Will of James Aldrich, 1744, Smithfield, Providence Co., Rhode Island
Surnames: Aldrich

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Transcribed and formatted for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
W. David Samuelsen - January 2002 (dsam @ sampubco.com)
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I, James Aldrich of Smithfield in the County of Providence in the Colony of
Providence in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Planations in New
England, Yeoman, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and
memory, thanks be given to God:

Therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appoynted
for all men once to dye do make and ordain this my last Will & Testament, that
is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my sul into the
mercyful hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body I comit to the earth
to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor and Executrix herafter
named; and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to
bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following
manner and form.

Imprimis, I give and bequeathe to Martha my loving wife the one half of the
profits of all my improved lands together with the improvement of the one half
of my dwelling house and barn and other buildings during the term of her
natural life or so long as she remains my widow. I also give to her my sd wife
two feather beds and bedding suitable to furnish them I also give and bequeath
to my loving wife the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds in good and lawful
bills of public credit and tender to be well and truly paid to her within one
year after my decease by my executor hereafter named.

2ndly. I give and bequeath to my four daughters namely Mary, Martha, Ruth and
Amey, each of them a bed and bedding to be delivered to them by my executor
hereafter named when they attain to the age of eighteen eyars.

3ly. I give and bequeath to Martha my loving wife and my son John Aldrich and
to my four daughters above named, all my household goods and moveable estate
both within doors and without that remains which I have not disposed of before
to be equally divided between them (my money only excepted), it is to be
understood and my will is that my four daughters shall have their part and
proportion of my moveable estate as is above expressed delivered to them as
each of them attain to the age of eighteen yeas.

4ly. I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Aldrich the sum of one hundred
and ten pounds in good and lawful bills of publick credit old tenour to be
paid to her when she shall attain to the age of eighteen eyars, by my executor
hereafter named.

5ly. I give and bequeath to my three daughters namely Martha, Ruth and Amey
the sum of one hundred pounds a piece in good and lawful bills of publick
credit old Tenour to be paid to them when they attain to the age of eighteen
years by my executor hereafter named, and my will is that if either or any of
my above named daughters should dye before the come to the age of eighteen
years then her or their part or portion which I have bequeated to them shall
be equally divided to my surviving daughters.

And my will further is that Martha my loving wife shall ahve the profit or
income of all the money which I have given to my four daughters untill they
successively come to the age of eighteen years for the support of herself and
the bringing up of my young children.

6ly. I give and bequeath to my son John Aldrich all and singular my lands
lying within the townships of Smithfield aforesd, Providence and Gloucester in
the County above said with all appurtenances thereunto, belonging to be to him
my said son his heirs and assigns forever and also my part in the sawmill
stand on Tarkill Brook in Glocester aforesaid. I also give and bequeath to him
my said son John Aldrich all my personal estate which I have not already
disposed of, ready money, money due by bonds,bills, notes, book debts, and he
my said son to pay my just debts and to pay the legacies respectively afore
mentioned according to the true intent and menaing thereof.

And I do appoynt and ordain my son John Aldrich Executor and Martha my loving
wife executrix of this my last will rattifying and confirming this and no
other to be my last Will and Testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighth day of
July in the eighteenth year of His Majesties Reign George the Second, King of
Great Britain &tc, Anno Dom. 1744

James Aldrich (seal)

signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said James Aldrich
as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us the subscribers.

John Smith
Joseph Mowry, Junr.
Hosea Steere

At a Town Council held at Smithfield September ye 1st 1744, the above written
will was presented to this Council and the afore named Executor and Executrix
appeared before said Council and desired said will might be proved and the
above named witnesses John Smith, Jospeh Mowry Junr., and Hosea Steere
appeared and declared on their solemn engagement before said Council that they
saw the testator James Aldrich sign seal & declare the afore written
instrument t obe his last Will and Testament and that he was then in his right
mind and memory as they judged and that at the some time they subscribed as
witnesses hereunto in the presence of the testator wherefore it is voted by
this Council that the afore written instrument be approved & allowed to be a
lawful Will and Testament and ordered to be recorded.

Test. Joseph Arnold, Clerk
and recorded accordingly ye Joseph Arnold, Clerk of sd Council.

A true inventory of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of Mr.
James Aldrich late of Smithfield in the county of Providence and Colony of
Rhode Island and Providence Planations in New England, yeoman, deceased, who
departed this life on the 15th day of July A.D. 1744


imprimis his apparil - 72-2-0
four feather beds - 60-10-0
pillow bers - 01-13-6
sheets - 11-09-0
table cloths - 2-13-0
trunk with small things - 02-02-0
fine cloath - 00-17-6
broad cloath - 15-05-6
cotton and wool cloath - 06-19-6
five chests - 08-00-0
napkins - 03-06-0
worsted cloath - 03-06-10
linnin yarn - 02-10-0
wooling yarn - 00-18-0
warming pans - 02-10-0
guns - 10-00-0
four trammels - 02-00-0
two pairs of tongs - 00-18-0
iron shovels - 00-15-0
frying pans - 01-06-0
two pairs of andirons - 05-00-0
five iron pots - 02-10-0
three iron kettles - 01-10-0
skillet and two brass kettles - 03-15-0
three brass kettles - 10-00-0
pewter - 26-00-0
lumber - 01-16-6
chains - 02-15-0
tables - 05-00-0
a cain - 02-15-0
pails - 00-18-0
tubs and trays - 02-13-0
one log chain and iron bar and hows - 06-10-0
one cart and draughts - 02-00-0
yokes and sled - 02-03-0
one breaking up plow - 05-00-0
draught chains - 02-10-0
two iron pins - 01-06-0
one seed plow and harrow - 02-02-0
two pair of horse chains - 04-04-6
butter and cheese - 28-12-0
cider and barrels - 03-10-0
sope and troughs and other lumber - 02-10-0
meat and barrels - 11-00-0
stock - 349-11-6
hay - 130-00-0
beatle and wedges and plow shear - 01-12-0
sithes and lumber - 04-16-0
flax and pick forks and rakes - 03-04-0
one loom and tackling - 08-00-0
leather - 03-02-0
hand saw and lumber - 04-10-0
box iron, candles, knives, fallow - 3-08-0
one law book, two bibles, other sundery books - 3-00-0
one grind stone - 02-00-0
chisils and other tools - 02-09-0
bells - 01-04-0
saddles & bridles - 07-00-0
one looking glass, other lumber - 02-08-0
wool - 06-10-0
real and snow shoes - 01-12-0
cider mill - 06-00-0
ads & howel & other things - 01-11-6
hides - 05-13-0
sawmill tackling - 01-04-3
spectackles - 00-11-6
one peck ax & other things - 01-14-8
sheets - 05-00-0
tobacco - 07-10-0
boards - 12-00-0
one steel trap - 01-05-0
money due by bonds - 1125-04-0
money due by note - 45-00-0
money due by book - 13-08-5
silver - 23-00-0

The above written is a true inventory, errors excepted taken the 14th day of
August Annoque Domini 1744, by us the subscribers
John Aldrich
Noah Smith

At a Town Counil held at Smithfield the first day of September A.D. 1744, the
afore written inventory was laid before this Council and the subscribers
thereunto John Aldrich and Noah Smith personally appeared and declared on
their solemn Engagement before sd council that they made a true apprisal of
all that was set forth to them to be the personal estate of James Aldrich,
deceased and Martha Aldrich the widow of the said James and John Aldrich his
son likewise appeared and declared on their solemn engagement that they had
set forth all that they had in their possession of the estate of the said
James Aldrich and that if any thing further should come to their hands they
would add it to this inventory.

Wherefore it is voted by this Council that the afore written inventory be
approved and allowed to be a lawful inventory and ordered to be recorded.
Test. Jos. Arnold, Clerk.

And recorded accordingly, ye
Jos. Arnold Council Clerk