Notes for Joseph Cheney

Notes for Joseph Cheney

!WILL OF JOSEPH CHENEY OF MEDFIELD:
In the Name of God Amen on the Fifteenth day of September 1704. I Joseph Cheany of Medfield in New England. Husbandman, being very Sick and weak of Body, but of perfect mind and memory, and calling to mind that it is appointed for all men once to dye. Do make and constitute this my last Will and Testament. And first of all and principally I do reccommend my Soul into the hands of Jesus Christ my Redeemer, and my body to the Earth, to be buried in decent manner, at the discretion of my Exectrs And as for Such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I do will, bequeath, demise and dispose of, in Such manner as followeth.
Item I do will and bequeath unto my well beloved Daughter Margaret Bullard Such things as she hath already received, Vizt: Two Cows, a Bed and Beding, household Stuff and wearing Apparel, all Amounting to the value of Twenty three pounds, four shills. which the sd. Margaret Bullard shall have forever, for her whole share in my Estate.
Item I do will & order That all my just Debts and funeral charges be paid out of my Estate, and to that end I do will and impower my Executrs. to make Sale of Four Acres of Meadow in Dedham bounds, lying on Stop River, and to give a firme Title of the Same forever, for to pay Debts.
I do also will That one Cow be pd. to Mehittabel Hinsdell. Item I do will & bequeath unto Mehittabel Cheany, my Dear and loveing Wife, One Third part of all my houses and Lands, during the Terme of her life, and One Third part of all my personal Estate, to be at her dispose forever. And as for my other Estate, both real and personal Estat
I do will and bequeath the same unto the rest of all my Well beloved Sons and Daughters, to be equally divided to them and to their lawful Representatives, if any of them shall be dead, excepting my Daughter the said Margaret Bullard, who hath already received her portion, provided also that my eldest Son Josiah Cheany shall have two shares or a double portion and also my daughter Mehittabel Morse haveing already received fourteen pounds, shall receive fourteen pounds less then her Single Share. And as for my Wifes Dower or Thirds in the houses and Lands, at the Expiration of her Term it shall be alike divided as aforesd The said division of my whole Estate shall not be made until my son Ephraim Cheany shall come to the Age of Twenty one years, but my whole Estate both personal and real Estate shall be in the Improvemt. of my Exectrs herein named, for the bringing up and education of such of my children as are under age, until such time as the sd. Ephraim Cheany shall be at the said age; And also what building and enlargemt: in building upon the Land that belongs to my Estate before the time of the sd. division, as my said Son Josiah Cheany shall make, he shall have them for his own.
And I do make and appoint my loveing and dear Wife the sd Mehittabel Cheany, and my Son the said Josiah Cheany, to be Executors of this my last Will and Testament. And I do revoke and disallow all other, and former Wills and Testaments, Eexecs. Legacies and bequests made by me, Ratifying this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.

In Witness whereof I the said Joseph Cheany have hereunto set my hand & seal the day and year above written.

Joseph Cheany [seal]
Eleazer Wheelock
John Thurston
Henry Adams.