Will of Samuel Bridges, Sr., found at the Archives in Fredericton, N.B.

In the name of God Amen. I Samuel Bridges of the Parish of Sheffield in the County of Sunbury and Province of New Brunswick, Yoeman being sick and weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God calling to mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die 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 Almighty God who gave it and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life I Give Divine and dispose of the same in the following manner and form

Imprimis I Give and bequeath Sarah my dearly beloved wife one third part of all my Household furniture to be by her forever possessed and enjoyed or otherwise at her entire disposal and the use and Improvement of the other two thirds during the time she shall remain my widow; one third part of the produce of all my Land in Sheffield aforesaid and as much more of the same as shall be necessary to make her a comfortable and decent living during the time she shall remain my widow to be annually paid to her by my Sons Jonathan and Thomas together with the use of the west end of my dwelling House in Sheffield aforesaid with firewood and candle light as long as she shall remain my widow as aforesaid she permitting my Daughters Sarah and Elizabeth to reside with her in the same as long as they shall remain unmarried.

Item I Give and bequeath unto my Beloved Son Hollon in addition to the two Hundred pounds which I have already given him the Sum of five pound, to be paid him by my Executors within five years after my Decease.

Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Beloved son Samuel his Heirs and Assigns all my Land Tenements and Hereditaments in the Parish of Burton in said County of Sunbury to be by him and them forever peaceably possessed and Enjoyed.

Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Beloved Sons Jonathan and Thomas their heirs and assigns all my Land Tenements and Hereditaments in the Parish of Sheffield aforesaid with the appurtenances together with all my moveable Estate of every Kind (Household furniture Excepted) on this express Condition that they pay all my Just Debts funeral Charges and all the Legacies which I have herein bequeathed unto my beloved wife and my other children and do hereby constitute and appoint my Said Sons Jonathan and Thomas Joint Executors to this my last Will and Testament.

Item I Give and bequeath unto my beloved Daughters Sarah Estey and Hannah Smith the Sum of fifty pounds each to be paid them by my Executors within five years after my Decease and by them and each of them to be freely possessed and enjoyed together with each an equal Share of the Household furniture with their other Sisters after the Decease or marriage of their mother.

Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Beloved Daughter Elizabeth the sum of one hundred pounds, one half of which Sum to be paid her within one year after my Decease and the other half within five years by my Executors aforesaid and by her to be freely possessed and Enjoyed together with an equal share with her other Sisters of the Household furniture after her Mother's Decease or marriage.

And I do hereby utterly Disallow, disannul and revoke all the Wills, Executors Legacies and Bequests by me in any wise heretofore willed named and Bequeathed Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand and Seal this thirty first Day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight Hundred and nine and in the forty ninth year of his Majesty's Reign. (those words to be annually paid her by my Sons Jonathan and Thomas) in the first page and those words (their Heirs and Assigns) and (by my Executors) in the Second page of this Instrument first Interlined

Signed Sealed Published pronounced and Declared by the Said Samuel Bridges as his last Will and Testaments in presence of us who in his presence and in presence of each other have hereunto Subscribed our names

Samuel Bridges SEAL

David Burpe

Hannah Taylor

Jonathan Burpe

New Brunswick : Be it remembered that on the fourth day of Sunbury County : November in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and Eleven personally came and appeared before me William Hubbard ??? Surrogate for Sunbury County in his Majesty's-----