During
my search for the will of William Phillips I contacted a research member of the NEHGS. The
following is what he sent me:
"The
original wills are not preserved - what we have are the colony's transcribed
copies of the probate files. The colony's records were originally kept in many volumes in
no particular order. In 1818 those volumes were rebound, and we now have four rebound
volumes of probate records kept by the Plymouth Colony's governors and secretaries. Copies
from those volumes may be requested in writing from the Plymouth County Commissioner's
Office, 11 South Russell Street, Plymouth, MA 02360. The current cost is $.50 a
sheet".
The following is the
transcribed record of the will of William Phillips.
(I have typed it exactly as it was written and the
spelling errors are not mine)
Wills and Inventories Volume 2
The Last Will and Testament of William Phillips of Taunton Deceased;
Exhibited before the Court holden att Plymouth the sixt Day of March 1654 on the oath of
James Walker;
Aprill the 16th Anno Dom: 1654
In The Name of God Amen I William Phillips of Taunton of the age of threescore and ten att
the least being visited by the hand of God with sicknes and great weaknes neare unto Death
not being likely to continew in this world; yet being through the mercye of God of pfect
understanding and memory and willing according as I ame pswaded it is my Dewty to sett my
house in order before I goe home I doe therfore as I came from the Dust comitt my body to
the Dust untill the Day of Judgment and my spirit into the hands of God beleiving in him
that when my body shall againe arise he will according to his gracious prmise make mee
ptaker of spirituall and heavenly glory with Jesus Christ And for my outward estate which
god hath given I Doe in this my last will give and bequeath as followeth viz: Imprimis my
house that I now Dwell in with my out housing and all my lands that I have of Right
appertaining and belonging to mee in Taunton with my Right and Interest that I have in the
Iron worke newly Erected and built att Taunton with all my household stuffe of one kind
and another I give it all Joyntly and equally unto my wife Elizabeth Phillips and my sonne
James Phillips To enjoy it all equally together whiles the Lord continew theire lives
together; but if the Lord be pleased to take away my wife by Death; then my son James
Phillips shall possesse and Injoy all the things formencioned as belonging and
appertaining to him and his for ever but if the Lord bee pleased to take my son James away
by Death without Issue then my will is that after the Decease of my wife then the estate
of mine as the Lord continueth it shalbee and appertaine unto the children of James Walker
my soninlaw to bee Devided amongst them equally I give and bequeath unto my Daughter in
law Elizabeth Walker an heifer of the age of two yeares old and to her little Daughter
hester Walker an heifer of a year old to bee theires after my decease The rest of my
stuffe which I also Injoy and the Lord
have given mee I leave them as the Rest of my goods with my wife and my sonne and soe
Comitt and Comand them and it and all to the blessing of the Lord And also I confirme this
to bee my last will and Testament and Doe heerby appoint my sonne James Phillips to be my
Exequitor and pay all Debts of mine every where and pforme the legacies heerin contained
and these I Rest heerin signing this my owne signe upon the sixteenth Day of Aprill in the
yeare of our lord 1654;
Witnessed by
The signe of
Olofer Purchise
William Phillips
James Walker
Wills and
Inventories Volume 2
The inventory of the goods and Chattels of William Phillips lately of Taunton
Deceased has Taken and aprised by William hailstone and William Otway the first
of March Anno Dom: 1654 and exhibited herfore the Court holden att Plymouth the sixth of
march 1654 on the oath of James Phillips and is as followeth
L | s | d | ||
Impri: his wearing apparrell | 03 | 00 | 00 | |
It his books | 01 | 00 | 00 | |
It his beding of all sorts and linnen | 07 | 00 | 00 | |
It his brasse pewter and other such vessels | 04 | 00 | 00 | |
It his Iron & tooles of Iron and of other kind | 02 | 00 | 00 | |
It all his ?e cond? vessels | 01 | 00 | 00 | |
It his Armor of all kinds | 03 | 10 | 00 | |
It a winnoing Chest and a faire sacke | 01 | 00 | 00 | |
It ten bushels of Indian Corne | 01 | 10 | 00 | |
It his interest in the Iron worke | 25 | 00 | 00 | |
It in cattle viz 2 steers one Cow an heifer and one Calfe |
18 | 00 | 00 | |
It 2 swine | 02 | 00 | 00 | |
It debts owing | 02 | 00 | 00 | |
It more given by him and Delivered by the Exequitor to
James Walker 2 heifers and one gunne |
06 | 00 | 00 | |
Sum Totall | 78 | 08 | 00 | |
Witnes heerto our hands William hailstone William Otway |