Stephen Atwood was born about 1653 in Plymouth, Plymouth Colony, to Stephen and Abigail (Dunham) Atwood[1-2]. The Atwood family moved to Eastham on Cape Cod later in the 1650s.
He married in before 1 March 1676/7 to Apphia (Bangs) Knowles (1651-after 1722)[1-2] She was the daughter of Edward and Rebecca (Hobart) Bangs of Plymouth, and the widow of John Knowles (1644-1675), who was killed by Indians on 3 June 1675 near Taunton, leaving Apphia with three small children. Apphia's father named his "daughter Atwood" in his 19 October 1677 will and left her 4 pounds..
They had eight children, all born in Eastham, but only one was recorded in the town records:
* Stephen Atwood (1678-1745), married 1700 Martha Pike (1679-1728).
* Malchiel Atwood (1679-1728), married 1700 Prudence Harding (1680-1713).
* Joseph Atwood (1680-1740), married 1710 Bethia Browell (1689-1752).
* Apphia Atwood (1681-????).
* Eleazer Atwood (1682-1729), married 1709 Joanna Strout (1685-1736).
* Joshua Atwood (1683-1724), married 1721 Lydia --?-- (1703-????)
* Hannah Atwood (1686-1771), married 1714 Samuel horton (1686-1778).
* Thomas Atwood (1696-1784), married 1724 Phebe Mayo (1691-????).
Stephen Atwood of Eastham, husbandman, wrote his will on 20 May 1715 which was proved on 12 July 1722 in Barnstable County Probate Court[1-3]. He probably died shortly before 12 July 1722, some researchers say 1 April 1722. There is no known burial location.
The probate records of Stephen Atwood, husbandman of Eastham, Mass. are in the Barnstable County Probate Records, Volume 4, pages 67-69[3]. They include his will and inventory:
In the Name of God Amen. The Twentyeth Day of May In the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and fifteen I Stephen Atwood of Eastham in the County of Barnstable In his Maj^ties Province of the Massachusetts Bay In New England Husbandman being weak In body,but of perfect Mind and Memory Thanks be given unto God therefore, Calling unto mind the Mortality of my body and Knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye, Do make ordaine this my Last will & Testament, that is to say Principally and first of all I give and Recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it, And my body I recommend to the Earth to be Buried In decent and Christian manner at the Discretion of my Executrix nothing doubting but at the generall Resurrection I shall Recive the Same again by the allmity power of God. And as touching Such worley Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me In this Life, I give devise & Dispose of the same In the following manner and form.
Imp^s. I give and bequeath unto my Loveing wife Apphia Attwood the whole Improvement of all my houseing Lands Marsh or meadow ground that I am Possest of In the Town of Eastham Dureing her Naturall Life if she Remain my widdow until her Death but if she see Cause to Marry again she shall have the bed whereon we now Lodge with therefore Curtains and what Ever ^of^ Right belongeth to said bed; whence I Like wise Constitute make & ordaine my soul Executrix of this my Last will & Testament.
Item. I Give unto my well beloved Son Stephen Atwood a duble portion of all the Moveable Estate of mine that shall remain after my wifes death or marriage and to the remaining part of said Moveables Estate to be Equally Devided amongst my Sons and Daughters to say Mariel Atwood Joseph Atwood ^&^ to my daughters Hannah Atwood and Apphia Atwood.
Item. to my well beloved Sons Eleazer Atwood and Joshua Atwood I have alredy given unto them their parts of my Estate In the piece that I sett upon the farm they bought of one said farm being at a place Commonly called bound brook.
Item. I Give to my well beloved son Thomas Atwood all and singular my Lands Messuage and Tenements with all the Rights Tittles profits thereunto belonging or any wise of Right Appertaining tp him and his heirs and Assignes freely and peacably to be posesed and injoyed for Ever, after the death of my Loveing wife as above said or if she see cause to Marry.
And I do hereby Utterly Disalow revoake and Disannull ll & Every other former Testaments wills legacies and bequests and Executrix In any way by me before named willed and bequeathed, Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seal theday and year above written.
Signed Sealed published pronounced and his
Declared by the said Stephen Atwood as his Stephen A Attwood Last will and Testament In the presence of Us mark
the Subscribers.
Isaac Pepper
Samuel Doane
Martha Doane
Then Isaac Pepper Samuel Doane and Martha Doane made Oath that they saw Stephen Atwood Late of Eastham now Deceased Sign Seal and heard him Declear the above written to be his Last will and Testament and that he was of sound mind and Dispossing memory when so did In their best apprehentions.
Sworn before John Otis Judge of Probates
John Otis Esq^r Commissionated by the Govorneur & Council of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay In New England to be Judge of the probates of wills and for granting Letters of Administration on the Estates of p-sons Deceased, haveing goods, Chattels, rights or Credits In the County of Barnstable within the province aforesaid.
To all to whome these presents Shall Come Greeting.
Know ye that upon the day of the Date hereof before me at Barnstable In the County aforesd The will of Stephen Atwood late of Eastham In y^e County of Barnstable now deceased, to these presents annexed, was proved, approved, and allowed, who having while he Lived and at the time of his Death goods Chattles Rights or Credits in the County beforesd; and the probate of sd will, and power of Committing administration of all and singular the goods Chattles Rights and Credits of the sd deceased by vertue thereof Appertaining unto me. The Administration of all and Singular therefore goods Chattles Rights of the said Deceased and Executrix In the Same will named,well & faithfully to Execute the sd will and to administer the Estate of the sd Deceased according there unto. And to make a True & perfect Inventory of all and Singular y^e goods Chattles Rights & Credits of the sd Deceased and to Exhibit the Same Into the Registry of the Court of Probate for the County aforesd at or before the Tenth day of August Next Ensuing and also to render a plain & True Acct of y^e said Administration upon Oath when Called thereto. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of y^e sd Court of Probate Dated at Barnstable the 12th day of July.
Annoque Domini 1722 John Otis
An Inventory of the Estate of the Late Deceased Stephen Atwood of Eastham taken by us the Subscribers on the 12th Day of July under Oath 1722.
To Lands and houseing £200 – 00 – 00
To one ox 05 – 00 – 00
To 2 Cowes and half 08 – 15 – 00
To a small Cattle 01 – 15 – 00
To Linnens 04 – 07 – 03
To one bed and bolster 05 – 00 – 00
To one more bed and bolster 03 – 10 - 00
To Curtains 01 – 08 – 00
To Coverleds 02 – 08 – 00
To 3 old coverleds 00 – 03 – 00
To Two woolen Blankets 01 – 05 – 00
To Two Old Coats 00 – 05 – 00
To Two Old Bedsteads 00 – 16 – 00
To Two Chists and One box 00 – 10 – 00
To one Caine 00 – 10 – 00
To potts Anirons and Other Iron ware 03 – 03 – 06
To Carts Chains and Other Irons 01 – 15 – 08
To wooden ware 00 – 15 – 00
To putter and Earthen 01 – 06 – 00
To Brass 00 – 15 – 00
To an Ironing box and Other Small things 00 – 06 – 00
To a weavers Loome 01 – 10 – 00
To Swine 00 – 12 – 06
To half a hay boat 00 – 17 – 06
To Two Iron weges 00 – 06 - 00
£246 – 18 – 11
July 12th 1722 Edward Knowles
Then Apphia Atwood Executrix to y^e Samuel Doane
Last Will &Testament of her Late husband David Doane
Stephen Atwood made Oath to the Truth of y^e above Written Inventory so far as Shee know and that if any thing further of the Estate of the sd deceased shall Come to her Knowledge that is Matteriall she will allso bring it to this Inventory.
Sworn before Jno Otis Judge of Probate
5) SOURCES
1. Alicia Crane Williams, "Stephen Wood alias Atwood of Eastham, Massachusetts," The Mayflower Descendant, Volume 46, No. 2 (May 1996), pages 131-136, pages 133-134, #3 Stephen Atwood sketch.
2. Elijah Francis Atwood, Ye Atte Wood Annals, June 1928 (Sissteon, D.D., Atwood Publishing Co., 1928), pages 71-72, #S5, Stephen Atwood sketch .
3. "Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991," indexed database with digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com) Barnstable County, "Probate Records, Vol. 4-5, 1721-1741," Volume 4, pages 67-69, Stephen Atwood, 1722 probate papers. 
