Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-04-25
NUMBER IA.
An Ancient Document.

A friend in Bethel sends us the follow.
ing, which will be interesting to many,
on account OF the spelling and style oi
doing business in those days.
The last Will and Testament of Cap
ain Myles Standish. exhibited before
the Court held at Plymouth the 4th of
May 1861 on the oath Of Captain James
Cudworih, and ordered TO be recorded. as
iolloweth
Given under my hand this March the
9Th 1000
Witnessselh these Presents that Myles
Standish Sen: OF Duxburrow being in
perfect memory yet diseased in my body
and Knowing the irail estate OF man in
his best estate. do make this to bee my
last will and testament in manner and
form following.
|. Ny will is that out OF my whole cs-
tate my funerall charges be taken out and
my body TO be buried in decent manner.
and if die at Duxburrow my body to be
laid rs near as Convently may bee 20 my
two dear daughters Dora Standish my
daughter, and Mary Standish my daugh'
ter la law.
2. Ny will is that out of the remaining
pte Of my whole estate that all my just
and lawful debts which now owe or att
the day of my death may owe bee paide.
3. Out OF what remains according to
the order Of this Government my will Is
that my dear and loving wife Barbara
Standish shall have the third pte.
4. have given 10 my son Josias Stan.
dish upon his marriage one young horse
five sheep and two heitfers. which | must
upon that contract of marriage make
forty pounds. yeti not Knowing whether
the estate will bear it ut present: My will
is that the rescdue remain in the whole
Stoke and that every one oil my four
sons, viz. Alexander Standish Myles
,Standish Josiah Standish and Charles
Standish may have forty pounds apiece;
il not that they may have proportionablc
to ye remaining p'te OF it bee it more or
lesse
;. Ny will is that my eldest son Alex
ander shall have double share in land.
6. My will is that soe long as they live
single that the Whole bee in pteinership
betwixt them.
!. doe ordaine and make my dearly
beloved wife Barbara Standish Alexander
Standish Myles Standish and Josiah
Standish Joynt Executors oi this my
lasl will AMI testament.
3. doe by this my will make and ap-
point my loving friends Dir. Timothy
Hatherby and Captain James Cudworth
Supervisors of this my last will, and
tina. they will be pleased TO do the office
Of christian love to be helpful to my
poor wife and children by their christian
COUNSEL and adv isse; and il any differ
cncc should arise. which hope will not;
my will is that my said supervisors SHALL
determine the same anil that they see
that my poor wife shall have - comtorta.
bic maintainencc "a my poor estate Will
| bcalc the whole lime OF her lie. which
il YOU my loving friends please to doe
though neither they nor / shaI bee able
to recompense ! do not doubt but the
! Lord will
By NEE MYLEs SrASDIsH.
further my will is that Marcye Robinson
whom I lenderly love for her Grand
fathers sake shall have three pounds in
something TO goc forward for her two
years after my decease which my will Is
my overseers shall see p'formed.
Further my will is that my servant
John Irish ,Tr have forty shillings more
than his covenant which will appear upon
the Towne bocke alwaies provided that
he continue Till the time hee coyenanted,
bee expired in the scrcise of my exequi-
tors or any of them with their joint con.
sent.
By ue MYLEs STANDIsH.
Q. give unto my son and he'll APPARENT
Alexander Siandish all my lands rs heir
apparent by lawful decent in Ormistick
Bosconge Wrightington Mardsley New.
burrow Crawston and in the Isle OF Man
and given to NEE rs right heire by law
tul decent but surruptuously detained
from me, my Great Grandfather being
2ond or younger brother from the house
of Standish OF Standish.
BY me MYLEs STANDIsH
MARCH THE 7ih 1865.
Witnessed by me
JAMES CUpwoRTH.
PLYMOUTH SIS. MARCH IL. lS70.-The
foregoing is a true copy from the Ply
mouth Colony Records OF Wills. Book 2.
Part |. Page 81.
WM. ). DANFoRTH,
Reg. of Deeds for Plymouth County.