Capt. Thomas Saltmarsh Will

I originally took a stab at transcribing a copy of a microfilm of the original American Saltmarsh's will. It was difficult to read, apparently due to water damage, but then I came across a complete transciption in Elizabeth Harris Saltmarsh's excellent book on Saltmarsh genealogy. There is only the will transcribed, so the other pages are still missing much information. I should be able to fill in the blanks with some further study, and I hope to eventually view the original document to help. The page numbers may be out of order, but this was how I received them. Many thanks to Elizabeth Clinton for copying the microfilm for me. Also many thanks to a real genealogist who wishes to remain anonymous who provided clarifications.

Page 1

In The Name of God Amen. The 13 of June in the year of Our Lord 1771. I Tho. Saltmarsh of Bedford in the county of Middlesex, Being in perfect mind + memory thanks be to god for it. And calling to mind the Mortality of the Body + knowing that it is appointed for of us to Die do make + Ordain this my Last will + Testament that is to say Principally And first of all, I Give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God who Gave it, + for my Body I Recommend it to Earth to be Buried in a Cristian Like Manner, at the Discretion of my Executors. Nothing doubting but at Resurrection I shall recive the same again by the mighty power of God, and touching such wordly estate ware with it has pleased God to bless me in this Life. I give devise and dispose of the same in the manner + form following, that is to say. In the first place I give to Anne my Dearly be loved wife, Five Pounds to be paid her by my Executors; And I give all my real and personal Estate, except household furniture to be mainly divided betwixt my two sons, Seth Saltmarsh + Isaac Saltmarsh they paying out as follows, that is to William Saltmarsh one Pound, to Thomas Saltmarsh one Pound, to my Daughter Hammond five Shillings, to my Daughter Spring five Shillings And I likewise give to my Daughter Abagail Saltmarsh ten Pounds + one third part of all my household furnature. And I give to my Daughter Deborah Saltmarsh ten Pounds and one third part of all my household furniture. And likewise Give to my Daughter Catharine Saltmarsh ten pounds and one third of my household furniture, And after my Executors have paid all the Debts and legacies and after my Son Seth who lives with me is Paid one hundred pounds a year for his sarvices then what is left; to be Equaly divided between my two sons Seth and Isaac Above Sd, and I do likewise constitute, make + ordain Seth Saltmarsh + Isaac Saltmarsh my two sons to be my Executors of this my last will + testament. In witness whereof I have heare unto Set my hand + Seal the Day + Year above written. Signd Seald published + declared by Tho. Saltmarsh as his last will and testament in the presance of us the Subscribers. Jonathan Pollard Nathan Bowman Abel Bowman

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[one line missing] shall come Samuel Danforth Esq, Judge of the Probate of Wills &c. in the County of Middlesex? within the Province of the Massachusets-Bay in New-England, sendeth Greeting. Know ye, That on the (eighteenth?) Day of (August?) ??????? 17?? the Instrument hereunto annexed (purporting ??? ??? and Testament of Thomas Saltmarsh late of Bedford in said County ???? deceased) was presented for Probate by Seth Saltmarsh and (Isaac?) Saltmarsh the Executors therein named; then present the three Witnesses thereto subscribed, who made Oath, that they saw the said Testator sign, seal, and heard him declare that the said Instrument to be his last Will and Testament, and that they - - - - - - - - - - - - - [blank space apparently filled in] subscribed their Names together as Witnesses to the Execution thereof in the said Testator's Presence; and that he was then (to the best of their Judgment) of sound and disposing Mind.

I Do Prove, Approve, and Allow of the said Instrument as the last Will and Testament of the before-named deceased, and do commit the Administration thereof in all Matters the same concerning, and of his Estate whereof he died seiz'd and possess'd in said County, unto Seth Saltmarsh ????? ??? of ???? the before-named Executors well and faithfully to execute the said Will, and to administer the Estate of the said deceased according thereto; who accepted of his said Trust, and gave bond for the faithful discharge of the ??? ??? ??? Saltmarsh ??? other ??? before named declining to accept of (s.?) Trust and ??? Seth shall render an Account (upon Oath) of his Proceedings, when thereunto lawfully required.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal of Office, the Day and Year above-written.

[signed] S. Danforth

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KNOW all Men by these Presents, that we Seth Saltmarsh, Jonathan Pollard & Abel Bowman of ??? ??? ??? of Bedford in the County of Middlesex ???? within His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England are holden and stand firmly bound and oblidged unto Samuel Danforth Esq; Judge of the Probate of Wills, and granting Administrations within the County of Middlesex in the full Sum of two hundred Pounds, in Lawful Money of said Province, to be paid unto the said Samuel Danforth his Successors in the said Office or Assigns To the true Payment whereof, we do bind ourselved, and each of us, our, and each of our Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, jointly and severally for the whole and in the whole, firmly by these Presents. Sealed with out Seals. Dated the eighteenth Day of August Anno Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and seventy two Aonnoque Regni Regis (anodomino). The Condition of this present Obligation is such, That whereas the above-bounden Seth Saltmarsh, hath this Day taken upon him the Office of Executor to the last Will and Testament of Thomas Saltmarsh late of Bedford in the County of Middlesex deceased, and thereby the (Bu?then) of paying his Debts and Legacies: Now therefore if he the said Seth Saltmarsh his Heirs, Executors, or Administrators, or any of them, do well and truly pay, or cause to be paid the said deceased's Debts and Legacies, and in all Matters the same concerning, failthfully fulfil the said deceased's Will, and administer his Estate according thereunto, and render an Account of his Proceedings thereupon when thereunto lawfully required: Then the above-written Obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full Force. Signed, Sealed, and Delivered in Presence of

??????
Wm Kneeland
Seth Saltmarsh
Jonathan Pollard
??? Bowman

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To the Honourable, the Judge of Probate for the County of Middlesex. Be Pleased to allow me four Pounds for ??? and funural Charges / and when your Honour Pleases for the first year Provision.

[X written through this next paragraph]
Also Please to Appoint Mr. J??? ??? ??? James Millen [Mellen, Miller?] + Gilbert (Dench?), all of ?? in sd. County Apprizer on my Estate this ?? prayer of yr. Hum. Servent.

Ann Saltmarsh
Hopkinton ?? 26th, 1773
Commission (offered?)

Page 5

?????? ????? mention is made in the within ??? ??? of one hundred Pounds (of?) (your?) to be paid to the (subscriber?) Seth Saltmarsh for his Service; and whereas I am fully S(ubcribed?) that ?? ????? ???? one hundred Pounds in ??? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???. I do therefore (kindly?) ???? (all?) ??? (to?) (my? any?) ??? by ???? (of?) that (Legacy?) ?? (thirteen?) Pounds Five Shillings ?? (eight?) (Pence?) (Lawful?) (money?) ?? (year?) to the ?? of his ??? ??? (by?) my Hand Seth Saltmarsh Signed (in?) (my?) (Presence?) S. Danforth ??????