Joshua Fuller of Newton, State of Massachusetts Bay
Last Will written, 14 September 1768
Middlesex County Probate Court
Reference: Case Number 8766
Probate, 16 March, 1779, Cambridge, Middlesex,
Massachusetts Bay State, USA

(Born 12 Apr, 1703   –   Died 23 Aug, 1777)
(Joshua3 Jeremiah2, John1 of Newton)

Transcribed June, 2016, by
Diana Spelman, Norwich, Norfolk, UK

 

In the Name of God Amen I Joshua Fuller of Newton in the County of Middlesex Gentleman being of a sound and Disposing mind and Memory and Desirous while I am so to set my House in order Do therefore make this my last Will & Testament in manner and form as followeth, and first of all I Commend my Soul into the hands of my Gracious redeemer and my Body I Commit to the dust by a decent Christian funeral.  And as to my worldly Estate or goods I will & dispose of them (after my Just debts and funeral Charges being paid) after the following Manner Vi[delice]t

Impr[imi]s I do hereby Authorize and impower my Executors hereafter named to sell and allienate by a good Deed or Deeds of sale two pieces of land Lying in Newton, one of said pieces Lying west of the new Way leading to Waltham, Containing about three Acres the other piece is Call[e]d the red Meadows Containing about fifteen Acres being part upland and part Swamp land and also all my Interest in a piece of Salt Marsh lying in Cambridge, for the payment of my Just Debts and funeral Charges; and if the produce of the Sale of the said Lands be not Sufficient to pay all my Debts, then my will is that so many of my out Door Moveables, and Quick Stock be sold to pay the remainder of them.

Item – I give & bequeath to Anna my well beloved Wife all the moveable Estate she brought with her to me at her marriage.  I also give to her the said Anna the [page 2] improvement of the East End of my Dwelling House and One third part of the Barn on the Westerly End together with the improvement of One third part of my lands in Newton, (that is not sold for the payment of my Just Debts) During the time or term of her remaining my Widow; but in Case She alter her Condition by marriage, that then my Will is she Shall have only five pounds Lawful Money a year out of the incomes of my Real Estate to be paid her Equally by my three Sons hereafter named.

Item – I give and bequeath to my Eldest Son Joshua his heirs and assigns, all my rights of land in Bernardston in the County of Hampshire.

Item – I give & Bequeath Equally to my said three Sons Vi[delice]t Joshua Fuller David Fuller & Moses Fuller their heirs & assigns forever all my Buildings and lands Lying in Newton aforesaid, (Excepting what I have ordered to be sold for the payment of my Debts,) to come into Possession of that part I have given the improvement of to my Wife at her Marriage or Decease;  and the other part at my Decease. I also give to my said three Sons all my Personal Estate (of what kind or denominations so ever) that is not sold, that I have not in these presents disposed off.

Item – I give & bequeath to my Daughter Anna the Sum of Forty pounds Lawful Money to be paid her by my Said three Sons Equally when She arrives to the age of twenty One years or Marries that which first happens [page 3]

Item – I give and bequeath to my Daughter Eunice the sum of Forty pounds Lawful Money to be paid her Equally by my said three Sons, when She arrives to the age of twenty one years or marries, that which first happens.

Item – I give and bequeath to all my aforesaid Children Vi[delice]t Joshua, David, Moses, Anna & Eunice, all my rights of land Lying in Sundry new Townships, (that I have not in these presents disposed off) to be Equally Divided amongst them.

Finally – I do hereby Constitute make and ordain Anna my well beloved wife, and my Eldest Son Joshua my Only, and Sole Executors of this my last will and Testament.  And I do hereby revoke & Disannul all Former Wills & Testaments, Ratifying & Confirming this and no other to be my last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourteenth Day of September Annoque Domini 1768 and in the Eighth year of his Majestys Reign

Signed Sealed published pronounced and Declared by the Said Joshua Fuller as his last Will & Testament in the presence of us the Subscribers

 

Oakes Angier                                                                                    Joshua Fuller
Abr Fuller
Abigail Angier

[Written on the bottom of the will]

Middlesex 16 March 1779 Presented for Probate by the Surviving Executor Joshua Fuller, & attested by the oaths of Oakes Angier & Abraham Fuller Esq[ui]r[e]

 

Probate:    Middlesex County, Cambridge 16th March 1779

To all People to whom these Presents shall come John Winthrop Esq: Judge of the Probate of Wills &c in the County of Middlesex, within the Province of [crossed out] the [State of] Massachusetts-Bay in New-England [should be USA], sendeth Greeting.

Know Ye, That on the 16th Day of March Anno Domini  1779 the Instrument hereunto annexed (purporting the last Will and Testament of Joshua Fuller late of Newton in the said County, gentleman deceased) was presented for Probate by Joshua Fuller the surviving Executor therein named; then present  Abraham Fuller Esq[ui]r[e]. & Oates Angier ~~two of the Witnesses thereto subscribed, who made Oath, that they saw the said Testator Sign, Seal and heard him declare the said Instrument to be his last WILL and Testament, and that they & Abigail Angier subscribed their Names together as Witnesses to the Execution thereof in the said Testators Presence: and that he was then (to the best of their Judgment) of sound and disposing Mind:

I DO Prove, Approve and Allow of the said Instrument as the last Will and Testament of the before named deceased, and do commit the [Administration thereof in all Matters the same concerning, and of his] Estate whereof he died seized and poffess’d in said County, unto Joshua Fuller the before named Executor well and faithfully to Execute the said Will, and to administer the Estate of the said deceased according thereto; who accepted of his said Trust, and having as directed in a letter of administration – granted before their will was bound – already returned an Inventory of s[ai]d estate according to the law he shall render an Account (upon Oath) of his Proceedings, when thereunto lawfully required.

IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal of Office, the Day and Year above written.

(signed) J Winthrop

 

Inventory:

In Inventory of the Personal Estate of Cap[tai]n Joshua Fuller late of Newton Deceased as Shewn to us the Subscribers by the Administrator to Said Estate

vi[delice]t:

1 Horse 218/- 1 P[air] Oxen £46  1 P[air] Steers £39   £95 – 18 – –
10 Cows     125 – 12- –
2 Calves @ 60/- each £6   1 Bull £3         9 – –  – –
24 Sheep @ 50/6 each £60 – 12/-   3 Swine £18-2/6     78 – 14 – 6
1 Waggon £50   1 Cart & Wheels £7 – 14/-      57 – 14 – –
1 Cart and Wheels £8 – 15/-  2 Timber Chains  88/9      13 –  3 – 9
2 Plow Chains 55/- 1 Back Chain 12/-          3 – 7 – –
2 Iron Bars 99/-   2 P[airs] Traces 33/-  1 Collar 4/3       6 – 16 – 3
2 Yokes for Oxen 29/9   1 Sleigh  57/-  2 Plows 50/6       6 – 17 – 3
1 Flax Brake 10/- Hay & Dung Fork 17/6         1 – 7 – 6
1 Hoe 6/-   2 Sleds 61/-   1 Riding Saddle 12/-        3 – 19 – –
25 Empty Casks 225/6   13 Tubs 27/- 1 Scale Beam 4014          – 12 – 6
1 Cranberry Rake 9/-   2 Grind Stones 48/6       2 – 17 – 6
1 Cask Vinegar 100/-   1            Pigeon Net  16/-        5 – 16 – –
1 Wheel Barrow 8/- 16 Barrel Cyder@69/qu[aurt]bt(£55-4-)     55 – 12 – –
3 Fire Arms £9 – 4/-    1 Beetle & Wedges 9/-        9 – 13 – –
2 Axes 13/-  1 P[air] Panniers 17/-   1 Canoe 20/-        2 – 12 – –
3 Cask line 42/-  1 Cart Rope  21/9        3 –  3 – 9
81 lb Pewter Dishes plates &c     35 – 18 – 6
68 lb old Brass £10 – 6/6   2 Copper Kettles 14/-        11 – – – 6
1 Bell mettle Pot 26/-   1 Iron Pot  12/-        1 – 18 – –
2 Iron Kettles 34/-  1 Tea Kettle 15/6 Frying pan 6/8       2 – 15 – 9
1 Iron Skillet 6/- 1 Toaster 6/-   1 Spider  4/-        – – 16 – –
1 Gridiron 12/- 1 Brass Skimmer  16/-          1 – 8 – –
Shovel and Tongs 16/-  4 Candlesticks 20/-        1 – 16 – –
1 P[air] Stillyards 22/- 2 P[airs] Andirons  11l/6       6 – 12 – 6
5 Baskets 17/-   2 Meal Bags 4/-  3 Measures 7/-          1 – 8 – –
1 Riddle 5/-  Bread Trough 7/-  Sickles 7/-             19 – –
1 Churn 6/-   Mortar  3/6   Kegs & Bottles 13/-         1 – 2 – 6
1 Meat Chest 15/-  13 Chairs  45/6          3 – – – 6
1 Great Chair 2/6  1 Maple Table 33/-       1 – 15 – 6
1 Case on Drawers  98/-  1 Chest with Drawers 15/-        5 – 13 – –
1 Hat Case 3/-   1 Maple Table 30/-        1 – 13 – –
1 Chamber Table 33/-    8 Bowback Chairs 49/-          4 – 2 – –
1 Great Chair 5/-   3 Bedsteads & Cords 43/-          2 – 8 – –
1 old Chest 7/-   Brass Scales & Weights 22/-         1 –  9 – –
Wearing Apparel £22 – 14 – –   1 P[air] Hose  19/-      23 – 13 – –
1 Bed & Bolsters 72 lb  @ 2/9 P[er] lb        9 – 18 – –
1 Ditto 60 lb @ 3/-   £9   1 Ditto 57 lb @ 6/- £17 – 2/-        26 – 2 – –
1 Ditto 60 @ 5/- P[er] lb                                                      
       15 – – – –
  Carried over     657 – 6 – 9
[page 2]
  Foot bro[ugh]t over  £657 – 6 – 9
1 Bed Quilte 14/-   5 Coverlets £8 – 6/-          9 – 0 – –
6 Blankets £6 – 9/-  2 P[airs] Sheets £4 – 8/-      10 – 17 – –
2 Straw beds 33/-     1 Bedstead & Cord 16/-          2 – 9 – –
a Suit Green Curtain £6    1 Suit Red Ditto £7 – 9/-        13 – 9 – –
1 Flax Comb 26/-    4 P[airs] purple Gloves 12/-        1 – 18 – –
4P[airs] white Gloves 8/-  2 large Glass Bottles 12/-          1 – – – –
1 Trunk 3/-  273 lb old Iron @ 8d P[er] lb  £9 2/-          9 – 5 – –
1 Towel 1/-  1 large looking Glass 50/-  Saddle bags 28/-        3 – 19 – –
1 Looking Glass 6/-  1 P[air] Bellows 5/-  4 Augers  12/-          1 – 3 – –
1 Shave & Chisel 9/-  1Tenon Saw 10/-        – – 19 – –
1 White pine Table 10/-  3 Trammels 87/6       4 – 17 – 6
1 Tramel 18/-  1 Large Plow 120/-  1 Iron Harrow £6      12 – 18 – –
4 Tons English Hay £64   3 Ditto Meadow Hay  £24        88 – – – –
1 Stack Meadow Hay 48/-   30 lb Sedge 60/-          5 – 8 – –
61 Bushel of Indian Corn & other Grain        64 – 8 – –
2 Bushels Beans @ 40/-                                                         
         4 – – – –

[Total]……………………………………………………………………………..£890 – 17 – 3

The foregoing is an Inventory of the Personal Estate of Capt[ain] Joshua Fuller late of Newton deceased, as apprized by us the Subscribers

Newton May 23d 1778

Amar Fuller                  )
John Fuller                    )
Peter Durell                   )                             Committee
Nathan Fuller                )
Alex Shepard Jun[ior]   )

Middlesex 2 June 1778 Sworn to by the adm[inistrat]or  Joshua Fuller before me

J Winthrop     J Prob:

[written as an aside] Inventory consolidates one 4 fort[h] = £222 – 14 – 4
[Note: four times 222-14-4 =890-17-2]

 

Real Estate:

Middlesex Ss

To the Honorable John Winthrop Esq[uire] Judge of Probate for said County

In Obedience to a Commission from your Honor directing us the Subscribers to apprized the Real Estate where of Joshua Fuller late of Newton Gentleman Deceased, Intestate Died Siezed & Possessed and to set off to Anna Fuller Widow of said Deceased one Third part, thereof as Her Right of Dower or Thirds Having Met on said Affair (all Parties Concerned being Notified)  We proceeded & apprized the said Estate as Contained in the following Inventory

Seventy Three Acres & an half of Land Lying in Newton aforesaid Bounded North Easterly & Northerly on the County Way, Westerly on Land of John Fuller in part on Land of Capt[ain] Joseph Fuller in part Southerly on Land of Amos Bond in part  in part on Land of Phinehas Bond Southeasterly on Land of said Bond with a Dwelling House Cyder Mill & House, Shop, Well &c
Valued at One Thousand Eighty Eight pounds Five shillings                                                                   1088 – 5 – –

One Hundred & Twenty Three Acres Bounded Northerly on Land of Stephen White in part and in part on Charles River Westerly on a County Way Southwesterly, Southerly, & South Easterly on said Way Easterly on Land of Capt[ain] Edward Fuller in part & in part on Land of Stephen White aforesaid  with a Barn Standing thereon,
Valued at One Thousand Four Hundred & Eighty Two Pounds Seven  shillings                            1482 – 7 – –

Two Acres & Three Quarters of an Acre bounded Northerly on Richard Fuller, Westerly on Land of John Fuller, Southerly on a Town Way, Easterly on a County Way
Valued at Twenty Eight pounds Four Shillings                                                                                                 28 – 4 – –

Four Acres of Marsh lying in Cambridge bounded Northerly on Land belonging to the Heirs of Caleb Dann Esq[uire] Westerly on a Proprietors Way, Southerly on Land of Mr Cutter, Easterlyon Charles River,
Valued at Eighty pounds                                                                                                                                            80 – – – –

                                                                                                                                              £2678 – 16 – –

[page 2]

Foot Bro[ugh]t over                                                                                                                                           £2782 – 16[sic]

One Third part of a Tract of Marsh Land lying in Cambridge containing Four Acres undivided, bounded Northerly on Land Improved by Harvard College, Westerly on the Proprietors Way aforesaid, Southerly on Land belonging to the Heirs of Mr Jones, Easterly on Charles River,
Valued at Eighteen Pounds                                                                                                                                          18 – – – –

One half part of an Island undivided Lying in Charles River in Watertown Bounded on all parts by the River
Valued at Thirty Five Pounds                                                                                                                                    35 – – – –

Fifteen Acres of Land (called the Red Meadows) Lying in s[ai]d Newton Bounded Northerly on Land of Joseph Adam, Westerly on Land of William Park, Southerly on Land of the Widow Hovey, Easterly on a County Way,
Valued at Thirty pounds                                                                                                                                              30 – – – –

One Third part of a Lot containing Seven Acres Two Quarters Northerly on Land of Jonathan Amory in part & in part on Land of Ebenezer Seger Westerly on Land of said Seger in part and in part on a County Way, Southerly on a Town Way Easterly on Land of Jonathan Amory aforesaid.
Valued at Eight Pounds Ten shillings                                                                                                                      8 – 10 – –

A Pew in the West meeting House in said Newton.
Valued at Twelve pounds being No.  [blank]                                                                                                       12 – – – –

[Total]…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………£2782 – 6 –[sic]

 

Widow’s Dower Rights:

Having thus perfected the Inventory, We proceeded and Set off [1/3] to Anna the Widow of said Deceased as follows:

One Third part of the Dwelling House being in the Easterly end there of with the Cellar under the same, also a Small Room about Ten Feet square in the Easterly part of the back Kitchen.
Valued at Forty Two Pounds                                                                                                                                     42 – – – –

One Third part of the Barn being Twenty Feet of the Easterly end thereof with Liberty of passing thro the other part of the barn at all times to said End.
Valued at Sixty Six pounds Thirteen Shillings & Four Pence                                                                         66 – 13 – –

Carried forward                                                                                                                                                         108 – 13 – 4

[page 3]

Foot bro[ugh]t forward                                                                                                                                        £108 – 13 – 4

 

A Tract of Land containing Five Acres and Three Quarters of An Acre being part of the Lower Field (so called) bounded Southwesterly on the County Way & Westerly & Northwesterly on Land belonging to said Estate on all other parts on Land hereafter set off to Said Widow.
Valued at Seventy Pounds Five shillings                                                                                                                  70 – 5 – –

Forty Five Acres and One Quarter of an Acre of Land being part of Goodwins pasture (so called) the Lower pasture and Wet Meadow (so called) Bounded Southwesterly on said County Way, Northwesterly on the Lower Field in Part & in part on Land belonging to said Estate, North Easterly on Charles River in part & in part on Land of Stephen White Easterly in part on Land of said White in part on Land belonging to said Estate in part and in part on Land of Edward Fuller.
Valued at Five Hundred & Six pounds four Shillings & Six pence                                                             506 – 4 – 6

Twelve Acres of Wood land Bounded North Westerly on Land of John Fuller, Northeasterly on the County Way aforesaid, Southeasterly & Southwesterly on Land belonging to Said Estate.
Valued at One Hundred & forty Four pounds                                                                                                      144 – – – –

A Garden spot (so called) containing about one Fourth of an Acre Bounded Easterly on said County Way & on all other Parts on Land of said Estate.
Valued at Ten pounds                                                                                                                                                       10 – – – –

One half part of a Piece of Marsh Lying in Cambridge containing in the whole Four Acres bounded as follows Vizt Northerly on Land belonging to the Heirs of Caleb Dann Esq[uire], Westerly on a Proprietors Way, Southerly on Land of Mr Cutter, Easterly on Charles River.
Valued at Forty Pounds                                                                                                                                                 40 – – – –

Also The Privileges of a Free Use of the Well, the Door Yard & Pond before the Door of the Dwelling House, also the Improvement of the Cyder Mill for making her own Cyder.

Valued at Forty Three Pounds Five shillings and Ten Pence.  and also one third part of a Pew No. in the west Meeting house in this Town, Valued at Five pounds                                                                             48 – 5 – 10

                                                                                                                                               £927 – 8 – 8

[page 4]

Newton May 23d 1778

Amar Fuller                     )
John Fuller                      )              Committee
Peter Durell                    )
Nathan Fuller                 )
Alex Shepard Jun[io]r)

 

In Testimony of our Approbation of, and consent, to the foregoing Apprizement and division of the Widows Dower or Thirds, We the Subscribers have hereunto set our Hands this 23d Day of May AD 1778

Anna Her X mark  Fuller  Widow of s[ai]d Deceased
Joshua Fuller                 )
Anna Fuller                    )
David Fuller                   )                Heirs to s[ai]d Estate
Josiah Fuller Jun[io]r)
Eunice Fuller                 )

 

Middlesex 2 June 1778.  I accept of this return & order the same to be recorded.                                                           [signed] J Winthrop   J. Prob[ate]

 

 

Real Estate – Rights of Land:

We are Informed by the Administrators of the Estate whereof Capt[ain] Joshua Fuller Late of Newton died seized & Possessed that there are the follows[sic] Tract of Land belonging to Said Estate

vizt:

Five Rights of Land in the Township Called Sudbury Canada in the County of Cumberland
Valued at Three Hundred & Twenty Five pounds                                                                          £325

Three Rights of Land in the Township Called Number Four in said County
Valued at One Hundred & Fifty pounds                                                                                                150

Two Rights of Land in the Township Called Phips Canada in the County aforesaid
Valued at one Hundred pounds                                                                                                               100

One Right of Land in Bernardston in the County of Hampshire
Valued at One Hundred & fifty pounds                                                                                                150

Three Rights of Land in the Township Called Sudbury on Otter Creek in Newhampshire Grants (so called)
Valued at Ninety pounds                                                                                                                            90

One Right of Land on the River Susquehannah
Valued at Fifty pounds                                                                                                                               50

[Total]                                                                                                                                                          £815

In Apprizing the within Rights of Land we have depended much on the Information of others, but submit it

Newton May 23d 1778

Amar Fuller                     )
John Fuller                       )
Peter Durell                      )        Committee
Nathan Fuller                  )
Alex Shepard Jun[io]r )

 

Administration of Estate:

[Note 1: during administration of the Will, the Court ordered that assets be sold to pay for the outstanding debts of £2,316.11.08, which was nearly everything except the dower rights]

[Note 2: this Will was written in 1768 prior to the date of Independence – July 4, 1776, however Probate was in 1779 after independence, but prior to 1780 when Massachusetts became “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts”. Most  preprinted Probate Court Documents in this Will file were manually changed from “Province of”, to “State of” Massachusetts Bay for dates prior to 1780, however not all were changed. We tried to respect the actual wording of the documents transcribed while knowing the history and intent of the Court. From 1776 to 1780, Massachusetts was legally “Massachusetts Bay State”]

 

 

Source:

Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.    New England Historic Genealogical Society online database, 2014. From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives, Boston, MA, USA