Will - Nicholas Gassaway

Dated 17 May 1774; Executed 15 May 1775

Maryland Ann Arundel County-- In the name of God Amen. I NICHOLAS GASSAWAY, Gint. calling to mind the mortality of my body do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form the following:

I give and bequeath to my beloved wife CATHERINE, the whole of my personal Estate. That remaining after my just debts, Legacies are paid.

Item: I give and bequeath to my son and heir THOMAS GASSAWAY which he has already had from me except which is due to me on his bond to me. I also give to my said son THOMAS the sum of five shillings sterling to be paid out of my Estate.

Item: I give and bequeath to my son HENRY GASSAWAY which he has already received from me as also the sum of five shillings sterling to be paid out of my Estate.

Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter SUSANNA ROGERS what she has already received from me also fifty acres of land to be laid out of a tract or parcel of land that I bought of RICHARD SNOWDEN called the Second addition to Snowden Manor. The said land to be laid out at that part of the said tract adjoining the lands of JOHN CAMPBELL, JACOB RYAN, and PHILLIP HAMMONDS lands. And it is my Will that after the decease of my aforesaid daughter that the aforesaid fifty acres of land devolved on her son and my grandson, NICHOLAS GASSAWAY ROGERS to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

Item: I give and bequeath to my son CHARLES GASSAWAY what he has already received of me as also the sum of fifty pounds sterling to be paid out of my Estate and my reasons for doing so is that I have given him more of sundry other things than the rest of my sons tho not any land.

Item: I give and bequeath to my son BRICE JOHN GASSAWAY and to his heirs and assigns forever all the residue of my tract of land called the Second Addition to Snowden Manor after my son HENRY's part that is deeded to him and the part I bequeathed to my daughter SUSANNA is laid out. I also give and bequeath to my said son BRICE and to his heirs and assigns forever all my Right and Title to the tract of land I now live on called Partnership.

Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter ANN WARFIELD the wife of RICHARD WARFIELD what she has already received from me also one cow and calf and six sheep.

Lastly-- I do hereby constitute ordain and appoint my beloved wife CATHERINE together with son THOMAS and HENRY to be whole and sole Executress and Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me heretofore made and allowing this only token to be my last Will and Testament. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 17th day of May 1774.

NICHOLAS GASSAWAY

Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the said NICHOLAS GASSAWAY to be his last Will and Testament. In presence of us who subscribed as witnesses and at his request the word daughter in the first line of the fourth paragraph being first (Word unreadable).
AZEL WARFIELD,
BRICE WARFIELD,
NICHOLAS ALDRIDGE

Ann Arundel County to wit May 15th 1775 Came BRICE WARFIELD and NICHOLAS ALDRIDGE two of the subscribing evidences of the within Will and made oath that they saw the Testator herein named sign and seal this Will and 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 of a sound and disposing mind memory and understanding to the best of their apprehensions. And that they subscribed their names as witnesses to this Will together with AZEL WARFIELD in the presence and at the request of the Testator and in the presence of each other.
Sworn before ELIE VALLETTE, Regt.

Contributed by Mark Jerkatis
Source: Vol. 40 (WF#1), Pages 360-361