Will - John WORTHINGTON

Dated 20 Jun 1785; Proved 24 Jul 1790

Glory be to God on high and on Earth peace and goodwill among men this is the last will and testament of me the subscriber John Worthington the Elder of Ann Arundel County Farmer State of Maryland. I revoke all former wills by me maid. I direct all my just debts to be paid, imprimus, I give devise and bequeath to each of my children as follows:

ITEM: I give devise and bequeath unto my loving son William Worthington and to his heirs forever, six hundred acres of land lying in Baltimore County being part of a tract of land called Eppington Forrest and no more of my estate or what nature or kind soever.

ITEM: I give devise and bequeath unto my loving daughter Elizabeth Dorsey and to her heirs forever, four hundred acres of land lying in Baltimore County being part of a tract of land called Eppington Forrest and no more of my estate or what nature or kind soever.

ITEM: I give devise and bequeath unto my loving daughter Ann McCannon and to her heirs forever, four hundred acres of land lying in Baltimore County being part of a tract of land called Eppington Forrest and no more of my estate or what nature or kind soever.

ITEM: I give devise and bequeath unto my loving daughter Sarah Dorsey and to her heirs forever, five hundred acres of land lying in Ann Arundel County... Worthington's Beginning to be laid of ajoining James MaCannons part of said tract of land. Also I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Dorsey and to her heirs forever five hundred acres of land being the residue of those lands after laying of one hundred and sixty one acres for my son John Worthington that my brother Charles Worthington bought of a certain Richard Yates and no more of my estate or what nature or kind soever.

ITEM: I give devise and bequeath unto my loving son Thomas Worthington and to his heirs forever all those six tracts of land lying in Ann Arundel County containing nine hundred and sixty acres of land more or less and known by the names of Hunting Ground, Ridgleys Range, part of broken Ground, part of Howards and Partors Fancy, part of Abington Adjoining it and Worthington's String. Also, I give devise and bequeath unto my son Thomas Worthington and to his heirs forever, five hundred acres of land lying in Frederick County being part of a tract of land called Danils small tract, also I give unto my son Thomas Worthington and to his heirs forever, the following negros with their Increase negro Phill, Samson, Sam, Bett, Hager, Arroy, and Call

ITEM: I give devise and bequeath unto my loving son John Worthington and to his heirs forever, all those Toon tracts of land lying in Ann Arundel County called and known by the names of part Howard's Luck, bought of Orlando Grifith, part of Food Plenty, part of Huntington Quarter and Harrison's beginning, part of Food Plenty, part of Chandler's Slaughter, Ear..Hills, Bensons... part of Robert Lett, part of Food Plenty and 100... Worthington bought of Richard Yates containing in the whole one thousand four hundred and seventy acres of land more or less. Also, I give unti my son John Worthington and to his heirs forever, the following negros with their Increase, old Moses, Harrey, Dick, Sam, Liol, Poll, Moll, Toney, and old Phebe.

ITEM: I give devise and bequeath unto my loving son Nicholas Worthington and to his heirs forever, all the residue of a tract of land lying in Frederick County called Solomon's Flower containing four hundred and ninety acres of land more or less. I give devise and bequeath unto my son Nicholas Worthington and to his heirs forever eight hundred acres of land lying in Frederick County being part of a tract of land called Danils Small Tract. Also, I give devise and bequeath unto my son Nicholas Worthington and to his heirs forever, one tract of land called upland lying part in Ann Arundel County and part in Frederick County containing five hundred and thirty acres of land more or less. The said land my brother Charles Worthington bought of James P. Dick, containing in the whole one thousand eight hundred and twenty acres of land more or less. Also, I give devise and bequeath unto my son Nicholas Worthington and to his heirs forever, the following negros with their Increase, Kittey, Tom son of Cato, Naco, Young Moses, Sam, Jackson, Long Phebe, old Jack, Norro, Dinah ... Long Phebe's child

ITEM: I give devise and bequeath unto my loving son James Worthington and to his heirs forever, all the whole six tracts of land lying in Montgomery or Frederick County called and known by the name of Watkins Range, the Addition of Watkins Range, part of Owen's resurvey... part of the Cow Pasture, the ... bought of Charles Penn, ... James Worthington..land in Ann Arundel County, Worthington's Fancy, part of Sand...to Snowden's Mannour. Also, I give devise and bequeath unto my son James Worthington and to his heirs forever, one tract of land lying in Ann Arundel County being part of a tract of land called Wood Stock Inlarged containingA one thousand five hundred and five acres of land more or less. Also, I give devise and bequeath unto my son James Worthington and to his heirs forever the following negros, Clam, Norrey, Joshua, Tom, Jack, Will, Pegg, Rachel, ..Wife Old Will, Silvo and their Increase.

ITEM: I give devise and bequeath unto my three grandchildren, daughters of my son Charles Worthington decd. One tract of land lying in Frederick County being part of a tract of land called Whiskey Ridge containing seven hundred and thirteen acres of land to be equally divided between them as tenants in common and no more of my estate of what nature or kind soever. And my will is that the above said negroes shall not be di.. appraised or valued as any part of my estate.

ITEM: I give devise and bequeath unto my four loving sons Thomas Worthington, John Worthington, Nicklas Worthington, and James Worthington, and to their heirs forever all the rest and residue of my estate both real and personal to them their hiers and assigns to be equally divided between then share and share alike but it is further my will and desire that if any one or more of my aforesaid children, Thomas Worthington, John Worthington Nicklas Worthington, and James Worthington should die without lawfull issue that then and in ..part devised to them shall be equally divided...

...Worthington and my son in law Caleb Dorsey, son of Thomas Beal executors of this my last will and testament. In witness thereof the said John Worthington the Elder have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal this twenth day of June in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five.

Signed sealed published and declared by the said John Worthington the Elder the testator to be his last will and testament and done in the presence of us the subscribers whom he requested to Evidence this his Will and who have personally subscribed our names as witnesses in the testators presence and in the presence of each other
Nicholas Ridgely
Vachel Warfield
Greenbury Ridgely

At the foot of the foregoing will was thus written viz:
Anne Arundel County.
the 24th day of July 1790
Then came Nicholas Ridgely, Vachel Warfield and Greenbury Ridgely three subscribing witnesses to the within last will and testament of John Worthington late of Anne Arundel County deceased. Made Oath on the holy Evangels of Almighty God, that they saw the testator therein named sign and seal this Will that they heard him publish pronounce and declare this shall be his last will and testament that at the time of his so doing was to the best of their apprehensions of sound and dispa... mind memory and understanding, and that they respectively and at the request of the testator and in the preference...

Anne Arundel County, the 17th day of August 1790. Then came Thomas Worthington and Caleb Dorsey son of Thomas Beal the Executors appointed in the within Will and made oath on the holy Evangels of Almighty God that this Instrument of writing is the true and whole will and testament of John Worthington late of Anne Arundel County deceased that hath come to their hands or possession and that they doth not know of any other.

Contributed by Larry Soule