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“This will was recorded in the Probate Records of
Barnstable County, at Barnstable, Mass., and is found in Volume I, page
32.” The will is printed in The
Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 1, p. 110.
“To all Christian people to whome these presents shall com know ye that
I Giles Hopkins of Eastham being sick and weak of body and yet of perfit
memory do declare this as my Last will and Testament on this ninteenth day
of January in ye year of our Lord 1682
“I bequeath my Body to ye grave in decent burial when this temporal Life
of mine shall have an end and my soul to god that gave it in hopes of a
blessed Resurrection at ye Last day
“2ly my will is that my son Stephen Hopkins shall possess and Injoy all
my upland and meadow Lying and being at Satuckit that is to say all my
upland and meadow on ye southerly side of ye bounds of ye Towne of eastham
that is to say all my right and title Intrest and claime to all those
Lands from ye head of Namescakit to ye southermost part of ye long pond
where mannomoyet cart way goes over to Satuckit and from thence to ye head
of manomoyet river and so as our Line shall run over to ye south sea all
ye Lands between thos bounds and ye westermost bounds of ye purchesers at
satuckit river all these Lands I give unto my son Stephen Hopkins and to
his heirs forever : and half my stock of cattill for and in consideration
of ye above sd Land and half stock of cattel my will is that after my
decrease my son Stephen Hopkins shall take ye care and oversight and
maintaine my son William Hopkins during his natural Life in a comfortable
decent manner.
“3ly my will is that all my Lands at Palmet both purchesed and
unpurchesed both meadows and upland and all my Lands at Pochet and my thrd
part of Samsons neck and what other Lands shall fall unto me as a
purcheser from ye fore mentioned Bounds of my son Stephen Hopkinses Lands
and potanomacot all these fore specified Lands I give unto my sons Caleb
and Joshua Hopkins to be equally devided between them: further my will is
that if either of my sons, Joshua or Caleb Hopkins dye having no Issew
that then these Lands which I have given them to be equally devided
between them fall to him that surviveth.
“4ly. I give unto my wife
Catorne Hopkins and to my son William Hopkins the improvment of too acres
of meadow Lying at ye head of Rock Harbor during my wifes Life and ye one
halfe of that too acres I give unto my son william during his Life and
after ye decrease of my wife
and son william I do give this above sd too acres of meadow to my son
Joshua Hopkins and his heirs forever: as also after my decrease I give
unto my son Joshua Hopkins a parcel of meadow Lying at ye mouth of Rock
Harbor according to ye bounds thereofspecified in ye Towne Records of
Lands: it I give unto my son Caleb Hopkins a parcel of meadow Lying at
Little Nameskeket according to ye bounds thereof specified in ye Towne
Book of Records of Lands.
“It I give unto my wife my now dwelling House and halfe my Land and
halfe my orchard that is by my house: by Land I mean half my Land that is
about my house both fenced and unfenced during my wifes natural Life, and
then ye abovesd housing and Lands to fall utno my son Joshua Hopkins; the
other half of my Land and orchard I give to my son Joshua Hopkins after my
death that is to say ye other half of my Lands liying about my house.
“It. I give unto my son
Caleb Hopkins one pair of plow Irons.
“It. I give unto my son
Joshua Hopkins one payer of plow Irons.
“It. I give unto my son
Joshua Hopkins my carte and wheels.
“It. I give unto my wife ye other half of my stock and moveables I say
to my wife and son William or what parte of ye moveables my wife shall see
cause to bestow on my son William Hopkins.
“It. I do appoint my son
Stephen Hopkins to be my true and Lawful executor of this my Last will and
testament to pay what is payable and Receive what is due.
“And to ye truth and verity hereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal
ye day and year above written.
“Signed and sealed in the presence of us, Jonathan Sparrow.
Samuel Knowles.
“Ye mark of Giles H Hopkins [seal]
“Jonathan Sparrow and Samuel Knowles witnesses to
this will made oath in Court ye: 16th: of April 1690 that they
saw ye sd Giles Hopkins signe seal and declare this to be his Last will
and testament.
“Attest Joseph Lothrop. Claerk.
“I ye abovesd giles Hopkins do declare where as by ye providence of God
my Life has been prolonged unto me and by Reason of age and disabillity of
Body I am Incapatiated to provide for my owne support and my wifes, my
will further is that my son Stephen Hopkins from this time and forward
shall possess and Injoy all my stock and moveable estate provided he take
effectual care for mine and my wifes Comfortable Support during our
natural Lives witness my hand and seal this fifth day of march 1688/9
“Witness Mark Snow Jonathan
Sparrow. Giles H Hopkins
[seal]
“The within mentioned Mark Snow and Jonathan Sparrow made oath in Court
April ye: 16: 1690 that they saw Giles Hopkins within mentioned signe seal
and declare ye latter part of this will within mentioned to be his Last
will and Testament. Attest.
Joseph Lothrop, Clerk.
“Duly Compared with the original and entered April ye: 22: 1690.
Attest. Joseph
Lothrop, Recorder.” |
