John Inman's Last Will & Testament:

28 Jul 1741: The twenty-eighth day of July, one-thousand, seven-hundred and forty-one.

I, John Inman of Glocester in the county of Providence in the Colony of Rhode Island in New England yeoman Being sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God, therefore, calling unto mind the mortality of my body: Knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial. And as touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give my wife and my children of the same in the following manner and form ---

That is to say, I give and bequeath to Susannah my wife good Priviledges to dwell in my house during her natural life if she remains my widow and I likewise order my executrix- executor hereafter named to all ways provide all things Suitable and Comfortable out of my moveable estate for my said wife’s Comfortable and Honorable maintenance during her Remaining my widow----

Item - I give and bequeath unto my son John Inman and unto the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever all my homestead farm except forty acres of the South end to betaken of with a line drawn due east and west and to enter into the profession thereof when he attaineth the age of twenty-one years------

Item - I give and bequeath unto my son David Inman and unto the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten for ever forty acres of the south end of my homestead to betaken of with a line due as aforesaid with two parcels more, one being my …land lying near Harring Pond and on the westerly line thereof the other of my … of land lying on each side of … Brook on which John Mowry Jr. now dwelleth. The said parcel of land being situated in said Glocester and are bounded by the several returns thereof on record may appear preference there unto being had------

Item - I order my daughter Rachel Inman whom I likewise constitute make and ordain my executrix of this my last will and testament to sell two parcels of land that I have: being: one parcel lying on the westerly part of said Glocester Township: and part thereof another lotte that was laid out between the old line and the new and are about number forty one and forty two together with all my other land there unto adjoining: and the other parcel being a forty post lot lying in Providence Town in the county aforesaid: it being one of the lots called the water lotte and lyeth near the lower end of said Providence : and the money arising by the sale of said land together with fifty pounds to be raised and levied out of my stock as also all the money due to me by bonds, notes, and book debts or what other way however : to be divided among my five daughters in the following manner: my daughter Ruth I have forty pounds out of it first and, then the remainder to be divided in equal parts to my daughters Ruth, Rachel, Sarah and Martha, and Susannah. My daughters to have such a part that when added to forty pounds the all ready Ruth shall make her share equal with the aforesaid sheirs or parts: and Ruths and Susannahs parts to begin as soon as my said executrix can meet with … and Sarah and Martha to receive their parts as they someday attain their ages of eighteen years-----

Item - My will further is that all the remainder of my stock which I have not all ready disposed of together with all my personal estate that I have not before disposed of: whatever it be or where ever it may be found together with the … and …of my house and farm: be and remain in the hands and care of my said executrix: during the time that my aforesaid son John remains under the age of twenty one years: to be made of all by my said executrix for the following…to pay all my due debts …necessaryes for the well maintaining of my aforesaid wife Susannah according to the aforesaid manner and to bring up my aforesaid children that are under the age to good learning suitable to their degree and find all other things necessary for them or see that it be done while under said age …to keep the house and other buildings in good repair during the time of her being executrix: and when my said son John shall attain the aforesaid age of twenty one years: to deliver him out of said estate one yoke of oxen: and a reasonable allowance for the maintenance of my aforesaid wife Susannah if there be occasion for it at that time----- and my will further is that the executrixship of my said daughter Rachel shall then cease: and I do hereby nominate and appoint my aforesaid son John to be executor of this my last will and testament-----and my will further is that when my aforesaid son David shall attain the age of twenty one years: that he my said executor John shall deliver unto his brother David five ponies and half the value of one yoak of oxen----

I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid two sons John and David one share of land containing about one hundred acres situate lying and being in Glocester aforesaid and lyeth a little easterly of my home farm and on the east side of the river: Together with all my Rights and Privelidges in the common lands within the County of Providence aforesaid unto them their Heirs and assigns forever to be equealy divided between them-----

And my will further is that if either of my said sons shall happen to dye before they come to the age of twenty one nor have any lawful make issue then the other brother and his Heirs in manner as aforesaid shall be heirs to the deceased: and my will further is that if both my said sons shall dye with out any lawful issue then the before bequeathed land to my said sons shall go and defer unto all my Daughters and unto the Heirs male of their lawfully begotten and so from one male heir to another forever: and I the said John Inman do hereby utterly disallow revoke and defraud all and every other formes testaments will legaines and bequeathes ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.

For Witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and Seal the day and year before written-----

Providence Historical Society, Glocester microfilm, pp. 32 - 36