Will of John Howard Ford 1806

Last Will and Testament of John Howard Ford, Dated 1 Oct 1806, Proved 8 Sept 1810

In the name of God Amen I John Howard Ford of Baltimore County and State of Maryland Farmer considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being af sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be almighty God for the same do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say

First I give and bequeath unto my six well beloved sons namely William, Joshua, Nicholas, John, Abraham and Charles Ford all my plantation whereon I now live with all and every other right title or claim in any manner whatever I can have or do hold to any other tracts or parcels of lands to be equally and fairly divided between them according to quantity and quality or in any other manner as they may hereafter may agree.

Secondly I will and devise that my Executors hereafter named shall dispose of all my personal property viz Horses, Cows, Sheep, Hogs, Farming utensils, Household furniture etc to the best advantage and from the money arising therefrom shall pay all my lawful and Just debts. And pay to my son William J. Ford the sum of twenty-five pounds current money for his attention and expenses in his late mothers Illness and likewise they my Executors shall pay to my beloved Daughter Elizabeth Hush fifty pounds current money within one year after my death, and the remainder if any shall be equally divided between my six first named sons.

And Thirdly I will and request that my yellow woman Chloe and her son Ben and my yellow girl Jenny all and every one of them slaves be free and I nominate them respectively free at my death. Lastly I do hereby make and appoint my two sons William J. Ford and John Ford or either of them if it should so happen that the one should be absent to be Executors of this my last Will & Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In Witness whereof I have set my hand and seal the twenty first day of October in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Six.

John H. Howard (seal)

Signed Sealed published and Declared by the above named John Howard Ford to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereinto subscribed our names as Witnesses in the presence of the Testator and in the presence of each other.

Edward Bell,
Joshua Bell (his mark),
Jno. Make (his mark)

Baltimore County ss on the 8th day of September 1810 came Edward Bell and John Maake two of the subscribing witnesses to the aforegoing last Will and Testament of of [sic] John Howard Ford late of said County deceased and made oath & 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 of their apprehension of sound disposing mind memory and understanding that they together with Joshua Bell subscribed their names as Witnesses to this will in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other. Sworn to in open Court
Test Wm. Buchanan ____

I William J. Ford one of the appointed Executors in the last Will and Testament of John H. Ford late of Baltimore County deceased. Do hereby renounce all my right title and claim to said Executorship accordingly. Given under my hand and seal this thirteenth day of October 1810.
Wm. J. Ford (seal)
Witness Fielder Israel

Contributed by Patsy Kishler
Maryland State Archives, Baltimore County Register of Wills, Volume 9, pages 34 and 35