The following is taken from a book "Blethens in America" published around 1900

WILL

In the name of God, Amen. I, John Blithen, Sr. of Salem in ye County of Essex in N. E. doe make & ordain this my Last Will and Do Admit being sick & weak in body but sound & of perfect memory and of a Disposing mind,

First & principally I resign my soul into ye hands of Almighty God that gave it and my Body I recommend to ye Earth to be Decently buryed by ye Discretion of my Executor here named and as for my worldly estate which ye Lord hath Lent me I give dispose in manner & form following:

Item - I Give unto my well beloved wife Jane Blithen the one half of my Real Estate during her natural Life & after her decease to my Son John Blithen & his heirs forever.

Item - I Give unto my Son John Blithen the other Halfe of my Real Estate after my decease to be to him & his heirs forever.

Item - I give unto by five daughters namely Jane, Elizabeth, Sarah, Abigaile & Hannah, Seven pounds a piece to be pd by my son or such as by Improvement the Estate shall produce within one year after my decease to them of my daughters yet are of age and to you which are not within one year after they Come to age.

Item -  I Give unto my said Wife the whole of my movable Goods or Estate during her widowhood but if she should be married & change her Condition then the Said movable goods to be Equally Divided between her & my son John.

Item - I appoint my Loving wife & my son John Blithen Joynt Executors of this my Last will & that they pay Equally between them all my Just Debts & funeral Charges Revoking all other former wills here to fore made or done. In Testimony whereof I have put my hand & seale this Eight day of November 1704.

Witnesses present

John Loomes, John Trask, junr, George Locker

Feb. 19, 1704-5

John Blithen (seal)

Essex ss

Before the Hon John Appleton, Judge of Ye probates of Wills In County. John Loomes, John Trask junr, George Locker all of Salem

Personally appeared & made oath They were present & saw Jno Blithen of sd Salem Do sign & seale the above Instrument & Declare it to be his Last Will & Testament & wn he so Did he was of a disposing mind to the best of yr Discerning yet yy all sett yr hands as witnesses in his presence, Upon wh this will is proved & approved & allowed being presented by Jn Blithen on of his Executors In sd will named.

Attest Danl Rogers Reg.

 

John Blithen's Inventory

 

An Inventory of ye estate of John Blithen late of Salem, Doe say & appraised by us whose names are underwritten this 17th Feb., 1704-5.

 

Do one Dwelling house & Barn with three acres of Land adjoining it

45,00.0
To a ten acre lot in Northfield joining to James Symond's land

55,00.0
To a ten acre lot in Northfield joining to horse Pasture

35,00.0
To about two acres of meadow in a p;ace called the Barren meadow

02,00.0
To three cows & a calf, Eight sheep 3.0

12,00.0
To one breeding sow

00,14.0
To Feather bed in Lower room with furniture belonging to bedstead

06,00.0
To a small Feather bed about 20 pounds feathers in it

02,10.0
To Great Wonscutt chest 12 S To gt. Cupboard 2,00 S

02,12.0
To two old Iron Potts & small Iron Kettle

00,15.0
To small brass skillett 1 S 6 d Little old crank 2 S

00,03.6
To an old warming pan 8 S Two old chairs 1 S 6 d

00,09.6
To one brass pair of tongs & fire shovell

00,07.6
To a frying pan, 2 pewter basins, qt pot & candlestick

00,09.0
To pr pot books. Some other old iron

00,03.0
To a Loome & sm Table & Tackling

01,05.0
To Tubbs, barrell & other Old Lumber

00,05.0
To Wheels 9 S horsecart and two old chairs 1.2 S

01,11.0
To waring apparell & some old Linen

10,04.1
 

170,18.6