The Last Will and Testament
of Mary (Long) Straight
My father continues his research into our early family
with more court documents. It is a
natural consequence of reaching that far back, but is revealing of the
differences and similarities of that time with ours. This was written in 1750, seven years before
her death in 1757. I have tried to preserve
my father's recording of it as accurately as possible.
In
the name of God, Amen, the fifteenth day of September in the year of our Lord
God One Thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty, I, Mary Straight of East Greenwich
in the county of Providence in the colony of Rhode Island, & a widow being
weak in body by reason of age, 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 die, have made this to my last will and
testament, that is to say principally and first of all, I recommend my soul
into the hands of God that gave it; and my body I recommend to the earth to be
buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the discretion my Executor
hereafter named, nothing doubting but I shall receive the same the same a gain;
at Resurrection at the last day, and as for the earthly estate where with it
pleased God to bless me with, in this life I give demise and dispose of the same
in the following manner and form ------------
First
I will that me debts that I engrtght (??? - not able to translate word
here from my Dad's notes) or conscience owe any person or persons; with
my funeral charges be paid and discharged in convenient time after my decease
---------
Item:
I give and bequeath unto my beloved grandson John Straight now residing in
Coventry my feather bed and coverhead and bolster and piller and bedstead; and
one puter platter marked N.S. and one pair of tonges to him my said grandson
John Straight his heirs and assigns forever-----------likewise I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid
grandson John Straight my iron kittle to him and his heirs and assigns
forever--------------
Item:
I give and bequeath unto my cozen Thomas Shippey my iron pot to him his heirs
and assigns forever-------------
Item:
I give and bequeath unto my cozen Sarah Bentley my two quart puter bayson, to
her, her heirs and assigns forever-------------
Item:
I give and bequeath to my cozen Anne Spink my three pint puter bayson to her,
her heirs and assigns forever-------------
Item:
I give and bequeath to my sister Shippey widow my clothes box, to her, her
heirs and assigns forever--------------
Item:
My will is that my loving cozen John Tarbox sell my cow after my deceased and
pay to my grandson John Straight's seven children: ten shillings apeice
(VIZ) (my Dad wrote in notes here
to indicate that a pound was roughly 20 shillings, and that one shilling was 12
pence (pennies)): to Thomas, to Phebe, to William, to Hannah, to Henry,
to John and Job: to each ten shillings as aforesaid, and the rest to defray my
funeral; with all the rest and residue of my estate I give and bequeath to:
aforesaid cozen John Tarbox, whom I make and appoint whole and sole executor of
this last will and testament; utterly revoking all other and former wills and
bequests whatsoever ratifying and confirming & no other be my last will and
testament:
In
witness wherof I have hereunto set my hand seal ye day and year above
written------------
Signed
sealed published pronounced and declared in the presences of us
Here follows names of witness and the county clerk,
and finally Mary Long Straight. As
mentioned earlier, Mary lived a long life, dying in 1757 at 92. Whether this was truly the final will or not,
I don't know. It is the one in the
records that my father was able to find.
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