The Will of Edward Spalding

The Spalding Memorial was published in 1896 by Charles Warren Spalding, in dedication to the numerous family members whose names are Spalding, also spelled Spaulding. An earlier version, of the Spalding Memorial was published by Samuel Spalding in 1872. The following will of Edward Spalding was copied from the Spalding Memorial (1896), recently republished in 1996.

The 13th day of Feb. 1666.

Edward Spalden of Chelmsford in the County of Middlesex and New England being of a perfect memory and understanding do declare this my last will & testament.

Impr. I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God, the creator of heaven & earth and my body to the earth till the day of resurrection.

I give and bequeath my house and the land about it with the appurtenances, the meadow adjoining to it and the lott of meadow in the river meadow, to Rachell Spalden my beloved wife, to use, improve & enjoy, dureing the terme of her naturall life and after her decease to Andrew Spalding. my youngest sonne: paying to his sister Dynah Spalding, my daughter, the some of tenn pounds, if shee be living: if shee be not living, then I will that Andrew Spalding my sonne, shall pay out of the said lands five pounds to Edward Spalding my sonne & five pounds to John Spalding my sonne or to the eldest child of either of them if themselves be not living.

I give and bequeath to Rachel Spalding my wife, my lott in the generall field, called the new field, to use and improve dureing the terme of her natural life and after her decease, I will that John Spalding and Edward Spalden my sonnes, shall have the said lott in the new field to be equally divided between them both I give and bequeath to Rachell Spalding my wife all my moveable goods and chattels, to use and improve dureing the terme of her naturall life, and after her decease, to be divided equally amongst my children, only I will that Dynah Spalding my daughter shall have my feather bed, and bolster belongs to it, more than the rest.

I make Rachell Spalding my wife my sole executor.

I make Thomas Hinksmann & Jacob Parker, overseers, to this my last will & testament. witness his marke EDWARD SPALDING.

GEORGE BYAM

JACOB PARKER.

At a Coun Court held at Cambr, Aprill 5th 1670, George Byam appearing before the Court, and being sworne do say that Edward Spalding above named dece'd, being of sound judgement and memory signed & published this instrum't, as his last will & testam't and that he knows of no other.

THOMAS DANFORTH, Record.

The inventory of all the moveables, goods, chattels, & other estates of Edward Spalding late of Chelmsford now dece'd prised upon the 28th of 1 mo. 1670, By Samuel Foster and George Byam of Chelmsford, above said.

The inventory of all the moveables, goods, chattels, & other estates of Edward Spalding late of Chelmsford, now dece'd prised upon the 28th of 1 mo. 1670, By Samuel Foster and George Byam of Chelmsford, above said. "

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