Norman/Maxwell Family

Will of William Norman Jr., probate 17 Nov 1702 Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony

In the name of God, Amen, I William Norman, of Boston in New England, Barber, Being very ill and weak of body, but of sound mind and memory, praised by God therefore, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following (that is to say). First and principally, I commend my soul unto the hands of almighty God, hoping, through the merits, death and passion of my savior, Jesus Christ, to have full and free pardon of all my sins, and to inherit everlasting life. My body, I commit to the earth, to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor, hereafter (named). As touching such temporal Estate (as) it hath pleased God to bestow on me, I give and dispose thereof as followeth. First, I will that my debts and funeral charges shall be paid and discharged. ITEM, I give and bequeath unto my loving brother, Moses Norman, and his heirs forever, all that slipp of land on the weft (sic) [west] side of Will Gutt by (probably "Three hundred and") twenty acres be it more or less, butting to the f'd [said] Well Gutt and no farther at Carolina. All the rest of my Plantation of F'd [said] Carolina, called and known by the name of "Burton Plantation", with all the houses, buildings, Ediffices, appurtenances and priviledges [sic] to ye same, in any wife [wise] belonging or appertaining, with all my flock of cattle and creatures thereon, or to me belonging, I give and bequeath unto my loving wife, Huldah Norman, with all other my Estate, whatsoever and wheresoever. I do hereby give unto my F'd. [said] wife full power to fell and dispose thereof as she shall have occasion, and think moot, for her comfortable subsistence and for the breeding of my only Daughter, Hulda [Huldah?] Mountjoy Norman. I desire my wife to perform ye agreement made between my father and myself. I do hereby nominate and appoint my fd. [said] wife sold [sole] Executor of this, my Last Will and Testament. I: [In] Witness whereof, I have hereto set my hand and seal, the 31st day of August, Anno Dom., 1702.

Signed, Sealed, and declared by William Norman to be (The mark of) Wm. Norman his Last Will and Testament in presence of the subscribers: Daniel Willard Mary Cole John Cole

Suffolk Co. By the Hon'ble. Elisha Cook Esq'r., Judge of Probate The within writing, being presented as the last Will and Testament of William Norman, late of Boston, Barber, dec'd., by Huldah Norman, his relict, Widow and Sole Exectrix [sic] in the same will named, Daniel Willard, Mary Cole, and John Cole, the three witnesses to the said writing, personally appeared before me and made (line unreadable, a black smudge) sd. William Norman signed and sealed and heard him publish the same as his last Will and Testament; and that he then was of sound disposing mind, to their best discerning; And that they subscribed their names as witnesses thereto in the testator's presence.

Boston, Novemb'r 17th, 1702 Jurat Corma Suffolk C S Elisha Cook Probate Court A True Copy, ATTEST: John C. Collins, Register

============================================================ Source: Jacksonville Genealogical Society, Inc., Quarterly, Vol 21, No 2, Summer 1993. Text is copied exactly as it appeared in the article. Editorial comments in [brackets].

date range based on dates of will and probate