Plymouth Probate Records, vol. 1 pg. 256-57 for will of Joseph Alden

These are to publish and declare to all whom it may concern, that I, Joseph Alden, gentleman of ye town of Bridgewater, in ye county of Plymouth in New England, being of sound judgement and memory; Do ordain and make my last will and testament in manner following: my immortal soul I do Humbly resign into ye merciful hands of Almighty God, my creator, hoping through ye merits and mediation of Jesus Christ to obtain pardon and salvation. My body I commit to ye earth from whence it was, to be decently interred at ye discretion of my executor, and ye rest of Christian friends. And as touching such worldly estate as God hath blessed me withall, I dispose of it in manner and form as followth:

IMPRIMIS. I give to my son Isaac fifty acres of land, which he lives upon, further, I give him ten acres more, which I gave him liberty to take up, more, ten acres of swamp, more, two acres of upland belonging [unreadable] meadows, one acre more of meadow at Byram's Hole which he hath hitherto enjoyed, more, I give to him half of my meadow lott in the Byrams Hole for consideration whereof my will is that he allow to my son Joseph three acres of the aforementioned ten acres of swamp; further I give to my son Isaac my sixty acres of land between Byrams Hole and the saw mill. All which lands above mentioned I say, I give to him, his heirs, and assignes forever.

Item. I give to my son Joseph the land whereon he lives of which I have already given him afterwards by written Deed, further, I give to him twenty acres, lying upon the great [unreadable] below Goodman Bayley's land; further, I give between my two sons Joseph and John ten acres of land to be taken up to be equally divided which said lands aforesaid I give to him, his heirs and assignes forever.

Item. I give to my dear wife my homestead with all the housing thereon, and all my other lands joyning thereunto, more, I give unto her ten acres of land upon the plaine, more two wood lots lying on ye left hand of ye road to Thomas Washburns, and my will is that my son John shall have the use and improvement thereof, for his and my wife's comfort during her lifetime. And that after her death, my son John should enjoy it altogether with half my sixty acres above mentioned lying near the sawmill, and half my lott of meadow in Byram's Hole. All which parcells of land I say, I do give to him, his heirs and assignes forever, further I give all my moveables to my wife to dispose of as she shall see cause.

Item. I give to my three sons, Isaac, Joseph and John all my right and interest in ye major purchase, and also in ye undivided lands belonging to my purchase right to be equally divided between them.

And, finally I do constitute, make and ordain Mary my wife executrix and my son John executor of this my last will and testament utterly renouncing and revoking, and disclaiming all other wills and testaments whatsoever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 14 day of December in ye year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and ninety-six.

Joseph Alden, Sen.

Witnessed by: Pallatiah Smith, Thomas Delano, Joseph Hayward. Proved March 10, 1696-7