Mind, have a

To be willing. The phrase survives in England in “to have a good mind,” “a great mind,” “more than half a mind.”

1611.  The people had a mind to work.—Neh. iv. 6, A.V.

1705.  Oppechancanough, by his great Age, and the Fatigues of War, (in which Sir William Berkeley follow’d him close) was now grown so decrepit, that he was not able to walk alone, but was carried about by his Men where-ever he had a Mind to move.—Beverley, ‘Virginia,’ p. 52 (Lond.).

1711.  As I had a mind to hear the Play, I got out of the Sphere of her Impertinence, and planted myself in one of the remotest corners of the pit.—Addison, Spectator, No. 45, ¶ 6, April 21. (N.E.D.)

1762.  Any Person that has a Mind to treat at private sale may Enquire of the Auctioneer.—Boston Evening Post, Oct. 4.

1789.  If a man has a mind to drink a bowl of punch or a bottle of wine, &c.—Gazette of the U.S., N.Y., June 17.

1803.  He, having a mind to coax the dog to stay with him, took a piece of bread, &c.—Mass. Spy, March 2.

1829.  If they have a mind to take the trouble, let them tell forty lies a week.—Id., Jan. 28.

1830.  I s’pose a Governor has a right to flog anybody he’s a mind to.—Seba Smith (‘Major Downing’), ‘My Thirty Years Out of the Senate,’ p. 87 (1860).

1842.  [It] may be toted there whenever you’ve a mind.—J. S. Buckingham, ‘Slave States,’ ii. 293.
  [For fuller citation see PLUNDER.]

1853.  It goes agin my grit for Hardscrabble to cave in to Dogtown, when we could knock the hindsights off ’em, if we was only a mind to.—Durivage, ‘Life Scenes,’ p. 43.

1854.  They … swore they ’d drink streak-lightning if they were a-min-to!—H. H. Riley, ‘Puddleford,’ p. 101 (N.Y.).

1856.  All girls want somebody to talk with: and if she’d only showed the least interest in what I said, she might scold and lecture me as much as she’d a mind to.—H. B. Stowe, ‘Dred,’ ch. vi.

1867.  

1878.  Well, figger it as you’re a mind to; mabbe you’ll die of somethin’ else, arter all.—Rose T. Cooke, ‘Happy Dodd,’ chap. xii.