I John Winthrop of Boston in New England being (through the blessing of the Lord) in good health, yet considering my change approaching and the vncertainty thereof, and desiringe (according to the good pleasure of the Lord) so to settle the affaires of my famyly, as when the Lord shall call me to himselfe, I may neither be troubled with the Care of these outward thinges, nor for want thereof may leave any occasion of strife or evill reporte behinde me, doe in the name and feare of the Lord ordaine this my last will and Testament, though I cannot make it so full and exacte as I would in many particulars, in regarde of those engagements which now lye upon me, and the incertainty of my estate in England, yet my intent is that this shall stande for the present to be some direction to my executors etc. till God may please to give opportunity of altering the same in a more cleare way.

First my Care is that all my debts and duties be payd, and for that ende, I give power to my executors to sell the house I dwell in at Boston and the lande beyond powderhorn hill, and any of my stock and moveables, Corne on the grounde, my part of the windmill, and interest in the weere at mistick. And for my deare wife, who hath been a faithfull helpe to me, though I lefte an estate for her in England, yet being doubtfull what may become of that, and havinge had 400li of it allready my will is she should be maintayned in a comfortable and honorable Condition, according to her place, and as my estate will beare therefore I give vnto her halfe my farme Tenhills during her life, with the vse of such stock as shall be left vpon it (my debts etc. payd).

And for my good sonne John, who hath alwayes been most loving and dutyful to me, and to my wife as if she had been his naturall mother, and hath cheerfully departed with all his interest both in his mothers inheritance and mine to a great value, and that without any recompense, I doe commende him to the Lord in all that the blessinge of a father may obtaine for an abundant recompense upon him and his. And I do give unto him the other moitye of my farme Tenhills with the stock thervpon, and after the decease of my wife the whole, to remaine to him and his heires forever.

I give to my sonne Adam my Iland called the Gouernours Garden, to haue to him and his heires forever: not doubting but he will be dutyfull and loving to his mother and kind to his brethren in letting them partake in such fruits as grow there. I give him allso my Indians there and my boate and such household as is there.

I give to my sonne Stephen my moiety of the Ile Prudence in Naragansett Bay, which with his parte of the reversion of his mothers estate in England wilbe a good portion: for it wilbe fitt she should dispose some parte of it to her other sonnes, according to our first intention, and I hope they will all rest satisfied at their mothers disposall therof.

I give to my sonne Deane and his heirs my lande at Pullen point with the 40 acres of marsh on the other side the hill there, and I must leave him to his mothers care to furnish him with some stock, and if my lande beyond Powder-horne hill shall not be solde etc. then I give it to him and his heirs.

I give to my sonne Samuell my lot at Concorde which I intende to build upon if God give life and meanes, and the half of my farme of 1200 acres vpon concord River, and my 3 oxen in Eph: Childs keeping.

All the rest of my lande vndisposed of (there being aboue 2000 acres still due to me from the Country) I give to my sonne John and his heirs, whom togither with my wife I make executor of this my last will and Testament, and my will is that all my plate and other household and bookes shall be equally devided between them: and my wife to dispose of her parte (besides her own Jewels and other peculiar things fitt for her owne vse) as herself shall think fitt.

I will that Jo: Gager shall have a Cowe one of the best I shall have, in recompence of a heifer his father bought of me: and an 2 ewe goats and 10 bushels of Indian Corne.

My estate becoming since much decayed through the vnfaithfullnesse of my servant Luxford, so as I have been forced to sell some of my lands allready, and must sell more for satisfaction of 2600li debts whereof I did not knowe of more than 300li when I intended this for my Testament, I am now forced to revoke it, and must leave all to the most wise and gratious providence of the Lorde, who hath promised not to faile nor forsake me but wilbe an husband to my wife and a father to our Children, as he hath hitherto been in all our struggles. Blessed be his holy name.