William Briggs' will dated 3 April 1716 and proved 2 July 1716, William Briggs of Little Compton in the County of Bristoll in New England, yeoman, left the dwelling house he lived in to his son Job, along with all the household stuff therein and all the farm. He directed that a line be run from the end of the wall that runs to the marsh., and he left to his son William land on the north side of that line and to son Job land on the south side, all of which was bounded on the sea. They were to bestow it upon whichever of their male heirs they wished, and for lack of male heirs, on female heirs, and whoever received the land was to pay ten pounds apiece to the daughters of the last deceased heir.
To son Job was left all the livestock, all the money in or out of the house, and a twenty four acre lot lying on the west side of Colebrook, as well as half of two four acre lots on the west side of Colebook line. To son William he left the house William then dwelt in with all the orchard and land belonging to it, and twenty acres lying between the lands of Israel Shaw. Whosoever shall enjoy the farm that I now live upon shall have a drift way maintained by barrs or gates for him and his heires at the cost and charge of my son William....I also give him and his heires as above directed eighteen acres of swamp and half two little lotts lying in capteine Southards pasture....also a twenty four acre lott which was Governeur Winslows lying on the west side ColeBrooke line...also half a sixteen acre lott lying by the widdow Eatens.... To daughter Susanna Dennis....my house and all the land thereunto belonging now in the occupation of Thomas Waite....to daughter Deborah Head...all my lands on the east side Colebrooke line except part of two little lotts....unto my daughter Elizabeth Woodman one hundred pounds in passable money provided that I have not given it to her before my decease...unto my daughter Deborah Head twenty pounds....unto my son William Briggs sixty pounds....also a good feather bed and bedding belonging to it, as also my round table and old gun....I give unto my wife ten pounds per annum in passable money to be payd her by my son Job when she has occasion to call for it...also the choice of any roome in the house and the use of what household stuffe she has reason for and what fire wood she wants and maintenance for her four servants, I also give her the milk of any two cows she shall chuse, and a good easy mare or horse to ride upon, and also the fruit of six apple trees att my son Williams and those at home, as long as she remains a widdow, and also half my garden...my will farther is that my two Mullato girls, Hope and Mercy be with my wife or daughters Woodman and Head till they arrive at the years of twenty five, and then to be Immediately free and att theyr owne dispositien, and to be allowed forthwith by theyr Masters or Mistresses each of them a good new suit of cloathes from top to toe and twenty shillings in money apeice...I also will that my servant lad Jeremiah Springer live with my wife till he be twenty one years of age and when his time is out he shall have two new suits of apparell from top to toe...my will further is that Robert Dennis, John Woodman and Benjamin Head to my overseers and my wife and my son Job to be my executors.....be it known that whosoever of any of my children shall endeavour by any means to breake this my will, shall immediately be deprived of what I have willed them all but five shillings, the rest of theyr estate being equally divided by my executors to the rest of my children.....
At the bottom was written that notation, "Memorandum before signing and sealing, I give to my daughter in law Little twenty shillings in money." Witnesses were Edward Pelham, Jonan Davenport jun. and Joseph Wilbur, all of whom were sworn at the proving of the will, at which time it was noted that "the widdow of the late Wm Briggs Deceast appeared and Declared that she was not content with the Bequest toward her in the within written will But would have her Due layed out & allowed to her" (Bristol County Probate File).

Inventory of William Briggs taken 17 May 1716: His sword, homestead farm, and housing in Little Compton, 600 pounds; Land and housing in Tiverton, 100 pounds; Total of inventory, 3043 - 5 Shillings.

Source: Thomas Cooke of Rhode Island by Jane Fletcher Fiske