Will of Edward Garfield from Watertown, Massachusetts, 1668

From Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society. xix, 1882. 93-94 [Reprinted in Concerning President Garfield's Ancestry, a communication from the Rev. Edward G. Porter. Cambridge: John Wilson and Son, 1881].

"This Is Ye Last Will of Edward Garfield"

I, Edward Garfield of Watertown, being sick in body yet through God's goodness sound in my memory, do declare this to be my last will and testament as followeth:

Imprimis: I give and bequeath unto my son, Samuel Garfield, ten pounds, to be paid in corn or cattle within one year after my decease; and forty acres of my land, lying on the side of Prospect Hill; and a piece of meadow containing about two acres and a half and being on the east side of Stony Brook (the same piece of meadow which the said Samuel have made use [of] already for diverse years with my allowance)&151;provided the same Samuel allows a cartway through the said piece of meadow to my meadow on the other side of Stony Brook. Also I give unto the said Samuel all my wearing clothes and my great Bible. Now the reason why I give no more to my said son Samuel is because (he marrying many years ago) I have formerly given him both land and other estate.

Secondly, I give unto my son, Joseph Garfield, the house and land which now lives in, the land containing about nine and twenty acres. Also I give unto the said Joseph ten acres of meadow, lying on the farther side of Chester's Brook, westward, commonly called plain meadow. Also I give unto the said Joseph my farm, as also a mare colt of about a year old.

Thirdly, I give unto my daughter, Rebecca Mixter, twenty pounds, to be paid her in corn or cattle within two years after my decease; as also two pewter platters.

Fourthly, I give unto my daughter Abigail Garfield, twenty pounds, ten pounds to be paid at the time of her marriage and ten pounds to be paid two years after; but if the said Abigail shall die unmarried, then my will [is] that the said twenty pounds be equally divided to Samuel Garfield, my son, and Joseph Garfield, my son, and Benjamin Garfield, my son, and Rebecca Mixter, my daughter; and if the said Abigail do live unmarried [I declare] that then my will is [that] she shall be allowed five and twenty shillings a year so long as she lives unmarried. Also I give unto the said Abigail a feather bed and bolster, with a rug and two blankets and one pewter platter.

Fifthly, I give unto my grandchild, Sarah Parkhurst, one ewe sheep and a ewe lamb.

Sixthly, I give unto Sarah Garfield, my grandchild, seven pounds, provided she serves out her time; but if she serves not out her time, then my will is [that] she shall have but fifty shillings only.

Seventhly, I give unto Ephraim Garfield, my grandchild, two cows, to be paid within three years after my decease.

Eighthly, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife a cow, which my said wife shall have liberty to choose [from] among all my cattle. Also I allow unto my said wife five pounds a year as long as she lives, for which my wife had a bond of me before marriage. The said five pounds is to be paid in wheat and peas and rye and Indian [corn], by equal proportion (if my executor have them growing), at country price at such [a] place in Cambridge as my said wife shall appoint. Also my will is that my said wife shall, if she please, continue in my house. She shall have the new bedchamber for her use, with all the furniture in it, for space of seven months, as also a sufficiency of firewood for her own particular burning. Also my will is [that] my beloved wife abovesaid and my daughter Abigail abovesaid and my maid Ann should enjoy the benefit of what flax or hemp or wool there shall be in my house at my decease; and also that they are to live at the charge of my estate for the space of seven months as abovesaid.

As an addition to my beloved wife's legacy, my will is that she shall enjoy a feather bed and bolster and two little pillows which were of her own making; also a woolen wheel and a linen wheel.

Also I nominate and appoint my loving son, Benjamin Garfield, executor to this my will and testament&151;to receive all [that is] due to me, and to pay all my just debts.

Thus resigning my spirit to God that gave it and my body to the dust from whence it was taken, I declare this to be my last will and testament, and do hereunto set my hand [on] this thirtieth day of December, one thousand, six hundred, sixty and eight&151;desiring my loving friends Nathan Fiske, senior, and William Bond, senior, to see that this my will be performed.

Edward Garfield did own this to be his

will and did subscribe to it on the day

and year abovesaid, as testifieth

Nathan Fiske William Bond

The mark of

Edward Garfield