ABSTRACTS FROM WILLS, INVENTORIES, &c., ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF CLERK OF COURTS, SALEM, MASS.
COPIED BY IRA J. PATCH.
Continued from Vol. iv, page ll2.

George Corwin. 4 mo 1685.
Petition of Elizabeth Corwin widow and relict of Capt George Corwin deceased
Showing that he died without making such provision by will, as he always promised, and intended to do for her comfortable subsistence and honorable maintainance as his widow, and asking the Court that they will consider the cause of the widow and two fatherless chil-
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dren, that they may have their just dues, that the children may have their first portion equivalent to the rest of the brothers and sisters, except y* eldest son, and the like proportion of the last division, that she may be honorably provided for as the widow of Capt Geo Corwin, and that the several particulars given her, some before and the rest after marriage, may be restored to her and that the Court will order what they alot to her and her two daughters may forthwith be paid that they may make the best advantage of the improvement of it for their maintainance
That their interest may not suffer by granting sole admn to Mr. Corwin which in right belonged to her but by reason of sickness she was unable then to manage so great a trust, and Mr Corwin utterly refusing to joyn with her in it, but was very urgent that she should resign it solely to him and engaged faithfully that she should be under no disadvantage nor be any ways prejudiced through her compliance.
She also requests that she may be appointed guardian to her youngest daughter that she may the better provide for her education by the improvement of her estate. And that as her husband in hU lifetime did well approve of hur eldest daughters marriage which he hoped to have seen the consumation of (but inevitable providence preventing it) she desires that what money she has disbursed for her wedding apparel (which she judges is much short of what her father would have allowed) may be ordered her out of the whole estate according to her elder sisters.
To the Court held at Ipswich on the 31. of March 1685. "y° claime of Samuel Gardner sen' to part of y° estate Capt George Corwin deceased dyed possessed of with y* Reasons of his claime in behalfe of five children he haue liueing by Mary one of y' two daughters of Mrs Elizabeth Corwin deceased which she had by a former husband Mr John white & brought with her to & were brought up by Capt George Corwin abouesd."
" 1 Reason is because y' it is a thing known & owned that Capt Corwin aboues d brought no Estate or so little as may be Called none with him in marriage to Elizabeth nbouesd & that what estate they then had come by her & was as I haue herd about foure hunilred povends."
"21y because y'mrs Elizabeth Corwin aboues'd tould me about y" time of my marriage with Mary aboues'd that she had re- serued no certain sums for her daughters as their portions but had by agreement committed all into her husbands hands in their behalf to run all adventures with the estate so y' if all were lost they could claim nothing & that a reasonable aduance in case of increase was by agreement their dew."
"Sly because that as the estate Came by her & what she brought was the root from which y° rest have grown, so what increas there was to the Estate was in the time of her life & shea help therein."
"41y my father Captain George Corwin did promise me upon marriage that ho would doe as much for & make me & my wife eury way equal with Samuell Andrew & his wife who married the other sister which is yet to be done, there being above one hundred pounds as is well known given in a wedding dinner more to them then to us & I was then promised it should be made up in a nother way there being also one of his children brought up from 4 year old for him which could not cost lesse than 3 or 4 score pounds there being no such thing done for me I having 150,£ at least lesse than he."
"51y my father corwin haue told me that he would make up what was wanting to my children at his decease but was prevented & is still dew to them & him who humbly re- questeth this honoured Court will doe him Right herein."
" & for proof of what is asserted " " I can & will make oath when called thereto 1: 2: 1685. Samuel Gardner"
Petition of margaret relict and widow of Capt John Corwin eldest son of Capt George Corwin of Salem dec'1 that before adm" of said Capt George Corwin estate be committeed George Corwin eldest son of said John Corwin and then their children may have opportunity and be admitted to choose thuir guardian and that such guardian and her the said Margaret as guardian of the younger children may bo admitted and enjoyned in y* administration of sd Capt George Corwins estate with such persons as the same may be adjudged of right to belong unto, dated 9 llmo 1584-5.
Letter dated Boston march 24. 1684-5. signed by Wait Winthrop and Rd Wharton who mention their sister the widow of Capt John Corwin and her children.
Administration of the estate of Capt George Corwin granted to mr Jonathan Corwin son of deceased Jan 27, 1684-5 a list of several things inventoried with the estate of Capt George Corwin which in right belongs to Elizabeth his relict widow being either received before or given to her after marriage.
Inventory of estate of Capt George Corwin taken 30 Jany 1684 by Bathol" Gedney, Benjamin Brown, John Higginson Jr and Tim Lindall amounting to 5964£ 19s l|d returned by Mr Jonathan Corwin exor Mar 31, 1685.
Proposals and concessions agreed upon by the several persons subscribing in order to a 6mil and amicable settlement of the estate of Capt George Corwin dated July 4. 1685
1. Mrs Elizh Corwin the widow to have the particulars mentioned as "receivedbefore and after marriage" and 500£ in money, 100 C in household goods and 400£ out of the other estate, viz, goods housings Lands &c. in proportion to the amount of the whole to her and her heirs forever. she paying out of the sum 100 £ in specie and proportionable to Mrs Margaret Corwin for the use of the children of Capt Jn° Corwin also she shall have one third part of the dwelling house and ground adjoyning during her widowhood and constant abode there.
2. That Josiah Walcott in right of his wife and Mrs Susannah Corwin youngest daughter of Capt George Corwin deceased shall have and enjoy to them their heirs and assigns forever 1000 £ to each, in money, they each paying 50.!" to Mrs Margarett Corwin for the use of the children of Capt John Corwin.
3. That out of the remainder Mr Jonathan Corwin shall bo allowed 200£ for his trouble, 200£ to the children of Capt John Corwin, and the remainder to be divided into four equal shares, one share to the children of Capt John Corwin one share to Mr Jona Corwin, one share to James Russell Esq in right of his wife, and one share to Capt Wm Browne in right of his wife
4. That each person concerned shall give security to respond to all unknown debts in- cumbrances and recoverys which shall be hereafter made, in proportion to their shares, signed Eliza Corwin for herself and as guard to her daughter Susannah, Ja* Russell Margaret Corwin guardian Jonathan Corwin William Brown jr & Jos Walcott.
Bond of Mrs Eliza Corwin for the payment of her daughter Susannahs portion in court held at Salom Nov 24. 1685