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John was one of the first settlers in New England. He made his will in 1686. John (14 yrs old) came to Boston with his mother
Margerie (49 yrs) and brother Phillipp (11 yrs) in midsummer 1635 on the "Elizabeth Ann from London.
John accompanied his mother in emigrating and in the settlement of the family in Duxbury, MA. He was a tailor by trade. John
was one of six men who went first from Duxbury in an expedition to quell an uprising of the Narragansetts and their allies
(Aug, 1645) and was elected constable in 1659. He moved to Bridgewater, MA somewhat later with his wife Elizabeth, where he
was one of the original proprietors of Bridgewater. He was the second largest landholder in town, having "four proprietary
shares" located in the east, south and west quarters of the town, and rights in the undivided lands equivalent, altogether,
to about one twelfth of the original purchase from Massasoit.
John sold the house and land given him by his father, at Green Bay Harbor, Duxbury. His will was dated 1686.
JOHN WASHBURN'S WILL
(Plymouth County Probate Records I:84)
Signed it by a mark. Bequests were as follows: "to my WIFE, Elizabeth Washbourne one bed, one boulster, one pillow, two pair
of sheets, one blanket, one coverlet, two chests. Six bushels of Indian Corne, one bushell of Barley. farther with respect
to money which was my wives part where of I have already laid out for her we are agreed that I should returne to her two pounds
and ten shillings which I have already done.""to my son, JOHN fourscore acres of upland in the place where he hath already
built and what shall be found wanting of the fourscore acres in the said place shal be made up to him on the easterly side
of my land next the south brooke more I give to him a lot of meadow in Cousters Kitchen lying betwene the lots of Samuela
nd james: more two lots of meadow lying in the great Meadow above the Great Island more I give to him is that my son John
take care of my brother Phillip to provide for him and on that consideration I farther give to my son John half a purchase
right in my undivided lands and half a fifthy acre lot not yet laid out further I give to him the improvement of a lot of
meadow in the Great meadow lying next to John Ames during my Brother's LIfe and after my brothers decease the one half of
the lat shal be to my son james and my son John shall enjoy the other half." "to my son THOMAS, I have already given twenty
acres of upland which he hath exchanged for land where he hath built more I have given him a lot of meadow in Cousters Kitchen
lying on the outside northerly. I have also given him half a purchase right in the undivided lands of all which lands I have
formerly given him deed: "to my son JOSEPH, I have given twenty acres of land lying at Satucket pond and a lot of meadow lying
at Black Brooke, I have other wise done for him according to my ability and my will is that hetherewith rest contented." "to
my son SAMUEL, I give thirty five acres of land in the place where he hath already built and a lot at Quatitequatjoyning to
his great lot there more I give half of purchase right in the Undivided lands. Also a lot of meadow lying up poore meadow
river and joyning to his own lot htere more a lot of meadow in Couster Kitchen lying on the outside Southerly farther I give
to him thirty acres of land joyning to his land where he hath built and also a Steere Calf.""to my son JONATHAN, I give fifty
acres of land lying on the outside of my land next the South rooke and if he should come to settle upon it within the space
of two years after the date of this Will he shall enjoy it as his own otherwise my sons JOHN, SAMUEL, BENJAMIN and JAMES shall
enjoy the land being equally divided betweene them each of them paying to my son Jonathan fifty shillings in comon pay more
I give to my son Jonathan a lot of meadow lying in the great meadow joyning to a lot of Goodman Turners. Also half a purchase
right in the Undivided Lands.""to my son BENJAMIN, I give fifty acres of land which formerly was my fathers lot, also a lot
of meadow lying up Satucket River and joyning to a lot of Samuel Wadsworths and half a purchase right in undivided lansalso
two young steeres a young horse a cow a bed and an iron pot." "to my younger son JAMES when he shall come to age I give the
land which lyeth between my son John and my son Benjamin butting on the River and Running in lenth till it meet with the Butt
of my son Samuels Land with my dwelling house and all out housing there unto belonging also a lot of meadow in Cousters Kitchen
joyning to a lot of Benjamin Willis and half a purchase right in the undivided lands." " a fifty acre lot lying near Bear
Swamp I give to my two sons John and Samuel to be equally divided between them. " "a lot of meadow lying in the mouth of Black
Brooke I give to my three sons Samuel Jonathan and Benjamin to be equally divided between them." "to my daughter MARY, I give
ten acres of land to be laid out and one cow." "to my daughter ELIZABETH I give ye mare which they have in keeping and ten
acres of land already layd out to my son in law, her husband," "to my two daughters, MARY and ELIZABETH, I give twenty acres
of land lying down the Town River on the northerly side and joyning to the lands of William Brett to be equally divided."
"to my daughter JANE, I give twenty acres of land lying down Satucket River on the easterly side and joyning to the lands
of Samuel Allen: further I give to her one cow, one heiffer a bed and an iron pot." "to my daughter SARAH,I give twenty acres
of land joyning to my sons Samuels land near his house." "further all my right and interest in the lands called the Majors
purchase or in any other Lands without the four mile my Will is that is shall be equally divided between my sons John, Thomas,
Samuel, Jonathan, Benjamin and James." "my two old oxen I leave in the hands of my two sons, John and Samuel to be sold when
fit for sale and four pounds of the money to be disposed for my son Benjamin toward his building." "I leave on the land which
I intend to my son James, one horse, two oxen, one bull, two cows with all the furniture for husbandry to be improved for
the benefit of my two younger children, James and Sarah and my Willis that when these children come to age, the principle
be divided between them. By principle I intend the horse oxen and other cattell with the tooles and furniture afore mentioned."
"for my trustees and overseers, I do nominate my kind friend Mr. John Thomson of Middleborough and my brother Edward Mitchel,
I do nominate and ordaine my two sons John and Samuel executors." This instrument was exhibited in the Inferior Court of Common
Please at Plymouth on 8th of June 1687 by John Washbourne, executor.
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