Ephraim Sprague House Archaeological Site
A Time Capsule from the 18th Century
Ephraim Sprague's Will, 1754
In the name of God, Amen. The first day of November, A.D. 1754. I, Ephraim Sprague of Lebanon in the County of Windham in Connecticut Colony in New England: Being very sick in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God: Therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die; do make and ordain this my last will and testament: That is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God who gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the direction of my executors, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God: and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, demise, and dispose of the same in the following manner and form:
Imprimus I give and bequeath to Mary my dearly beloved wide so long as she shall remain my widow if she shall then stand in need thereof for her livelihood and comfort all the eastward or one story part of my dwelling house and an interest in the cellar belonging to my house, together with the one third of the income of my farm.
Item I give and bequeath to Perez Sprague my eldest and well beloved son and to his heirs and assigns forever seven acres of land lying on the southwardly side of the road against his former dwelling house bounded as may appear by a deed which I have of said land, together with all my wearing apparel (excepting my best beaver hat and one white muslin handkerchief and a pair of gloves), also my cane I give to said Perez.
Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Peleg Sprague one certain bond well executed which is due from him to me of fifty pounds current bills of credit of this Colony at the rate of silver at twenty six shillings per ounce, said bond bearing date A.D. 1739 and was to be paid on the eighteenth day of March 1742, together with all the interest that hath arisen or shall arise thereon.
Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughters Betty, the wife of Abel Bingham, and to Irena, the wife of Nathaniel Wright, all my household goods (excepting one featherbed, bolster, and pillow) to be equally divided between them after my decease.
Item I order in this my will that my executors shall pay all my debts out of my stock and what is due me by book, bond, or otherwise, and if it shall so happen that my stock that I shall leave and what is found due me shall not be sufficient to pay my just debts then I order and empower my executors to sell so much of my land as shall fully pay all my debts.
Item I also order that all my provisions, viz., corn of all sorts, meat, sauces of all sorts, with two swine now a-fatting, also all other provisions whatsoever that shall be necessary for the support of my wife and grandson and her family shall be no otherwise disposed of but shall be left for the use of my family, it is to be understood that all my provisions is left whole to be disposed of and used by my family.
Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved grandson Ephraim Sprague son to my son Ephraim Sprague, dec’d and his heirs and assigns, all the residue of my estate which I have not given away and disposed of in this, my last will and testament, after all my debts are paid. That is to say, all my farm lying in both the townships of Lebanon and Coventry with all my utensils for husbandry of all sorts, as also my stock if any be, together with one featherbed, one bolster, and one pillow which bed, bolster, and pillow was given to him by his grandmother Deborah Sprague, dec’d & the above said legacy shall not be at his disposal until he comes to 21 years of age. And furthermore it is my will that my beloved grandson Ephraim Sprague shall pay to his brother Theodorus Sprague when he the said Theodorus shall come to the age of twenty one years the sum of two hundred pounds in bills of public credit stated as shall hereafter be expressed. Likewise, it is my will that my grandson Ephraim above said shall pay to his sisters Abigail Sprague and Deborah Sprague to each of them when they shall come to the age of twenty one years, the sum of one hundred pounds to each of them: that is, one hundred pounds to his sister Abigail and one hundred pounds to his sister Deborah. Furthermore, it is my will that the several sums which I have herein ordered my grandson Ephraim Sprague to pay unto his brother and to his two sisters above named shall be paid equal to silver at three pounds five shillings per dollar.
Item I likewise make, constitute and ordain my beloved friends Dea. Israel Woodward and Lieut. William Sims, both of Lebanon, to be my executors to this, my last will and testament and further, it is my will that my grandson Ephraim Sprague shall be under the care and inspection of these my executors, so likewise shall the management of my farm which is hereby this, my will, given to him, the said Ephraim. They are hereby fully empowered to allow him the use of it until he comes to full age or to deprive him of the use of it as they shall think best and most for the benefit of him, the said Ephraim. And they, the executors, shall, if they think it most best and profitable, have hereby full power to lease out said farm until he, the said Ephraim, shall come to the age of twenty one years; that is; that part which I have not allowed to my wife as her thirds so long as it is in her hands. Furthermore I do hereby, utterly disallow and revoke and disannul all and every other former testaments, wills, legacies, bequests, and executors by me in any ways before named, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said Ephraim Sprague as his last will and testament.
Ephraim Sprague [his seal]
In the presence of us, the subscribers
John Sprague
Eliakim Sprague
Susannah Sprague, her mark