A Copy of the Last Will and Testament of Richard Bellingham, Esqr. Late

And some Arguments to prove this was the said Governours last Will, and was Proved and Approved as such, and ought to continue valid against the Attempts of all that would Nullify the same.

Published by the Reverend Mr. James Allen, one of the Executors in said Will named.

Governour Bellingham his Will, Lib.7.f.271.

AMong many other undeserved Favours of God towards me, this is none of the least, That so long a time I have Lived under the special Government of Christ in his Church, not without some Soul satisfaction thro' the Gracious Presence of Christ who walks in the midst of these Churches, which I judge to have been Constituted according to his mind. That I may testifie the Engagement of my heart to the Lord, being of perfect Memory and understanding, do Dispose my Temporal Estate wherewith the Lord hath blessed me, by this my Last Will as followeth, Viz.

I Do give to my Beloved Wife the Rent of that Farm Nicholas Rice liveth in, to be paid to her duely after my Decease, also my Dwelling-House, with the Yard and Field adjoining, during her natural Life. To my only Son and his Daughter during their natural lives I give the Farm Lieutenant John Smith is Tenant in. The other two Farms whereon John Belcher & Goodman Townsend are Tenants, I do give the Rents of them towards the relief of four Daughters of Colonel William Goodrick, so long as they shall have urgent need, to be paid to their certain Attorney here, and by him sent to the Eldest Sister to dispose of for their use, and to pay my Debts and other Legacies; Also I do freely and willingly dispose and give (after mine and my Wives Decease) the Farm she hath during her Life, and after the Decease of my Son and his Daughter, my whole Estate in Winisimet to an Annual Encouragement to some Godly Ministers and Preachers, who may be such who shall be by my Trustees judged faithful to those Principles in Church Discipline (which are owned and practised in the First Church of Christ in Boston, of which I am a Member:) A main one whereof is, That all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction is committed by Christ to each particular Organical Church, from which there is no Appeal: Visible Saintship

A copy of the last will and testament of Richard Bellingham, Esqr. Late governour of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay in New England and some arguments to prove this was the said governours last will and was proved and approved as such, and ought to continue valid against the attempts of all that would nullify the same. Published by the Reverend Mr. James Allen [1721]. http:// www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.03300700 being the matter and express Covenanting the Form of the Church. For the regular disposing this Estate according to my true intentions, I do request, constitute and appoint Mr. John Oxenbrige, Mr. James Allen, Teaching Officers to the First Church of Christ in Boston, Mr. John Russel of Hadley, and Mr. Anthony Stoddard Shop-keeper in Boston, to be Feeofees in Trust, and Executors to this my last Will, & their Heirs and Executors for ever; and in case of Death or any other removal, whereby either of them are uncapable of acting (being so judged by the rest) Power is hereby given to the rest to Elect one or more in his or their stead, who shall have the same power, and that three of these consenting, shall make any valid act.

I desire them to observe these Instructions following.

I. My Will is, That a Ministers House and a Meeting-House be built at Winisimet when sufficient be received out of the Rents.

II. That Lotts for Dwellers and Inhabitants be given out, and conveniency of Land to the Ministers House.

III. That four or six, more or less young Students be brought up for the Ministry, as the Estate will bear.

IV. That something be allowed yearly to any Godly Congregational Minister, who shall be willing to settle in that place.

V. That my Trustees take care of my Beloved Wife to give her counsel as she needs, and help as far as they can in the quiet Enjoyment of her Estate, and receiving of her Rents.

VI. That the Trustees meet twice a year at the least, as often else as they can, or is need, and that they be allowed what is meet for each meeting. VII.

Mass Bros 2 VII. That they allow annually as they shall think fit to a Godly Congregational Minister qualified as above for his further Support.

VIII. That every quarter of a year one Sermon be Preached to Instruct the People in Boston in Church Discipline according to the Word of God; and such a competent allowance be given to each of them as my Trustees shall judge fit or sufficient.

Richard Bellingham and Seal.

Signed and Sealed in presence of us, this 25th of Novemb, Sixteen Hundred Seventy Two.

Augustin Lindon.

William Killcup.

Edmund Ranger.

At a Meeting of John Leverett Esqr. Deputy Governour, with Edward Tyng Esqr. William Stoughton Esqr. Assistants.

Decemb, 17. 1672.

Augustin Lindon, William Killcup, and Edmund Ranger, Made Oath that they Set their Hands as Witnesses to this Instrument, and saw the late Governour Richard Bellingham on the day of the date of it, Sign, Seal and Publish it as his last Will and Testament; and that when he so aid, he was of a sound disposing Mind to the best of their Understanding.

This was then done, as Attest.

Isaac Addington, Recorder.

WHEREAS some persons have endeavoured to destroy and make void the before going Will, and that upon a pretence that the Gentleman which made the same, was urged to the doing of it. These may therefore Certify all persons whomsoever, and particularly the Gentlemen now Assembled to represent this Province, That the Will, whereof the above is a true Copy, was wrote by the said Governour some years before his Death, and for about two years before his last Sickness it continued in my possession.

I often in that time discoursed the Governour about this Will, and advised him to alter it, and give more to his Wife and Son and others, but he would not hearken to my advice, saying, he knew his Son better than I did; for says he, my Son has Two Hundred Pounds a year of my Estate, and there is now befallen him Fifteen Hundred Pounds a year by his Mother; and if I should give him all this,

After the Governour had taken to his Bed of the Sickness whereof he dyed, he sent three several Messengers to me to come and bring said Will, which at last with much perswasions I did, and when I came to him, he told me he could not dye till he had finished that Will. I then gave him said Will sitting on his Bed, he sent for Witnesses which he named, saying, they were good honest men; he then called for his Spectacles, read his Will, and declared it to be his last Will; He then called for a Candle and Wax, fixed a Seal to it, and afterwards signed and sealed it in form, and then sealed it up and delivered it into my keeping as one of the Executors. The day after he dyed, the Will was opened, and read before the other Executors, the Witnesses and several others then present, and soon after it was proved and confirmed as appears above; and for some years after acted upon by the Executors in all Cases, as need required; and received and improved in all Courts (in which it appeared) as good and valid.

Now God having inclined the heart of this Worthy Person to Dedicate so valuable an Estate to his Service, and promote Piety and Religion in this Land; will it not be a thing much wondred at by Good men, as carrying a very bad aspect, to destroy so pious an action, by Nullifying a Will so fully and amply expressing it self, and so Legally proved, approved and confirmed: and which has the Sanction of Heaven upon it, (as all things of that nature have) Gal. 3.15. A mans Covenant or Testament no man disannulleth, that is, cannot lawfully do it, Besides such proceedings may discourage others for the future for letting a part or portion of their Estates for Publick and Pious Uses.

Whereas those who shall promote the carrying on and helping forward the pious and good things in this Will expressed, will approve themselves Friends to their Country, Posterity and Religion; And all that favour Justice, Equity and Piety shall bless them.

James Allen. 33/7