Estate of William Stickney of Rowley
Essex Probate Docket # 26562

I William Stickney of Rowley in the County of Esex in New England being weeake of body but of prfect understanding and memory doe make and ordaine This my last will and Testament first I will and Committe my soulle unto god that gave it and my body unto the common burying place in the hope of a blessed Resurection.
And as for my outward estat after funerall expences discharged I will and dispose as followeth.
Inprims, I will and give unto my welbeloved wife Elizebeth Stickney the benefit of my dwelling house out houses barn orchard land and meadowes that are or lie within the five mille bounds of the towne of Rowley with all the priveliges belonging unto those lands as also the meadow in Ipswich west medowes as also one third part of the house hold stufe which she shall chuse for Convenient and necessary use as also two cowes and all this I give hir during hir naturall life.
As for my son Samuell Stickney I haveing bene at certane cost toward his settleing therefor I will and give unto him but then pounds more out of my estate and that to be his full portion and I will him to be satisfied therwith.
As for my son Amos Stickney he having at no time bene any way beneficiall to my estat and I haveing procured him a trade and given him some part of estat toward his settleing I therfor will and give unto him but five pounds more out of my estat and that to be his full portion and I will him to be satisfied therwith.
As for my other sixe children John, Andrew, Thomas, Mary, Faith and Mercy, I will that they have the rest of estat equally among them as followeth.
I will and give unto my sone John Stickney the inheritance of the lands and meadowes and houses that I have given unto my wife dureing hir naturall life to be his posesion provided that he pay out of it it being a greater part then there wilbe for any of the rest soe much out of it as will make the portions of the rest equall with his portion and I will that he setle and improve this land as his owne, paying unto his mother yearly dureing hir life three pounds ten shillings and carfully winter hir two cowes yearly and she to injoy one of the roomes for her owne pertickuler use dureing hir life.
Unto my son Andrew Stickney I will and give him for his inheritance of my lands my land at merrimacke and if in its vallueation it amounteth to more than his equall share with the rest of his brothers and sisters when my estat is devided then I will that he pay some thing backe to equallize them and if it be vallued at lese than his equall part then it to be made up unto him.
Unto my son Thomas Stickney I will and give my village land for his inherritance of my lands and if in its valuation it amounteth to more than his equall share with the rest of his brothers and sisters then he pay backe soe much as will equallize his portion with the rest and if it be vallued at lese then it to be made up unto him soe as they be equall. As for my three daughters I will that they have ther portions out of my estat in moveables or if they fall short to made up out of the overpluse of the three brothers lands soe as that they may be made all equall allike and that they have ther portions payed unto the as they come of age or at marriage.
I will and appoint my well beloved wife my solle excequtorix if this my will. And I desire my Trusty freinds Maxemillion Jewett and Samuel Brocklebanke to be my overseers and this my last will I signe with my owne hand this 21 of January 1664.

William (his W mark) Stickney
Witness:
Maxemillion Jewett
Samuell Brocklebanke
Proved in Ipswich court 28 March 1665 by the witnesses.

Source: "The Stickney Family" by Matthew Adams Stickney, 1869
Submitted by: Linda Herrick Smith

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