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<b><font face="Arial" size="4" color="#800000">Last Will and Testament of William Baker - 28
November 1700 - Transcribed by Frank V. Walczyk</font></b>
<hr>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Spelling has not been changed.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">In the name of God Amen, I William Baker of Northampton
County in Virginia being in good perfect and sound mind and memory (praised be
God for the same) but calling to remembrance the uncertinity of this life and
that all must yield unto death when it shall please God to call them. Do make,
ordain and appoint this my last will and testament revolking all other wills
hereafore by me made either by word or writing and this only to be and is my
last will and testament as followeth: (first) I give my soul to Almighty God
that gave it hopeing through the alone merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ to
receive forgiveness of all my sins assuredly believing in his name, and my body
to be decently interred at the discreation of my exec'rx hereafter named, and as
far what worldly estate God hath been pleased far beyond my deserts to bestow
and intrust me with, I do give and bestow as is hereafter named,</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Item - I give and bequeath to my two sons John and
William Baker my divident of land which I bought of Mr. William Willett by
estimation six hundred acres (be the same more or less) My son John to have the
Western bounds being that part already settled and my son William the Eastern
bounds, and whereas Mary my wife being now with child which if it be a son my
will and desire is that he may have a full third part of my aforesaid divident
of land lying between his two brothers their land, bounded South and North cross
my said land, so by estimation to have two hundred acres of land apiece for my
said three sons and at the decease of either of them his or their parts to go to
the heirs of his or either of their bodies lawfully begotten and for want of
heirs of either of their bodies then to go to the other, and to the heirs of his
body lawfully begotten and for want of such heirs then to go to my daughter
Elisha and my child unborn as aforesaid. If a daughter equally between them and
to the heirs of their bodies lawfully begotten and for want of such heirs to my
heirs at comon law.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Item - I give and bequeath to my loving wife Mary Baker
the one half of either of my plantations which she pleaseth to live upon during
her natural life, but if she marrys a man that hath land then my sons to enjoy
their parts at age of twenty and one yeatrs, she to enjoy the same with all
edfices there unto belonging.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Item - I give and bequeath unto my said loving wife
Mary Baker, My two sons John and William Baker and my daughter lisha Baker all
my beding to be equally divided amoungest them with all furniture there unto
belonging.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Item - I give to my son John my long gun and my other
gun and cutless to my son William.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Item - I will and bequeath all the rest of my estate in
what nature or quality soever it is to be equally divided into four equal parts,
my loving wife Mary Baker, My two sons John and William Baker and my daughter
Elisha Baker when the boys shall attain to the age of twenty and one years of
age, except either of them marry then to enjoy their parts thereof and my
daughter Elisha to enjoy her part thereof at the age of eighteen years except
she marry before (and if so) then she to have it as my two sons have theirs and
my will and desire is that my children shall not swap or barter their parts, but
shall enjoy the same really in the quality as they are, only my daughter Elisha
I give over and above her share one iron spit.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Item - I make and ordain and constitute and appoint my
loving wife Mary Baker my whole and sole executrix of this my last will and
testament and do desire my loving friends Lt. Col. Nath'l Littleton and Mr.
William and Mr. John Harmanson to assist my said wife in the premisses to make
division of my said estate as aforesaid.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Item - My will is that my son John Baker shall live
with my loving wife untill he attain to the age of eighteen years, and then he
to have benefit of his own labor, but if my wife should marry one that should be
unkind to him then to be removed at the discreation of my friends abovesaid.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Item - My will is that Ann Carpenter being my wifes
sisters child continue with my said wife untill she shall attain to the age of
sixteen years, as also to the said Ann Carpentetr I give one yearling heifer if
she continues with my wife untill she attains to the age aforesaid.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Item - My will and desire is that my grand daughter Ann
Eves shall continue with my said wife untill she attain to the age of sixteen
years, and for my said wifes care and trouble of bringing up the said child my
will and desire is that she have one white Servant out of my estate if any such
be in being.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Item - My will and desire is that my stock of hogs
shall be and remain unto my loving wife, and to the maintenance of her house and
charge.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Item - I give and bequeath unto my said grand daughter
one cow and calf and one young mare about two years old, as also one iron pot
and one frying pan with two good pewter dishes all which shall be to her and her
heirs lawfully begotten with all their furture increase of the said mare and cow
and calf forever and if no such heir to be found, then to return amoungest my
children as aforesaid.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Item - My will and whole desire is that there be no
sale nor timber sold of or from my said devident of land, but only what is for
the use and benifit thereof and there unto employed by any person or persons
whatsoever. In testamony of all and singular the premisses hereof and for a full
confirmation I have here unto set my hand and afixed my seal this twelfth day of
August anno one thousand seven hundred.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Item - Further my will and whole desire is that the
child my wife now goes with be the same male or female have a full share of my
personal estate besides the share of land afore given, so my said estate to be
equally divided into five equal parts each to have a just part thereof, witness
the day and year aforesaid.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">William Baker</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us;</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Thomas Leonard</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Michael Underhill</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Jacob Bishop</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Leverett Clay</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Northampton,</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">November the 28th anno 1700, Then the within and above
last will and testament of William Baker deceased was proved in open court of
the said county by the corporal oaths of Thomas Leonard, Michael Underhill,
Jacob Bishop and Leverett Clay and approved and allowed of by the court as an
authentic probate and ordered to be recorded.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Teste Daniel Neech Clk. Cur.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">Recorded Daniel Neech Clk. Cur. Co. Northampton</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2"><u>Source</u>:<br>
Walczyk, Frank V.&nbsp; <i>Northampton County Order Book &amp; Wills 1698 - 1710
Vol. 1, 1698-1703</i> (Coram NY: Petersrow, 2002); pp. 43-45.</font></b></p>
<p><b><font face="Arial" size="2">(See also the <a href="../estates/inventory_of_william_baker.htm">inventory
of the estate of William Baker</a>.)</font></b></p>
<b><i><font face="Arial" size="2">&copy; Copyright 2006-2012 by Peter's Row</font></i></b>
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