William Torrey II

     William was born in 1638 in Combe St. Nicholas, Somersetshire, England. William married Deborah Greene, daughter of John Greene and Anna Almy, circa 1669. William was a prosperous farmer of his time, owning considerable real estate. He probably resided on his father's Homestead. William made his will on 20 September 1715.

In the name of God Amen. The twentieth Day of September In the year of Our Lord God one thousand seven hundred & fifteen. I William Torrey of Weymouth in the Providence of the Massachusetts May in New England, husbandman; although weak in Body But of Perfect mind & Memory thanks be Given to God therefore calling into mind the mortality of my body & knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die; Do make & ordain this my :ast Will & Testament: That is to say, Principally & first of all I give and Recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it, and for my body I Recommend it tto the earth to be Buried in a Christian like & descent manner at the discretion 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 devise & dispose of In the following manner & form.
Imprimis; I Give and bequeath to Deborah my beloved wife ten pounds by the year to be paid to her out the Income of my Real Estate also twelve cord of wood as it stands om my land yearly also one cow & her looming winter and summer; and the use & improvement of the west end of my dwelling house all above mentioned I give to my wife by the year & from year to year so long as she continues my widow; and if she be married again then my will is that she shall Have eight pounds by the year from year to year so long as she shall live. Further more I give to my said wife [my just debts and funeral charges being first paid out of the same] all my household stuf together with all my money & all the money due to me and all the bills of what kind or denomination soever and plate Corn moat button and chooe I shall Die in possession of also my horse & two cows; all those movables last mentioned [viz] household stuff money bills corn moat & [Excepting fifty pounds reserved for my daughter Jane] I give to my said wife to be at her disposal among my children according to her discretion.
Item I give to my five sons John Samuel Joseph Philp & Haviland all the remainder of the Income of my Real Estate not disposed of as above excepting thirty shillings by the year which I give to my daughter Jane of said income until she be married or until her mother’s death if it happens first more over I give to my five sons above named my wearing apparel and all the Remainder of my moveable estate not disposed of as aforesaid of what kind or nature soever to be equally divided among them; Item I Give to my daughter Jane fifty pounds in money or goods & household stuff as before is excepted & Reserved for her to be paid her at her marriage or at her mother's death if it shall happen before moreover I give to my daughter Jane fifty pounds in money to be paid her within one year after her mother’s decease; out of part of my real estate hereafter mentioned; I give my son John twenty pounds in money to be divided out of my real estate as is hereafter expressed after my wife her decease provided he bring up one of his sons to learning viz at the college.
Item I give to my five sons above named in equall proportion my housing & homestead even my land & my son Philip’s land on the Easterly side as the fences now stand at the Easterly end of my orchard adjoining to my son Philips until it Run twelve poles beyond my barn from thence to Run on the northerly side upon a line four poles to the northward of that barn which I use for my English hay & so on until it comes to the street or high way; Item I give to my five sons afore named al the Remainder of my real estate only the fifty pounds to my daughter Jane & the twenty pounds to my son John to be first paid out of this part of my Real Estate my son Philip to have two sixth part thereof provided he be carful of & helpful to me & my wife so long as both or either of us do live my son John Samuel Jospeh & Haviland to have one sixth part thereof, I give to my sons aforementioned to each one severely, his part of my real state as before is expressed to him his heirs & assigns for ever, and I do constitute make and ordain my beloved wife and my son John to be my executors of this my Last will & Testament and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke & disannul all & every other former testaments wills & legacies bequeaths and Executors by me in any ways before this time named written & bequeathed ratifying & confirming this & no other to be my Last will & Testament In wit[ness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day and year above written. Signed Sealed Pronounced & Declared by the said William Torrey as his Last will and Testament in the presence of us the Subscribers the entering of those words [each of them] in the 49^th line [viz] James Humphrey Ebenezer Pratt Joseph Pitty.¹

William departed this life on Tuesday, 11 January 1717/18 in Weymouth at age 80 years. He was buried there in North Weymouth Cemetery. The inscription on his stone reads: The Grave of Mr. William Torrey Deceased Jan 11th 1717/8 in 80th year of his Age. His will was probated on 30 January 1718. The inventory of William's estate was taken on Thursday, 23 April 1722. It was valued at £1,336 - 3 - 8.²