Individual Details

Marriage

Also stated "A son of Abraham Howe of Dorchester MA. He married Hannah Ward on March 26, 1658 at Watertown, MA"

Will

WILL OF ABRAHAM HOW.
I Abraham How of Marlburrough, in the County of Middlesex, in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, Farmer, being of intire understanding, but sensible of my approaching death, by reason of my great age, do make and ordain my last Will and Teatament in manner and form following, viz. After the resignation of myaelf unto my most merciful God, on whowe trust and richest grace, I hope for a part in the glorey of the third heaven.
I give and bequeath unto Hannah my loving wife to be to her use and at her disposal and her own property, all my monies and household stuff, particularly my furnates together with all Sheep Swine and Neat Cattle which I have, except one pair of Steers and one Cow, likewise my said wife shall have to her own use (during her natural life) which of the Two first rooms she shall choose at either end of my new dwelling house together with the free use of the Ovens and Cellar of my said house, as she shall need, and all rent free.
Item, I give unto Hannah my wife and to her heirs and assigns forever, all my right and claim unto all uplands meadows and swamps, lying in the Six Thousands Acres of land lately purchased of the Indians, situated Northward of and near to Marlburrough aforesaid.
To my Eldest son Daniel How, I give and bequeath all my now dwelling house and out houses. and all those acres of my Houselot or Homestead adjoining to my said House which are yet undisposed of together with my whole Town right in Marlburrough aforesaid for Firewood. Timber and food of Cattle, proportionately unto the five and twenty acres of my houselot granted me by the Proprietors of said Marlburrough.
Item. I give unto my said son Daniel all the Meadows now belonging unto my said house lot, as the said meadows are now devided and distingushed betwixt my said son Daniel and my son Abraham How, and I give my said son Daniel How all my right unto a third Divison of Upland in said Marlburrough consisting of fifty acres more or less not yet laid out, together with all my right which or ought to have in any division or divisions of land which Shall hereafter be made by the Proprietors of said Marlburrough, in the lands as yet undevided According to the full proportion of my house lot of five and twenty acres all those forementioned houses land and rights which I have given and bequeathed unto my said son Daniel How, shall be to himself and to his heirs and assigns forever.
Item, I give my said son Daniel How all my Tacklings and Utensils for Weaving; And my Will is that my said son Daniel How shall well and carefully maintain Hannah my wife his mother immediately after my death with all necessaries and conveniences at his own proper charge for her comfort both in sickness and in health, during the natural life of his said mother the said Daniel keeping or causing to be kept one milch cow, for her use and long as his said mother shall desire the same.
To my Son Joseph How and to his heirs and assigns forever I have already given as his portion in full from mee a certain messuagely next adjoining to my said houselot in Marlburrough the said messuage containing Eighteen acres of land more or less in on entire piece Northward from my now dwelling house together with one dwelling house thereupon situated as more fully appears in a deed of Gift by mee given to said son Joseph How dated the twenty-third day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety four.
To my son Abraham How I have already given Eleven Pounds toward his purchasing the messuage forementioned of his brother Joseph How, and I give my said son Abraham How Twenty Nine pounds more in money toward the completment of the said purchas,
Item, To my said son Abraham I bequeath the two Steers and the Cow above in this my will excepted from the rest of my Cattle Also I bequeath unto my said son Abraham all my furnisher and instruments for Husbandry, which I have not yet disposed of , But my nineteen Iron rings to ty up Cattle with, all I give unto my abovesaid son Daniel.
Item, to my said son Abraham I give my Musquet and my Sword. By my fowling gun shall be at the disposal of my wife, and my will is that my said son Abraham How shall pay or cause to be paid unto Hannah my wife, his mother during her natural life Twenty shillings money, a year from year to year.
To each of my five daughters already married I give forty shillings and no more because they have already had of mee the Bulk of their portions viz: Mary wife John Bouker, Hannah wife of Eleazer How, Elizabeth wife of Samuel Brigham, Deborah wife of John Barrett, Jr., Rebecca wife of Peter Rice, The said forty shillings shall be paid unto each of my now married daughters here named in such household goods as my wife shall be best able to spare, with in one year after my decease, Unto my two other daughters namely: Sarah How and Abigail How I give portions which shall be for kinds and quantity equal unto two of their forenamed sisters.
I Appoint Hannah my loving wife Executrix, and my son Daniel How Executor of this my last Will and Testament, And I desire my loving in law Capt. Henry Kerley and my loving Kinsman John Barns senr., to be the Overseers of this my Will.
Witness my hand and Seal this twenty fourth day of May in the year of our Lord Christ One thousand six ninety and four Anno Quinto Regni Regis and Regina Supper Anglian Guilielmi and Maria.
ABRAHAM HOW (Seal)
Read Signed and Sealed in presence of these witnesses:
THOMAS RICE,
(illegible)
John Barns