Rawson, Edward will, Mendon, Worcester co, MA
Transcribed from SAMPUBCO copy by Sheryl Romasco
Mendon, Worcester, MA Will book Vol 20 Pg 214

In the name of God Amen, this 20th day of March one thousand seven hundred and 
eighty five I Edward Rawson of Mendon in the County of Worcester and 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Yeoman being advanced in age and labouring 
under bodily infirmities, but (Thanks God to you) of sound and disposing mind and 
memory, calling to mind the frailty and mortality of my Body, and that it is 
appointed to all men once to Die do make and ordain this my last will and 
testament:  Principally and first of all whenever it shall please God to call me 
home by Death I commit my imortal soul into the hands of God who gave it hoping 
to claim the------ and free freedom of all my sins and to enjoy eternal Life thro 
the Death and Merits(?) and Resurrection of my Lord, JESUS CHRIST and my Body 
I commit to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian manner and as touching 
such worldly Estate as is hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give, 
bequeath devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form vis I 
order my Executor hereafter named and appointed to pay all my due debts and 
funeral charges out of my Estate.

Imprimus I give to my beloved wife Deborah Rawson the use and improvement of 
one third part of -----uarter of my land belonging to my homestead farm which I 
have this Day conveyed by deed of gift to my two sons Levi Rawson and Tompson 
Rawson and also the use of the same proportion of all the Buildings thereon during 
her Natural Life a Res---ation of the said Improvements to my said wife being 
made in the said Deeds.  Also I give the use and improvement of one third of 
another piece of Land containing about 20 acres of land situated a little 
Westward of my Homestead and lying chiefly in Upton and a small part thereof in 
Mendon during her Natural Life also I give to my said wife one third part of all 
my house hold furniture, my horse, also two cows, the cows to be as good as my 
cows are on average to be at her disposal.  I also give her the use and 
improvement of the other two thirds of household furniture as long as she shall 
remain my widow:  But in case she shall alter her condition by marriage then my 
will is that immediately upon such marriage, the said two thirds of my household 
furniture allowed my said widow for her improvement be equally divided between 
my two daughters, Hannah Belcher and Eunice Turner, particularly my will is that 
my said wife have the use of my household during her natural life also I give her 
one third part of all my money book debt and p---ties for money to be at her 
disposal Excepting a note of hand from my son Levi to me, Bearing date Dec 27th 
1789. For procuring and paying a State Note of Ten pounds -- of the Security of 
third Commonwealth or for Redeeming and Delivering to me my note of Ten pounds 
Ð in the hand of John Tyler and ott--  -------  be.

Furthermore I give to my said wife all my cotton wool sha-- wool and spun yarn 
and iron and shal(?) to shoe her horse 

Item I give to my beloved son Levi Rawson and Tompson Rawson and to their 
respective heirs and assigns all my wearing apparel except some articles hereafter 
given to my grandchildren, two thirds of my Mo---- Book Debts and -------- for 
money that I shall die possessed of to be Equally divided between them excepting 
the ten pound and note above mentioned which if not paid in my life time, it is my 
will that the same be reserved in the hands of my youngest son in order to 
redeam the Note I gave to the said trustees.  Further my will is that my said son 
Tompson; have the use and improvement of my stock of cattle, the following 
season, meaning till the profit of ---- ---- incase I should not live to improve 
them my self, Excepting the cows given to my wife and then the said stock to be 
equally divided according to the value of the same between my said sons excepting 
Tompson shall have all my part of the 5 yearling heifer caves.  I give to my said 
son Tompson my gunn and all my warlike a----tnments.  Further I give to my said 
son Levi the same -------- tools and whereas ----- I have given him verbally 
estimated to be one half of the Farming tools I then owned and the residue of my 
farming tools and utensils I give to my son Tompson.  Also I give and devise to my 
said son Levi and Tompson my pew in the first Congregational Society Meeting 
House in Mendon aforesaid and to their heirs and assigns forever in equal shares 
reserving to my said wife a seat therein during her Natural Life.  Also I give and 
devise to my said sons the 20 acres of land above mentioned, to them their heirs 
and assigns forever to be equally divided between them for Quality and Quantity 
reserving to my said wife the improvements of one third part of the same during 
her natural Life provided and upon the express condition that my said sons ---se 
this my last will and testament to be proved and that they truly and faithfully 
execute the same in all its parts according to the true intent and meaning 
thereof.  All my other property of every kind not otherwise particularly disposed 
of in this will I give to my said sons in equal shares particularly my Hab---t after 
my Wifes Decease, excepting that all ------ and Dinn------, and also what hay 
may be left at my decease shall be used by my wide and my said sons in common 
till the same ------ as has can ----- in my lifetime and in case that my decease 
should happen at any season of the year afore the crops are gathered in and 
afore my part thereof are de------- into my possession, my will is that my said 
wife have her share of every kind of the produce of the farm in proportion to the 
improvement granted and given to her in this will and res---oed to her in the Deed 
and referred to herein  Further my will is that my said wife and my said son 
Tompson have all my Cyder barrels and ------ Me---abbs  and meal bags between 
them in Equal Shares. 

Item I give to my beloved Daughter Hannah Belcher her heirs and assigns Thirty 
pounds lawfull Silver money in addition to what I have heretofore given her.  And 
I order my said son Levi to pay her the said sum within one year after my 
decease with interest from the time of my decease till paid.  I also give her one 
third part of my household furniture that shall be left at the time of my wifes 
decease.

Item I give to my beloved Daughter Eunice Turner her heirs and assigns Thirty 
pounds lawfull Silver money in addition to what I have heretofore given her and I 
order that my said son Tompson pay the said sum within one year after my 
decease with interest for the same till paid  And I also give her one third part of 
my household furniture that shall be left at the time of my wifes decease.

Furthermore it is my will that all my Books be equally divided between my wife 
and all my children.

Item I give to Warren Rawson son of my son Levi Rawson my Silver Shoe Buckles

To Rawson Belcher Second son of my daughter Hannah Belcher I give my Silver 
Knee Buckles and I do truly constitute and appoint my said son Levi Rawson and 
Tompson Rawson the Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament and I do 
hereby make void all other and former Wills and Testaments and Ratify this and 
this only to be my last Will and Testament.  In Witness whereof I the said 
Edward Rawson have hereunto set my hand and Seal the Day and year first above, 
written, signed, sealed published and pronounced in presence of 

Joseph Dom
David Devenport							Edward Rawson
Wilder(?) Johnson

Worcester SS		To all people to whom these presents shall come Jospeh Dom 
Esq  Judge of the Probate of Wills and in the County of Worcester within the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts sendeth greeting

Know ye that on the 24th day of May AD 1785 the ---- instrument hereto annexed 
purporting the last will and Testament of Edward Rawson late of Mendon in said 
County Deceased was presented for probate by Levi Rawson and Tompson Rawson 
the Executors therein named then present David Devenport one of the witnesses 
thereto subscribed , who made oath that he saw the said testator Sign, Seal and 
heard him Declare the said Instrument to be his last will and testament and that 
he together with the other subscribing witnesses subscribed their names together 
as witnesses to the Execution thereof in the said Testators presence and that he 
was then to the best of their judgment of a sound and disposing mind I do prove 
approve and allow of the said Instrument as the Last will and Testament of the 
before mentioned Deceased and Do commit the administration thereof in all 
matters the same concerning and his Estate --- hereof he died Seized and 
possessed in said Commonwealth to the before named Executors will and faithfully 
to Execute the said will and to administer the Estate of the said deceased 
according thereto who accepted of the said -----  and shall Exhibit and inventory 
if said Estate into the probate office in three months and shall render an account 
upon oath of their proceedings when there unto lawfully required.  In testimony 
whereof I have hereunto set my hand --- of Office the Day and Year above 
written

								Joseph Dom j. Probate

Entered from the original  --- Joseph Wheeler -----