Copy of original will


Josiah Rootes: 26: June 1683 [Salem Court date] 39?
  In the name of God, Amen. I Josiah Rootes of the towne of Beverly in the county of Essex in New England, being though weak in body yett of p[er]fect mind & memorye: doe this fifteenth daye of may in the yeare of our Lord, one thousand six hundred eighty three, make and or constitute & appoynt, this my last will & testament, in manner & forme as followeth, Inps     

I bequeath my soul unto God who gave it hopeing through the death & meritts of my savior: Jesus Christ to Inherritt everlasting life & glory and my body to the earth to be decently buried, at the discretion of my Executrix heareafter named, Item I will that my death, & funerall charges be paid & discharged. Item


I give unto my loveing wife Susanna the use & improvement of all my p[er]sonal estate, what ever untill such time, as my son Jonathan cometh [?] to the age, of one & twenty years, or till such time as thee marry or be marryed, againe, that is provided thee marry before he come to age. Item





I give and bequeath to my loveing son Jonathan Rootes, all my whole estate whatever, after the legacies, heare-after, mentioned are duly paid out of the estate, provided that my said sonn Jonathan shall carefully & honorably & sutably maintaine his mother, during the term of her widdowhood & if shee remains a widdow during the term of her naturall life,: but provided he & shee doe differ about her maintenance, then thee shall pay unto her, his said mother eight pounds, suport yearly duerring the terme of her widdowhood, or her natural life, & let her have the use of the west end of my now dwellinghouse, & of a bed & beding & hav firewood brought to the doare duering the terme afore said. It I give unto my daughter, Bethiah Lovett, ten shillings to be paid her after her mother decease. It I give unto my son John Rootes, twenty shillings, It I give unto my son Thomas Rootes, twenty shillings It



I doe make my loveing wife Susana executrix of this my last will and testament, and desire my loveing frein'ds, John Hill, & Nehemiah Grover over seers heareof, to see what [?] lyeth, that all things hearein contained. [?] duly [?], & doe heareby disanull & mak voyde, all former & other wills & testaments, by me hearetofore made, and Rattifie & confirme this my last will & testament, In witnes whereof I have sett to my hand & seale the daye & yeare abovesaid. The mark [ ] of Josiah Rootes
           & a seale
Signed & sealed in the presense of

William Dody: Samuel Hardy   William Dodge senr: & Samuell Hardie, made oath in court at Salem, 27 June of 1683. That they were prsent when the within Josiah Rootes, sealed, signed & declared this? within? written to be his last will & testament & that they signed to it as witnesses & that [] of good understanding, & there is noe later will of his that they know of - ateste? Hilliard Deven clericus?.

An Inventory, of the land & estate of Josiah Rootes of Beverly who deceased on the 30 day of June 1683: as apprized by [] under named... [The inventory follows; see document below.]