Will of Benjamin Guyton 1774

Last Will and Testament of Benjamin Guyton of Baltimore county, Dated 14 April 1774, Proved 7 July 1776

Last Will and Testament of Benjamin Guyton

In the name of God Amen

April 17th in the year of our Lord 1774. I Benjamin Guyton Senior of Baltimore County planter being in health of body and in perfect mind and memory thanks be Given Unto God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for All men once to dye do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament that is to say principally and First of all I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and for my body I recommend it to the earth to be Buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executor nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall recieve the same again by the mighty Power of God and as touching such Wordly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form Impremes it is my Will and I do order that in the first place all my just debts funeral charges be and satisfied

Item I give and bequeath unto Katran my beloved Wife a negro man named Norige and the House that she now lives in with twelve Eacures of land and to Get fier Wood and raill timber where She can aney where on the plantation to Soport her and the twelve Eacors of Land as long as she lives and dosent marry but if she Mary Negro Norige to fall to my son Henery Guyton

I leave unto my two sons Benjamin and Underwood the remender part of my Lands the plantation that I now Live on to my son Benjamin Guyton and the plantation that the said Benjamin Guyton lives on to my son Underwood Guyton to be divided by The Great Run that runs through the said plantation note that my son Underwood to have the meadow that my son Benjamin has Clered for his owne uce and to eacurs Moore agining to Medow if hesees proper to clear it I leave unto my son Henery Guyton the said Negro man Norrige after my Wife's desese and my part of the still likewise

I constitute make and ordain the said Henry Guyton my son my only and Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament and for the rest of my Estate to be Equley divided amongst my Children ---- Benjamin Guyton, Underwood Guyton, Henery Guyton, Margarett Foeter, Lydia Tout and Elexander Smith's two children Anne and Rosanna them two to have one part Eaquly divided between them In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Benjamin Guyton (seal)

signed sealed an published pronounced and declared by the said Benjamin Guyton as his last will and Testament in the presents of the subscribers

John Guyton Jun
John Laremore
Benjamin his X mark Foster

On the 7th day of July 1776 Came John Guiton Jun and Laramore two of the subscribing Evidences to the within last Will and Testament of Benjamin Guiton late of the said bounty deceated and severally made Oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that they saw the Testator sign and seal and herd 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 and disposing Mind Memory and Understanding and they together with Benjamin Foster the other subscribeing evidence thereto sign thier Names as Wtnesses thereto in his presence at his request and in the presence of each Other sertified by me the subscriber deputy Commissary of the County aforesaid.
Thomas Jones

We it hereby known to all persons whom it may concern that I Katharine Guyton Widow of the within named Benjamin Guyton deceased do relinquish and refuse to accept of the adequest and devise to me in the last Will of the said deceased made and do hereby claim in Lieu thereof what by Law I am justky entitled to In Testimony whereof and that this may be accepted and taken as such my refusal and claim I do hereto subscribe my hand this seventh day of July 1776.

Witness Chas Jones
Cathrine her X mark Guiton

Contributed by Joy Jinkerson