Will - William GAITHER

Dated 02 Oct 1777; Proved 07 Jan 1782

In the Name of God Amen this 2nd Day of October one thousand and Seventy Seven, I William Gaither of the State of Maryland being very Sick week in body but in perfect mind and memory thanks be Given to all mighty God therefore calling to mind the Morality of my Body and knowing that it appointed one for all men to die do make this me Last Will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I Give and recommend my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it and for my Body I recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christain like and a Decent manner at the Decrestion of my Execitors nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall recive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching my worldy estate whare with it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life. I give bequeath and Dispose in the following manner and form ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Imprimis - First of all I constute make and ordain my only and Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament Lancelott Warfield ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tem, I give unto the said Lancelott Warfield a certain Tract of Land called Turkey Neck and Another Tract of Land called Addition Lying in Arundel County State of Maryland (and his Heirs) Like wise Twenty pounds cash for colecting and Settling my afairs and no more.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Item. I give and and bequeat unto my loven Brother Benjamin Gaither my Two Negros Crap and Dick (and) all the Mill Utenchels on potuxan and no more. ~~~~

Item. I Give and bequeath unto Mary Warfield Daughter of Richard part of Tract of Land called Hammonds Forrest to her and her Heirs/ no more. ~~~~~

Item. I Give and bequeath unto my beloved Sister Mary Long the Half of a certain Tract of Land called Gousnall that part whare the Houses and Orched is douring her Natural Life and at her Desease to her Daughter Mary Norwood and her heirs.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Item my Will and Desire is that Susanah Darr shall have the use of Six Earcres of Land and Apple Tree of the said Land called Gousnall During her Natureal life Lying in the Plantation, to be next to the creek.~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Item. I Give and bequeath and Marry Berrey a tract of Land called Gxxxxxx Taivern to her and her Two Sons Phillip and Andrew During there Natural lives and at there Decease to the before mentioned Mary Warfield and her heirs. ~~~~~

Item I Give and bequeath unto John Norwood son of Edward the other half of Land called Gousnall and his heirs and all my other Estate {xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx illegible xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx} unto my Executot Lancelott Warfield after my just Debts are paid my Will and Desire is to my Executor would seek after the bound or Title of Mill mow in Possestion of Denton Ham= =mond Due to me from James Disney.~~~~~~~~~~

Confirming this to be my last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I heruntoset my hand and Seal the Day and year above Written ~~~~~~~

Wm Gaither {SEAL}
Signed Sealed published
and Declared in the
presents of us
Joshua Cromwell
John {his mark} Darr

It is my Desire that Philip & Andrew shall have my part of Peney Grove 100 Acres & Mary Barry for Life. I further give 2 Best caws to Marey Barrey & for the use of his children & to fall his Bil & Ando after his Decease with Increase & one hefers Zach Cheney duren his life with in use & hass his children than to gow to me Extor to Wm Gaither ~~~~~~

I Give Negro Dick for Seven eare & now Longer Crap is to free ten Acres of Land Pine Grove ~~~~~~~~~~

Ann Arundel County SS.
January 7th, 1782
On the back if the aforegoing Will was the following endorsement to wit Then came Joshua Cromwell and John Darr the subscribing Witnesses to the aforegoing Will and made Oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that they did see the Testator William Gaither Sign and Seal this Will and Testament and that at the time of his sodoing he was to the best of their Apprechensions of sound and disposing minf 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. ~~~~~~~~

Sworn before Thos Gassaway Reg, Will AACo.

Contributed by Danny Watts
Source: Anne Arundel County Wills, TG1 folio 116 #34