Will of William Robblee of Lanesborough

Transcribed by Cindy Walcott

"In the name of God, Amen. I William Robblee of Lanesborough, in the County of Berkshire and Common-wealth of Massachusetts, being of sound mind and memory, believing in the immortality of the soul and the mortality of the body, do now in the most solemn manner, desire to give up my soul to God who gave it and my body to be buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my executors hereafter named--

It is my also my will and pleasure that the worldly goods which a kind providence hath bestowed upon me, be disposed of in the following manner,
agreeable to those presents, which I do now make, and constitute my last will and Testament: - that is to say, I give to my wife Ketura the use of one third part of all my real estate, except the farm in the west part of Lanesborough, known by the name of the Lamkin farm, during her natural life and after my just debts are paid, one third of my stock and cattle, and household furniture, to be disposed of at her pleasure. Also the use of my Bay mare, over and above one third part of my Stock of Cattle, as aforesaid, and if said mare has any increase, that my sons, Andrew, Francis, John Brush and Erastus shall equally share in the profits of the same.

To my sons William and Hiram, and to my Daughters Lucy, Ketura, Rebeccah and Susannah, I give twenty acres of Land in the west part of Lanesborough, to be Divided Equally Between them, said twenty acres is known by the name of the Lamkin farm.

To my sons Andrew, Francis, John Bush, & Erastus, I give the whole of my real Estate, Except what is Disposed of as above -- and also all my farming tools, two thirds parts of my Household furniture, and two thirds of my stock of cattle, Except the Bay mare above mentioned.

To my Daughter Mary, I give free Liberty to Dwell in my house with my family so long as she remains, a single woman, also twenty shillings to be paid by my wife within one year from the date of these presents.

To my Daughter Sarah, I give twenty pounds Lawful money, to be paid her, in such things as she may want, when She arrives at the age of Eighteen years or at the time of her marriage, said Twenty Pounds to be paid by my wife Katura, & my sons Francis, John Brush, and Erastus in Equal Proportion. And I do hereby Constitute and appoint my wife Ketura, Executrix, and my Brothers in Law, Bethuel Baker & Francis Baker, Executors, of this my last will and Testament.

In Testimony and in Confirmation of all of which, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this sixteenth Day of March, in the year of our Lord Christ, 1792

William Robblee (signature)
Signed, sealed, Pronounced and Declared by the
said William Robblee to be his last will and
Testament, in the presence of us;
Nemeniah Bull
Obed Edson Junor
Hiram Torrey
Sworn by all the witnesses
March 19, 1792.
(Filed in the Berkshire County Probate Court 19 Apr 1792)

On 30 Dec 1792, Andrew, Francis and Sarah Robblee, all minors over the age of fourteen, chose James Rockwell, yeoman of Lanesborough, as their guardian.  On 10 Jan 1793, Katura Robblee was nominated guardian of John Brush Robblee and Erastus Robblee, both minors under the age of fourteen.