Individual Details

Will

In the Name of GOD Amen. I John Rogers of Vassalborough in the County of Lincoln and Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, Trader, being weak in Body, but of sound Mind and understanding; knowing that I must shortly leave this earthly Tabernacle, do commit my Soul into the Hands of the Almighty Creator thereof, relying on the Merits of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for it's eternal Salvation, and resign my Body to be decently inter'd in it's Mother Earth. And, with Respect to the worldly Estate wherewith it hath please my albountiful Benefactor to endow me, I will that first, all my just Debts be paid and discharged.
Secondly For the Love and Affection I bear to Kata, my Wife, I give and bequeath unto her all my Houshold Furniture and wearing apparel, all my Carpenter's Tools; my Watch, my Silver Shoe-Buckles & Neck-Buckle, together with all the Provisions that shall be in my possession at the Time of my Death.
Thirdly I give and Bequeath all the Residue of my Estate unto her the said Kata, unto Mary Rogers, my eldest Daughter and unto Elizabeth Rogers my youngest Daughter, to be divided between the said Kata, Mary and Elizabeth, in equal Thirds.
Fourthly, I desire that the said Kata, my Wife and Abiel Lovejoy of Pownalborough, in s'd County of Lincoln, Gent. may be appointed joint Guardians of my said Daughters Mary Rogers and Elizabeth Rogers. And
Lastly I ordain, make and appoint William Howard of Hallowell, in said County of Lincoln, Gentleman, Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and making void all Wills by me heretofore made. In Testimony whereof I the said John Rogers have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this sixth Day of October, Anno Domini One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy four, and in the fourteenth year of his Majesty's Reign
John Rogers
Signed, sealed and declared by the said John Rogers to be his last Will and Testament in Presence of us- The Word my "Horse" on the other side being first erased.
John Marsh
Sam'l Devens
W. Wilkins
Probated 11 Nov., 1776 . [II, 24.] Kata Rogers , of Vassalborough , widow, Adm'x, cum testamento annexo, 11 Nov., 1776. Moses Hastings , Mathew Hastings and Aaron Healy, all of Vassalborough, sureties. Mathew Hastings, of Vassalborough , Adm'r de bonis non, 11 June, 1781 . Samuel Basset and Ebenezer Moore, both of Vassalborough , sureties. [II, 234.]