THE ESTATE OF JOHN KEEP OF LONGMEADOW, MASSACHUSETTS

 

The details of the estate of John Keep  copied from the Northampton, Mass.  Probate records:

 

An Inventory of the estate of John Keepe being presented to this Court. Sept. 26 1676, By Samll Bliss and Joseph Leonard of Spring­field to which Inventory they made oath too Before the Courte which is on file with the Recorder of this Courte, and Power of administration upon the Estate of John Keepe, Deceased, is By this Courte granted unto the sayd SamlI Bliss and Joseph Leonard aforesayd. And for the settlement of the Estate this Courte have Ordered that Whereas there being presented by the Persons Concerned in the management of the Estate of John Keepe Some Consideration as to the settlement of the estate aforesayd, viz, a paper presented  which is as followeth: viz. That the son of John Keepe Deceased, viz. Samll Keepe shall have the land and houseing all of it to be to him and his heirs, he paying as a legacy to his two sisters Sarah and Hannah Keep the just and full sum of Thirty three Pounds in good Current Pay at least within two years after he the sayd Samll Keepe comes to be of age, viz. one and twenty years. All the rest of the Estate to be Equally Divided Between the sayd Sarah and Hannah Keepe. Likewise if either of the Children Dye before they come to be of age then the sur­vivors to enjoy the Deceased childs part. This Courte approved of the above sayd Settlement of the estate and have confirmed it.

 

Here followeth a copy of the Inventory of the Estate of John Keepe off Springfield taken the 10th September 1676 By Anthony Dorchester and Samll Marshfield.

                                                                           

To Indian corn, pease, and Oats   12£ 19s 9p 

To back wheat, a bed, etc   3£ 1s 

To Bags, a bed with furnature etc   5£  15s              

To Pewter and Sheet     2£ 3s         

To Ammunition & Chest   2£ 12s 

To a Bedstead, Rope. forge etc   4£ 16s 

To Axes Pitchfork, Bootes & Shoes   1£ 5s 6p

To Rye Cart Wheels, etc    1£ 16s                

To 172 l of Bacon  4£ 6s  

To Beefe    12s                                

To 6 Hogs, a pair of bridles   4£  

To 3 Steers at 10£ & 2 Oxen at 12£   22£ 

To 2 Horses at 5£   5£       

To Woodcut tunnel with small things   10s

To 2 hides 10s 15 acresMeadow    9£

To 15 acres of Id House & Barn   120£

To 4 acres of Land    4£                  

To 8 acres of Pasture land   12£

To 11 wool at 11s     11s          

To Wheat at WIndsor     4£ 9s 6p   

To Chair Iron pots wool     2£ 5s 6p

To Sevil Small things brass   5£ 1s

To Personall apparel   9£ 11s 6p 

To hats, salt, coppery ware   2£ 1s 6p

To Bedding & Books   3£ 17s

To Coppery ware saddle Pyllan   2£ 8s

To Several husbandry tools  4£ 4s 

To Powder & Bullets suite   8s 6p

To Candles with fflax 13 1/2   19s 10p

To Cows 2 steers 2 heifers   15£ 10s

To 4 Cows and 3 calves     15£

To Churn, Cradle etc    1£          

To Pewter Pot Brass skillett     5s                     

To 4 acres of land     12£                         

To 8 acres of land   20£ 

To 25 acres of land    8£                          

To hay 2 Ioads 20s ffan 3s   2£  3s

Wheat and hay unprized                         

 

                           The total sum of the above said inventory is      325£ 11s 7p

 

The sum total of the inventory of the Estate of John Keepe, Deceased amounting to 329£ 11s 7p out of which deduct the debt, and expenses at 30£ 16s3p Remaynes free Estate 298£  15s 4p & whereas in the former distribution of the estate by the Courte Sept 26, 1676, the whole of the lot was settled upon John Keeps son hee paying out of the lands 33£ to his sisters when at age as part of their portions & said daughters to have the Remainder of the moveable estate after debts payed to make up their portions.  But forasmuch as the additional In­ventory hath made Alterations and the daughters coming to age before the son, he being youngest, we propose to this Courte as to a further settlement of said estate that the daughters may have the moveable estate which Is 122£ 15s 4p Equally divided between them which is  61£ 7s 8p apiece when at age to receive it and the son to the deceased to enjoy all the lands which are apprized at 176£ when he comes to age of 21 years, he paying 14£ apiece to said Daughters In two years after he is possessed of said lands which is to Complete the Daughters portions to 75£ 7s 8p apiece.  If any dye before at age the survivors to enjoy their parts and in the mean time the rent of land to pay the just ex­penses said administrators are out in keeping and settling said children or otherwise, they giving an account of the same. The aforesaid was presented by Samll Bliss & he affirmeth Joseph Leonard hath agreed to the same. This Courte hath Confirmed it as Settlement of said estate.

 

The additional inventory follows:—

 

An additional Inventory of the estate of John Keepe, deceased, some tymes of Springfeld, deceased. The original Inventory was presented to the Count Sept26 1676, and is upon record folio 180 of this book, and here the Administrators farther give an account of Several Debts payd andexpense, in bringing up the Children and which were not mentioned in the former Inventory and are as followeth:

 

To payment awiddow Leonard for bringing up the children   8£

To debt to Mr. Saunders & others at Windsor for 20 Bush.  Wheat paid at Windsor    4£                               

To 2 Bush & half peck Wheat at Windsor     9s 6p          

To payment to Florence Dressell      14s

To payment to Goodman Stewart & the Meeting house rate  10s 

To payment Thomas Day & Goodman Cooley   8s        

To removing goods from Longmeadow    3s 

To taking Inventory 16s—10 hoggs lost In war tymes    2£  13s 6p

To fetching cows from Longmeadow in Warr Tymes    6s                  

To fetching corn & cattle from Longmeadow     6s 9p     

To Widow Keeps funeral charges    9s

To his funeral charges     7s                 

To Cloathing for children    5£                

To a debt due Goodman Cooley     5s

To 3 bushels wheat paid for 3 pair shoes    1£ 6p            

To Indian Corn & Peas taken upon Country service & by neglect

         no account given of it   1£ 4s

To Trouble & Charge in management of the estate by the administrator

       and espense of bringing up the children     5£ 

                                                                           

                                                                        Total 30£ 6s 3p

 

Some additional Inventoryed estate and in the former Inventory as follows:

 

To debt recovered of the Countryat 5£ 17s in our pay   4£

                     

                                                The original Inventory amounted to       325£  11s 7p

 

 

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