AMOS HAMMOND'S WILL (ca. 1735 - 1813)

From Coventry, RI Probate Records, pp. 176-177

In the Name of God Amen

I Amos Hammon of Foster in the County of Providence, In the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, yeoman, being now far Advanced in Age, and considering the Uncertainty of human Life, at the best, Do now while in Health and in the full and perfect use of my Memory, Mind and Understanding Make this my last Will and Testament, in Manner and form following (Viz.)

I recommend my Soul to the Extensive Mercy of Almighty God humbly beseeching his forgiveness of all my Sins and his Blessing on the Dispositions I am now about to make of the Estate, with which by his Goodness, I have been favored in this life. All Debts, Justly due from me, at the time of my Decease and Reasonable Funeral Charges I request my Executor, herein after Named, to pay as soon as he Can with Convenience out of my estate.

I Give and Bequeath to my Eldest Son Gideon Hammon and to his heirs Executors and administrators Fifteen Dollars in addition to what I have before given him to be paid out of my Estate within one year after my Decease.

I Give and Bequeath to my youngest Son Amos Hammond, Jun. The Sum of Sixty Dollars in addition to what I have heretofore given him to give to him his heirs Executors and Administrators to be paid to him out of my Estate within one year after my Decease.

I Give Devise and Bequeath to my other Son Nathan Hammon and to his heirs and assigns forever the Farm where I now Dwell with all the buildings thereon together with all the Land and Real Estate whatever and Wheresoever the Same Shall and may be found belonging to me at the time of my Decease, Saving and excepting only one half of any Right and Privileges in the Saw Mill of which I own a part in the Said Town of Foster herein after given to my Son Amos Hammond Jun.r as hereafter mentioned. Provided Nevertheless and the Devise and Bequest of all my Real Estate to the Said Nathan Hammon Excepting Half of my Right in Said Saw Mill is on the Condition that he pay to his Brother Gideon and Amos the Said Sums of Fifteen Dollars and Sixty Dollars as herein before, by me Given and bequeathed to them Respectively, and to their Respective Heirs and Assigns and Reserving also the Life-Estate therein after Given to my Well Beloved Wife Mehitable Hammon as follows (Viz.) I give Devise and bequeath to my said Wife Mehitable Hammon, for and during the term of her Natural Life the use, occupation and improvements of one half part of all my Real Estate and Use of all my movable or personal Estate, after paying out of the Same my Debts and Funeral Charges; and after her Decease the said half of my Real Estate given to her to go to my Said Son Nathan Hammon and to his heirs and assigns for ever as aforesaid, and that the whole of my said personal Estate remaining after the Decease of my Said Wife, to be equally divided between my Said Sons Gideon Nathan and Amos, their Heirs Executors and Administrators Respectively for ever. I give Devise and bequeath to my son Amos Hammon Jun.r the one half part of my Right and Estate in a Certain Saw Mill in the Said Town of Foster of which I am part owner. (the other half of my Right and Estate therein being given to my Said Son Nathan Hammon as aforesaid and to his Heirs and Assigns) to go to him the Said Amos Hammon Jun.r his heirs and assigns forever.

And I do hereby nominate and appoint my Said Son Nathan Hammon Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament - - Revoking all others and declaring this to be my only Last Will and Testament. In Witness Whereof the Said Amos Hammon have hereunto set my hand and Seal this twenty Seventh Day of January, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and Seven

Amos Hammond

(his mark)

Signed and Sealed and Declared by the Said Amos Hammon as and for his Last Will and Testament in presents of us at his Request and in his presents and in the Presents of each other have hereunto Set our Names as Witnesses Hereto - - - (The Words Excepting half of my Right in Said Saw Mill being first interlined in the Proceeding Page)

Samuel Cranson, Jun.r

Esther B. Foster

Theodore Foster