Will of Richard Cole 1805

Last Will & Testament of Richard Cole of Baltimore County, Dated 26 April 1805, Proved 1 June 1805

In the Name of God, Amen. I, Richard Cole, of Baltimore County and State of Maryland, being weak of Body but of Sound and Perfect mind and memory and desirous of Settling my worldly affairs, do, for that purpose, make this my Last Will and Testament in the following manner:

First, I recommend my Soul to Almighty God and my Body to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executor, hereafter named, and as to my worldly Estate, I dispose of it in the following manner:

Item - Provided a tract of land called Cole's discovery, which is in dispute with Job Garretson, Should be obtained, I will and bequeath unto my loving wife my dwelling plantation, together with all my Household furniture, Stock of Every kind, all my farming Utensils, bonds, Notes, and book accounts, as long as She lives. And after her decease, my Said dwelling Plantation to be equally divided between my Sons, John and George Cole, agreeable to its value as my Executor, hereafter named, shall value to be theirs, their heirs, Executors, Administrators, and Assigns forever.

Item - If the above mentioned tract of land called Cole's discovery Should be obtained, I wish it to be Sold and the money disposed of in the following manner: first, to pay out of the Said money, all my Just debts and funeral Expenses, after which, I will and bequeath unto my daughters, Rachel, Mary, Hannah and Sarah Cole, fifty dollars each as their full part and no more. And the remaining Sum to be divided between my Sons, Richard and Abraham Cole, in the following manner:

Richard to have three Shares and Abraham, two and no more. Provided the afforesaid tract of Land called Cole's discovery Should not be obtained, I wish that part of my dewlling plantation North of the Harford Road to be Sold and all my Just debts paid and funeral Expenses defrayed and the sum remaining to be disposed of in the following manner:

Item - I will and bequeath unto my four daughters, Rachel, Mary, Hannah and Sarah Cole, each twenty five dollars as their full part and no more. And the sum remaining in the following manner:

Item - I will and bequeath unto my Sons, Richard and Abraham Cole, the last mentioned ballance to be divided, as above stated, to them.

Item - All the residue and remaining part of my dwelling plantation on the South Side of the Harford Road, I will and bequeath unto my loving wife, together with all my household furniture, stock of every kind, all my farming Utensils, bonds, notes, and book accounts, as long as she lives. And after her decease, my Said part of my plantation to be equally divided between my Sons, John and George Cole, (agreeable to its value as my Executor, hereafter named, Shall value) to be theirs, their heirs, Executors, Administrators or Assigns, forever.

I nominate Josias Carter to be guardian to my two Sons, John and George Cole. I, also, desire my two last named Sons, to have equal Shares with my son, Richard, if this Land, North of the Harford Road, Should be Sold, for to educate them. I nominate, ordain and appoint my Son, Richard Cole, Sole Executor of this, my last will and Testament. In witness, whereof, I have set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty Sixth of the fourth month, one thousand Eight hundred and five.

Signed, sealed and published,
Richard Cole

Pronounced and declared by the Said, Richard Cole, to be his last will and Testament, who in his presence and in the presence of each other, subscribed our names:
Larkin Read
James Lewis
Andrew Thompson
Benjamin B. Tracy (his mark)

On the 1 day of June, 1805, came Larkin Read, James Lewis, Andrew Thompson presenting evidences to the aforegoing last will and testament of Richard Cole, deceased, and made oath to, that they did see the Testator sign and seal this will, that they 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 their apprehension, of sound, disposing mind, memory and understanding and that they subscribed their names as witnesses to this will in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other, sworn before me, Register of Wills for Balt County.
Signed, William Buchanan

Contributed by Anne Van Patten