WILL AND INVENTORY OF MATTHEW WHIPPLE OF IPSWICH
Matthew Whipple’s will was proved in Ipswich, Mass. Court. It is in the Ipswich Deeds, Volume I, leaf 28. The original is missing.
Month 3: Day 7: 1645 (May 7, 1645).
In the name of God amen. I Matthew Whipple of Ipswich in New England, being by reason of present sickness much increasing upon me seriously admonished of my mortality, yet through the mercy of God enjoying perfect memory and good understanding, after humble acknowledgment of the great patience and rich mercy of God to me, a most unworthy sinner all my life long, and the commending of my spirit to his grace in Jesus Christ, my body after my decease to comly burial in the earth out of which it was taken in hope of resurrection unto eternal life, and my dear children to the everlasting blessing of their heavenly father, I do hereby dispose of that estate which the lord hath graciously given unto me as followeth:
Unto my eldest son John, three score pounds, to my son Matthew, forty pounds, to my son Joseph, forty pounds; unto my daughter Mary, twenty pounds; unto my daughter Anna, twenty pounds; unto my daughter Elizabeth twenty pounds; unto our reverend elders, Mr. Nathaniel Rogers and Mr. John Norton, to either of them, forty shillings. To the poor of Ipswich, forty shillings.
In case my estate be found to exceed these sums, the one half thereof I give to my eldest son John, the other half to my two younger sons
In case my estate fall short of the aforesaid sums,the deduct shall be out of the portion of all my children equally.
My will is that none of my children shall be disposed of in marriage or service but by the approbation and consent of the present elders and my dear brother John Whipple.
I leave the disposing of my three sons to the care of my executors whom I name and desire to be Mr. Nathaniel Rogers, Mr. Norton, Mr. Robert Payne, and my brother John Whipple.
In witness hereof I have set to my hand the day and year above written. Matthew Whipple
Witnesses hereof: John Norton. John Whipple
CODICIL TO WILL OF MATTHEW WHIPPLE
Month the 9th: 13th day: 1646.
I having by the providence of God changed my estate by marriage since the making of the writing above, I do give unto my wife Rose the sum of ten pounds to be paid her presently after my decease, leaving unto her all the goods or estate that she had before marriage.
And this being done, I will that the writing above should stand in full force and virtue as my last will and testament; further declaring my meaning to be that the portions to my sons be paid at the age of one and twenty years and my daughters at the age of twenty: and the manner of the disposing my estate for the best accomplishment of the intent of my will, I commit unto my above-named executors or any other matter that may be forgotten to be by them ordered and because they may be removed or diminished by death or any other departure, I hereby give them power that the remaining number shall choose a supply in that case to fill up the number except he that is removed shall appoint another in his room.
And this whole writing to wit that part was write the 7th day of the 3 month 1645 and this addition I make and declare to be my last will and testament being of good understanding and memory setting hereunto my hand. The mark of Matthew Whipple.
Delivered in the presence of us the day and year above written: Theophilus Wilson. Thomas Knowlton.
MATTHEW WHIPPLE INVENTORY
In The Hall
3 muskets, 3 pr. bandoliers, 3 swords, 2 rests 3 0 0
1 fowling piece 1 0 0
A corslett, pike, and sword 1 0 0
1 rapier 5 0
1 halberd, 1 bill 4 0
3 brass pots, weighing 68 lb. at 9d 2 11 0
1 old brass pot 2 6
5 kettles and a pot-lid weighing 58 lb. a 16d 3 17 4
1 copper weighing 40 lb. 2 0 0
5 possnetts 12 0
85 pieces of pewter, 147 lb. a 16d. 9 16 0
4 pewter candlesticks 10 0
2 pewter salts 5 0
2 pewter pots, 1 cup and a bottle 4 6
1 pewter flagon 7 0
21 brass alchemie spoons at 4s of the spoon 4 4 0
9 pewter spoons at 18d per dozen 0
5 chaffing dishes and a skimmer 14 0
7 pieces of latten 7 0
2 pr of cob-irons, 1 fire pan, 2 pr. tongs,
1 fire fork and 1 fire iron, 58 lb. @ 4d 19 4
4 spits weighing 20 lb @ 6d 10 0
2 warming pans 14 0
2 iron dripping pans 6 0
1 silver bowl and 2 silver spoons 3 3 0
1 pr. cob irons with brasses 6 0
29 books 4 8 6
6 dozen trenchers 3 0
4 trays and a platter 5 0
3 jugs 3 6
1 earthen salt, 1 pan, 3 pots 3 0
3 cheese mootes and 2 cheese breads 3 0
1 cowle, 1 pail, 2 bowls. and 4 dishes 5 6
2 firkins, 1 churn 4 0
2 frying pans and a trivet 11 8
2 bottles and 2 jacks 4 0
1 pr. bellows, 1 gridiron, 1 pair shears and
1 smoothing iron with one heater 6 0
2 keelers 4 0
2 forms, 1 dresser, 2 chairs, 1 long boarded chest 11 6
In The Parlor
1 joyned table, 3 chests 1 12 0
1 chest with glass 2 0 0
1 pair of cob-irons, with fire pan and tongs 12 0
1 clock 1 0 0
4 chest locks and 4 box locks and 6 pr. of joints 7 6
1 stainell bearing cloth 1 0 0
1 baies bearing cloth 8 0
2 cloaks 3 0 0
1 old coat 10 0
1 suit 1 0 0
1 doublet and jacket 1 4 0
1 leather suit 1 6 8
1 leather doublet 14 0
2 hats 0-7-0, 2 pr. gloves 2d, 4d, 2 pr stockings 4s 13 4
1 diaper table cloth and 2 dozen diaper napkins 2 6 8
2 table cloth 1-0-0, 1 little table cloth 7-6 1 7 6
1 laced cupboard cloth and 1 fringed 8 0
1 laced cupboard cloth and 1 fringed 6 0
4 towels 6 0
4 remnants of holland and sack cloth 12 6
1 silk girtle 2 6
1 feather bed, 1 bolster, 9 pillows weighing 106 lb. 5 6 0
In The Chamber Over the Parlor
3 flock beds and 3 bolsters 4 6 0
1 rug 1 0 0
1 pair of curtains and vallence 1 5 0
1 cupboard cloth 4 0
4 cushions 3 0
1 pair curtains 12 0
7 children blankets 7 0
1 pillion cloth and foot stool 6 8
3 old axes, 6 pitch forks, 1 iron peele with other
implements 1 0 0
2 linen wheels and 1 cotton wheel and a basket 9 0
1 seller with glasses 5 0
dwelling house, barn, and four acres of land 36 0 0
It is apparent from this inventory that Matthew was a man of means.
