AAFA Wills
WILL OF JOSEPH ALVORD
In the name of God Amen, I Joseph Alvord of Northampton, in the county
of Hampshire, in his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in
New England, being in health, and of sound mind, and memory; Blessed
be God; do this eighth day of Anno Domini, 1774, make and Publish this
my last will and testament, in manner following; that is to say, Principally,
I commend my soul to God the Father of Spirits, hoping for pardon, and
Gracious acceptance with him, only, on account of the Glorious and perfect
Mediator, and atonement, made for miserable sinners by the Lord Jesus
Christ; and I desire my body, may be decently interred, at the direction
of my Executor, hereafter named, in full faith of the great Christian
Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Body; and what followeth is my last
will and testament;
As to worldly estate wherewith the Lord has been pleased to bless me;
to wit in the first place;
I give, and bequeath, to my beloved wife Clemence, the vse. and improvement,
of one half of the Homestead I now live upon, together with the vse,
of the one half of my house, and half of the barn, also the improvement
of ten acres of my meadow land where she shall please to take it; also
the one half of my Inner Common's land; to have, and to hold so long,
and for such term of time, as she shall remain the widow of me the Testar,
and no longer, also I give & bequeath to my sd wife all my household
stuff to her disposal forever.
I give, and devise, to my son Elisha, four acres of my pasture land,
being inclosed within the meadow fence under the hill, on the south
side of the pasture; also one acre lying on the hill, adjoining the
sd four acres; also two acres and three quarters of land lying in the
meadow in Venturer's field;
Also woodland lying in the Long Division, so called that I had of my
uncle John Alvord, from the east end of sd lot the North Branch Manham
River, to have, and to hold, to him, and his heirs forever.
To my son Joseph I give and devise the homestead he now liveth upon,
on the east side of the County Road, that I purchased of Henry Curtis,
it being three acres and twenty rods.
Also two acres of land lying in the meadow at the Walnut tree, called
Clapp's lot; also one acre and half of land lying in the meadow at the
upper end of Young Rain Bow at the Point; also my second draught in
the Inner Common land, lying near to Fortification Hill, to have and
to hold to him and his heirs for ever.
I give and devise to my son Stephen twenty shillings more than I have
already advanced him.
I give and bequeath to my son Medad the homestead I now live upon together
with the house and barn and all other buildings standing thereon allowing
to my wife the improvement of the one half as above said.
I give and bequeath to my son Medad five acres of land lying in the
pasture within the meadow fence on the north side of sd pasture; also
five acres and one quarter lying in the Upper Meadow in the Second Division;
Also five acres and one half lying in the old Rainbow, also my lot
of land at the Walnut trees containing three acres; also two acres and
one half of land, lying at the upper end of Young Rainbow, also all
my land in the Long Division that was originally laid out to my Hon
Father Ebenezer Alvord, deceased; from the east end of sd lot running
westward, to the north Branch of Manham River, except that part of it
which I have conveyed to David Clark by deed of sale:
Also my first draught in the Inner Common land lying on the Boggy Meadow;
to have, and to hold, to him and his heirs forever.
I give to my son Simeon ten shillings more than I have already advanced
to him in full satisfaction for his part and portion of my estate.
I give to my daughter Lucy Parsons five shillings more than I gave
her at her marriage.
The remainder of my estate both real and personal if any there should
be after my just debts are paid, I give to my son Medad to be to him
and his heirs forever. Lastly I hereby constitute and appoint my son
Elisha my sole Executor of this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and
year above written.
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by the before named Joseph Alvord
the Testator as his last will and testament.
Joseph Alvord
In the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
in presence of the Testator and in the presence of each other.
Samuel Mather
Timothy Mather sworn
Daniel Strong sworn
CODICIL
A Codicil to be added to and to be taken as a part of the last will
and testament of Mr. Joseph Alvord of Northampton in the county of Hampshire,
Yeoman.
Whereas I have made and published in writing bearing date the eight
day of November Anno Domini 1774; which will, and the devices, and bequests
therein contained were at that time according to my best judgment and
discretion; Yet on the account of the decease of my wife, which has
happened since that time and diverse other alterations in my circumstances
which have since taken place too many here to recite and as it has pleased
God not only to continue my life but also my understanding and judgment
so that I am still (Blessed be God) of a sound and disposing mind and
memory I do this seventh day of November A. D. 1782 make and publish
this Codicil that is to say all the lands and tenements which in and
by my above mentioned will, it is declared that I give and devised to
my son Elisha Alvord, which I still own, I do hereby give and devise
to my three grandson, and the sons of the said Elisha, to wit; Eleaser
Elisha and William, to have and to hold to them in fee simple by equal
shares as tenants in common and not as joint tenants on and under the
conditions, restrictions limitations and provisoes herein after expressed
and declared and not otherwise, that is to say if every and all of my
said grandsons should die without issue of his body lawfully begotten
and living at the time of the death of the father before he shall attain
the age of twenty one years and living, my grandson Daniel Alvord the
son of my son Elisha then my will is that he the said Daniel shall take
and have in fee simple all the said lands and tenements subject to all
conditions and provisions which are herein after provided and declared
relating to the taking and holding of the same lands by my said grandsons
Eleazer Elisha and William so far as the said conditions or provisions
respect any duties or payments to be made and performed by them to my
said son Elisha or his present wife Mary.
And in case of the death of any one or two of my said grandsons Eleazer
Elisha or William without issue of his body lawfully begotten and living
at the time of the death of the father before he shall attain the age
of twenty one years, in that case the survivors or the surveyors of
the said Eleazer Elisha and William together with him the aforesaid
Daniel shall take and hold in fee simple by equal shares as tenants
in common and not as joint tenants all the said lands and tenements,
always subject to the conditions provisoes injunctions directions here
expressed and declared respecting the having and holding of the said
lands by my said grandsons and any of them the heirs or assigns of any
of them. To wit;
That each of my said grandsons, &c., &c., shall annually from
the respective times when the said lands shall fall to them, respectively
in the life time of my said son Elisha or after his decease, the said
Mary his now wife living and being his widow, pay to him my said son
Elisha and after his death to his widow aforesaid during such widowhood
such and part of the sum of four pounds of the now lawful silver money
of this Commonwealth as shall be in proportion to four pounds; &c.,
&c.
And to my grand daughter Sarah Alvord, the daughter of my son Joseph,
I give and bequeath my spare feather bed and bolster and the two rugs
belonging to the said bed also three of my pewter plates as good as
one with another.
And all the residue of my household stuff, I give and bequeath to my
daughter Lucy the wife of Mr. Elisha Parsons forever.
And I do hereby constitute, make & ordain my son Medad Alvord to
be joint Executors with my aforesaid son Elisha of my last will and
testament, &c., &c.
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal the seventh day
of November A. D. 1782.
Joseph Alvord.
Signed, sealed, &c., &c.
Joseph Hawley
Ebenezer Wright
Enos Wright
A SECOND CODICIL
Not much different from the former codicil. Confirms his will dated
Nov. 8, 1774; codicil dated Nov. 7, 1782; and this codicil, dated Aug.
15, 1785. Probated Feb. 4, 1786.
Joseph Alvord.
Copied from THE BURKE AND ALVORD MEMORIAL, pages 200 - 204. For the
book the will had been copied from Hampshire County Probate Office Court
Files.
