CAPT.
JABEZ’S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
We mentioned in the last
Newsletter that Betty McCLUSKY, a descendant of Timothy BROWN and Thankful
OLMSTED, used Capt. Jabez’s will to prove her descent. Thanks to her, here is
the Last Will and Testament of Capt. Jabez Olmsted.
Probate and Family Court
Hampshire Division
33 King Street
Northampton, Massachusetts
01060
Volume 8: 26‑27
In the Name of God Amen, I
Jabez Omsted of Ware‑River in the County of Hampshire and Province of the
Massachusetts Bay in in New England, being of lawful Age and Sound Mind, this
Day calling to mind my own mortality, do make this my last Will and Testament,
revoking all former Wills, or anything of that Nature or kind, by me heretofore
made. And in the first place, I do commend my Spirit into the Hands of God who
gave it, and my Body to a decent Burial, the rites of which to be performed in
Such manner, as Shall be that to be best by my Executrix; and as to the Worldly
with which God has blest me I do dispose of it in manner and form following.
[Imprimis?] After my Debts
and funeral Changes are paid, I do give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife
Martha, all my personal estate, of what nature or kind Soever, forever. Item I do give her the improvements of one
third part of my real estate during her natural Life, and I do also give her
the improvements of my whole estate, till my Son Moses comes of age.
Item. I do give and bequeath
to my Son Moses all my real estate upon his paying the legassies hereafter
mentioned.
Item. I do give and bequeath
to my Son Jeremiah five Shillings lawful money to be paid by my Son Moses when
he comes of age.
Item. I do give and bequeath
to my Son Israel five Shillings lawful money to be paid by my Son Moses when he
comes of age.
Item. I do give and bequeath
to the Children of my Daughter Thankful Brown deceased five Shillings lawful
money to be paid by my Son Moses when he comes of age.
Item. I do give and bequeath
to my Daughter Hannah Marsh five Shillings lawful money to be paid by my Son
Moses when he comes of age.
Item. I do give end bequeath
to the child of my Daughter Hammond deceased five Shillings lawful money to be
paid by my Son Moses when he comes of age.
Item. I do give end bequeath
to my Daughter Dorcas Wolcot five Pounds lawful money to be paid by my Son
Moses when he comes of age.
Item. I do give and bequeath
to my Daughter Sarah Marsh five Pounds lawful money to be paid by my Son Moses
when he comes of age.
Item. I do give and bequeath
to my Daughter Abigal Smith five Pounds lawful money to be paid by my Son Moses
when he comes of age.
Item. I do give end bequeath
to my Daughter Prudence five Pounds lawful money to be paid by my Son Moses
when he comes of age with the interest.
And I do constitute and
appoint my well Beloved wife Martha Omstead Executrix of this my last Will and
Testament. In witness of all which, I have hereunto Set my Hand and Seal this
Twenty fourth of Feb.[anno Domini]
Seventeen Hundred fifty two.
Signed Sealed and Publisshed
In Pressence of
Job Lane his
Jabez “X” Omstead
John Downing mark
Hampshire Js March 22nd 1753
[said] John Downing & on the 29th of the Same month Job Lane The Witnesses
to the foregoing Will which was then presented for probate appearing made oath
That They Saw Capt. Jabez Omstead The Testator Sign & Seal & Heard him
pronounce & declare the Same to be his last Will and Testament & that
he was of Sound Mind & Memory when he did it & that they Signed as
Witnesses to the Same in the [said] Testators presence wherefore at a Court of
Probate holden at Northampton within & for the County of Hampshire on the
Second Tuesday of April being the 10th day of [said] month [anno Domini] 1753
[p] Timothy Dwighte Esq. Judge of [said] Court ‑The foregoing Will as ratified
approved & Confirmed [P].
March 22. John Dawning & [same month?] 29th Job
Lane Sworn in Comnform
April
10th 1753 [approved] as to the [Personal] Estate
(as to the Conveyance of the Personal Estate which
only is hereby conveyed) as the last Will & Testament of Said [Deceased].
[P] Timothy Dwight