) Freeman of Eastham.

Bennett married John Paine (1661-1731) on 14 March 1689 in Eastham[1-2].  John was the son of Thomas and Mary (Snow) Paine of Eastham.  John and Bennet (Freeman) Paine had 13 children, all born in Eastham and recorded in the Eastham town records:

*  John Paine (1690-1771), married (1) 1743 Thankful Hopkins (1700-1753), and (2) 1754 Mercy Higgins (1697-1757).

*  Mary Paine (1693-1770), married 1712 Samuel freeman (1688-1751).

* William Paine (1695-1713)

*  Benjamin Paine (1697-1713).

*  Sarah Paine (1699-1772), married 1717 Joshua Knowles (1696-1786).

*  male Paine (1701-1701).

*  Elizabeth Paine (1702-1772), married 1720 Jabez Snow (1696-1760).

*  Theophilus Paine (1704-1755), married 1733 Hannah Bacon (1705-1755).

*  Josiah Paine (1705-1728)

*  Rebecca Paine (1709-1744), married 1735 Elisha Linnell (1707-1773).

*  Mercy Paine (1712-1774), married 1735 Ebenezer Cook (1711-1793).

*  Benjamin Paine (1714-1717).

Bennett (Freeman) Paine died on 30 May 1716 at age 45 in Eastham, Massachusetts Bay[3].  She is buried in Orleans Cemetery in East Orleans, Massachusetts[4].

 

5)  SOURCES

1. John D. Austin, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations: Volume Six: Stephen Hopkins (Plymouth, Mass.: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2001, 3rd Edition), page 48, #34 John Paine family sketch.

2. Dave Pane-Joyce, Pane-Joyce Genealogy, website (https://mathcs.clarku.edu/~djoyce/gen/report : accessed 31 December 2020), John Paine sketch (https://mathcs.clarku.edu/~djoyce/gen/report/rr06/rr06_082.html).

3. Col. Leonard H. Smith, Jr. and Norma H. Smith, Vital Records of the Towns of Eastham and Orleans (Baltimore, Md. : Genealogical Publishing Company, 1993), page 37, Bennet Paine, wife of John Paine, death entry.

4.  Find A Grave, indexed database and digital image,  (http://www.findagrave.com), Cove Burying Ground, Eastham, Mass. Bennett Freeman Paine memorial # 15872216.  

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NOTE:  In 2014, Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  I have extended this theme in 2021 for an eighth year to 416 Ancestors in 416 Weeks.  The list of 52 Ancestors biographies from my great-grandparents to the 7th great-grandparents (in work) is in   https://www.geneamusings.com/p/ancestor-biographies.html.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2021/01/52-ancestors-week-364-575-bennett.html

Copyright (c) 2021, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com

Tombstone Tuesday --Bennet (Freeman) Paine (1671-1716) in Cove Burying Ground in Eastham, Mass.

 I have collected a number of gravestone photographs from my own camera and from Find A Grave memorials over many years, and thought I would share them one at a time for Tombstone Tuesday.

Here is the gravestone of my 7th great-grandmother, Bennet (Freeman) Paine (1671-1716) in Cove Burying Ground in Eastham, Massachusetts.

The inscription on the rough stone is only partial readable.

The source citation for this gravestone is:

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 14 September 2020), memorial page for Bennett Freeman Paine (7 Mar 1671–30 May 1716), Find a Grave Memorial no. 15872216, citing Cove Burying Ground, Eastham, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Kevin Avery (contributor 47024642) .

Thank you to Mary Harrell-Sesniak for creating this Find A Grave memorial, Kevin Avery for maintaining the memorial and Leigh Miller for adding this photograph.

John Paine (1661-1731) and Bennet Freeman (1671-1716)  are my 7th great-grandparents.  They married in 1689 in Eastham, Mass. and had 13 children.  I am descended through their 7th child,  Elizabeth Paine (1702-1772) who married Jabez Snow (1696-1760) in 1720 in Eastham.

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

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2020/09/tombstone-tuesday-bennet-freeman-paine.html

Copyright (c) 2020, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Surname Saturday -- HODSOLL (England to Colonial Massachusetts)

It's Surname Saturday, and I'm "counting down" my Ancestral Name List each week.

I am working in the 9th great-grandmothers by Ahnentafel number, and I am up to Ancestor #2301 who is Bennett HODSOLL (1596-1630). [Note: the more recent ancestral families have been covered in earlier posts.]

My ancestral line back through one generation in this HODSOLL family line is:

1. Randall J. Seaver

2. Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983)
3. Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002)

4. Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942)
5. Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962)

8. Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922)
9. Hattie Louise Hildreth (1857-1920)

16. Isaac Seaver (1823-1901)
17. Lucretia Townsend Smith (1827-1884)

34.  Alpheus B. Smith (1802-1840)
35.  Elizabeth Horton Dill (1791-1869)

70.  Thomas Dill (1755-1839)
71.  Hannah Horton (1761-1797)

142.  Nathaniel Horton (1720-1771)
143.  Eunice Snow (1722-1816)

286.  Jabez Snow (1697-1760)
287.  Elizabeth Paine (1702-1772)
574.  John Paine (1661-1731)
575. Bennett Freeman (1671-1716)

1150.  John Freeman (1627-1719)
1151.  Mercy Prence (1631-1711)

2300.  Edmond Freeman, born before 25 July 1596 in Pulborough, Sussex, England; died before 02 November 1682 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.  He was the son of 4600. Edmund Freeman and 4601. Alice Coles.  He married  16 June 1617 in Cowfold, Sussex, England.
2301.  Bennett Hodsoll, born before 25 August 1596 in All Saints Barking, London, England; died before 12 April 1630 in Pulborough, Sussex, England.  She was the daughter of 4602. John Hodsoll and 4603. Faith Gratwick.

Children of Edmond Freeman and Bennett Hodsoll are:
*  Alice Freeman (1619-1651), married 1639 William Paddy (1619-1658).
*  Edmund Freeman (1620-1673), married (1) 1646 Rebecca Prence (1627-1651); (2) 1651 Margaret Perry (1623-1688).
*  Thomas Freeman (1621-????).
*  Bennet Freeman (1622-1634).
*  Elizabeth Freeman (1624-1692), married 1644 John Ellis (1620-1697).
*  John Freeman (1627-1719), married 1650 Mercy Prence (1631-1711).
*  Nathaniel Freeman (1629-1629).
*  Mary Freeman (1631-1688), married 1653 Edward Perry (1627-1695).

Information about the Hodsoll family was obtained from:

*  Richard L. Bush, "English Ancestry of Bennett Hodsoll, First Wife of Edmond Freeman of Sandwich, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass.), Volume 164, Number 2 (April 2010), page 110.

I have done no original research for this Freeman or Hodsoll family.

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2019/05/surname-saturday-hodsoll-england-to.html

Copyright (c) 2019, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook,  or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Amanuensis Monday -- Probate Records of John Freeman (1626-1719) of Eastham, Mass. - Part 2

This week's document for Amanuensis Monday is from the Barnstable County, Massachusetts probate documents for John Freeman (1626-1719) of Eastham, Massachusetts.  

c)  Barnstable County [Mass.] Probate Records, Volume 3, page 529 (right-hand side of image):

c)  Barnstable County [Mass.] Probate Records, Volume 3, page 530 (left-hand side of image):

The transcription of these two pages is:

[page 529]

Eastham The Tenth Day of November 1719: Then Joseph Higgins Whose hand

is Sett To the Codicil or Addition To The Within Written Will Personal appearing

before the above named John Otis Esq^r Judge of the Probate of Wills &c made oath

That he wrote the sd Codicil or Addition To the Within Written Will at the Reques^t

of Maj^r John Freeman Late of Eastham Decea^sd and That The sd Freeman Did

Dictate To him or directed him what he should write: and That he saw the sd Free-

man Sign the same and that he sd Higgins Sett his hand thereto in presence of

sd Freeman as a Witness and that he Did suppose him to be of Disposing mind

and memory When he so Did. Patience Burge whose name or hand is also sett to y^e

same Codicil or Addition to sd Will appeared before the sd Judge at the same

Time and made Oath that she Did hear sd Maj^r John Freeman own that

which is written at the Bottom of his Will to be part of his Will and That

he Desired her to sett her hand thereto as a Wittness which she saith she Did in his

presence and that she Did suppose him To be of Disposing mind and

memory. Attest W^m Bassett Reg^tr

John Otis Esq^r Commissioned by his Excel^cy The Governour and Councill of y^e

Province of the Massachusetts Bay to be Judge of the Probate of Wills & for grant-

ing Letters of Administration on the Estates of Persons Deceased, having Goods Chattels

Rights or Credits In the County of Barnstable Within the Province aforesd.

To All unto Whom These presents shall Come Greeting. Know Ye That upon y^e

Day of the Date hereof before me at Eastham In the County of beforesd, The Will

of Maj^r John Freeman Late of Eastham In sd County now Deceased to these

presents Annexed was moved approved and allowed who having while he Lived and

at the time of his Death Goods Chattels Rights or Credits in y^e County aforesd and the

probate of the sd Will and power of Comitting Administration of all & singular y^e

Goods Chattels Rights and Credits of y^e sd Deceased by virtue thereof appertaining unto

me. The Administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels rights and Credits of y^e sd

Deceased and his Will in any manner Concerning is hereby Comitted unto John Freeman

eldest son of sd Deceased Executor in y^e same will named well and faithfully to Execute

the sd Will and To Administer the Estate of y^e sd Deceased according thereunto and to

make a True and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods Chattels rights and Credits

of the sd Deceased and to Exhibit the same Into the Registry of the Court of Probate for

for the County aforesd at or before the Last Day of January next E??dining and

also to Render a plain and True accompt of his sd Administration upon Oath when

Called Thereto – In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and y^e seal

of the sd Court of Probate. Dated at Eastham the Tenth Day of November

Anno Domini 1719.

W^m Bassett Reg^tr                                                                   John Otis

                           Eastham 10^th of Novem^br 1719 Mrs. Mary

                           Knowles Mrs. Patience Paine and Mrs. Hannah Mayo all Daughters

                          of Maj^r John Freeman Late of Eastham Decea^sd after Probate of their

                          Fathers Will Desire that a Caviat might be Entred again for y^e Probate of it

                                                                         Ls mr W^m Bassett Reg^tr

[page 530]

An Inventory of the Goods and Chattels Lands & Tenements of Maj^r John

Freeman of Eastham in y^e County of Barnstable Esq^re Deceased

Taken by us the Subscribers Thereof November 19^th 1719

	£       s       d
Imp's To 161 pounds Weight and Ten Ounces Avoirduopoise In Silver money and Plate
Itm to Bills of Credit	12 = 16 = 00
Itm To Wearing Clothes Woolen and Lining with some wool Cloth and black ????? in a plain Chist with y^e Chist all at	15 = 02 = 00
Itm To sheets Table Clothes pillowbears Napkins with Two Remnants of Cotton and linen Cloth In a Winsest Chist with y^e Chist all at	04 = 16 = 08
Itm To the Great best Chest	01 = 10 = 00
Itm To a Great Cubbin	01 = 05 = 00
Item to a Great Table and Two Joynt Stools	01 = 10 = 00
Item To The bedsted beds and furniture thereto belonging in y^e Lower room all but the sheets and pillowber	11 = 05 = 00
Itm To Chairs Cushings and hatts	01 = 05 = 00
Itm To Trundle bedsted bed and beding thereto belonging in y^e Chamber Except y^e sheets	07 = 04 = 00
Itm To old Chests Cask 1 pound Cotton wool in y^e Chamber & old settle	00 = 05 = 00
Itm To the Negros bedsted bed and beding in y^e Chamber	08 = 00 = 00
Itm To four Oxen	22 = 05 = 00
Itm To Ten Cows and other Cattle	65 = 06 = 00
Itm To Bookes	02 = 10 = 00
Itm To Swine	03 = 00 = 00
Itm To Twenty five Sheep	08 = 05 = 00
Itm To a pare of old Andirons part of 2 old Guns and old Sword all	02 = 00 = 00
Itm To a pare of Iron Dogs	00 = 18 = 00
Itm To a pare old S?ilards iron pots and household Iron Things Skillet old ax & hot	04 = 03 = 06
Itm To warming pan Two old Iron Standards brass Kittles Copper fumi?? ware and Driping pan	05 = 05 = 06
Itm To houshold ????? Lanthorn ??ine mo?? Tin^n turmill Earthen ware and Candle ???? all	03 = 03 = 06
Itm To milk kec?ots tongs pails Lead weight Churn Spining wheels Cheese pork butter Tubbs ponding Tubb b??? barrils and sifting Trough	01 = 01 = 00
Debts Due to the Estate	16 = 19 = 00
It To the Tenament Lands & meadows Given by Will to Nath^ll Freeman Esq^r according to the accompt to us given valued at	1000 = 00 = 00
It To the Lands & meadows by Will Given to William Freeman accompt given to us given valued att	150 = 00 = 00
It To the Twenty pound Sheeps wool       01 = 05 = 00 It To about 10 pound flax in sheaf           00 = 05 = 00 It Some Grain and Some hay Raised ???? Last year on y^e family valew not yet known It a Debt due to y^e Estate                       00 = 05 = 00 It an old saw half Ches??? and Chain and forms for fences old things at           00 = 06 = 00

                                                              Joseph Doane

                                                              John Sparrow

December y^e 15^th 1719. Then mr. John Freeman

Executor to the Last Will and Testament of Maj^r

John Freeman Late of Eastham now Deceas^d

and Nath^ll Freeman Esq^r the other son of said Deces

Before John Otis Esq^r Judge of Probate &c for sd County of Barnstable made Oath y^t y^e within

written is a true inventory of y^e Estate of sd John Freeman their deceased Father as far as they know

in that if anything else that is material that yet further Come to y^e knowledge y^t

They will also bring it to this Inventory.                      Attest W^m Basset Reg^tr

The source citation for this document is:

"Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991," indexed database with digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 December 2016), Barnstable County, "Probate and Guardianship Records, Vol 1-2, 1674-1742; Vol 3, 1743-1747," Volume 3, pages 527-530 (images 766-768 of 828), John Freeman probate papers, 1719.

See Part I of this series for more details about the family of Major John Freeman of Eastham, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, who died 28 October 1719.

This estate proceeding moved right along;  John Freeman died 28 October 1719, the will was proved on 10 November 1719, the Inventory was taken 19 November 1719, and was approved on 15 December 1719.

The Inventory total is not provided in the documents.  My estimate is that the Inventory totaled £1,150 in real estate and over £363 in personal estate.  

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

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."

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/05/amanuensis-monday-probate-records-of_8.html

Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver

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Amanuensis Monday -- Probate Records of John Freeman (1626-1719) of Eastham, Mass. - Part 1

This week's document for Amanuensis Monday is from the Barnstable County, Massachusetts probate documents for John Freeman (1626-1719) of Eastham, Massachusetts.  

a)  Barnstable County [Mass.] Probate Records, Volume 3, page 527 (right-hand side of image):

b)  Barnstable County [Mass.] Probate Records, Volume 3, page 528 (left-hand side of image):

The transcription of the will and letter testamentary is:

[page 527]

In the Name of God amen The first Day of June in y^e Year of

our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixteen. I Maj^r John Freeman

of Eastham in the County of Barnstable in His Maj^ties Province of y^e Massa-

chusetts Bay in New England, Do make and ordain this my Last Will and

Testament. That is to say: Principally and first of all I Give & Recomend my soul

unto the hands of God That gave it and my Body I Recomend to y^e Earth

to be Buried in Decent and Christian manner at the Discretion of my Executor

hereafter Named. Nothing Doubting but at the Generall Resurrection I shall Receive

the same again by the Almighty Power of God. And as Touching such worldly

estate Wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life I Give Demise and

Dispose of the same in the following manner and form. First of all I make and

ordain my eldest son John Freeman my sole Executor of this my Last Will.

I give unto my son Edmond Freeman to him and her heirs for ever, All my

Land and housng Whereon he now Lives at a place Called Fenoset In y^e Town

of sd Eastham With all the Rights thereunto belonging and all my Right of

meadow ground in a palce Called The Coal meadow with all my Right in or unto y^e

flatts or sedge ground Called the Town flats with all the Rights belonging to sd farm

with one Addition Thereunto belonging being Lately laid out also a piece of Land

on Little Billingsgate also a piece of Land at a place Called y^e Herring brook

Also my Share of Land at ap lace Called Pockey Island.

2le. I Give unto my youngest Son Nathaniel Freeman to him and his heirs for-

ever All that my Land and housing marsh and meadow ground Whereupon I now

Live being in the Town of Eastham, at a place Currently Called Namskeakett with

all the out Lands appertaining to the same.

3le. I Give to my Grandson William Freeman The house and Land march or Sedge ground

being in y^e Township of Harwich with all the Rights thereunto belonging to sd house

and Land wherein he now Liveth To him and his heirs forever. Allowing to my son

John Mayo Liberty to make hay upon some part of sd farm where it will be ????

trustfull to sd Freeman and most Convenient for sd Mayo to Cut it off.

4le. As to my psonall Estate to say Goods Chattels and money Sheeps and Swine

The one half of my Cattle Sheep and Swine I Give to my son Nathaniel Freeman

and the other half to be Divided as followeth with my money To say I give unto my

son John Freeman one Share and half of y^e Remaining half.

5le I Give to my son Edmond one Shear, And I give to my son Nathaniel Freeman one

Shear, And I give to my Daughter Mercy Knowles one Shear, And I give to my

Daughter Hannah Mayo one shear, And I give half a shear to my Daughter

Patience Paine, And half a shear of the above I give to my son John Paine

to be Divided To the children he now hath, And half a shear to my Daughter Re-

bekah Freeman Widow of Thomas Freeman.

6le. I give to my Grandson William Freeman Ten Pounds in money.

7le. I Give to my Grandaughter Lydia Godfree Ten pounds in money.

This Twenty Pound in money to be paid by my Executor to y^e sd Freeman & Godfree

before Division.

[page 528]

8le. I Give before Division of my Estate to my Negro man Tobye one Cow

and a small Iron pot and y^e meanest of my Wearing Clothes and I Give

to James Maker one suitable Grimont.

9le. After my Death I Give to my Negroes Toby and Bess Their Freedom

and I Desire you my Children to put Them into such a way as thqat they

may not Want.

And I Do hereby utterly Disallow Revoke and make void all other Will or

Wills made by me Rattifying and Confirming This and no other to be my

Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my

Hand and seal the day and year above Written.

Isaac Pepper                           Signed sealed published                  John Freeman {seal}

               his                              pronounced & Declared by

Jeremiah + Smith                  the sd John Freeman as his

               mark                         Last Will & Testament In

                her                           the presence of us the Sub-

Patience A Burge                   scribers

              mark

Joseph Higgins Witness

An Appendix In as much force and Vertue as the Rest of my Will is

First as I have been wanting to my Daughter Patience Paine for

allowing her one half a shear In my Dividable Estate I further Do

allow a full shear to be Eaquile with her Sisters. Further I Give to Toby

my Negro the use of Four acres of Land Where is ????full to plant

during his Life and I Give him a hoe and an ax and some small things

in the kitchen and hay ground to keep a Cow and Room to Live in

part of my old house and wood for firing and housing and Convenient beding

To which I sett my hand this Day June 16^th 1718.

Witness Joseph Higgins                                        John Freeman

           marke

Patience B Burge

              her

Eastham. November the Tenth 1719 Before John Otis Esq^r Judge of y^e Probate of

Wills and for Granting Letters of Admnistrations on y^e Estates of Persons Deceased having

made Chattels Rights or Credits in the County of Barnstable, Isaac Pepper & Patience

Burge and Jeremiah Smith Whose hands are sett to this within written Will as

Witnesses made oath that they did see Maj^r John Freeman Late of Eastham

now Deceased Sign and Seal the sd Writtem Instrument and heard himk Declare or

own it to be his Last Will and Testament and That they Did suppose him

to be of sound and Disposing minde and memory When he so did in y^e best

apprehentions and that they sett y^r hands thereto as Witnesses in his presence.

The said Isaac Pepper further adds that he dis Read over the sd Will to y^e said

John Freeman before he signed and sealed it and upon his hearing of it he did

approve it. And sd Patience Burge also Adds that she heard sd Pepper Read the

Will to sd Freeman (as she took it to be) before she sett her hand to it as Witness.

                                                                    Attest W^m. Bassett Reg^ir

The source citation for this probate record is:

"Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991," indexed database with digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 December 2016), Barnstable County, "Probate and Guardianship Records, Vol 1-2, 1674-1742; Vol 3, 1743-1747," Volume 3, pages 527-530 (images 766-768 of 828), John Freeman probate papers, 1719.

Major John Freeman lived a long life and with his wife, Mercy (Prence) Freeman (1631-1711) had 11 children.  The will mentioned these beneficiaries:

*  Son John Freeman (1651-1721), named executor.

*  Son Edmond Freeman (1657-1717)

*  Son Nathaniel Freeman (1669-1760)

*  Grandson William Freeman 

*  "Son" John Mayo (husband of daughter Hannah Freeman (1664-1744).

*  Daughter Mercy (Freeman) Knowles (1659-1745)

*  Daughter Hannah (Freeman) Mayo (1664-17644)

*  Daughter Patience (Freeman) Paine (1665-1746), wife of Samuel Paine

*  "Son" John Paine, husband of Daughter Bennett (Freeman) Paine (1671-1716).

*  "Daughter" Rebekah (Sparrow) Freeman, widow of son Thomas Freeman (1653-1716)

*  Granddaughter Lydia Godfree

*  Toby and Bess, Negroes that John Freeman manumitted in his will

I don't know the parents of William Freeman and Lydia Godfree - they may be children of one of the deceased or living sons.

John Freeman wrote his will on 5 June 1716.  His son, Thomas Freeman, died in February 1716, and his youngest child, Bennett (Freeman) Paine died on 30 May 1716.  His son Edmond Freeman died in 1717, after John Freeman wrote this will but before John Freeman died.  

John and Mercy (Prence) Freeman are my 8th great-grandparents, through their youngest child, Bennett Freeman who married John Paine in 1689.  

There is more to this set of probate records, which I will transcribe next wee in Part 2.

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

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."

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/04/amanuensis-monday-probate-records-of.html

Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.