"1778, April 26, COLLINS, JONATHAN of Hardwick, Sussex Co.; will of wife, Ann to have a good support.  Son Mahlon 50 pounds.  Daughters, Ann and Phebe 5 pounds.  Sons Ranel, Israel, and Jonathan, rest of estate.  Executors, sons, Elijah and Samuel Wilson, Jr.  Witnesses - Amos Lundy, Reuben Lundy, Elijah Lundy.  Proved Dec 30, 1780.  1779, Nov 27, Inventory 290.12.4 pounds made by Benjamin Heatin and Samuel Lundy.  Lib 22. P 307"
 

Will dated 24 Dec 1692, proved 11 Apr 1693.  The will can be found in Book 4, p. 292-293, Surry County, Virginia.  The following excerpts taken from the will are from THE EZELL FAMILY IN AMERICA by Christine Sheldon and includes the original spelling.

George EZELL bequeathed "to my eldest son, George, my land.....lying and being in Charles Citty County near the head of Upper Chipoakes Creeke....also one mare...one yearling horse colt, also one 2 yr. old heyfer all of which to be paid to him when he shall come to one and twenty yeares old.  "...to my eldest daughter, Elizabeth, one good feather bed and furniture, that is, bolster and pillows, jugg, blankets, and sheetes, all good....also I give her now 3 pewter dishes and 3 plates, to be paid when she comes to the age of 16 or married.
     "...to my daughter, Mary, one mare of 6 yrs. old and 3 pewter dishes and 3 plates...also, 2 heyfers of 3 yrs. old...which to be paid when she shall come to the age of 16 or married.
     "to my daughter, Lucy, one mare of 5 or 6 yrs. old, also 2 heyfers of 3 yrs. old...also 3 pewter dishes and 3 plates, to be paid to her when she shall come to the age of 16 or married.
     "to my son, Timothy, one good feather bed and furniture, that is to say, bolster and rugg (sic), a pair of good blankets and the like of sheetes, to be paid him at the age of 16.
     "I do ordain and appoint my loving wife, Elizabeth, to be my Executrix and in full consideration of her third or dower, do give her all the rest and remainder of my Estate after my debts and legacyes are paid of what nature property or quality, soever it be.  This 24 day of December, 1692.
 Wit:  John Pestell                                                                                Signed, George EZELL (his mark).
          John JAMES (his mark)
   

In the name of God Amen:  I, Balaam Ezell of the county of  Trigg and State of Kentucky considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound and perfect mind and memory before the Almighty God do make this my last will and testament in the manner and from the following that is to say after my boddy are decently buried I wish for all my just debts to be paid, I give to my grandson, George G. Sizemore all my real and personal estate consisting of one bed and furniture, also one cow and cooking utensils, one trunk, three chairs, and knives and forks and all my wairing clothes.  This my last will and testament hereby breaking all former wills by me made.  In virture whereof I hereunto, set my hand and seal this 22nd day of August in the year of our Lord 1844.
Wit:  Robert R. Turner                                                                              Signed:  Balaam Ezell (seal)
        Wiley Wilson
         Anderson Sizemore
 

I, Berryman Ezell of the County of Hopkins and state of Kentucky, being in a low state of healthy but of sound mind and knowing that it is appointed once for all man to die do constitute this my last will and testament.
First, My wish and desire is that as much of my property be sold as will pay all my just debts.
Second, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Elizabeth, all that is left of my personal estate after my just debts are paid, during her natural life and at her death if there is left, my desire is for it to be sold and divided equally amongst all my children, namely, William Ezell, Mary who married Russel Loving, Martha who married Lewis Davis, Jane who married Whitfield Write,and my daughter Elizabeth, John, James, Balaam and Sary.
Third, I give and bequeath unto Lewis Davis who married my daughter Martha, the tract of land I now live on if he will come and live on the land I now live on and help to take care of my wife and help raise my small children, and if he will not do that, my desire is that my wife have the land during her life and at her death the proceeds equally divided amongst all my children.
Fourth, I appoint and constitute my son William Ezell executor to this last will and testament.  Signed, sealed and delivered this 9th day of June in the year of our Lord 1834.
Wit:  John Malin                                                                                       Signed, Berryman Ezell
        Noah Fox
 

  The will can be found in Fairfield, Connecticut Probate Records, Vol. 1665-1675, page 55.  This transcript was taken from THE NICHOLAS KNAPP GENEALOGY by Alfred Averill Knapp, 1953.

          "In Stamford, ye 15th 2 mo. Anno 1670.  The last will and Testament of Nicholas Knap of Stamford concerning the disposal of his worldly estate.
 1. I give to my son Moses Knap my house and land in Stamford   with all the meadows and upland belonging to me.  Also,   I give to my said son Moses, my cart and plowe or plowes, with all the furniture of Irons, yokes and Chaynes belonging and a small gun in the house and a Sword.
 2. I give to my son Timothy the monies remayning due to me upon the bill for the house of John Bats lives in.
 3. I give unto my Sonn John Caleb the Loom and half the gears and the other half of the gears I give to my Sonn   Joshua.
 4. I give to my dau. Sarah Disbrowe, the monies due me from her husband, about 37L concerning the horss.
 5. I give to my dau. Hanna, one mare.
 6. I give to my dau. Lidia the mare that was Mr. Bishops with the increase shee hath.
 7. I give to my dau. Ruth Twenty Shillings.
 8. I give to my two daughters-in-law, viz:  Sarah and Unica Buxton, all their Mother's Clothes as a free gift, except   one hat and one new petticoat, which my will is they shold have onward of their portion.  Also, I will and   bequeath unto Uneca Buxton the new bible as a free gift.
 9. My will is that the portions due to my two daughters-in-law, viz:  Sarah Buxton and Uneca Buxton, out of the   estate of their father, Clement Buxton.  I say that ther and portions be currently payd, according to their   proportion of that Inventorie.
 10. Lastly, my Will is that my Son Jushua Knap be sole executor of this my Will to receive all and pay dues   according to this my last will as also all debts to or   from me.  If in case that mare be not found that I have given to Lydia, that then shee to have a nother mare in the Lue of that.  This being my Last Will, renouncing all other former Will as wills made by me.

          Witness my hand.
      Witness John Weed.            Nicholas   Knap
               Eleazur Slawson.           his mark."
 
 

I do not possess a copy of the original will so I am unsure of its original spelling.  The will was transcribed by Ray Lovan of Fresno, CA, deceased.  The original will can be found in Hopkins County Will Book 5, page 90.

16 Sep 1842

In the name of God, amen.  I, John Lovan, of the county of Hopkins and the state of Kentucky, being sick and weak of body but of sound mind and disposing memory for which I thank God and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and being desirous to dispose of all such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give and bequeath in manner following, that is to say I give to:

I desire that my daughter Amanda Melvina Lovan have my brown horse, a cow and calf, and a bed and furniture, also a saddle and bridle.  Second, I desire that my son Daniel have my bay filley that is three years old last spring, a saddle and bridle, a cow and calf, and a bed and furniture, also my plain gun.  Third, I desire that my son James Marion have my bertrand mare, a saddle and bridle, a cow and calf, and a bed and furniture, also my silver houted gun.  Also the above named children have joint possession of the farm until the first of December 1848, also all the present crop that is on the farm, also all the hogs, also all the sheep and geese (also that they have all the household and kitchen furniture as long as they or any two of them continue on the farm or until the first of December 1848 when I wish it sold and equally divided between all my children.

I desire that all my property not named above be sold within six months after my decrease and all my money collected and all my debts paid and what remains to be equally between all my children.  All my land I wish sold by the first of December 1848 and the product equally divided between all my children namely Gabriel Gilbert, Nancy Ray, Reuben Parks, Russel Gray, William Merritt, Polly Maline, Alice Madora, Johnny Gilpin, Oskar Fritzline, Emanda Malvine, Efederal Thomas, Daniel Riley, James Marion.

Lastly I do hereby appoint my son Gabriel Gilbert Lovan my executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all an other former wills or testaments by ne heretofore made in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 16 of September one thousand eight hundred and forty two.

Witness:  Joseph Board                                                                                 John Lovan  (seal)
              John Bourland
 

Kentucky
Hopkins County                                                                                           March County Court 1844

     This instrument of writing was produced in court and proven to be the last will and testament of John Lovan deceased by the oath of Joseph Board as subscribing witness thereto

                                                                                                       Att:  ____________ Woodson, Clk.
                                                                                                        Hopkins County Court
 

The will was taken from THE LUNDY FAMILY AND ITS DESCENDANTS OF WHATSOEVER SURNAME  by William Clinton Armstrong, 1902.  The will is records in Book 8, p 475-476 in the Office of the  Secretary of State in Trenton, New Jersey.

 "November ye First, 1756, I, Richard Lundy of the  Township of Hardwick and County of Sussex and Western
 Division of New Jersey, being very sick and weak of body but  of perfect mind and memory and knowing the mortality of my body, DO make and Ordain this my last will and testament  touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to  bless me in this life.  I Give & Devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form:
  In the first place it is my will and I Do Order that all my Just Debts and funeral Charges be paid and Satisfied,  and Secondly, I Give and bequeath unto Anne my beloved wife  One third part of all the monies that shall be over and above paying my just debts and funeral charges which shall be  raised and levied out of my real and personal Estate which I  Do Order shall be sold and disposed of for that purpose, only  excepting one young natural-pasing mare and two cows, also a  bed and furniture, which I give to Anne my beloved wife over  and besides the one third part of my estates as aforeseaid;  and the other two thirds of my estate I do give and bequeath  to be equally divided between my Ten Children.
  And Lastly, I Do Constitute, make and Ordain Anne my   beloved wife my Only  and Sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament, and I do hereby utterly Disallow, revoke and disannyll all and every other former Testament, will, legacies, Executors, by me in any ways before this time named, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this  and no other to be my Last Will and Testament.  In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my had and seal the day & year above written.
                                                                                                   Richard Lundy, Jun'r.    (Seal)

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced, and declared by the said Richard Lundy as his Last Will and Testament before us the subscribers.
     Richard Lundy
     Samuel Large
     Joseph Lundy

Richard Lundy and Joseph Lundy, two of the witnesses to  the within will an of the people called Quakers, on their  solemn affirmation, did severally affirm that they saw Richard Lundy, Jun'r, the testator within named, sign and seal the same and heard him publicly pronounce and declare the within instrument to be his Last Will and Testament, and  that at the doing thereof the said testator was of sound and  disposing mind and memory as farr as the said affirmants know and as they verily believe, and that Samuel Large the other subscriber was present at the same time.
     Richard Lundy
     Joseph Lundy.

 Affirmations taken this 7th day of December, 1756.
     Theo. Severns, Surrog.

Be It remembered that, the last Will and Testament of  Richard Lundy, Jun'r, being duly proved as above said,   Probate and Letters Testamentary were granted by the Hon. John Reding, Esq., president of the council and Commander in  Chief of the Province of New Jersey, unto Anne Lundy, sole Executrix in the said Testament named, she being duly affirmed to perform said will, to exhibit a true and perfect  Inventory, and to render a just and true Account when thereunto lawfully required.

Given under the Prerogative seal of the said Province at  Burlington this 7th day of December Anno Domini One Thous'd  Seven hundred and fifty seven.
      Cha. Read, Reg'r."  
 

 "IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN the forteenth Day of May in the First yeare of the Raign of our Soveraigne Lady Queen Anne Anno Domini One Thousand Seaven Hundred and two I Robert Lyon of Ormskirke in the County of Lancaster Yeoman Being Sicke of Body but in Sownd and desposing Memory (Thanks bee given to God for the Same) Doe make this my Last Will and Testament in manner and forme Followeing That is to say First and principally I resigne my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator Assuredly hopeing through the Meritts of Blessed Saviour to Obtayne remission of all  my Sinns,  And my Body I committ to the Earth whence it was taken to be Interred in Such Decent and convenient manner as my Executor hereafter named shall thinke fitt And as for the worldly Goods and Chattles the Lord hath lent mee I dispose Thereof as Followes First it is my Will and mind that All the Debts that I Owe or shall bee indebted at the tyme of my Death and my Funerall Expences and the Charges of the Probate hereof shall be paid defrayed and discharged out of my whole personall Estate After which Debts paid & Funerall expences difrayed it is my Will and mind That the residue and remainder of All my said Goods chattells and personall Estate Shall be disposed of As Followeth vizt Inprimis I give and Bequeath unto my Younger Sone Thomas Lyon of Ashton in ye County of Lancs:  husb(andman) the Sume of Twelve Pounds of Lawfull money of England the Same to be paid in Foure yeares tyme next ensueing my decease to witt Three pounds A yeare, Item I give Unto my Sone George Lyon of Upholland Innkeeper the Sume of One Shilling in liew of his Childs part of Goods within Six Months after my decease if demanded Item I give Unto my Daughter Rachill Atherton of Orrell the Sume of One Shilling in liew of her Childs part of Goods within Six Months after my decease If demanded Item I give unto my Well Beloved friend Mr. Nathaniel Haywood of Ormskirke ye Sume of Five Shillings to Preach my Funerall Sermon And all the Rest and residue of my Goods and Chattells not herein before bequeated After my Debts Legacies and funerall expences discharged I doe give and bequeath unto my Son in Law Richard Moorcroft of Ormskirke in ye County aforesaid Linin weaver And to Margaret Moorcroft my Daughter to dispose of at theire pleasure Excepting ye Sume of Five Shillings which I give unto my Loveing Brother Thomas Lyon of the Bresk within the Parish of Walton whom I doe make Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament revoking all other Wills by me heretofore made hopeing he will See this my Last Will performed as my Trust is in him reposed In Witnesse whereof I the Said Robert Lyon have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale the Day and yeare first above written."

 Sealed Signed Delivered and Published to be Robert R. Lyon
my Last Will and Testament in presence of his letter
Henry  Worthington, Dorothy Ditchfield, Jon Ditchfeild.

 Proved by the within named Executor 13 May 1703 before me         Arch:  Kippax, Surrogate."  
 

The will is taken from THE WHITNEY FAMILY OF CONNECTICUT, Volume I, by S. Whitney Phoenix, 1878.

The Last Will and Testament of Mr. Hen. Whitne of Norwoke, made the 5th of June Anno 1672, Revoking all former wills.
 I, Henery Whitnee being weake and crazy in body, but throwe mercy perfect in memory and vnderstanding: doe bequeath my body to the dust, and to be decently Interred; my Immortal Soul into the hands of my mercifull redeemer, with an assured hope of a Joyfull Resurrection vnto a blessed eternal life; being purchased by the pretios Blood and merrits of my dear Saueour.
 And for that worldly estate that the Lord of his bounty hath bestowed vpon me, I doe will and bequeath as followeth,
 It.--That all my Just debts be faythfully payd and discharged.
 It.--I will and bequeath vnto my Sonn John Whitnee, the Mill and all the Lands belonging to the same; and that according to the terms and Condiditons that I receiued and obtayned the same of the towne of Norwocke.
 It.--I will and bequeath vnto my said son John all my waring apparell; and alsoe all my working tooles.
 It.--I will and bequeth unto my beloued wife, my homelot, with the dwelling house standing vpon the same During the time of her widowhood, or the sum of ten pounds to be payd vnto her by my sonn John; shee being at her liberty either to take and accept of the said home lot and house during her widowhood, or the sayd Ten pounds, yf shee shall accept of the sayd Ten pounds, then the said homelot and house to remayne vnto my sayd sonn John; prouided my sayd wiue's acceptance is to be declared and made knowne vnto my overseers or the major part of them, and alsoe to my sonn John, within one year after my decease.
 It.--I will and bequeath vnto my beloued wife, all her waring Apparell and Linnin.
 It.--I will and bequeath vnto my beloued wife, and my sonn John, whatever cattle, swine, moueables shall remayne:  my just debts being payd out as aboue said ordered; and what moueables are not bequeathed, the aforsaid cattle, swine, moueables to be equally deuided by my ouerseer vnto my said wife and sonn, prouided I doe give liberty vnto my sayd wife to haue and receiue in part of her half, the fethered, fether boulster, pillow ruggs, two blankets, vallents & curtains, all being and appertyning to the great bedstedle, wtih the said bedstedle, alse the strawebed and two blankets lying and being upon the trundle bed, with the said trundle bedsteadle; all the said beddingg & bedsteadle to be apprized and act out by my ouerseers or the major part of them, and that in an equall way and rate.
 It.--I will and bequeth vnto my sayd wife, Ten bushels of wheat & alsoe Ten bushels of Indian corn; the same to be payd by my sonn yearly during the term of seven years, prouided my said wife shall live so long and continnue a widdowe, and alsoe that my said sonn shall keep, continnue and enjoy the mill.
 It.--I do desire, order, ordayne and constetute Thomas Benedict, Senr., Walther Hoit, and Thomas ffitch, Sen. my beloved brethren and friends, overseers of this my last will & testament, and doe by these prsents signe and confirm the same, the day and year aboue written as witness my hand.'       his
  In the prsence of    HENRY  WHITNE
 RICHARD OLMSTEAD     mark
 THOMAS FFITCH, Sen.
 
 A Inuentory of the estate of Henr Whitne Late of Norwock, Deceased, and apprized by marke Sention, John Bouton, John Platt, being desired and apointed thereunto by the select men of the towne of Norwocke.

Imprimis, in a Rugg, blankets and bedding ....14 11 00
It. In Curtayns & Vallents....................01 07 00
It. In Bedstedles.............................04 06 00
It. In Sheets and other Linnin................05 12 00
It. In Brass and Pewter.......................04 06 06
It. In Waring Apparel.........................10 06 06
It. In Iron pots & other Iron Moueuables......02 11 00
It. In husbandry Moueables & tooles...........09 10 06
It. In Bookes.................................00 13 00
It. In Ammunition.............................02 14 00
It. In Two oxen five cowes....................30 00 00
It. In a yearling and three calues............03 05 00
It. In a old horse............................00 10 00
It. In swine amal & great.....................12 10 00
It. In the dwelling house, yards and home lot.45 00 00
It. In the mill and upland and Meadowe
  belonging to the ame as they are
  conditioned from the towne..............60 00 00
It. In one parcel of Meadow conditioned from
  the towne...............................07 00 00
It. In carpenters tooles......................07 00 00
It. In debts due to the estate................23 15 00
It. In Old Iron...............................00 12 00
It. In siluer more............................00 07 00
         _________
         215 13 00
The estate indebted unto Mr. Hyat & Mr.
  Hudson about............................10 00 00
In small debts................................00 17 00
To the apprisers..............................00 10 00
    Subtract..................11 07 00
         _________
    Total....................244 06 00
Taken and apprise by
 vs MARKE SENTION
    JOHN PLAT
    JOHN BOWTON
    John Whitne the son of Henr Whitne      deacesed hath attested upon oath to      this Inuentory before the Courte       Nouembr the eighth 1673
       WILLM HILL clarke'

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