I Benedictus Alvard of Windsor do make this my last Will & Testament: After my Just Debts
are payd, my wife during her Widowhood shall have the Proffitt, Use & Benefit of my Estate
for her Comfortable Livelyhood; but if she marryes, to have L30 of what Estate she shall
see Cause to take, to be to her own free Dispose. To my son Jonathan I give 20 shillings
besides what formerly I have given him. To Josias Alvard, my 2nd son, L40 and the Farme
that was given me by the Country. To my daughter Elizabeth Drake L5 besides what she hath
already received; and a Sheep apeice to each of the Children. To my son Jeremy, after the
decease of my wife, all my Houseing and Land in Windsor, together with all other my Moveable
Estate in Windsor, and all other Estate that is and shall appear to be due unto me on Books,
he paying out of it those Legacies as are before expressed. Also my Will is that my son Jeremy
shall be Executor. Further, that my loving wife shall live with my son Jeremy, and that he
shall have the Improvement and Management of it, allowing his Mother comfortable mayntenance
out of it as long as she lives in this World.
BENEDICTUS X ALVARD
Witnesses: Benjamin Newbery
Daniel Clarke Sen.
Court Record, page 72--6 September, 1683: Will proven.
From A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS, VOL. 1, HARTFORD DIST. 1635-1700,
compiled by Charles William Manwaring, Gen. Publishing Co. Inc, 1995 (originally published
1904).
P. 268 of above text; p. 126-127 of Vol. IV, Probate Records of Hartford Dist., 1677-1687.