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Will of Isaac Morrill

Journal by gibsonknox

His will, dated 15 December 1661 and proved 23 January 1661[/2], Isaac Morrill bequeathed to "my dear & loving wife? the use of my entire estate during her life; after her decease ?40 to "my four grandchildren to wit: John Smith, Isaac Smith, Francis Smith and Abraham Smith" equally; to "my grandchild Mary Smith ... my farm lying between Reading and Andover being more than two hundred acres"; residue to "my two sons (to wit)

John Smith & Daniell Brewer & to my grandchild Sarah Davis" (with some additional household goods for Sarah Davis); what I have given to "John Smith, & his wife Katherine if she outlive him" to be enjoyed by them during their lifetimes and then equally to their now children and any future children. John Smith will have "by my daughter Katherine" to be carefully used so that the children are not "embesselled" or Disappointed; if "my loving wife" as a result of sickness or poverty requires the sale of any property for her comfortable supply, it may be sold; "loving sons Tobias Davis & Daniel Brewer" executors; and "loving friends Thomas Weld & Edward Denison" overseers; witnesses Samuel Danforth and Elisha Cooke.
At probate three nuncupative codicils were added, all representing desires of the deceased made on 19 December 1661: (1) ?3 to Roxbury church (evidence of Samuel Danforth, Edward Denison and John Smith); (2) anvils and all smith's tools and instruments to cousin Isaac Morrill (evidence of Tobias Davis and Sarah Morrell); (3) wearing apparel to brother Abraham Morrell, grandchild Sarah Davis, and sons John Smith and Daniel Brewer (evidence of Sarah Morrell)
The Roxbury land inventory lists thirteen parcels for Isaac Morrill, eight of them granted by the town and five purchased. He was one of the largest landholders in town: "Isaack Morrill his two houses, two forges, one barn with out housing and two orchards and a swamp"; "four acres more or less upon Pine Hill south"; "six and twenty acres called by the name Foxeholes"; "fifteen acres more or less called Smithfield"; "one acre and a half in the lower calves pasture"; "nine acres of salt marsh"; "in the second allotment of the last division ... fourth lot ... one hundred and thirteen acres one quarter and ten pole and two hundred and four acres in the four thousand acres, and six acres more or less upon Pine Hill"; "four acres more or less upon the great hill bought of Griffen Craft"; "five acres of the fresh meadow ... bought of John Pieropoynt"; "two acres of fresh meadow ... lately the land of John Scarbrow"; "two acres and a half ... lately the land of Robert Williams" (40)

In May of 1663 Tobias Davis and Daniel Brewer, executors of the estate of Isaac Morrill, petition for the right to lay out the two hundred and four acres that had been granted to him in his lifetime but the court noted that the land where they wanted to lay out the portion had already been taken, ?however the petitioners could take up land in any place not prejudicing former grants". (41)

Footnotes:
New England Historic-Genealogical Society, 1857, The New England Historical and Genealogical Society Register, Vol. 11, Page 36
Anderson, Robert Charles, 1995, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Vol.1-3, No page # given
Anderson, Robert Charles, 1995, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Vol.1-3, No page # given

Surnames: MORRILLSMITHBREWERDAVIS
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by gibsonknox Profile | Research | Contact | Subscribe | Block this user
on 2011-05-30 04:34:06

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