The last will and Testament of Isaac Stedman of Muddy river in Boston bounde is as followeth 2: (8) 1678 [2 Oct 1678]Imprimis for that outward Estate that go hath bestowed on me, I Give and bequeath unto my Son Nathanael and his heires for ever, the dwelling house I now live in, with all of the land belonging to it lying at the Right hand Southwest downe to the meadow, with the orchard before the house, also my will is that about five foote from the house and the lyne run through the Orchard on the back of the house quite through the orchard upon a Straight lyne to further Side of Orchard, and from thence downe to the meadows, farther beginning at the open place at the way we Comonly cart and go downe unto the Cold springe, that to be the line on the east side of the way so farr as proportion of Swampe will leade I also give unto my Son Nathanael and his heirs for ever.
Secondly, For my son Thomas Stedman my will is that beginning at the lyne that is to divide the Orchard, on the bck side of the house given unto Nathanael, my Son Thomas to have the other part of the Orchard, and all the planting Land he was wanted to plant for him selfe & his father, and so unto further end of the fence. Also for as much as the salt meadow is not so Capable of division My Will is, that Nathanael shall have two acres more then Thomas in the yearly improvement of it, but if they agree upon division, Nathanael, to have two acres more then Thomas. Furthermore whereas in my fresh meadow there is an Island or a spott of upland in or neere the middle of it, my will is that a lyne be run in the midle of the spott, and so all the meadow North and South, and that Nathanael shall have the westerne Side & Thomas to have the easterne. ffor the division of the land lying on the east side of the Lyne tending to the old springe before mentioned, my will is that my sonn Thomas shall begin at the great rock over against his owne house that is at the East end of the rock and so run South so farr as to make his part proportionable, to what his brother Nathanael hath from his house to the meadows.
Also, I bequeath to my son Nathanael & his heires Twenty acres of Upland lying along the path side, that leads to Boston, and also a little pasture lying at the further end of it, and for what land within the bounds of Boston that is not hereby perticularly disposed of, my will is that it be equally divided between my Sons Nathanael and Thomas. Moreover, whereas I have a parcell of land in Cambridg bounds, I formerly gave it my son Nathanael, and now hereby confirm that gift to him & his heires, further for a Right understanding of all things betweene me & my Loving wife after my decease it is hereby declared, that I freely disclaim all interest in any part of her Estate in Boston or elsewhere as she doth mine and as a further token of my Love to her, over and above what she brought with her I give her free liberty to dwell in the house where I now am whilest she remains a widdow, Moreover I do give her freely one Cow, and two sheep and one hog & also pasture and winter keeping for the Creatures whilest she remaines in the house as aforesaid, with the use of my mare as she may have occasion to Boston or otherwise,
Also I do give her five pounds to be paid in provisions, whilest she remaines widdow, and if she please to remove to Boston, then her five pound to be paid yearly one third in wood one third in corne, one third in meal as money.
Lastly, for my Three daughters Elizabeth Haman, Hannah Hide, & Sarah perry, I give unto them forty pounds apiece equally to be paid unto by my Executor hereafter named within three yeares after my decease, which is to be thus understood, that what part they or their husbands have already received is to be reckoned as part, which is as followeth, Viz Elizabeth Haman hath Twenty pounds, Hannah Hide hath Twenty pounds, twelve shillings, Sarah Perry hath Twenty five pounds two shillings & sixpence,
Of this my last will & Testament, I nominate and appointe, my two sons Nathanael & Thomas Stedman to be my Executors Jointly, and do give them all my moveable Estate not mentioned after my debts Legacies & funerall Charges being discharged which should in order have bene before expressed, but now is to be understood to be my true intent & meaning, and that this is my will I declare by my hand and Seale the day and yeare abovesaid.
The marke of Isaac xx Stedman
& (sigill)
Signed Sealed & published
In the presence of
John Wiswall
John Maryon SenrElder John Wiswill and John Maryon Senr made Oath before Simon Bradstreet Esqr, Den Govor Edward Tyng Esqr & Joseph Dudley Esqr assistants 19th of December 1678 that they were present when Isaac Stedman Signed and Sealed and heard him publish this Instrument to be his last will & Testament and that when he so did he was of a disposing minde to their best understanding.
Isa Addington, Clerc
Examined Isa Addington Ctre
Suffolk Probate, Vol. 12, pp 247-249A true Inventory of the Estate of Isaac Stedman of Muddy River aged about 70 years deceased the 3 . 8mo . 1678 [3 October 1678].
The ffarms upland & meadow being 350 acres with his housing and orchard upon it 470.0.0
40 acres of Land in Cambridge bounds 80.0.0
16 acres of Marsh 96.0.0
3 Cows -10-10-0, 2 heifers 3, 2 Steers 19.10.0
One horse 5, Mare ad Colt 4 9.0.0
6 Swine 4, 2 brass peffos 25, 2 sfillets 5.8.0
3 Iron Pots 20.8, one Iron Peffle 7 8 , a gridiron 12 1.8.0
etc....
Sums ú724.03.11
Thomas Prentice
Thomas GreenwoodThomas Stedman made oath before Simaon Bradstreet Esqr Dept Govr, Edward Tyng Esqr and Joseph Dudley Esqr A first ?? 19 December 1678 that this is a just and true Inventory of this Estate of his late ffather Isaac Stedman deced to his best knowledge and that when knows of more he will discover the same.
Isa Addington, Clerk
More discovered by Tho. Stedman 29.7.1680: one servant boy ú5.00.00, money ?ú14.17.00
