Will of Nicholas Meader [0007]

In the name of God, Amen, the ninth day of June, Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and fifty-nine, I, Nicholas Meader of Durham in the province of New Hampshire In New England, husbandman, being advanced in years…

Imprimis, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Sarah Meader the free and full use and improvement of my dwelling house and barn, and the produce of that division of my homestead land on which my said dwelling house stands, and also the produce of a certain piece of my own mowing land, beginning at a certain elm tree which is the bound between my land and my brother Joseph Meader's land, from thence running easterly by the dividing line between my land and my said brother's land twenty rods, from thence northerly to a large rock lying upon the land near a division line between my land and my said brother's land, and from thence by the division line between my land and my said brother's land to my pasture land. And also the produce of all my thatch bed from the head of the creek down to a certain stone set in the ground, with liberty to dry or cure said thatch upon the land, the use of which I have given to my son Daniel Meader, adjacent to said thatch bed. And also all the produce of my salt marsh from the head thereof down to the trench, and from thence by the said trench northerly to a heap of stones. And also the one half of the feed of my pastures, both of the upper and lower pastures; and also the use and improvement of thirteen acres of my land lying at Wheelwright's Pond, for firewood to support her fire, the said thirteen acres in that part of my said land which adjoins to Joseph Stimson's land, running from the highway across my land to the aforesaid pond, and of a breadth sufficient to complete thirteen acres, holding an equal breadth in every part. All the aforegoing articles which I have assigned unto my said wife, I give and allow for her sole use and improvement yearly and every year during the term of her continuing my widow, but in case she shall marry, then my will is that she shall have her proper dowry out of my estate, as by law established. I also give and grant to my said wife the free and full use and improvement of all my household goods, beds and bedding, and also of all my farming tackling and utensils, during the aforesaid term of her continuing my widow. I also give to my said wife, to her own disposal, my saddle horse and one yoke of oxen, and also the one half of the remaining part of my livestock of cattle, sheep and swine.

Item. I give unto my son Samuel Meader and to his heirs and assigns forever, ten acres of land adjoining to his homestead land, being part of my forty acres on which my son John Meader lives; the said ten acres lies in a strip running the whole length of my said forty acres, and as wide as to complete said ten acres; and also six acres of land more lying on the westerly side of Lamper-Eel River, being the part of land that fell to me in the Hook Land, so called.

Item. I give unto my son John Meader the free and full use and Improvement of my thirty acres of land where he now lives, and also the produce of my thatch bed, beginning at a certain heap of stones lying near the little marsh, and from thence running down to the mill dam, and also the produce of the one half of my salt marsh lying below the trench, during the term of his natural life.

Item. I give to my son Daniel Meader the produce of all my land, beginning twenty rods from the aforesaid elm tree and from that extent running down to the marsh point. And also the one half of the feed of my pasture land. And also the use of twelve acres of my woodland at Wheelwright's Pond, to support his fire, during the term of his natural life.

Item. I give unto my son David Meader and to his heirs and assigns forever, my dwelling house and barn and that division of land which my said dwelling house stands upon, and the one half of my pasture land, and also a certain piece of my mowing land beginning at a certain elm tree, being the bound between my land and my brother Joseph Meader's land, and from thence running easterly by the dividing line between my land and my said brother's land twenty rods, and from thence northerly to a large rock lying upon the land near a division line between my land and my said brother's land, and from thence westerly by the division line between my land and my said brother's land to my pasture land. And also all my thatch bed from the head of the creek down to a certwin [sic] stone set in the ground, with liberty to cure or dry his thatch yearly and every year, upon the land the use and improvement of which I have given to my son Daniel Meader during his natural life, which land is adjacent to said thatch bed. And also my salt marsh from the head thereof down to the trench, and from thence northerly by the said trench to a heap of stones. And also the one half of my pasture land, both of the upper and lower pastures. And also thirteen acres of my land lying at Wheelwright's Pond, being that part of my land which adjoins to Joseph Stimson's land, running from the highway across my land to the aforesaid pond and of a breadth sufficient to complete thirteen acres, holding an equal breadth in every part. And also all my household goods, beds and bedding, and all my farming tackling and utensils. But my will is that my said wife, during the term of her remaining my widow, shall have the free and full use and improvement, profit and income of all the aforementioned articles which I have herein given to my son David and to his heirs and assigns forever, as is before expressed. I also give to my said son David all my wearing apparel.

Item. I give unto my grandson Thomas Meader and to his heirs and assigns forever thirty acres of land lying where his father John Meader now lives, and also my thatch bed beginning at a certain heap of stones lying near the little marsh and from thence running down to the mill dam; and also the one half of my salt marsh lying below the trench, the use and improvement, produce and profit of which land, thatch bed and salt marsh I have herein given to his said father during the term of his natural life. But in case my grandson Thomas Meader should not survive his said father John Meader, then I give unto my grandson Stephen Meader and to his heirs and assigns forever all the above-mentioned articles herein given to the said Thomas Meader to be possessed and enjoyed by him, the said Stephen Meader, after the decease of his said father, and by his heirs and assigns forever.

Item. I give unto my grandson Mark Mender, the son of Daniel Meader, and to his heirs and assigns forever, all my land, beginning twenty rods from the aforesaid elm tree and from that extent running down to the marsh point. And also the one half of my pasture land both of the upper and lower pastures. And also twelve acres of my woodland lying at Wheelwright's Pond, the use and improvement, produce and profit of which land, both mowing, pasturing and woodland, I have herein given to his father, Daniel Meader, during the term of his natural life, but after his decease to be possessed and enjoyed by his said son Mark Meader and by his heirs and assigns forever. And my will is that my said son Daniel Meader, and my grandson Mark Meader, shall make and keep in good repair the partition fence between the mowing land and the pasture land, beginning at the elm tree aforesaid and running northerly to a certain heap of stones, being the bound between my land and my brother Joseph’s land.

Item. I give unto my granddaughter Lydia Roberts four hundred pounds, old tenor, to be paid her by my said son Samuel Meader within the term of six months after my decease.

And I do hereby constitute, make and ordain my said wife Sarah Meader to be my executrix, and Thomas Tuttle of Dover in the province aforesaid to be my executor…

[Proved July 29, 1767.]

[Inventory attest  April 27, 1768; amount 533 pounds, 1 shilling and elghtpence; signed by Amos Peaslee and Silas Tuttle.]