Will of William WILLIAMS: WILLIAM WILLIAMS' LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT DATED 21 NOVEMBER 1775, PROVED 12 MARCH 1776 VOLUME HH1, PAGES 1 & 2, THE REGISTER OF WILLS FOR ST. MARY'S COUNTY, LEONARDTOWN, MD 20650 In the name of God Amen, I William Williams of St Marys County in the province of Maryland, being weak of body, but of perfect mind, and memory, do make ordain Constitute and appoint, this to be my last will and Testament in manner and form following.. Imprimis I Recommend my soul to the mercy of that all gracious being from whom I received it, my body to the dust from whence it came, there to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter to be named; and for my worldly goods my will is that they may be disposed of in manner, and form following-- Item I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife, Frances Williams, my Dwelling plantation whereon I now live, containing ninety two acres, known by the name of Roberts' Neck, during her natural Life, with the priviledge of gitting from any of my other Lands, what timber or fire wood may be necessary, for the support of the said plantation, as also my Clock, during her natural Life, as also my Riding Chaiza and horse, one Bed & furniture, two negro fellows, named Sam, and Dick to her & her heirs forever... Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved sons James and Joseph Williams, all my other Lands, and Tenements, to be divided between them in such manner, that my son James may have seventy five acres, more by the said division than my son Joseph, Otherwise that the said Land may be equally with Respect to Value & Convenience, Divid between them, as possible, and further my will is, that after the deceas of my beloved Wife, Frances Williams, my dwelling plantation divised to her, during her natural Life, be Equally divided, between my two sons James, and Joseph Williams which said Land & Tenements, I give and bequeath, unto them and their heirs forever.. Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved son James Williams, one negro called Barton to him and his heirs forever.. Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Joseph Williams one negro called Watt, to him & his heirs forever.. Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved Grand Daughter Nancy Williams, one young negro, not less than six years of age, to be delivered to her at the age of Sixteen, or day of Marriage, to be to her, and her heirs forever.. Item I will and bequeath, unto Elenor Ray, two pound Common Currancy of Maryland Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved Children, Monica Williams, James Williams and Joseph Williams, All my Remaining negroes, not heretofore divised to be Equally divided among them, to them, and their heirs forever.. Item I Give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved Wife, Frances Williams, one third part of the residue, or Remaining part of my Estate, to her, and her heirs forever.. Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved Children, Monica Williams, James Williams & Joseph Williams all Residue, or Remaining part of my Estate (save four Sheep) to be equally Divided Among them, to be to them, and their heirs forever.. Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved Daughter Nancy James four Sheep.. Item Lastly I do nominate and appoint, my dearly beloved wife, Frances Williams, and my beloved Son James Williams, whole and sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, this 21st day of november Anno Domini 1775.. WILLIAM WILLIAMS (Seal) Signed sealed & delivered in presence of George Medley; Bennet Combs; John Greenwell, Junr March 12th 1776 Then came Frances Williams and James Williams, and made Oath that the above instrument of writing is the true, and, and whole Will and Testament of William Williams, late of St Marys County deceased that hath come to their hands or possession, and that they dont know of no other... Certified for Hugh Hopewell Jr Deputy Coms of St Marys County Saint Marys County SS The 12th day of March 1776 Then came George Medley, Bennet Combs, and John Greenwell Junr, the three Subscribing Witnesses to the within Last will and Testament of William Williams Late of St Marys County deceased, and severally made Oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God, that they did see the Testator therein named, sign & seal this will, and that they heard him publish, pronounce and declare the same to be his Last Will and Testament, that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehension, of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding and that they respectively Subscribed, their names as witnesses to this will, in the presence, and at the request of the Testator, and in the presence of Each other... Certified by Hugh Hopewell Junr, deputy Commissary of St Marys County =========================================================================== File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Elizabeth F. Randolph efrpac@mocty.com USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations.