Will
7 September 1685
He left a will on 7 September 1685To all Christian people to whom this present deed of gift shall come.
Know ye that I Rowland Young Sr. of the town of York in the province of Maine, fisherman, together by and with the consent freewill and agreement of Joanna my now wife for and in consideration of the natural love and affection we do bear to our son Robert Young, as also for diverse other good causes and considerations us thereunto moving have given, granted alienated, enfeoffed and confirmed and hereby do give grant alienate enfeoff and Confirm unto him the said Robert Young our son and his heirs forever ten acres of land together as it is now bounded and laid out, which is a part of ye lot or tract of land which was formerly my now wife’s father’s, Robert Knight’s land where he formerly lived and is now in the tenure and possession of me the said Rowland Young Sr., my assign or assigns lying and being in York in the province of Maine which ten acres of land being part of the said Robert Knight’s farm or lot of land is laid out or bounded by a small brook of fresh water, which is near unto the house of Mary Sayward, widow which brook is south, or thereabouts from the said house, from the said brook southeast thirty two poles to a small Alder tree marked on four sides, from the Alder tree southwest fifty poles to a white oak marked on four sides, from the said white oak tree northwest nearest thirty two poles unto three small oaks growing and standing together all marked, and so to run northeast fifty poles unto the said brook abovementioned, which four lines completes the said ten acres of land, hereby granted and confirmed.
To have and to hold the said ten acres of land together with the appurtenances unto him the said Robert our son and his heirs forever only his wife Mary Young is to have ye free use and benefit of it during her natural life in as full large and ample manner to all constructions intents and purposes as I the said Rowland Young and Joanna my wife may or can estate the same freed and discharged from all other or former gifts grants sales mortgages jointers whatsoever made had committed or done by me the said Rowland or any of my ancestors, and I the said Rowland Young do acknowledge that the said lot or tract of land is really my own and that I have full power to dispose of it by virtue of my father-in-law Robert Knight’s right gift and grant to me as it was the said Robert Knight’s at any time while he lived and I the said Rowland Young and Joanna my now wife for us our heirs executors, administrators and assigns and forever and either of us do hereby covenant promise and agree to and with the said Robert Young our son and his heirs and to and with either of them that he the said Robert Young and his heirs forever and Mary his wife during her natural life shall or may from the date of these presents henceforth from time to time and at all times hereafter shall quietly and peaceably, have hold to manure and enjoy and possess the said tract of ten acres of land be it more or less as it is above bounded and we do hereby bind us our heirs executors and administrators against us the said Rowland Young and Johanna my wife our heirs, executors, administrators and assigns the said land to defend and against all other person or persons whatsoever claiming the said ten acres of land or any part or parcel thereof forever the Lord proprietor of the province of Maine, rents only excepted.
In witness hereof we the said Rowland Young and Joanna my wife have hereunto set our hands and seals this third Day of June in thirty second Year of the reign of our sovereign Lord Charles the Second, of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the faith, Annoq, Dom 1680, and further we grant unto our aforesaid son as an addition to what is formerly expressed the full breath of that land belonging to us all and every part of it, so far as John Leades his lot, and in length the whole quantity, so far as our interest doth extend as witness our hands and seals, always provided that our said son Robert Young and his assigns do allow us something considerable out of the said lands if our necessity shall require it.
Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of:
Arthur Bradgon
Daniel Livingstone
Robert Young Sr. (his mark and seal)
Rowland Young (his mark and seal)
Joanna Young (her mark and seal)
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In the name of God Amen, Rowland Young Senior of York in the province of Maine, declareth this to be his last will and testament;
I Rowland Young aforesaid, being at this present of a sound mind, and of a memory substantial, though very sickly in body, and willing to dispose prudently of what God in His pleasure hath possesed me with all, declare as followeth:
First: I bequeath my soul to God, that gave it in and through ye merits of my dear Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, in hopes of a joyful resurrection, at the great tribunal: and my body to the earth to be interred, in order and decent burial.
Secondly: I will that all my funeral charges shall be fully and duely paid, with all my other just and due debts, which may appear.
Thirdly: I will that my dearly, and beloved wife, Johanna Young shall enjoy all my estate that I have in this world, the same to possess and improue, and to take the full produce of from time to time, and at all times during the time of her natural life and if in case the produce of ye same shall not be a competent measure for her comfortable subsistance I do hereby empolre my well beloved to sell, align or dispose of all or any of my estate, not yet disposed of, for that end, and shall desire any court or seal or judicature, in such case of extremity, to aid and assist my beloved wife therein, and also so to order that she may have a comfortable livelyhood according to her rank, and quality out of ye same. And further I order my well beloved wife to will bequeath and dispose of what part of my estate, she shall leave at her decease, to whom she pleaseth; I also will the possession present of all my estate, houses lands marshes, or anything ye unto belonging to my dearly beloved wife, to whom I committ sole execution, and administration, desiring this my wellbeloved wife to act as sole executrix, in all respects to see my last will and testament performed.
Signed & delivered
Rowland Young (his mark)
In thePresence of:
Jeremiah Mowlton (his mark)
Timothy Yealls
Source: Maine Wills, 1640-1760 (Portland, Me., 1887), p. 85, citing Registry of Deeds, 5, 38.