THE WILL OF JOHN GILBERT, SR.
MD 14:2; Plymouth Colony Wills &
Inventories
The will of "Mr John Gilbert senir" was probated at Plymouth 3 June,
1657, on the testimony of "Mr Nicholas Street And Captaine Willam Pole"
The will of "John Gilbert of Pondsbrooke in Taunton" was written "the tenth
Day of May in the yeare .... one thousand six hundred fifty and foure" and ordered my
body to bee buried heer by my house att Pondsbrooke upon the hill neare the pine tree
seven or eight foot Deep att the least;"
Bequests were made as follows:
"unto my son Gyles my farme att Pondsbrooke Containeing one
hundred acres with with the house and houses and Commons therto belonging" also
"ten acres of the meadow lying in Scadingsmore" also "one yoake of my 2cond
bigest oxen Named Colliar and Browne" also "two Cowes named Cherry and
Colly" also "my two steers Named Summer and winter" also "one feather
bed one bolster two pillowes my green rugg a paire of blankett and a paire of my best
sheets" also "my best brasse pot or Crocke my best brasse pan one pewter platter
and one pewter porrenger one pewter Chamberpott" also "my best bedsteed with the
curtaines and vallence" also "my Cubbert" also "one halfe of my bookes
of which hee shall make his Choise" also "two Chists or trunkes of which hee
shall make his Choise" also "my best suite of apparrell;"
"unto my son Josepth all that my great lott att Pondsbrooke
lying on the otherside of the brooke next the towne of Taunton aforsaid Containing thirty
acres with the Devisions not yet layed out adjoyning therto" also "five acres of
meadow in Scadings more lying or to bee layed out together att the further end of the
fifteen acres in Scadingsmore aforsaid to be layed out att the Descretion of the overseers
of this my last will;" also "my two bigest steers named Duke and buttler"
also "my Cow called Bunne and one heifer Called gentle and my two steer
yearlings" also "one feather bed one bolster one pillow one paire of blanketts
and one paire of sheets with one bedsteed;" also "my 2cond best brasse pott or
Crocke my 2cond best brasse pan one pewter platter and one pewter porrenger & one
pewter Chamberpott" also "the other halfe of my bookes" also "one
Chest or trunke;" also "my 2cond best suite of apparell;"
To "my son Thomas my best sowe hee to make his Choise"
To "my son John one shilling to bee Delivered in
silver"
"unto my wives grandchild Elizabeth Pester my blacke-sowe
and that one of her piggs which already is given her and shee hath made Choise of"
"I give ten bushells of Indian Corn unto such as have most need of corn in the Towne
to bee Desposed by the Descretion of the two Deacons of the Church of Taunton;"
To "my Daughter Mary Norcrosse my great ffurnace or brewing
kettle if shee bee liveing or otherwise unto her Daughter Mary the furnace to bee sold by
my overseers and the vallue to bee Imployed to Increase somthinge untill the Child bee of
Age;"
"if either of my said sonnes Gyles or Josepth Die before they or either of them are
married that then all the lands goods or whatsoever soe given to either shall Decend bee
and remaine unto the Surviveer"
"I give all my goods unbequeathed unto my Wife Winnefred
and my will is that shee shall have the use and profitt of the one moyety or halfe of the
farme with my son Gyles During her life if she remaine in Widdowhood or will live upon it;
And Doe make and appoint her my exequitrix .... And Doe Constitute and appoint my
welbeloved frinds in Christ Nicolas Street and Richard Williams overseers of this my last
Will and Testament and Doe give unto each of them foure bushells of wheat for and Towards
theire paines and Christian Care they shall use in this behalfe"
"Upon the fift Day of Aprill 1656 the said Testator John Gilbert Desired this his
last Will to bee Attested unto by Witnesses after hee had caused it to bee read before his
wife and sonnes and they expressed their good liking of It This wee whose names are
heerunder written Doe Testify Nicolas Street Willam Pole"
The inventory of the estate of "Mr John Gilbert" taken by Richard Williams,
Walter Deane and James Wyate, was presented at the court held 3 June, 1657, on the oath of
"mis Wennefred Gilbert". Joseph Hackett and John Bryant were indebted to the
estate
