Will - John SCRIVENOR

Dated 03 May 1783; Proved 13 Nov 1789

In the name of God, Amen.
I John Scrivenor of Anne Arundel County and state of Maryland, being weak in body, but of sound and disposing mind, memory, and understanding, and considering of the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of the time thereof and being desirous of settling my worldly affairs, and thereby be the better prepared to leave this world, when it shall please almighty God to call me hence, do make, and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following. Viz

First and principally, I commit mysoul into the hands of Almighty God, trusting in the merits of my blessed Redeemer for the remission of my sins, and by body to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executrix, herein after named. And, as to my worldly estate, which it hath pleased almighty God to endorse me with, after my debts, funeral expenses are paid, I devise and bequeath there residue thereof in manner and form following.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife (Rebecca) for and during her natural life the whole of my estate both real and personal provided she shall remain sole. And at her death, to be then divided among my children as is herein after devised, together with all the improvements and increase that shall be then made thereon.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my sons, William, Benjamin, and John, after the death of my wife, all the lands I possess (namely) part of a tract called The Disappointment and part of a tract called Brown's Enlargement, adjoining each other, both lying in Anne Arundel County and containing on the whole, about two hundred acres of land, together with all and any improvements and appurtenances thereunto belonging. To be divided between my said sons William, Benjamin, and John, their heirs and assigns in equal proportions. But if it shall happen that either of my said three sons, namely, William, Benjamin, and John, shall die before he arrives at the age of twenty one years and leave no lawful issue, that then, and in such case, the lands before devised, shall be equally divided between the two survivors of said three sons, namely, William, Benjamin, and John. To them, their heirs and assigns, forever.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my eight daughters, namely Sarah, Mary, Delilah, Elizabeth, Amelia, Rebecca, Eleanor, and Nancy, after the death of my wife, all the personal estate my said wife shall leave, at her decease to be then justly and equitably valued and to be equally divided between my said eight daughters, namely, Sarah, Mary, Delilah, Elizabeth, Amelia, Rebecca, Eleanor, and Nancy, and equal dividend.

And for as much as I think my daughter Elizabeth before named incapable (thro the infirmities of nature) of being a proper guide to her self, it is my will and desire that at the death of my wife, my daughter Sarah Gue, before named, take under her care and protection my said daughter Elizabeth and that my said daughter Sarah Gue be paid such part of my personal estate as shall be the right of my said daughter Elizabeth at the death of my wife, agreeable to the aforementioned division.

But if it shall happen that my said daughter Sarah Gue shall die before my wife, it is my will and desire that one other of my daughters before named take my said daughter Elizabeth under her care and protection and that such part of my personal estate as before mentioned as may become the right of my said daughter Elizabeth, be then paid unto the said daughter towards the support of my said daughter Elizabeth.

And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my beloved wife Rebecca Scrivenor to be the sole executrix of this my last will and testament revoking and annulling all former wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this, and no other, to be my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty third day of May anno domini, seventeen hundred and eighty three.

John Scrivener [signature]

Signed, sealed, published and declared by John Scrivenor the above named testator, as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us, who at his request and in his presence have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
Anthony Holland
Vachel Warfield
Ephraim Holland
Henry Holland

Anne Arundel County the 13th day of November 1789. Then came Rebecca Scrivenor and made oath on the Holy Evangels of almighty God that the within instrument of writing is the true and whole will and testament of John Scrivenor, late of Anne Arundel County deceased that hath come to her hands or possession and that she doth not know of any other.
Sworn before Jno Gassaway, Reg of Wills for AA Cty

Anne Arundel County the 13th day of November 1789. Then personally appeared before me Rebecca Scrivenor, the appointed executrix in the last will and testament of John Scrivener, late of Anne Arundel County deceased and did refuse to act as executrix to said will by virtue of such appointment and did therefore renounce all her right, title, and claim to said executrixship accordingly
before Jno Gassaway, Reg of Wills for AA Cty

Anne Arundel County the 13th day of November 1789. Then came Rebecca Scrivenor the widow of John Scrivenor late of Anne Arundel County deceased and quitted her claim to the several bequests and devises made to her in the will of her said husband deceased and elected in lieu thereof her dower or third part of the deceased's estate both real and personal.
Before Jno Gassaway, Reg of Will for AA Cty.

Anne Arundel County the 13th day of November 1789. Then came Ephraim Holland, one of the subscribing witnesses to the within last will and testament of John Scrivenor late of Anne Arundel County deceased and made oath on the holy Evangels of almighty God that he did see the testator therein named sign and seal this will and the he 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 his apprehension, of sound and disposing mind, memory, and understanding, and that he subscribed his name as a witness to this will, in the presence and at the request of the testator, and in the presence of each other.
Sworn before Jno Gassaway, Reg of Wills, AA Cty.

Anne Arundel County, the 25th day of October 1790. Then came Anthony Holland, same as above and that he together with Vachel Warfield, Ephraim Holland, and Henry Holland respectively subscribed their names etc. same as above.

Contributed by Anne Scrivener Agee
Anne Arundel County Original Wills, Maryland State Archives, Annapolis MD, Box S Folder 24