An
ancestor's will from the Snow Genealogy in the
NEHGS:
I, Nicholas Snow of Eastham being old and infirm of body but of perfect memory and understanding, not knowing the day of my departure but yet daily expecting my last change I think it meet to leave this behind mee as my last will and testament.
Impt. I commend my sole into the arms of God's Mercy through Christ Jesus in whom I hope to sleep, and my body to a decent burial ; and as concerning my temporal estate that God of his Goodness has given me, it is my last will and testament that after this manner it should be disposed of.
Impt. To my son Mark I give and bequeath all that twenty acres of upland lying at Namskaket where his house now stands, and two acres of meadow, and all that broken marsh thereof mine at Namskakett. Item, two thirds of my great lott at Satuckett lying next the Indian Ground, and that side of my lott west of
the Indian land I give to him, and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever; and what he can purchase more of upland and meadow of the Indians thereatt Satuckett, I give to him all this abovesaid lands or meadow or marsh purchased or unpurchased, I give to him and to his heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever.
Imp. To my son Joseph Snow I give the other third part of my great lott at Satuckett aud two acres and a half of meadow lying at Namskekett near the head, and an neck of upland between it on the west side of William Twinnings all his abovesaid land and meadow I give to my son Joseph Snow, and to his heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever.
Imp. To my son Stephen Snow I give twenty acres on the south side of my great lott at Porchett, and ten acres of my little lott at Satuckett, lying between Daniel Cole and Edward Bangs by the side of a little pond an acre and a half of meadow at the Boat Meadow lying between Thomas Williams and Samuel Freemans and that part of my meadow at the Great Meadow, that lyeth between Josiah Cooke and the Eel Creek; all this abovesaid land and meadow, I give to my son Steven, and the heirs lawfully begotten of his body, forever.
Item. To my son John Snow, I give all that my land at Paomet, purchased or unpurchased whether upland or meadow; and all my right, title or privilege at Paomett. I give to my son John Snow and to the heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever.
It. To my son Jabez Snow I give all my land lying between my house and my son Thomas Paines, and seven acres att the Bass Pond lying between Daniel Coles and William Browns and a half an acre of marsh at the end of it ; and six acres of upland at the Herring Pond, and an acre and a half of meadow att Silver Springs lying on the north side of William Walkers, and the Cliff of upland adjacent to the abovesaid meadow and all the sedge ground about it to Ephriam Doanes and that part of my house he lives in as long as my wife or I do live.
Item. I give him two acres of meadow at the Great Meadow lying between the Eel Creek and Joseph Hardings.
Item. To my son Jabez I give that my four acres of meadow at Billingsgate due to me unlayed out, all this aforesaid upland and meadow I give to my son Jabez Snow, and the heirs of his body lawfully begotton forever.
Item. This my meadow about my house I give to my son Jabez.
Item. I give to my loving wife
Constant Snow all my stock of cattle, sheep, horses, swine whatsoever to be at her disposall for her comfort and support of her life with all the moveable goods I am possessed of ; and after her decease stock and moveables to be equally divided amongst all my children.
Item. To my wife I give the pte. and disposal of that part of my house shee now dwells in during her life time, and after her death to be my sons, Jabez Snow.
Item. I give to my loving wife that ten acres of upland att Porchett and 20 on Billingsgate Island, for her disposall for the comfort of her life ; but if shee need it not, and leaves it undisposed of I give it then to my son Steven Snow; that 20 acres of upland att Billingsgate if my wife leaves it undisposed of, then to be my sons Jabez Snow.
I do give to the Church at Eastham for the furniture of the Table of the Lord with pewter, or other. I do say I do give ten shillings out of my estate after my wife's decease.
That this is my last Will and^Testament I have sett my hand and seal, this
fourteenth day of November, one thousand six hundred and seventy and six.
Witnessed, signed and sealed, Nicholas Snow.
in the presence of us :
Samuel Treat
Thomas Paine, Sen.
It is my desire that Dea. Samuel Freeman and John Mayo would oversee the same and faithful performance of this my last will and testament ; and be helpful in any case of need concerning the same.
Nicholas does not mention his daughters [including Mary] in his will, and we suppose they received their portions when they married.
