John MAXFIELD
Will

WILL OF JOHN MAXFIELD
(Essex County Probate 308:202-203)

In the name of God. Amen. I John Maxfield of the Town of Salisbury in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, planter. Intending a journey and considering the many changes that happen in others. I being in good health and memory do now make, order and constitute this my last will and testament in manner and form as followeth.
First I give my Spirit to God who gave it, and my body to be decently buried in Christian burial in hope of a joyful resurrection to life eternal through the perfect merits of Jesus Christ my mediator. As for my worldly estate that God has given me, after all my just and honest debts be paid, and funeral charges defrayed:
I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth my well beloved wife all my estate personal and real of what kind or nature soever, so long as she remains my widow. And when she ceaseth to be my widow, then I give and bequeath unto my four sons all my land and meadow. Equally to be divided to my four sons as above said--by name John, Timothy, Nathaniel and Joseph to every one a like portion, with this provisal:
that my son John pays five pounds in good merchandise pay unto my daughter Mary; my son Timothy pays five pounds to my daughter, which ten pounds I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary.
also my son Nathaniel paying to my daughter Marjory five pounds in good merchandise--pay unto my daughter, which I give and bequeath unto her;
my son Joseph paying unto my daughter Elizabeth five pounds in good merchandise pay.
All these abovesaid payments to be paid within one full and complete year after my wife's marriage or her death, or my said sons come of age of one and twenty year, which of those shall happen. And all the above payments to be paid at my now dwelling house.
Also my will is that if any one or more of my sons do die before those payments are to be made, then my land and meadow to be equally divided among the surviving sons, they paying to my daughters equally that which the deceased should a' paid.
Also, my will is that if one or more of my daughters should die before they should receive their said portions then to divide ye legacy ye deceased should have had to be divided among my surviving daughter or daughters. All ye above payments to be in merchandise pay.
Finally I appoint Elizabeth my beloved wife sole executrix to this my last will and testament.
John Maxfield
12th day of November, 1697



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