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In the name of God, Amen. I, John Scarbrough, of the parish of St. Sepulchers, London; Blacksmith, being in perfect health and of sound mind and memory, thanks be to God, but calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, consisting of two parts in manner and on forme following (that is to say). First and principally, I give my soul into the hands of God who gave it to me, and for my body I commend it to the Earth to be buried in decent manners as my Executor hereafter named shall think fit. And as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath ~~ pleases God to bless me in this life. I give, devise, bequeath and dispose the same in manner and forme following: first I give and devise unto my eldest son John Scarborough for his life my two hundred and fifty Acres of Land, with the Town Lott which lyeth in the County of Bucks in the province of Penselvania in America which said Land my said Son is now in possession of, and which said Land butteth at one end thereof upon the land of William Paxton and Jonas Paxton and at the other end upon the Land of Nicholas Naughons. And my Nor'll and meaning is that after the decease of my said John Scarbrough I give and devise one hundred and fifty acres thereof unto my grandson William Scarbrough for his life and to the right heirs of his body and the other hundred acres residue of the said two hundred and fifty acres to be at the sole disposal of my said John. And as for my personall estate here in England which consists of ready money, bills, debts, securities, goods and household stuff, chalties and implements of my trade whatsoever I give and bequeath the same to my dear and loving wife Sarah Scarbrough during her life for her use the paying and satisfying thereout my funeral charges and all such Debts as I shall owe to any person or persons without delay and also desireing my said wife to give the residue of whatever she shall leave at her death to my son William Scarbrough and my Daughter Elizabeth Scarbrough to be equally divided between them to share and share alike. And of this my last Will and Testament I make and ordaine my said dear and loving wife Sarah Scarbrough my suit and whole Executrix and adheredly revoke and annull all former Wills and Testaments by me at any time therefore made ratifying and confirming this and noneother to be my last Will and Testament. I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this fifteenth day of October in the year of our Lord One Thousand six hundred ninety and six. Signed sealed published and testified to be the last will and testament of the above named John Scarbrough in the presence of: William Penn Jun (signature) Tho Barnard (signature) Lane Harrison (or Sam'l Harrison) (signature) Robert Hutchinson (signature) Acknowledged before me by & Layd John Scarbrough (signature) WLM Penn (signature)
“Special thanks to Teresa Johnson in helping interpret this Will.”
Will was written one month after his daughter Anne died. Out of eight siblings, only three survived at the time of this Will. This was translated with all misspellings as the Will was written.
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John Scarbrough Will —Dated 1696 |
