At 04:55 PM 12/28/02, Francine Nicholson wrote: >I have another question about Giles Corey: his behavior seems somewhat >contradictory, and he doesn't always seem to have been clear as to what he >saw or did, then emphasized in his will that his body was less than >healthy, but his memory was perfect. Why emphasize that? Might he have had >a cognitive illness like Alzheimer's? I think not, Francine. Then, as now, the standard for will-making is mental competence. Physical disability is irrelevant. Many old wills begin by saying "sound in mind and body" or words to that effect, but others -- such as Corey's -- strive to convince the reader (judge, probate court, heirs, etc.) that though the individual may have many physical ailments, their mind is sharp enough to make competent legal decisions about where their property should go after death. What such testators were seeking to avoid were later claims that they were senile or fevered beyond reason (or, perhaps, drugged beyond reason -- even back then, poppy syrup could be had, though I don't know how common it was in the colonies) by heirs or officials who might have a strong financial interest in overturning the dying person's Will. If necessary, witnesses to the Will would be asked back then not only whether the signature was true, but whether the testator seemed in their right mind when they signed. Lisa

Hi all! While we're on this thread, I thought I'd point out that the text of Giles Corey's will is available on-line at: http://www.essexcountyma.org/wills/coreyg.htm There are a lot of transcribed wills from this period in Essex County at this site. John Proctor's will is there at: http://www.essexcountyma.org/wills/proctorj.htm and a settlement of the estate of William Towne of Topsfield, father of Rebecca Nurse, Mary Easty & Sarah Cloyce at: http://www.essexcountyma.org/wills/townew.htm along with the will of William Andrews of Boxford, father of Thomas Andrews and Mary (Andrews) Cummings, both of whom testified against Elizabeth Howe: http://www.essexcountyma.org/wills/andrewsr.htm Cheers, Margo Margo Burns, List Owner of the Salem-Witch List at rootsweb.com margo@ogram.org