The last will and testament of Mr. John Howland, of Plymouth, late deceased, exhibited to the Court, held at Plymouth, on the fifth day of March, A. D. 1672, on the oaths of Mr. Samuel Fuller and Mr. William Crow, as followeth:
Know all men to whom these presents shall come, that I, John Howland, sen’r, of the town of New Plymouth, in the colony of New Plymouth, in New England, in America, this twenty-ninth day of May, one thousand six hundred seventy and two, being of whole mind and in good and perfect memory and remembrance, praised be God, being now grown aged, having many infirmities of body upon me, and not knowing how soon God will call me out of this world, do make and ordain these presents to be my testament, containing herein my last will in manner and form following:
Imprimis. I will and bequeath my body to the dust, and my soul to God that gave it, in hopes of a joyful resurrection unto glory. And as concerning my temporal estate, I dispose thereof as followeth:
Item. I do give and bequeath unto John Howland, my eldest son, besides what lands I have already given him, all my right and interest to that one hundred acres of land granted me by the Court, lying on the eastern side of Taunton river, between Titicut and Taunton bounds, and all the appurtenances and privileges thereto belonging, to belong to him and his heirs and assigns forever ; and if that tract should fail, then to have all my right, title and interest by and in that last court grant to me, in any other place, to belong to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son, Jabez Howland, all those my uplands and meadows that I now possess at Satuckett and Paomett, and places adjacent, with all the appurtenances and privileges belonging thereto, and all my fight, title and interest therein, to belong to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son, Jabez Howland, all that my one piece of land that I have lying on the south side of the Mill brook, in the town of Plymouth, aforesaid, be it more or less, and it is on the north side of a certain tract that is now Giles Richards, sen., to belong to the said Jabez, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto Isaac Howland, my youngest son, all those my uplands and meadows, divided and undivided, with all the appurtenances and privileges unto them belonging, lying and being in the town of Middleborough, and in the tract of land called the Major’s purchase, near Namassakett Ponds, which I have bought and purchased of William White, of Marshfield, in the colony of New Plymouth, which may or shall appear by any deed or writing that is given under the said White’s hand, all such deeds or writings, together with the aforementioned particular, &c., to belong to the said Isaac, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my said son, Isaac Howland, the one half of my twelve acre lot of meadow that I now have at Winnetuesett river, within the town of Plymouth, aforesaid, to belong to him the said Isaac Howland, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I will and bequeath unto my dear and loving wife, Elizabeth Howland, the use and benefit of my now dwelling house in Rockey Nook, in Plymouth, aforesaid with the outhousing lands, that is uplands and meadow lands, and all appurtenances thereto belonging in the town of Plymouth, and all other lands, housing and meadows, that I have in said town of Plymouth, excepting what meadow and upland I have before given to my sons, Jabez and Isaac Howland, during her natural life, to enjoy, make use of, and improve for her benefit and comfort.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son, Joseph Howland, after the decease of my loving wife, Elizabeth Howland, my aforesaid dwelling house at Rockey Nook, together with all the outhousing uplands and meadows, appurtenances and privileges belonging thereunto, and all other housing uplands and meadows that I have within the aforesaid town of New Plymouth, excepting what lands and meadows I have before given to my two sons, Jabez and Isaac, to belong to him, the said Joseph Howland, to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Desire Gorham, twenty shillings.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Hope Chipman, twenty shillings.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Elizabeth Dickenson, twenty shillings.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Lydia Brown, twenty shillings.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Hannah Bosworth, twenty shillings.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Ruth Cushman, twenty shillings.
Item. I give to my grand child, Elizabeth Howland, the daughter of my son, John Howland, twenty shillings.
Item. My will is that these legacies given to my daughters, be paid by my executrix in such space as she thinkest meet.
Item. I will and bequeath unto my loving wife, Elizabeth Howland, my debts and legacies being first paid, my whole estate, viz: lands, bouses, goods, chattels, or anything else that belongeth or appertained unto me, undisposed of, be it either in Plymouth, Duxborough, Middle- borough, or any other place whatever, I do freely and absolutely give and bequeath to my dear and loving wife, Elizabeth Howland, whom I do by these presents make, ordain and constitute to be the sole executrix of this my last will and testament, to see the same truly and faithfully performed according to the tenor thereof. In witness whereof, I, the said John Howland, senior, have hereunto set my hand and seal, the aforesaid twenty-ninth day of May, one thousand six hundred seventy and two, 1672..
Signed and sealed in the presence of Samuel Fuller,
William Crow.
NOTE: The date of the probate of the will, according to the present practice, ought to be 1703. The year at that time began on the 23th of March. It was formerly the usage to double date from the .first of January to the last of March, thus: 1702-3, and which we should now date 1703.