This will can be seen at Bristol County (Mass.) Probate 11:679-80. Transcription:
"In the Name of God Amen, the thirtyeth Day of December Anno Domini 1747, I Joshua Barrus of Attleborough in the County of Bristol in his majesties Province of the massachusetts bay in New England Husbandman being Aged but of Perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye, 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 unto to the hands of God that gave it, and my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent and Christian burial att the discretion of my executor Northing doubting but att the General Resurrection I shall receive the same 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, devise, and depose of the same in the following manner and form:
I give and Bequeath to Deliverance my dearly beloved wife my house and land during her Natural Life, Likewise I give to my said Wife all my moveable Estate within Dores and without;
I give to my son Thomas Barrus to him his heires and assignes forever the one half of my house and land after his mother's decease and likewise constitute make and ordaine my said son Thomas Barrus my sole executor of this my last will and testament.
I give to my son Samuel Barrus to him, his heires and assignes forever the other half of my House and land after his mothers decease
I give to my grandson Gideon Barrus five pounds in the old tenor to be paid to him he shall arrive to lawful age; Thomas to pay the one half and Samuel the other half.
I give to my son Joshua Barrus as an addition to what I have formerly Given him one shilling in the old tenor to paid by my executor
I give to my daughter Hannah Parsons as an addition to what I have formerly given her one shilling in the old tenour to be paid by my executor, and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disanul every other forever wills and testaments and concerning this and no other to be my last till and testament . In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand, and seal the day and year above written, Joshua Barrus [seal] Witnesses: Benajah Barrus, Noah Carpenter, John Slack."
So, as we can see Joshua goes out of his way to be explicit. He basically states that Thomas and Samuel were sons by his wife Deliverance. The inference, therefore, is that son Joshua and daughter Hannah were from a previous marriage. The problem arises from the mention of Gideon, his grandson. This must be Gideon the son of Benajah and Diademia (Capron) born at Attleborough on 25 November 1743 [Attleborough VRs, p. 20]. If so, why doesn't Joshua include his son Benajah? This Benajah is alive well past Joshua's death in 1749, having children in 1753, 1754, and 1755. Why give a shilling to each of Joshua and Hannah noting what had already been given them, but not another living son? And why just include his grandson Gideon? Is the Benajah Barrus who witnesses the will, his son or brother? Can't tell any of this--which makes it maddening.
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