The last will and
testament of Nehemiah Jewett of Ipswich, 1719
Administration
and Inventory of possessions of Exercise Jewett of Ipswich.
This is the will of "Elder" Nehemiah Jewett of Ipswich, fourth child and second son of Joseph and Mary (Mallinson) Jewett of Rowley. He was born in Rowley on April 6 1643 and married Exercise Pierce, daughter of John and Rebecca Pierce of Lynn at Lynn 17 October 1668. The will is dated 10 December 1719 and Nehemiah died a few days later, on January 1 1719/20.
Though he was outlived by his wife and she was the sole executor of the will, she is not actually named. The will does name his sons Nehemiah, Joseph Jewett and Daniel Dow (the latter is actually the husband of his daughter Mehitable) and his grandsons Benjamin (minor) son of Benjamin Jewett; Nehemiah Skillion (son of his daughter Mary and her husband Benjamin Skillion of Ipswich); Nehemiah (minor) and Joseph, sons of Joseph Jewett; Sam son of Thomas Varnum (who had married the testator’s daughter Joanna Jewett) and Purchase, son of Nehemiah Jewett.
For more details of Nehemiah’s activities as elder in the community see FC Jewett’s History and Genealogy of the Jewetts of America.
I Nehemiah Jewett of Ipswich in ye County of Essex in ye Province of Massachtt Bay in New England, being weak in body but of sound memory and under pending do make this my last will and testament as followeth. I commit my soul unto the hands of God that gave it mee and my body to be buried according to the discretion of my wife and of my son and daughter Dow whomsoever give with. As for my outward or personell estate or reall estate I give and bequeath the same as followeth.
Impr. Unto my beloved wife for I discharge payment of my debts and for her support during her natural life to be at her dispose for her [use] except my wearing apperell which I give to be divided into three parts equally amongst my three sons Nehemiah and Joseph Jewett and Daniel Dow having given portions to all my children out of all my estate formerly I now confirm it unto them. And do give that all my Daughters may be payd their portions according to my bequests in said deed. To my sons, having given unto my wife all my Personal Estate and Reall Estate when my debts are payd to be for her life and support. If any remains I give and bequeath as follows.
Viz My Pasture land on ye Island near where I now live bounded by ye River, the Common and my Son Dow’s land, my right for Ipswich Commons and my two thatch lotts at Hole (Hog?) Island I give and bequeath to my grandson Benja. Jewett when he comes to ye age of twenty and one years, which if he depart this life before I then give unto my Grandson Nehemiah Skillion:
My other lands pasture and Tillage I am now possessed off bound by my Son Nehemiah Jewett and my son Dow and Davis’ and ye common together with my Rights in ye common of Rowley with my Right Marsh in Rowley Common field I give and bequeath unto my grandson Nehemiah Jewett son of Joseph Jewett. If he depart this life before ye age of twenty one years that I give and bequeath itt to my grandsons Joseph Jewett son of Joseph Jewett and Sam Varnum son of Thomas Varnum…..
Notwithstanding these bequests my wife shall by no way hindred of ye sale of any of the above mentioned lands as shee shall for cause for her support
I give to my grandson Purchase Jewett son of Neh. Jewett my pistols and (hagtols?) and to my son Daniel Dow my gun case, my fowling piece, both after my wife’s decease….
My half mill with ye two iron croos and sledge belonging to me after my wifes decease I give and bequeath to my daughter Dow during her natural life and after her decease I give and bequeath ye said half of ye mill with ye said iron croos and sledge to my two aforesaid sons Benjn Jewett son of Benjamin Jewett and Nehemiah Jewett son of Joseph Jewett if they or either of them them live to ye age aforesd. If not as before mentioned to Sam Varnum and Joseph Jewett and Nehemiah Skillion my grandsons…
All my debts due by book or otherwise and what I have obliged my sons to pay to me or to my wife upon demand I order them to pay according as specified in ye books to for or for order. Also I order my wife to receive of my son Dow Twenty pounds he had land of Benj. Jewetts pan (?) which I gave him whereby he is obliged to pay ye said Twenty pounds as also a reminder of ye twelve pounds which I have his bill for.
Also I order my wife to receive ye twenty shilling a year which my son Nehemiah is to pay for my son Benjamin and to receive a reminder of what is behind for a pair of oxen which my said son Nehemiah bought of me and was to pay seven pounds and seven shillings a year untill he payd for it.
Also I hereby constitute and appoint my loving wife sole executor to this my last will and testament, no need of her making an inventory of my estate to give in with this my will. And for confirmation of this my last will and testament I have hereunto affixed my hand and seale this fourth day of December Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Nineteen and in ye sixth year of his Majesty’s Reigne.
Nehemiah Jewett
Signed, sealed and Declared to be his last will and testament in ye presence of us
witnesses
John Langry
Nathan Chapman
Stephen Bennet
Essex – Ipswich Anno 1719 before ye Hon. John Appleton Judge of ye probt. of Wills in ye said county of Essex, Mr John Langry, Nathl Chapman and Stephen Bennett all personally appeared and made Oath that they were present and saw Mr Nath. Jewett late of Ipswich decd. signe and seal and heard him make and declare ye above written testament to be his last will and testament which he so did he was of good understanding and disposing mind and that they all sett to ye hands as witnesses.
Sworne Dan Rogers regr.
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Nehemiah Jewett had instructed in his will that there was no inventory of his possessions to be drawn up. Most of his estate was left to his wife Exercise who died intestate on November 13 1731. The administration records read simply:
Essex. Admin. On ye estate of Exercise Jewett was granted unto Nehemiah Jewett who gave bonds with John Boardman and Thomas Lankaster of Ipswich as suretys for his faithfull discharge of that trusts and to give in an inventory by the first medy (Monday?) of July. Dated the 15th of Sept. AD 1731
Dan Appleton Regr.
The inventory was duly compiled:
Ipswich December 19 1731. An inventory of the Estate of Exercise Jewett decd. late of Ipswich [written in heavy writing over Rowley!] and Releque of Nemiah [sic] Jewett esqr. decd. taken by the administrator which she the said Exercise Jewett died in the improvement of and appraised by us the subscribers being by ye Judge of Probate appointed for that end.
| One feather bed, two pillows | £9 |
2 |
6 |
| Under bed 10/- Cord 2/6, Bedhead curtains 8/- | 1 |
.. |
6 |
| Two rugs and one coverted, four blankets | 2 |
5 |
.. |
| One pair of sheets 19/-, Two pillow cases 8/- | 1 |
7 |
.. |
| One table cloth 6/-, Two towels 2/6, Three diaper napkins. Ditto three cotton and linen 9/- | .. |
17 |
6 |
| Two pounds of linen yarn 9/-, Four pounds of woolen 12/- | 1 |
1 |
.. |
| One pewter plate 14/-, One pewter flagon 14/6, Eighteen pou old pewter. A table | 3 |
16 |
6 |
| Warming pan and skilet 16/- | 1 |
10 |
.. |
| A candle stick 2/-, One bed iron grid iron, iron assorted 6/6 |
.. |
6 |
6 |
| One hand iron, tongs, lamp, fire slice, candlestick | .. |
15 |
.. |
| Earthen ware 5/6, three glass bottles 1/-, Looking glass 4/- | .. |
10 |
6 |
| Old cubard 7/1, one old Bible 7/-, two chairs 3/- | .. |
17 |
.. |
| Old books 5/-, four paper books 4/-, Lattain (?) 10/- | .. |
19 |
.. |
| A spit 4/-, old axes 2/-, a cow and calf at eight pound | 8 |
6 |
.. |
| Two swine six pounds fifteen shillings | 6 |
15 |
.. |
Witness our hands Sam Dresser, John Boardman, Thomas Lancaster, Nehemiah Jewett
Jan 15 1731 Then Nehemiah Jewett admintr. made oath as to the truth of this inventory and what more comes to his knowledge he will give act. of before John Appleton Regr.
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Copyright S D Jowitt