This twenty-ninth of July, 1680, I, Peter Worden yet remaining in perfect memory though weake in body doe add this to my will as a further explanation.
Firstly. That my wife have att her owne disposall what ever shee can raise of my land and cattle in the improvement of them, during her life, for her support and if there be any overpluss, to dispose of it to my children as shee shall see need.
Whereas I have in my will given to my son Samuell all the cattle that hee hath bin possessed of by mee, excepting two oxen my will is that as my son Samuell hath them principally for to doe the worke of family plowing and carting ec. soe like wise that hee keepeth three steers more of my cattle and when hee hath brought two of them to work suitable to supply the rome of those above said two oxen. Then I give one of the old oxen to my wife and the other to my son Samuell, and the third steer my son Samuell shall keep to the halves, hee to have one halfe and his mother the other halfe.
And my will is that my son Samuell still breake other of my steers during my wifes life to be in reddyness to doe the worke as above said, and att my wifes decease my will is that the two oxen that be then in improvement shall goe to my son Samuell with the house and land that my wife liveth on.
Like wise I give to my son Samuell my gun and all my takleing for plowing and carting and husbandry after my wife's decease and my son Samuell is to provide his mother with fier wood dureing her life and likewise to provide hay for my cattle during his mothers life that is to say to gett the hay mowed and made and stacked and have the oxen and cart in the reddynes for that end the stocke of cattle to pay for the getting of theire hay excepting cart and oxen for draught. Further whereas my son Kenelme Winslow oweth mee forty shillings I give him twenty shillings of it, and whereas my son John Burge oweth me thirty shillings I give him twenty of it, and like wise I give my Indian servant to my son Samuell after my wifes decease.
As witness my hand and seale the day and year above said.
Peter Worden [and Seale]
Memorandum: I except one cow and calfe that I have in Samuells hand.
Signed and sealed in the presence of us
John Freeman Assistant
Silas Sares
This last will and testament was legally proved to be the last will and testament of Peter Worden before the court of his Majesty held att Plymouth the third day of March, 1681.
SOURCE: Obtained at Worden Hall in East Dennis, Cape Cod, Mass.
