WILL of Samuel Blake 1797

In the name of God, amen - This twenty second day of August one thousand seven hundred ninety seven. I Samuel Blake of Epsom in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, husbandman, being of sound disposing mind & memory, but knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will & Testament, that is to say principally & first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hand of God that gave it and my body to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named and as touching such worldly estate as it hath blessed God to bestow upon me, I dispose of the same in the manner following:

It is my will that my just debts & funeral charges shall be paid by my executor.

I give and bequeath unto my wife Sarah Blake all my household furniture within doors forever and I also give my said wife the keeping of two cows and five sheep summer and winter to be kept for her by my executor - also I give my wife one hundred weight of pork and fifty weight of beef and two barrels of cider yearly and every year to be provided for her by my executor. I also give her the northerly corner room in my house and a privilege in my cellar to keep such necessary in as she shall want to put there and I likewise give her eight bushels of Indian Corn, two bushels of wheat & two bushels of Rye yearly and every year to be provided for her by my executor and also _ bushels of good winter apples and I also give her an equal quantity of Sauce to use with the beef and pork I have given her to be found for her by my executor. I likewise give her a privilege in my pew in the meeting house in Epsom and the privilege of a horse & ride on at all times when one shall be kept on the place by my executor.

All the articles before given by me to my said Wife, excepting the household furniture I give and bequeath unto her during the term she remains my Widow and no longer.

I give my daughter Hepzibah Wallace one dollar to be paid to her by my executor.

I give unto the children of my daughter Mary Chapman, deceased, one dollar to be paid to them by my executor.

I give my daughter Mehitable Moses one dollar to be paid to her by my executor.

I give my daughter Ester Knowles one dollar to be paid to her by my executor.

I give my daughter Abigail Locke one dollar to be paid to her by my executor.

I give to my daughter Sarah Fellows one dollar to be paid to her by my executor.

I give my daughter Rebecca Lake one dollar to be paid to her by my executor.

I give to my daughter Mercy Goss one dollar to be paid her by my executor.

I give my daughter Temperance Knowles one dollar to be paid her by my executor.

I give my daughter Hannah Lake one dollar to be paid to her by my executor.

I give my daughter Elizabeth Chesley one dollar to be paid to her by my executor.

I give my son James Blake two hundred dollars, one hundred dollars of which to be paid when the said James arrives to the age of Twenty one years; fifty dollars when he arrives at twenty two years; and the other fifty dollars when he arrives to twenty three years - also I give the said James the one half of my pew in the meeting house.

All the rest & residue of my estate whether real or personal, where ever and whatsoever that I have not disposed of in this Will, I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel Blake, to his heirs and assigns forever.

And I hereby constitute and appoint my son Samuel Blake sole executor of this my last Will and I do also revoke all and every other Will or Wills by me before made, ratifying and confirming this to be my last Will and Testament.

In witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first written - and should the said Samuel Blake my executor decease before he should have children then the Estate to go to my son James Blake should he then be living.

Signed sealed pronounced and declared by the said Samuel Blake to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of the subscribers.

Samuel Blake (his mark)

Michael McClary
Josiah Sanborn
Daniel Shaw