Description:

Mayflower document! Near contemporary manuscript of the will of wealthy Boston merchant and Pilgrim John Winslow whose wife Mary, mentioned in this very document, and two brothers came over on the Mayflower a year before John's arrival. Early mention of slavery and Plymouth

(COLONIAL MASSACHUSETTS) Manuscript Document Signed, 4p, 7.5" x 12.25", front & verso, on two conjoined sheets, Boston, certified by the Registrar "a true Copy as of Record" of a document originally dated March 12, 1673, likely produced in the early 1700s. Wear at edges, folds expertly reinforced. A very legible copy. Very Good condition.

At the time of his death, John Winslow was one of the wealthiest merchants in Boston. He left personal property valued at £3,000, a good part of it in money, the rest on goods.

Begins, "In the Name of God Amen The Twelfth Day of March in the Year of our Lord according to the Computation of the Church of England One Thousand Six hundred and Seventy & three Annoq Regni Regis Car: Secundi Anglia &c XXV1 I John Winslow Senr of Boston in the County of Suffolk in New England Merchant being weak in Body but of Sound and perfect memory praised be Almighty God for the same Knowing the uncertainty of this present Life and being desirous to Settle that Outward Estate that the lord hath Lent me I do make this my Last Will &Testament..." Winslow mentions his entire family including grandchildren, then continues, in part, "ITEM I give & bequeath unto my Kinsman Josiah Winslow now Governor of New Plimouth the Sum of Twenty Pounds to be paid unto him by my overseers in Goods ... ITEM My Will is that my Negro Girl Jane (after she hath Served Twenty years from the Date hereof) shall be free : and that she shall Serve my Wife during her Life and after my Wife's deceace she shall be disposed of according to the discretion of my Executors overseers hereafter named or any two of them..."

John Winslow (1597-1674) came to the Plymouth Colony in 1621, a year after his brothers Edward and Gilbert arrived on the Mayflower. Edward Winslow was later Governor of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay (1833-1834, 1836-1837, 1844-1845) . John married Mary Chilton, said to be the first Mayflower passenger to step ashore on Plymouth Rock. Their daughter Sarah married Myles Standish, Jr., son and namesake of the commander of the Plymouth militia.

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