Here is the will of Henry Sherman who moved to Washington County in about 1774-1776 from Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The will is from Washington County Wills Book II, page 75 and is on FHL microfilm 513861. I am Henry's 6th ggson. --Bart K. In the name of God, Amen. I, Henry Shearman of the town of Cambridge in the county of Washington and state of New York, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound and disposing mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say -- First, my will is that my just debts, funeral charges, and just expenses of all kinds be well and truly paid by my executors, hereafter named, and out of that part of my Estate that I shall in this my will give to my wife. ~Item. I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife, Ruth Shearman, the use and profit of all my real personal Estate, that I may die seased of, in the town of Cambridge after my debts and funeral charges be paid as before mentioned, except what shall be hereafter otherwise disposed of, all which I give to her so long as she shall remain to be my widow and right of her Dower or power of th---s in my Estate. ~Item. I give and bequeath to my three sons, Shubal, John, and Batchelder, lot number five of the second survey of lot number seventy seven in Cambridge where I live and twenty acres of the east end of sixty two acres that I bought of William Pettis, the west end of lot number seven in the second survey of lot number seventy seven, all to be equally divided between them and their heirs forever, and to come into possession when their mother shall cease to be my widow, they performing what shall be herein enjoyned on them. ~Item. I give and bequeath to my son Henry Shearman and his heirs forever all the lands that I may die seased of in the town of James in the military tract. ~Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Almy Peters what was my gold sleave buttons. ~Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Deborah Duers and for her use, the house and lot it stands on, about one acre of land as now enclosed with fence and other use only, and my will further is that after my said wife shall cease to remain my widow that my three sons, Shubal, John, and Batchelder, equally find and provide fire wood for the use of one fire for their sister, Deborah, together and keeping for one cow, winter and summer, and also meat, wheat, and corn and articles sufficient for her comfortable support as long as she shall live after the decease of her mother. ~Item. I give and bequeath in addition to the above to my said daughter Deborah Duers one cow and one equal third part of my household furniture --- also twenty dollars to be paid by my four sons, Shubal, John, Henry, and Batchelder, after the decease of their mother. --The above mentioned house and lot is where my said son John formerly lived --- the above gifts to be for the use and support of my said daughter Deborah Duers as long as she lives and at her decease my will is that my grandson William Duers have and enjoy the above mentioned house and lot, he and his heirs forever. ~Item. I give to my daughter Ruth Cook one third part of my household furniture and to come into possession at the decease of her mother. ~Item. I give and bequeath to my son Batchelder the use and profits of all and singular the land where he now lives and the appertenances thereunto belonging for and so long as his mother lives. ~Item. I give and bequeath my wearing apparel to be divided equally between my four sons, Shubal, Henry, John, and Batchelder --- all the rest and residue of my Estate, both real and personal not herein mentioned, my will is that it be equally divided between my wife Ruth Shearman and my above named sons and my two daughters, to wit Deborah Duers and Ruth Cook; and having gone thru with disposing of my property that it has pleased divine providence to bestow on me, I do hereby constitute and appoint my said sons, to wit, Shubal and Batchelder Shearman, sole executors to this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all others made by me. ~Now considering the imperfection of our judgement and bias of interest with parties concerned and being desirous that every difficulty in and about this my last will and testament may be avoided, I do hereby wish and desire that due application be made by any one or more thinking him or herself aggrieved by the not understanding of any matter of thing to this my will. To Thomas Smith, esquire of the town of Easton, County of Washington and Barnabas Russell of the same place and Shadrack Dennis of the town of Cambridge and county aforesaid --- and their council and advice of them or any two of them be final and conclusive in the premises hereby desiring their aide if anything of the kind should happen. ~ In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this tenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and one. -- Henry Shearman Witnesses -- Thomas Smith, Barnabas Russell, and Ephraim Kendall Executed on 18 Apr 1805