Last Will and Testament of Hugh Kelso of Worchester Massachussetts

The following is copied from the quaintly worded will of a Hugh Kelso. The copy of the will bearing the embossed seal of the Probate Court of Worcester, Massachusetts was in the possession of the late Mrs. Clark Kelso whose daughter, Mrs. H. Styles Harriss,  now has it in her possession.

(The spelling is exactly what appeared in the original document) 

Will allowed Aug. 16, 1737.

In the name of God Amen the fortinth day of Jun 1737 I Hugh Kelso of Worcester whell wrght being sick and weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory Thanks be given unto God Therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye do make and ordain this my last will arid testament that is to say principally and first of all I give arid recomend my soul into the hands of God that gave it arid my Body I recomend to the earth to be Buried in decent Christian Burial at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receve the same again by the mighty powre of God And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to Bless me in this life I give Demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form

Imprimis I give and bequeath to Sarah my dearly beloved wife all my movabels in the house an~7iS3ut it only paying my debets and buriel out of the same also the emprovement of my Real Esteat during the space of fortin years enshuing the date with her tacking care of the Children and after the expreation of the above fortin years I alove to my wife Sarah out of the income of my Real Esteat the sum of Six pounds yearly in place of her thirds during her life with one eand of the house and her fire wood lade to her hand and her fire made whilst my weadow with the third part of the orchard and the keeping of one Cow whilst remaining my weadow.

Item I give to my well beloved son Matthew Gray all my wearing cloos..

­Item I give to my well beloved daughter Joan a Goold Ring she having received her portion allreddy

Item I give to my well beloved son John my Real Esteat laying in the south half part of Worcester being in Estimation Eighty ackeres be it mor or les only paying out of the same as foloweth when be coms to age

Item to be paid by my son John to my well beloved daughter Sarah the sum of forty pounds

Item to be paid to my well beloved daughter Shusanah the sum of fortey pounds

Item to be paid to my well beloved daughter Marey the sum of forty pounds

and soposing that any of the three (viz) Sarah, Shousanah and Marey be Caled away by death there part and portion is not to be paid by the heir or any other

writen

signed sealed published and declared by the said Hugh Kelso as his last-will and testament in the presence of us the subscribers

John Gray Jur.

John Blair

William Foster

Hugh Kelso (Seal)

From the above will we are able to indicate the immediate family of one Hugh Kelso living in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1737.