Last will and testament of Henry Spaulding: manuscript

Collection — Shared box: 2522

Identifier: BC-2025-149

Scope and Contents

The will of Henry Spaulding, of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, naming his wife Susanna, son Henry, and daughter Elizabeth as beneficiaries of his land, buildings, property, and "moveable estate." Four-page manuscript, the third page blank. Inserted is a single-leaf printed form approving the will, filled-out with names, dates, etc. and signed by Samuel Danforth, judge of the Probate of Wills, Middlesex County.

Dates

Creation: 1754 August 22

Creator

Spaulding, Henry, 1703-1754 (Person)

Language of Materials

In English.

Access Note

Open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.

Biographical note: Henry Spaulding

Massachusetts farmer. Wilson Waters's History of Chelmsford (Lowell, Mass., 1917), states that Spaulding was a slave-owner, and that there were eight enslaved people over sixteen years old in Chelmsford in 1754. The will does not mention slaves specifically, however, the term "moveable estate" as used in wills of this period encompassed enslaved people.