Bibliothèque patrimonialeHenry Dunster

Will; dated 18 February 1658, proved 21 June 1659. Original stolen from the Middlesex County records ~1850; two transcriptions exist in the Harvard University Archives and the text has been published several times.

Probate inventory; Middlesex County Probate Records I:207-213 (1659)

Extant copies; see Edwin Wolf 2nd, "Some Books of Early New England Provenance in the 1823 Library of Alleghany College." Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society April 1963, 13-44. Digital Version.

Will text: "... But whereas the value of my Library cannot bee taken but by judicious and learned men som of my bookes beinge in such languages wherein common English men know not one letter, therefore I do appoint my reverend and trusty friends and brethren, the President of the Colledge, and the pastor of the Church of Cambridge, both to value them and lay asside the bookes hereafter specifyed as given to my wife, viz. The book of Martirs in two vollumes, Dr. Preston's workes, Mr. Burrough's workes, All bookes of Phisicke and surgery that are in the English tongue, with twelve or sixteen bookes brought by her out of England, wherein I will have her word for a legall testimony, because it is good and vallid unto mee in my will. The other two moyties of my library, I with the consent of my wife have by deed and gift given and bequeathed unto my two sons David and Jonathan Dunster, to be equally divided between them, and to be delivered unto them as they shall have need of any particular books, and the whole bulke of them when they come to maturity of age. ... Concerning the third part, I reserved in my own hands, I thus dispose thereof as followeth. Item. I give and bequeath to Mr. Chauncy such mathematicke bookes as hitherto I have lent him, with what household goods I left at Cambridge, viz. my great press in the Hall chamber and another press for bookes in the Study. Item, I give and bequeath unto Mr. Michell Rollocke's Commentaries upon John, which heretofore I lent him, with all the rest of that holy man's Commentaries upon the Scriptures that shall be found in my library, that himself hath not already."

Inventory:

"1 large table of mapps," located "In the Parlor," valued at 10 shillings

"Bookes given by Will to David & Jonathan Dunster," valued at £111/06/02

"Bookes given to his Wife & others," valued at £9/19

"Bookes in the Hall Chamb. among Mr Glovers bookes belonging to David & Jonathan," no value assigned

Of the sons, David got into trouble and went to England before 1664. Jonathan died intestate in 1725 at Charlestown, MA. His inventory includes books valued at just £6.