Richard BRACKETT
Will

Will (ancestry.com):

"In the name of God amen. I Richard Brackett of Braintree in New England, being mindful of my mortallyty and bieng of a disposing mind and trusting in God through Jesus Christ, my only savior, for eternal life salvation, revoking and making null all former wills made by me, do make this my last will and testament as followeth:

My will is that all my just debts, if any be, be paid in full and funeral charges be defrayed.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Alice Brackett, all my estate in housing, orchards, lands and meadows in Braintry for her comfortable subsistance during her natural life, as also the income of my estate in Billerica.

Item: I give to the children of my son John Brackett one fourth part of all my land and meadows and housing in Billerica, as it shall fall by equal division, to be equally divided between them and their hiers. My meaning is the children that he had by his wife Hannah Brackett.

Item: I give and bequeath the remaining three parts of my housing and lands and meadows in Billerica to my son Peter Brackett, and son-in-law; Simon Crosby, and son-in-law Joseph Thompson, and to their heirs to be divided between them.

Item: I give to my son Peter Brackett five pounds in current pay to be paid by my executors.

Item: My will is that the lands at Billerica, as above be disposed, shall be made by indifferent men, the persons concerned in each fourth part to choose one man.

Item: My will is that the children of my son John and Peter Brackett, Simon Crosby and Joseph Thompson, shall pay unto the two daughters of my son Josiah; deceased, Elizabeth and Sarah, twenty pounds a piece in good pay when they attain the age of twenty years respectively: , and in want of the payment of said forty pounds, they Elizabeth and Sarah, shall have one half of the land mentioned above, to them and to their heirs, to be equally divided to them. And in the case either of said
Elizabeth or Sarah shall die without issue, the legacies to her given shall be to the survivor. I give to the said Sarah, the daughter of my son Josiah, five pounds in current pay and the feather bed her Mother carried away.

Item: I give to my son James all of my dwelling house, barn, orchard, land and meadows lying and being in Braintry; aforesaid, next and immediately after my wife's decease (excepting what may be necessary expended for her maintenance during her life) to him and to his heirs forever.

Item: I give to my son-in-law Joseph Crosby ten pounds in good pay which ten pounds, with five pounds given to my son Peter Brackett as above, is to be paid within two years after myne and my wife's decease.

Item: I give unto my daughter Hannah Brackett twenty shillings in good pay. I give my great Bible to my daughter Rachael Crosby, for her use during her life, and at her decease to be my grandchild's Abigail Thompson.

Item: I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Alice Brackett, all the rest of my moveble s for her comfortable sustenance while she lives and to be disposed of by her to whom she pleases at her death.

Item: I give to Hannah Brackett, daughter of my son, John, the feather bed which she lyeth on, and bolster what belonged to it and my bedsted at Billerica, with moveble goods as shall amount to twenty pounds.

Item: I appoint and nominate my son James Brackett to be my sole executor to this my last will and testament, I have here unto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Signed, sealed and published in presence of us, John Ruggles; Senr. and John Ruggles; Jr.
Signed John Parmenter
Whereas I have given my grandchild Sarah Brackett; the daughter of my son Josiah Brackett; deceased, five pounds, my will is that it shall be null and void and of none effect; as also the ten pounds given to Joseph Crosby, I give to his daughter Anna Crosby.
Signed Christopher Webb Richard Brackett
Boston, December 19, 1690
Approved John Ruggles; Sen., John Ruggles; Jr. both at Braintree appearing at probate.