Will of William Cole 1769

Will of William Cole (son of John Cole) of Baltimore County, Dated 18 Jan 1769, proved 25 Jun 1770

In the name of God Amen. I William Cole son of John Cole of Baltimore County being sick and weak in Body but thanks be to God in perfect sound and disposing mind and memory have thought fit to make this my last will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say

First I give and bequeath my soul unto Jesus Christ my Body to the Earth to be buryed in a plain desent manner at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter named and as for what worldly Estate it hath pleased God to bless me with I Give and bequeath in manner and form following.

I Give and bequeath unto my oldest son William Cole fifty acres of Land called Crosses Park and also fifty acres of Leased Land adjoyning the same both of which tracts is to be conveyed to me by Jacob Keeler he having passed his Bond to me for the conveyance of the same.

I Give and bequeath unto my son Vincent Cole his heirs and assigns all my [caution?] that I Bought of Joseph Cole with all the Land that can be added under the same caution it being in his Lordships reserve.

I Give and Bequeath unto my son Joseph Cole his Heirs and assigns all that part of my Tracts of land called Coles Favour, Coles Castle, Coles Manor, and Coles Struggle Continued, that Lieth on the north side of the Western run all the remainder of the said Tracts I Give and Bequeath unto my son Giles Cole his heirs and assigns.

I also give and Bequeath unto my son Joseph and his Heirs or assigns before mentioned Twelve acres and a half of Land called Coles String.

I Give and Bequeath unto my son John Cole his heirs and assigns forever all my right title and equity of redemption to and in Two Hundred and twenty acres of Land called Coles Chance and Contrivance to Coles Chance formerly mortgaged by my father John Cole to George Buchanan the equity of redemption of which is conveyed to me by Anthony Chamness and Sarah his wife who is the Daughter and heir at law of Joseph Cole Deceased, Eldest son of my said father John Cole but in case my said Executors can sell the said Land or my right thereof for a reasonable value such as they shall approve of then and in that case my will is that they shall sell the same and make such conveyances thereof as shall be sufficient as fully as I myself could do and the money arising from such sale to be laid out to the best advantage in purchasing Land for my said [blank] John Cole his heirs and assigns both of which sale and purchase to be at the Discretion of my said Executors hereafter named only that my will is that they give the first offer of the said Land to John Gorsuch Sen^r. who is now in possession of thereof and as for all my Personal Estate after my Just Debts are paid and my Wifes thirds taken out I give and Bequeath unto Daughters six Daughters Alice Caples, Hanah, Cordelia, Elizabeth, Mary and Rebeckah equally to be divided among them only that one feather bed and one Cow and calf already given to my Daughter Alice to be accounted in her part and one cow and calf to be given to my youngest Daughter Rebeckah over and above her full share and do hereby constitute and appoint my Loving wife Mary my Executrix with my Eldest son William and my kinsman Joseph Ensor my Executors with my said wife of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all others by me heretofore made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal and do publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament this Eighteenth day of January 1769.

William [his mark] Cole {seal}

Signed sealed published and declared to be his last WIll and Testament in presence of us (the words his heirs and assigns) being first Interlined.
John Ensor, son of George
John Chilcote
Henry [his mark] Cole

Baltimore County June 25, 1770 Came J^no Chilcote and Henry Cole two of the subscribing witnesses to the within will and being Duly and solemnly sworn on the Holy Evangalist of Almighty God depose and say that they saw the testator W^m Cole sign seal publish pronounce and declare the same as and for his last Will and Testament by makeing his mark that at the Time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehension of sound and Disposeing mind & memory that they subscribed their respective names as Evidences to the s^d will Henry Cole by makeing his mark & also that they both saw John Ensor son of George subscribe his name as a wittness to the s^dwill all in the presence of the s^d Testator and at his request. Sworn to before,
William Young, Deputy Commissary Baltimore County

Contributed by Cheryl Kemp Perkins
Source: Baltimore County Wills (MSA: CR72241-1; liber 3, folio 144-146)