Will - Mary LEATHERWOOD

Dated 09 Jun 1820; Proved 06 Mar 1821

In the name of God Amen. I Mary Leatherwood of Anne Arundel County in the State of Maryland, being in perfect health of body and of sound and disposing mind and understanding considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thusly (?) be the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me home do therefore make and publish this my last will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say.-

First and principally I commit my Soul into the hands of Almighty God and my Body to the Earth to be decently buried and after my just debts and Funeral expences are paid I give and bequeath as follows-

To my daughter Elizabeth Shipley I give and bequeath my Negro Boy Bill and one fourth part of my horned Cattle the same to be held by her, and her heirs for ever.

To my Son Samuel Leatherwood I give and bequeath my Negro Boy Phil and my Negroe Girl Lydia the same to be held by him and his heirs forever. To my Daughter Mary Johnson I give Sixty Dollars, it being in payment of a House. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Ana Shipley and Daughter of Elizabeth Shipley my Negroe Boy James to be held by her and her heirs for ever.

It is also my will and desire that my Negroe men Daniel and Charles and my mulatto woman Betty be liberated and set free at my death by whomsoever may be hereafter appointed to act under this my will. I desire and bequeath all the rest and residence of my Estate both real and personal to be equally divided among my daughters Nancy Leatherwood and Priscilla Leatherwood to them their Heirs and Assigns forever, in equal portion, share and share alike.

And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my Son Samuel Leatherwood Executor of this my last will and Testament, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal this ninth Day of June in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and twenty.

Mary Leatherwood (Seal)

Signed Sealed published and declared by Mary Leatherwood the above named Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto.
Test :B G Stockett

Anne Arundel County /?/ Where came Richard G Stockett the 6th day of March 1821, the subscribing witness to the within last will and Testament of Mary Leatherwood late of Anne Arundel County deceased and made oath on the holy Example of Almighty God that he did see the Testatrix therein named Sign and Seal this Will, and heard her publish pronounce and declare the same to be her last will and Testament, that at the time of her so doing she was to the last of his apprehension of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and that he subscribed his name aswitness to the said will at the request of the Testatrix and in her presence and in the presence of each other. Sworn before Thos. H. Hall Reg of Wills A A Coty.

Contributed by Blair Leatherwood
Source: Anne Arundel County Register of Wills, THH #1, pp 31-2 Mary Leatherwood 6 March 1821 [MdHR 13,807, 1-3-12-18], Maryland State Archives, 350 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis MD