There are seven Moses Knaps from Connecticut in my tree, and I've been contacted several times about their genealogy. The will I transcribed was copied on large paper, 11" x 17", as a result I had to scan one page twice and tried to piece it together for the blog. Although I've done about 15 wills, this seemed more difficult, guess that's why I'm now forcing myself to do it. There were at least 10 words I couldn't figure out, but by using my hint, "Can't Read a Will", all but one was solved. This will was located at the New England Historic and Genealogical Library (NEHGS), (F/93/C69/1989 (1641-1880). Probate District is Fairfield, town is Fairfield, date is 1755, No. 3674.Moses was my 6th great grandfather.
In the name of God Amen
September the fifth AD 1755
I Moses Knap of the Parish
Reading of the Town and County of
Fairfield and Colony of Connecticut being of sound mind and memory (tho
weak in body) calling to mind The mortality of my body and knowing that it is
appointed for all men once to Dye, I do make and ordain this my Last will and
Testament touching and respecting such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased
God to bless me in this life viz: After my just debts and funeral expenses are
paid out of the same
Impress: I give and bequeath to Ganda my dearly beloved
wife the use and improvement of all my estate both real and personal in using
her natural life or so long as the continues my widow, but in case she should marry
again then the use and improvement of the one half of all my said estate during
her natural life after her said marriage and at her decease (having already
given to my son David his full proportion or share of my said estate) do give
all the remainder of my said estate to those of my children and grandchildren
hereafter named, as followeth viz:
Item I give to daughter
namely Rachel and Unice, ten pounds lawful money each to be paid to them out of
my said estate.
Item I give to three of my
daughters namely to Sarah, Rebeckah and Sarah five shillings lawful money each
to be paid to them out of my estate and also five shillings like money to my
daughter Ruth.
Item I give to my grandson
John Phinne and to his heirs being the issue of his natural body and to their
heirs and assigns forever five acres of land bounded westerly by three acres I
formerly gave to my son Jonathan and to extend northerly as east line of said
three acres up to the land given to my son David, and to extend easterly so far
as to include to quantity of five acres bounded northerly by said David’s land
and southerly by the highway.
Item I give to my daughter
Mary the use and improvement of my dwelling house and all the remainder of my
lands yet and profited of during her natural life after the decease of my said
wife.
Item I give to my grandson
Moses one of my said Jonathan’s sons my
said dwelling house and all the said remainder of my said lands during his
natural life and after his decease to his heirs being the issue of his natural
life and after his decease of his heirs being the issue of his natural body and
to their heirs forever and for want of such issue to return to my natural
heirs. This gift to commence upon the ____ of my said daughters marriage.
Item I give to my daughters
Rachel and Unice and to my granddaughter Hannah
the daughter of my daughter Ruth all my personal estate to be equally divided
among them after my said wife’s decease.
And furthermore I do
hereby constitute and on my said wife and my said son David my executors of
this my Last Will and Testament, and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke all and every
other former testaments wills legacies and bequeath and executors by me made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my
last will and testament
In witness whereof I have here and set my hand and seal the date above.
Signed Sealed Published pronounced
(Signed) Moses Knap
(Signed) Moses Knap
And Declared to be my Last
Will
And Testament, in Person
of
John Mallery
David Lyons
Ebenezer Green