Explanation of problems re Colonel Richard’s will

This 'fine' would certainly explain three peculiarities in Colonel Richard's will of 1657, which had puzzled me on first reading it: the first was that he wrote it in this year, when he and Elizabeth were still busy producing children (why in this year, when he lived on until 1662?); the second was that this was not the will of a rich man, but one pleading poverty (how and why could Colonel Richard, the richest man around, claim that he was poor?); and the third was that it was so long and complex (why, when he had a growing family of sons and several brothers still alive?). Although writing a will several years before death was not without precedent, it was certainly unusual and was normally because of some change in the family circumstances. Yet no obvious change in Duxbury was detectable, apart from the regular arrival of a new baby and Richard gaining in power and influence. Also, with several sons to continue the line, his will would normally have been rather simple; yet this went on and on for many very large pages with elaborate provisions and clauses that read very strangely - in particular the fear that he might not be able to leave suitable provision for the whole family. Something must have happened recently and at last here was the most likely explanation - the payment of a large sum in compensation to Myles and Alexander in 1655 (with possibly the threat of more payments to follow?).

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