Will of Gilbert Brooks, dated June 6, 1695

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June 6, 1695. I Gilbert Brooks of Rehoboth, "being aged & Vnder present weaknes and Expecting my Chaine", do make my will. To beloved wife Sarah my dwelling house, orchard and homelot, my feather bed with its furniture, my chest with a lock and key to it and what other household stuff she may desire for her need. "Dureing the time of her Widowhood and Bearing my Name", she to give in security that the tenement and fences shall be kept in repair and that no waste be made of said estate, but that it shall upon her decease or marriage be delivered to my executors "Vnless by unaVoydable Cassualty the said house or goods should be Damnifyed or Destroyed", Also I give her six sheep, one cow, half my swine and half my provision in my house, half my flax and yarn and a quarter of my wool in my house, also a "Barell of Sider"; "in Case god taks me away when the Croop is on the ground", said wife to have the whole crop, and six bushels of corn until harvest, otherwise sixteen bushels of corn, ten of Indian and six of rye. To Benoni Wigin, my grandson, land, and a quarter part of my commons, on the North Side, "my Bed he Vseth to lye on & Bolster one blanket & one Coverlit and a pair of sheets in his hands", and my old Iron Pot. To Zachariah Carpenter that lives with me, forty shillings, my sword that I bought last, with half my ammunition and an axe that was his fathers. To my nine daughters an equal share of my estate, only my daughter Rachel's share I give to my grandson Benoni Wigen. If any of my children be dead, their share to go to their surviving children, that is to say with what some of them have had already as may appear on the other side of the leaf with my hand to it. "My Beloued sons in law Robert Crossman & william Manle" to be executors.
To my grandchild Basheba Walker twenty shillings "if she liue with me". To my grandson Brook Thresher twenty shillings. To Zachariah Carpenter, a coverlid.
Witnessed by Samuel Newman, Richard Bowen and Nathaniel Chaffee who, all of Rehoboth, made oath to said will at Bristol, July 5, 1695 before John Saflin, Probator.
John Cary, Registrar;
Entered Oct. 5, 1695, by John Cary Registrar:

Inventory of the estate of Gilbert Brooks of Rehoboth, "who Deceased the thirteenth Day of June 1695" taken July 4, 1695 by Nicolas Peck and Richard Bowen, and sworn to at Bristol, July 5, 1695 by Robert Crossman and William Manley, the executors. Amount, £84..00..00.

"An appendix to the will of Mr. : Gilbert Brooks late of Rehoboth Deceased--
That which I have Payd my Children or Grand Children as follows
to Mary Coleborn a Cow a Mare & a horse
to Hannah Crossman a Cow
to Bethiah Thresher a Cow
Rebecca Horskins shall haue no more of my Estate haueing Received some other things with a warming Pan already
Ester Stephens has had her whole Share"
signed Gilbert X Brook.
Entered Oct. 5, 1695 by John Cary Registrar:

SOURCE: "Bristol County Probate Records" in NEHGS Register, v. 63, pp. 82-83

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from "Abstracts of Bristol County, Massachusetts Probate Records 1687-1745" compiled by H.L. Peter Rounds, C.G.; vol. 1:

Account of debts of Estate of GILBERT BROOKS, who died 30 June 1695, dated 15 July 1696, presented by Robert Crossman & William Manley Executors. [1:153]

Account of Legacies from Estate of GILBERT BROOKS, dated 6 July 1696 paid by Robert Crossman & William Manley, Executors. Widow not named. Children: Bathshebe Walker, Bethiah Thresher, Saray Lyon, Elizabeth Stevens' children & Rachel (being in Long Island). Mary Colebond shows dislike of the Will. Legacies also to: Zachariah Carpenter, Benoni Wigins, Brooks Thresher & Rebecca Hoskins [1:154].