JONATHAN WHIPPLE’S DEATH AND WILL
Jonathan Whipple, grandson of Matthew, Jr. became ill the middle of March 1757 and his minister, Rev. Parkman visited and prayed with him on the 15th and the 18th. On the last visit he told Jonathan’s son Francis that his father “entertains much hope in his death.”
He was much weaker by the 25th, and the family, thinking the end was near, again asked Parkman to visit. Upon leaving, Parkman told family members that Jonathan was not “in terror [of dying], but thinks God wrought a good work in him [and] his dying [is] well grounded.” He said Jonathan gave “testimony” to the Christian religion and said he was waiting for his “appointment” with God. As Parkman left, Jonathan said “Farewell my Father.” He was still alive and a little revived on Sunday the 28th, died Saturday April 2, and was buried the afternoon of Thursday April 4. He would have been 78 April 19.
Following the funeral the mourners adjourned to Parkman’s home where the will, dictated to Parkman by Jonathan, was read. He provided that his wife Frances was to be “suitably and comfortably” maintained for the balance of her life and named her executrix and his son Edwards as executor.
He ordered his estate to provide half of the cost of supporting his son Jonathan Jr., who apparently had an affliction of some sort, in a comfortable and decent manner for life and to pay half of his funeral charges. The will provided that the other half was to be the responsibility of oldest son Francis who had been gifted half of his father’s real estate on December 28, 1737. Son Edwards was given the balance of the real and personal property with the condition that the bequeaths to his mother and brother Jonathan be “fulfilled punctually.”
Frances only outlived Jonathan by 81 days, dying on Friday June 26 three months and four days shy of her 75th birthday. Jonathan Jr., died five years later.
LAST WILL & TESTAMENT OF JONATHAN WHIPPLE
In the name of God Amen. I Jonathan Whipple of Westborough in the County of Worcester in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, husbandman, being of sound mind through the goodness of God but knowing that I may shortly put off this worldly Tabernacle of my Body, I do make this my Last Will and Testament. Following:
In the first and main place, I commend my soul to Almighty God who gave it, hoping for Eternal redemption through the merits of my Dear and only Savior, Jesus Christ.
My Body I commit to the Earth, Decently to be buried according to the discretion of my executors hereafter to be mentioned; in the Hope of a glorious Resurrection at the Last Day.
And as to such worldly Estates as it has pleased God to vouchsafe me, I hereby dispose thereof thusly. VIZ. First, my Will is that all my just Debts be duly paid.
Then my Will is that my Dear Wife, Frances Whipple, shall be Suitably and comfortably provided for and maintained in sickness and in Health during her Life from my Estate. Namely, for her Clothing, she have Two pounds per annum Lawful Money of this Province; for her provision, Fifty pounds weight of Beef, one hundred pounds weight of Pork. She shall also have the Benefit of one Cow, both the property and the good keeping thereof; Ten Bushels of Indian Corn and Two Bushels of Rye: one Barrel of flour and two Bushel of Malt. I give to her the East lower Room of my Dwelling House with free use of cellar and garret Room, with Liberty of passing and re-passing to and from Each of these. Also I give her a Convenient Spot for a garden ____ proper _____ in proportion to the Meat before mentioned. All these articles fore mentioned to be from year to year as long as she lives. I give her likewise all my Household Stuff and sufficient Firewood brought to her Door during her Life. And when it shall be the Will of God that she shall decease, she shall have Decent Funeral, the Charges thereof be out of my Estate.
Item. I give to my Son Jonathan Whipple half the Charge of his Comfortable and decent Maintenance and Support in Sickness and Health during his Life; and at his Death one Half of his Funeral Charges shall be borne out of my Estate. The other Half of both his Maintenance during Life and Funeral Charges is to be borne by my son Francis (hereafter to be mentioned) as appears by a Bond from said Francis to me bearing Date December 28, 1737.
Item. I give to my Son Francis Whipple Five Shillings Lawful Money to be paid him by my Executors upon my decease: I having already provided for him, and given him one-Half of what was my Real Estate as appears by a Deed of Gift from me to him bearing Date December 28, 1737.
Item. I give to my Son Edwards Whipple all the Estate both Real and Personal which I shall be at my Death possessed of, Except what has been already by this my Will otherwise disposed of. But all that I give my Son Edwards, it is to be understood is upon this Condition that the fore mentioned Articles relating to my Wife and my Son Jonathan aforesaid be fulfilled punctually according to the true Import of this my Will as above expressed. Then, and then only to be to Him and for his Heirs for Ever.
Finally, I do by these presents constitute and appoint my Dear and well beloved Wife Frances, above said, Executrix, and my son Edwards, before mentioned, Executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and dis-annulling all other Wills or Testaments whatsoever But this having signed, sealed, declared, ad published this thirteenth Day of February in the twenty Eighth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second of Great Britain The King, Defender of the Faith ano Domini One Thousand Seven hundred Fifty and Five.
Signed Jonathan Whipple (signature) In presence of: Thomas Parkman (signature) Ebenezer Parkman (signature).
BOND TO PROBATE JONATHAN WHIPPLE’S WILL
Worcester. To all the Heirs at Law of the Estate of Jonathan Whipple late of Westborough in said County, deceased, and to all concerned, GREETINGS.
WHEREAS a certain instrument purporting the last Will and Testament of the said deceased, is lodged with me, in order to be proved; you are therefore hereby cited to appear before me, at my Dwelling House in Worcester on Friday the 20th Day of May next at one of the Clock after Noon, to offer what you may think fit, either in Opposition to, or Support said Will. Worcester. April 29, 1757. Signed: John Chandler, J. Prob.
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Know now all Men by these Presents that we Edwards Whipple, yeoman, and Ebenezer Parkman, Clerk, both of Westborough and Thomas Parkman of said Westborough _________ all in the County of Worcester and Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England are Holden and _____ & firmly bound and obliged unto John Chandler of Worcester in the County of Worcester & Judge of Probate for Wills for granting Administrations within the County of Worcester in the full and just sum of Six Hundred Pounds Lawful money of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay to be paid unto the said John Chandler or his successors in the said office or assign to the true payment where-of we bind ourselves and each of us, and each of our Heirs, Executors & Administrators jointly and severally for the whole and in the whole firmly by these Presents Sealed with our Seal dated this 20th Day of May Ano Domini 1757.
The Condition of this obligation is such that whereas the said Edwards is Executor, Administrator or any of them Shall, Will, and Truly pay all the Just Debts of the deceased and all the Legatees therein mentioned to be paid by him. And Shall, Will, and Truly Support and maintain Frances Whipple, widow of said deceased, and Jonathan Whipple, Brother to the said Edwards, and at their respective Death, decently bury them and in all Respects fulfill the Will of said Deceased, according to the true intent & meaning thereof so far as he is therein enjoined.
That then this obligation shall be void but in default thereof ______ in full force & Virtue.
Signed Edwards Whipple, Ebenezer Parkman, Thomas Parkman – all signatures. Signed, Sealed, & Delivered in Presence of Oliver Witt, Timo Paine – signatures.
JONATHAN WHIPPLE WILL PROVED 20 May 1757
To all People to whom these Presents shall come, John Chandler, Esq; Judge of the Probate of Wills, Etc. in the County of Worcester within the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England findeth. Greetings.
Know ye, that on the 20th Day of May Ano Domini 1757 the Instrument hereunto annexed purporting the last Will and Testament of Jonathan Whipple late of Westboro in said County of Worcester, husbandman, deceased, was presented for Probate by Edwards Whipple (Frances Whipple Wife & executrix) one of the Executors therein named; then present the Rev. Mr. Ebenezer Parkman and Thomas Parkman, the Witnesses thereto subscribed, who made Oath, that they saw the said Testator Sign, Seal, and heard him declare the said Instrument to be his last Will and Testament, and they both subscribed their Names together as Witnesses to the Execution thereof in the said Testators Present; and that he was then (to the best of their Judgment) of sound and disposing Mind:
I Do Prove, Approve, and Allow of the said Instrument as the last Will and Testament of the before named deceased, and do commit the Administration thereof in all Matters the same concerning, and of his Estate whereof he died seiz’d and possess’d in said County, unto Edwards Whipple the before named Executor well and faithfully to Execute the said Will, and to administer the Estate of the said deceas’d according thereto; who accepted of the said Trust and Gave bond to fulfill the Will according to the true intent & meaning thereof and he shall render an Account (upon Oath) of his Proceedings, when there unto lawfully required. IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office, The Day and Year above written.
John Chandler (signature)
