We have this Last Will & Testament, which we think will be interesting because of its antiquity in date and phrasing. We quote:
Will of Nathanielle Merrill Born Old England 1601
Date March 8, 1654 Died March 16, 1654
Witness by these presents that I, Nathanielle Merrill of Newbury in the County of Essex, Mass., being sick of body but through God’s mercy, of perfect memory do here make my last will and testament. I first bequeath my soul into the hand of the Blessed Redeemer with an assured hope of a joyful resurrection, and my body, when it shall please the Lord to take me out of this frail life to be buried in the burying ground place of Newbury, and for my worldly goods, I give and dispose as followith.
I give and bequeath unto Susannah my wife, five akers of plowable land, lying next my brother John’s land and half the marsh during her natural life, and a cow and three heifers, all of my household goods, and out of this estate so given my wife, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Susannah five pounds, when she shall be at the age of twenty years, then I give and bequeath to my son Nathanielle (whom I appoint as my truthful and lawful heirs) all my land and freehold after my wife’s decese, and all my working tools and implements of husbandry, and all the cattell and stocke besides.
And of this stocke I appoint that my son Nathanielle shall pay there legacies as followith, this I give unto my son John when he shall be of the age of two and twenty years, the sum of five pounds, also I give and bequeath unto my son Abraham at the age of two and twenty years five pounds, and I give and bequeath unto my son Daniell also at the age of one and twenty years five pounds, and I give and bequeath unto my son Abell five pounds at the age of one and twenty years. And I appoint my son Nathanielle to be my sole executor and all my debts and funerall rites being discharged I appoint hime to have all the rest of my goods and chattells undisposed, and I desire my brother John Merrill and Anthony Somerby to be overseers of the last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have set the N.M. mark.
My hand of Nathanielle Merrill
March the eight, in the year of one thousand and six hundred and fifty-four, but if God’s Providence should by losses and crosses upon ye estate, more than ordinary; then proportionably to be abated in the legacyes.
Witness — Richard Knight Post in court held at Ypswich
Anthony Somerby the 27 of (1) ’55 by the oath of
John Merrill John Merril and Anthony Somerby
by me, Robt. Lord, clerk.
The Boston Globe says there are documents extant in the handwriting of Nathanielle Merrill, so he was able to write, but probably too feeble to do aught but make his mark, N.M.