The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

844
Here lyes Interred ye Body
of Mk James Humfkev Hereto(ore
one of ye Ruling
Elders of Dorchester, who
Departed this Life ye 12'''
of May 1686 in ye
78tt» year of his age
I nclosed within this shrine is precious Dust
A nd only waits for th' rising of ye Just
M ost usefull while he liued adom'd his Station
Euen to old age he Serued his Generation
S ince his Decease tho't of with Veneration
H ow great a Blessing this Ruling Elder he.
U nto this Church & Town & Pastors Three
M ather he first did by him help Receiue
F lint did he next his burden mnch Relieue
R enowned Danforth he did assist with skill
Esteemed high by all; Bear fruit imtill
Y ielding to Death his Glorious seat did fill •
His will bears date i6 Dec, 1685.! The date of his marriage is not known, nor the family
name of his wife. The records simply call her Mary, and her death stands on record 7 May, 1677.
Children (born in Dorchester):
S. I. HoPESTiLL,3 bap. 10 June, 1649; m. (i) Elizabeth Baker. He m. (2) 5 Jan., 1719,
Hannah (wid. of John) Blake. Family 4.
9. n. Isaac 3; m. Patience Atherton. Family 5.
10. in. IMary3; m. Obadiah (son of Richard and Ann) Hawes, of Dorchester, born about
• Hisl. Dtirchester, p. =52.
1635. Mrs. Mary (Humphrey) Hawes died 21 Apr., 1676. Fur descendants, see
Saragc's New Eng. Gcneal. Dictionary.
t The last Will and Testament of Elder James Humphrey made the sixteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand
six hundred eighty & five, I bebg now aged and weak in Body, and therefore cannot expect to continue long in this life but yet
of perfect memory and good understanding the good Lord be blessed and praised therefor. Do make this my last Will and Testament
in manner end form as lolioweth. Imprimis, I commit my immortal Soul into the hands of that Eternal God that made it, And my Body
after Death 1 leave to my Dear Relations and Christian friends to be decently buried in hope of a joyfull Resurrection at the last Day.—
My Will is that my Body be buried in the s.inie Tomb with Mr. Mather deceased late of Dorchester and formerly the Rev'i teacher to
that Church. Provided that the consent of the Rev.d Mr Increase Mather be first obtained if otherwise that my Body be buried as near
unto it as conveniently as it may be; And also that my grave be dressed up with a Stone and my name and age and day of my Death
engraved on it. And as for my outward Estate my funeral expehses being discharged and all just debts paid. 1 do give to my son in
law Obadiah Hawes and his chUdren Forty pounds to be divided into six equal parts, one part of it I give to my son Obadiah Hawes.
the other five parts to his children. Viz , to his son Obadiah Hawes one part, and to James Hawes one part, to Desire Hawes one part.
to Rachel Hawes one part, to Sarah Hawes one part; to be paid unto them when they shall come to be of age of twenty one years.
Also I give to Daniel Elders ten shillings. I give to Joseph Weeks ten shillings, all which legacies are to be paid in Com or Cattle, or
goods or otherwise to their content. Also I give to my son Hopestill that Bed which he now makes use of, and also my bigger brass
pot & lesser Brass kettle. I give to my son Isaac Ten acres of land in my Twenty acre lott, of that lott which lyeth next unto Robert
Stiles his lott, beginning at the East end so runing westerly eighty four rods which land I give & bequeath to my son Isaac forever:
Also 1 give him my Bed on which I lye and my bigger brass kettle and my lesser brass pot, & all the rest of my Estate bouth in
Houseing Land of all sorts. Goods Chattels whatever else, 1 do now poseess: all the remainder of my Estate my will is that it shall be
equally divided between my two sons Hopestill and Isaac Humphreys and in case my two sons should not agree about the dividing
ol the Estate they shall choose each of them a man to be helpfull to them, who together with themselves, shall divide the said estate as
equally as they can which being done that son of mine that will give most for toe choose he shall have it, that so all differences may
be prevented.—Also my Will is that if my son Isaac be removed by Death before he hath any child then that share of the land which
falleth to him by division after his Death shall be the inheritance ol my grand child James Humphrey the son of Hopestill Humphreys,
and in case my grand child should die before my son Isaac then 1 give my said land unto my son Hopestill his ne.xt son if he have any.
If otherwise, and if it so be that he have no more sons I give it unto his eldest daughter and my Will is that my son Hopestill shall
have no more of my Estate than is expressed in this Will. Notwithstanding any writing that may appear formerly given under my hand
not for any disrespect to my eldest son Hopestill or his wife Elisabeth, for they have earned as dutifully to me as any of my chUdren
which I hope God will reward them for, but it is for some other reasons best known to myself of weight to me whereby I am moved
thus to do: And do make and appoint my two suns Executors of this my hist Will and Testament. And I do entreat my loving friends
James Blake and Ob.adiah Hawes to bg the Overseers ol this roy Will to see that it be fultilkU and performed.
In Witness here of I have here milo
set my hand and Seal.
In presence of Samuel CuiP
John Blake
JA.MES HUMPHREY,
Lxani'd per John Baodei-l Rrg,T
A true copy as of record John Baci;£L1. Ri^,T