Will, probate, inventory and receipts of Lt. Matthias Ellis of Sandwich

Key phrases read from the image; the rest from FamilySearch’s machine transcription.

“Being advanced in years and under considerable Decay of Bodily strength … Considering that My Departure Draweth near.” To “my Loveing wife Mercy” (the image reads Mercy; the machine transcription says Mary) the use of “the Westerly End of My Now Dwelling house Both Lower & upper Rooms & the Leantue on the Back Side of it and the Seller under it,” and of “my orchard Called the Little Orchard,” while his widow, son Malachi to provide for her. To son Joel “the two Half Lotts in the woods that were formerly my son Johns,” half his apparel, his cutlass, belt and cane, and £20 old tenor after his mother’s death. To son Matthias “my Lott & Share in said Town Neck in Sandwich” and an acquittance of “all the Money I paid for him to Sheriff Lothrop.” To daughters Mercy Morton, Experience Churchill and Mehitable Merrick the personal estate. To son Malachi the housing, lands, tools, half the apparel and “all my arms & ammunition Except my Cutlash & belt before Given to my son Joel.” Executors “my said wife Mercy and my said son Malachi.” Witnesses Elisha Tupper, Eldad Tupper Jr., Samuel Jennings.

Proved at Barnstable 4 Oct 1748 before Silvanus Bourn; administration committed “unto Mercy Ellis & Mallack Ellis Executors,” so Mercy was living then. Inventory 12 Oct 1748, real estate £2,543 old tenor.

Receipt (3 Apr, probably 1750): “Joel Ellis of Middleborough … Gent and one of the Children of Mathias Ellis Late of Sandwich” received £20 and “the one half of the deceased his wearing apparel also his Cutlash his Belt.” Stephen Churchill of Plymouth signed for his wife Experience and for Mercy Morton and Mehitable Merrick.

The will does not name the daughter Remember or the son Samuel (b. 1699).