| Notes |
Will:
- Copied from the will of
Elizabeth Stafford (widow of Stulely Stafford)
made in 1763.
In the name of God Amen:
I, Elizabeth Stafford, of Warwick, in the County of Kent, in the colony of
Rhode Island (T ect),widow, being at present in reasonable state of health
and of a disposing mind and memory, Thanks be to God , but never the less
calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed once to
die, do therefore make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament.
Principally, and first of all I recommend my soul into the hands of
God, who gae it and my body to the dust from whence it was taken to be
buried in some decent and Christian-like manner at the discretion of my
executor hereinafter named, and as touching such wordly estate as it has
pleased Almighty God to bless me with all in this life, I do give, desise
and dispose of the same in manner following:
I give my loving son,Stukely Stafford, the use and profits of my farm
that I bought of John Crawford until his two sons, viz. John Stafford and
Edward, shall respectively arrive to the age of twenty-one years; also I
give to my above son all my stock and creatures of every kind excepting two
cows. I likewise give him one feather bed , that which he has the use of
already and 100 pounds old Tenor, one brass kettle on great chair, one joint
stool, my hatchel, my hand irons, one of my tramel, likewise all my dairy
tacklen, which he has the use of already upon condition that he will pay
unto his sister, Ann Rice, sixteen Spanish milled dollars, and two thirds of
a dollar for and during the term of ten years after my decease and that to
be paid yearly or as much old Tenor or other money then currenthy passing as
shall be equivalent thereunto and also pay my funeral charges. My will is
that my aforesaid son shall not cut off the timber of said farm or make
waste other ways but only to cut for the use of his farm and his fire where
he shall be to clear and subdue the same.
I give my two grandsons, John Stafford and Edward, to them, their heirs
and assigns forever, my above said farm which I bought of John Crawford, to
be equally divided between them when they shall severally arrive at the age
of twenty-one years, upon conditions that they will pay unto my
grandson,Stukely Hill, or his heirs, the sum of twenty-one Spanish milled
dollars and the one-half a dollar each to them or as much old Tenor or other
money as shall be then currently passing equivalent there to and further -my
will is that in casee my two aforesaid grandsons, John Stafford and Edward
Stafford, should neglect to pay or refuse to pay the aforesaid legacies unto
my grandson, Stukely Hill, when they be of age as above said, that then my
will is that my said grandson Stukely Hill , shall have the use and profits
of the aforesaid farm so long as the rents and profits of the same fully
satisfied the aforesaid legacies and not longer.
I give unto my two grandsons, John Stafford and Edward Stafford, each
of them one silver spoon which i have by me.
I give my three grandchildren, namely, Stukely Hill, Caleb Hill, Anna
Hill, each of them a silver spoon marked E.S.
I give to my granddaughter Elizabeth Stafford, my feather bed with a
plain stiching , one pair of cotton and linen sheets, and all the furniture
therunto belonging except curtains. I , also give her one silver spoon which
I have by me, also my frying pan and linen wheel.
I give unto my granddaughter, Sarah Stafford, one silver spoon, one
large pewter platter, my warming pan, pewter tankard, and my box which I
keep my inen in, my woolen wheel and gridion.
I giave my loving daughter, Ann Rice, my great Bible, that is the use
of it during her life and after her decease my will is that my cousin
Elizabeth Tibbets should have the Great Bible. I give unto my daughter Ann
Rice, my large two handled silver cup marked T.E. and two of my largest
pewter platters, one large pewter basin and six of my newest oewter plates
and half of my pewter pouringers, one bell metal skillet, a dripping pan and
fender, one of my feather beds and bedsteads ( that which she shall
choose,)also one pair of pillows and one-half of the linen which I shall
leave undisposed of otherwise, also one of my tables( which she shall
choose) one-half my chairs, one large trunk, one cow , a riding beast and
my saddle and bridle, half of my earthern ware and glasses. All of the above
said articles I do give my aforesaid daughter the use of during her natural
life and after her decease my will is that my daughter, Mercy Hill, should
have the aforesaid articles, but in case she should have issue -either a son
or a daughter- then my will is that my daughter, Ann Rice, should have the
aforesaid articles which I have herein given her the use of as above said.
I give hereunto to my son-in-law, Thomas Rice, and my daughter, Ann
Rice my negro boy named Rubin, to be at their own disposing.
I give unto my cousin Phebe Tibbetts, one Bible and my box iron and
heaters.
I give unto my cousin, Elizabeth Tibbetts, my six silver teaspoons and
one large pewter platter.
My will is that all books herin not disposed of should be divided
equally between my three children and all my waring apparel I give to my
daughters to be equally divided between them.
I give my daughter, Ann Rice the use of my negro girl named Tamer and
after her decease my will is that my granddaughter, Elizabeth Stafford,
shall have the nergo girl; also I give her one of my brass kettles.
I give unto my son, Stukely Stafford, my negro woman named Rose, I also
give him the principal sum contained in a note of hand which I have of my
son-in-law, Thomas Rice, the whole sum if one hundred and sixty four pounds
old Tenor. Igive unto my son Stukely my negro man Relow and five pounds old
Tenor.
Unto my granddaughter, Ann Stafford and my grandson Edward Stafford,
each a silver spoon to be marked E.S.
My will is and I do hereby order that my son-in-law Caled Hill, do find
a riding beast for my daughter Ann Rice, in lien of my riding beast which he
sold, or pay to her the sum of one hundred poounds old Tenor money or the
equivalent there of.
I give to my loving daughter, Mercy Hill, my negro girl named Flora,
and one feather bed, and one cow. I also give my said daughter, Mercy Hill,
all the rest and residue of my persoal estate not herein disposed of.* Then
my will is and I do hereby order that my said daughter, Ann Rice , should
have a distributive part or equal share with my daughter, Mercy Hill, as
well as in the particular which I have given to each of them as in the
residue of my personal estate as aforesaid.
Lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my aforesaid son, Stukely
Stafford, my whole and sole executor to execute this my last Will and
Testament.
In witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal this
fourteenth day of April in the third year of his Majestry's reign, George
the Third King of Great Britain, one thousand seven hundred and sixty three.
Elizabeth Stafford
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Elizabeth Stafford, the
testatrix, to be her last will and testment, in the presence of the names
hereunto written.
James Green, Tahomea Green, Benjamin Waterman.
* Unless my daughter, Ann Rice should issue a son or daughter to live.
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1692 - 1764 (72 years)
