Will of John Ford 1782

Last Will and Testament of John Ford, the Elder, of Baltimore county, Dated 18 Aug 1782, Proved 14 Sept 1782

In the Name of God Amen I John Ford the Elder of Baltimore County in the State of Maryland Yeoman being sick and weak in Body but of a sound and disposing mind memory and understanding (praised be God for the same) calling to mind the Certainty of death and the uncertain Time thereof Do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) First and principally I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it and my Body I committ [sic] to the Earth to be decently Interred at the discretion of my Beloved Wife Ruhamah Ford, and as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me I give devise and dispose of the same as followeth (vizt)

I give devise and Bequeath unto my Eldest son Thomas Ford all that Tract of Land called Fords range and also part of a Tract of Land called Good will adjoining and lying in Baltimore County aforesaid which said Land is now in the Possession of my said son Thomas Ford To Hold unto him my said Son Thomas Ford his Heirs and assigns for ever and no more of my Estate

Item I give Devise and Bequeath unto my son John Howard Ford all that part parcel or Tract of land whereon he now lives called the reserve containing one hundred acres situate and being on the Great Falls of Patapsco in Baltimore County aforesaid To Hold unto my said son John Howard Ford his Heirs and Assigns for ever and no more of my Estate.

Also I give devise and bequeath unto my son Joshua Ford all that Eastern part of my dwelling Plantation and the Lands thereunto adjoining beginning at a bounded Stone near John Bonds land and running thence South twelve degrees West till it Intersects the giving line of Fords Friendship resurvey'd To Hold to him my said Son Joshua his Heirs and Assigns for ever also I give and Bequeath unto unto [sic] my said son Joshua Ford all my Right title Interest Term of years yet to come and unexpired of in and to Seven acres of Land being part of a certain Tract of Land called the Groves which I lately purchased of a certain William Bagford lying and adjoining to the South East part of the Lands and Premises by me before given and devised to my son Joshua To Hold unto my said son Joshua Ford for and during the residue and remainder of the said Term of years to come and unexpired as aforesaid

Item I give devise and bequeath unto my son Edmund Ford all that part of a Tract of Land called Belinda situate and being on the main Falls of Patapsco in Baltimore County containing thirty five _____ John Ford _____ acres also all that part of a Tract of Land called Teal's Search containing Fifty one acres an half To Hold the same unto my son Edmund Ford his heirs and assigns for ever but if it should happen that my said son Edmund should depart this life without heirs as aforesaid then and in such case my Will is and I do hereby give and Bequeath the said two parts of two Several Tracts of land so by me given and bequeathed to my son Edmund as aforesaid unto my son Lloyd Ford his heirs and Assigns for ever also I give and Bequeath unto my son Edmund one Heifer three years old Also I give and Bequeath unto my said son Edmund the first Child that shall be born of the Body of my negroe [sic] Girl Dorcas whether Male or Female to be delivered to him by my Daughter Rebeccah at three years of age

Also I give devise and bequeath unto my son Charles Ford all that Western part of my dwelling Plantation and the lands thereunto adjoining and belonging To Hold to him my said son Charles Ford his Heirs and Assigns for ever But if it should happen that my said son Charles Ford should depart this life without Heirs as aforesaid Then and in such case I give devise and Bequeath the Western part of my dwelling Plantation and the lands thereto belonging unto my son Lloyd Ford his Heirs and assigns forever

Item I give devise and Bequeath unto my said son Lloyd Ford all my right Title Interest Term and Terms of years to come and unexpired of in and to a certain part of Land called the Groves (Except seven acres part thereof by me herein before given and Bequeathed unto my son Joshua Ford) To Hold unto my said son Lloyd Ford and his Heirs for and during all the rest residue and remainder which shall be therein to come and unexpired And in case my said son Lloyd Ford should depart this life without Heirs as aforesaid then I give and devise the same lands so given and bequeathed to said Lloyd Ford as aforesaid to my said son Charles Ford for the remainder of the said Term which shall be then to come and unexpired Item I give devise and Bequeath unto John Rider all the piece or parcell [sic] of Land called Loddy situate and lying near the Land of Richard Colgate in Baltimore County aforesaid containing Thirteen acres and an half To Hold to him the said John Rider his Heirs and assigns forever subject nevertheless and I do make the said Thirteen acres an half of Land chargeable with the payment of Fifteen Pounds Specie to my Daughter Rebeccah Ford within Five years from my decease and in Case the said John Rider shall neglect or refuse to pay unto my Daughter Rebeccah Ford the said sum of Fifteen Pounds specie within the Term of Five years aforesaid Then I give devise and Bequeath the John Ford __ said piece of Land called Loddy unto my said Daughter Rebeccah Ford her Heirs and assigns forever Item I give and bequeath into my Daughter Belinda Simmons Widow my Mulatto Boy named Nick and one Feather Bed now in her own Possession and no more of my Estate

Item I give and Bequeath unto my said Daughter Rebeccah Ford my Negro Girl named Dorcas, but my Will is and I do hereby desire my said Daughter Rebeccah to deliver the first Child whether male or Female that the said dorcas [sic] shall have born of her Body to my son Edmund at the age of three years as before by me given and bequeathed to my son Edmund Also I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Rebeccah one Feather Bed

Item I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Eleanor the Wife of Benjamin Todd my Negroe [sic] Girl named Rachel but my Will and meaning is And I do hereby give and devise the first Child that shall be born of the Body of the said Rachel unto my son Lloyd Ford and I do desire the same may be delivered to my said son Lloyd at three years of age, Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Eleanor one Cow and Calf and one Feather bed, Item I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Cassandra Ford my Mulatto Boy called Isaac and one Feather bed.

Item I give and devise unto my said Daughter Rebeccah my Grey mare

Item I give and Bequeath my Still unto and amongst my three Sons namely Joshua Ford Charles Ford and Lloyd Ford and all the rest residue and Remainder of my Personal Estate (after my just debts and funeral Expences [sic] shall be fully paid and satisfied) I give and Bequeath the use thereof to my said Wife Ruhamah Ford for the better enabling her in bringing up my youngest Children until my youngest Child shall attain to the full age of Eighteen years and from and immediately after my said youngest Child shall attain the full age aforesaid I give and Bequeath the residue of my said personal Estate as aforesaid unto my three Children Cassandra Ford Charles Ford and Lloyd Ford to be equally divided between them share and share alike but in case either or any of my said three last mentioned Children shall happen to depart this life before his her or thier [sic] part or parts shall become due and payable as aforesaid Then I Give and Bequeath the part or parts of him or her or them so dying as aforesaid to the survivor or survivors of them and my Will and meaning further is and I do hereby order and direct that no Letters of Administration or Testamentary on my Estate shall be taken out on any account whatever but the same be given and disposed of according to the True Intent and meaning hereof and for that End and purpose I do hereby authorize and Impower [sic] my Said Wife John Ford Ruhamah Ford to pay and discharge all my just debts being regularly proved according to Law and my funeral Expences [sic] and to demand sue for recover and receive all such debts as shall be due and Owing to me at the time of my decease for the purposes aforesaid and act to receive and give such Acquittances [sic] and discharges for the same as I might or could do were I personally present and to desire and get two or three credible persons to appraise the residue of my said personal Estate for the use of my said Wife Ruhamah Ford and my said three youngest Children as before is particularly mentioned and expressed any Law Custom or Usage to the Contrary thereof notwithstanding And Lastly I do hereby revoke disannul and make void all former Wills by me heretofore made and do declare this only to be my Last Will and Testament contained in four sheets of paper In Witness whereof I the said John Ford the Testator have to the first, second and third of the said sheets set my hand only and to this fourth and last my hand and seal the Eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty Two

John Ford (seal)

Signed sealed published and declared by the said John Ford the Testator as and for and to be and Contain his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at this request and in the sight and presence of each other have Witnessed the same
William Gist
Saml Fortt
Saml Freeman

Baltimore County to Wit
On the 14th day of September 1782 came William Gist & Samuel Freeman subscribing Evidences to the aforegoing last Will and Testament of John Ford deceased and made Oath on the Holy Evangel &c that they did see the Testator sign and seal the 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 of their apprehensions of sound disposing mind memory and understanding and that they subscribed their names as Witnesses at his request in his presence and in the presence of Samuel Fortt the other [copy cut off]

Contributed by Patsy Kishler
Source: Maryland State Archives, Baltimore County Register of Wills, Volume 3, pages 456-458