Will - Henry DRURY

Dated 25 Aug 1854

In the name of God Amen. I Henry C. Drury of Wm. of Anne Arundel County in the State of Maryland, being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding do therefore make and publish this my last Will and testament revoking all others and dictating? ????? this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following.

I give, devise and bequeath to my daughter Ann Childs wife of Wm. P? Childs one thousand eight hundred dollars ??? one negro Woman Mary Ellen and one Cow.

I give, devise and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Shepherd wife of Samuel Shepherd one thousand eight hundred dollars & one negro woman Rachel Ann and one cow.

I give, devise and bequeath to my Grandson William Henry ????? (doesn't appear to be Drury) the sum of five hundred dollars with interest thereon from my death to be paid by my Son Charles Augustus Drury when my said Grandson arrives at the age of twenty one years. ??? give and bequeath to my said Grandson negro boy named ?Jim?or ?Ham?, the said negro boy to remain in the possession of my Son John Henry.

I give, devise and bequeath to my grandaughter Ann Maria ?Fisher? the sum of three hundred dollars with the ????? thereon from my death. when she arrives at the age if eighteen years to be paid to her by my son Richard Drury. Give and bequeath to her one negro boy Stephen, the said boy Stephen to remain in the possesion of my said Son Richard.

I give, devise and bequeath to my grandaughter ?Almira? ?Fisher? one negro boy named John now in the possesion of Wm. ? Childs. I also give to my Grand Daughter three hundred dollars with interest thereon from my death when she arrives at the age of eighteen years. Two hundred and fifty dollars of the above sum of three hundred dollars to be paid to be paid to her by my son Charles Augustus and fifty dollars by my son John Henry and and my said Three Grand Children Wm. Henry Fisher, Ann Maria Fisher and Almira Fisher to be supported and educated by my three sons Richard, John Henry and Charles Augustus until they arrive at their respective of eighteen and twenty one years.

I give, devise and bequeath to my son William Drury one thousand five hundred dollars to be paid to him by my son John Henry in three equal annual payments without interest.

I give, devise and bequeath to my Grand Children the children of my son William, One Thousand Two hundred and fifty dollars. Elizabeth, Ellen, William Albert, Caroline, Virginia, John Melville. Drury the above Twelve hundred and fifty dollars to be paid to them by my son John Henry when the girls arrive at their respective ages of eighteen years and the sons at their respective ages of twenty one years without interest. The above sum of Twelve hundred and fifty dollars to be equally divided between them share and share alike.

I give, devise and bequeath to my son Richard Drury all of the land lying West of the ????? ???? beyond ??? and South of a line West from the said ??? to the Southeast corner of Henry C. Drury of ????? ????? Fee simple. Also one negro man named William and one half of my sheep and my Crock.

I give, devise and bequeath to my Son John Henry ???? all of the land lying Eastwardly of the following ?????? ?????? beginning for ??? at a Cherry Tree at the North West corner Charles E. (Jevans??) land and running from thence with the dich? fence to a post planted and marked No. 1. And from said post in a straight line to a post planted and marked No. 2. And from the said post in a straight line to a post planted and marked No. 3. And from said post in a straight line to a post planted and marked No. 4. An d from said post in a straight line to a post planted and marked No. 5. And from said post in a straight line to a ?Mark? Then and from said Tree to a post planted and marked No. 6. And from said post in a straight line to a post planted by the site (or "side?") of W. Hopkins fence marked No. & in Fee simple. Also one negro man named ???? ("Wilson?") One negro woman Eliza and one named Puxx? and one third of my sheep and one cow.

I give, devise and bequeath all the balance of my Real Estate it being the same where I now reside, to my son Charles Augustus Drury and of his heirs lawfully begotten of his body and if my said son Charles Augustus should die without issue lawfully begotten of his body the land bequeathed as aforesaid and the negroes hereinafter or ?????? to him ??????? I give and bequeath to him. I give and bequeath to my two sons Richard and John Henry in equal proportions, share and share alike. I also give and bequeath to my son Charles Augustus my negroes ??????, Ellen, Amey, Mary and George and one third of my sheep. Three horses, one Colt, Three cows, Four Oxen and One ???? and in the event of my death before my son Charles Augustus arrive at the age of twenty one years (it is so light on this page that it is virtually impossible to read and decipher)....................Twenty Fifth day of August in the year of Our Lord Eighteen hundred and Fifty Four. Signed Henry C. Drury of Wm. Witnesses: B. Carr (Benjamin Carr), Henry S. Darnall, Alexander Owens.

Contributed by Kathleen Bowen Note: A Henry Drury married Elizabeth Ijams in 1770ish, so it's plausible this is his will.