Will of William Sheldon, 1691

This is a transcription of the Last Will & Testament of William Sheldon, dated 23 Nov 1691. A photographic copy of the original can be found on Ancestry.com. Note that William says that he is of perfect memory but weak of body. Town records note that he had hurt his knee a few days before, and later died on 2 Dec 1691. He refers to his wife Rebecca but he only lists six children: a son Ephraim, and five daughters - Mary, Lydia, Sarah, Rebecca, and Hephzibah. He lists each of these daughters twice, and never includes a daugher Susannah.

This is clear evidence that the teenager Susannah Sheldon, who regularly testified in the 1692 witch trials, could not have been the daughter of William and Rebecca Sheldon.

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this 23: of november 1691:

In the name of god Amen: the Last will and testament of william Shildon
of salem: in the county of Esex in New Ingland: I being in perfict memory
though weak in body: I: desier to make this my Last will and testement
knowing: the certainty of Death: I doo as followeth: Imprimus
I commend: my: Immortal souls: to allmighty god my creater through Jesus
Christ: my Redemer: hoping: the pardon: of my sins: and of Receveing of my soule into
the Arms of Everlasting marcy:

now as for my temporel: Estate which god hath gratiously given me: in thas
world: I doo dispose of as foulloweth: Imprimus: I give and bequest unto
my beloved wif Rebeckah: all my Estate Laying in salem houses and land and movabls
for her own use and for the bringing of my children and hers nex that are now
Living and After her deces to be disposed Among them as Shee shall soo carves

Item I give and bequeth unto my son Epherim Shildon all my houses and Lands and Livings
Lying at ye Estward at blackpoynt or scarbourrah: all my Right and title to him
his heirs and Asings: he paying five pounds I poses to Each of his sisters: After he
shall Injoy and posasably Improve ye said Living Estate by him self or Any other
After ye opertunyty of four years Improvmeent: then to pay to his Eldest sister
five pounds: in or as money: Mary : Lidiah : Sarah Rebeckah Hephzibah
At is to be understood ya said Epherim shall pay his first payment to mary : the year
foullowing to Lidiah : & ya next year to Sarah: and the year foullowing to Rebackah: and
the year foullowing that to hephzibah: and my will is that if Any of my daughters
die without esiu: it shall be payd to ye survivvers: Equally betwen them: and all those
payments to be in or as money:

And I Apoynt my wife Rebackah to be my Exaxiatrix of this my Last will and
testyment: and I Apoynt and desire my Loving frinde: Joshua Rea jenior:
And Daniel Andrew and Danil Rea & Israel Porter to be my overseer
of this my will

witnesses
Joshua Rea (signature)
Daniell Andrew (signature)
Daniell Rea (signature)
Israel porter (signature)

the mark and seal of William (W S) Shildon