Joel Viles, b. 17 Dec 1743 Waltham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, was the son of John Viles and Susanna Bemis. He married Mary Bowman on 27 June 1775 at Lexington, Middlesex., Massachusetts. He died on 5 Jan 1817 at Lexington.
As part of Amanuensis Monday, here is my transcript of the last Will and Testament of Joel Viles.
(Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.) Case 23354: Pages 3-5)
In the Name of God amen I Joel Viles of Lexington in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Yeoman, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound disposing mind and memory, blessed be almighty god for the same, yet calling to mind my own mortality and knowing that it is Appointed for man once to die do at the date hereof make and ordain this instrument to be my last will and testament, but principally and first of all I commend my soul into the hand of god who gave it, and as to my body I desire to be buried in a decent and christianlike manner by my Executor hereafter named, and as to such worldly estate and temporal interest as it hath [leased god to give me I give and dispose of the same in the following manner viz.
Item 1st. I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Viles the use and improvement of one half of all my dwelling house during her life time with liberty of [illegible] round said dwelling house, and to the well and [illegible] the same, and the door yard, to use the out building as she may have occasion. I also give her the use and improvement of all my household furniture during her life time (Except the Clock). I also give her a right to sit in my pew during her life time. I also give her my chaise for her own use. I also give her the sum of two hundred Dollors for her own it being one half of the money that my son John Viles owes me and to be paid her immediately after my death, and I order my son Elias Viles to bring into her yearly and every year during her life time one third part of all the produce that shall be raised on my farm and to bring it in in season and to find he fire wood for one first and cut the same fit for burning, and also to find her a horse when she wants to ride out, and to pay for her doctoring if required, and at her death to give her a decent burial.
Item 2. I give and bequeath unto my son William Viles two hundred Dollors out of the notes that he owes me and the remainder of what shall be owing from him to be at my death if it can be collected I order to be equally divided between Bowman Viles, John Viles, Elias Viles, Nathan Viles & Joel Viles as soon as my Executor can collect the some after my death.
Item 3rd. I give and bequeath unto my son Bowman Viles two hundred Dollors and to be paid him in one year from my death.
Item 4th. I give and bequeath unto my son John Viles two hundred Dollors and to be paid him in one year from my death.
Item 5th. I give and bequeath unto my son Nathan Viles two hundred Dollors and to be paid him in one year from my death.
Item 6th. I give and bequeath unto my son Joel Viles two hundred Dollors and to be paid him in one year from my death.
Item 7th. I give and bequeath unto my daughters viz. Mary Simond, Susanna Colburn, Hannah Teal & Lucy Viles all my household furniture (Except my Clock) and to be equally divided between them or their heirs at the death of my wife who is to have the use of the same during her life time. I also give unto said Mary Simond, one Dollor and to be paid her in one year from my death. I also give unto Susanna Colburn & Hannah Seal the sum of one Dollor each and to be paid them in one year from my death. I also give and bequeath unto Lucy Viles the sum of Two hundred Dollors it being one half of the money that my son John Viles owes me and to be paid her immediately after my death.
Item 8th. It is my will that my children living in Lexington have a right to sit in my pew. It is also my will that my son Elias Viles should not dispose of the Clock nor remove the same out of the house so long as my wife should live.
Item 9th. It is my will that after all my just debts & the above named legacies and funeral charges are paid by my Executor hereafter named that all my real estate together with my personal estate good * chattle of what name or nature not otherwise disposed of I give and devise unto my son Elias Viles to hold to him his heirs and assigns forever, and lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Elias Viles sole Executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of December in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred & Sixteen
Joel Viles
Signed Sealed published and declared by the above named Joel Viles to he his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses to the same.
Jacob Smith
Samuel Chunellen????
Nathan Chandler
