Will of Rachel Harvey 1915

Last Will & Testament of Rachel Harvey of Baltimore County, Dated 26 Jun 1815; Proved 29 Mar 1817

I, Rachel Harvey of Baltimore County and State of Maryland being now weak of Body but of perfect memory and well disposing mind and understanding being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me hence I do therefore make and publish this my last will and Testament in manner and form following to Wit first and principally I commit my Soul to Almighty God who gave it and my Body to the Earth to be decently Buried at the discretion of my Sister Abarilla and my Executors.

Secondly I give and Bequeath unto my faithful Negro Man Peakin Jackson his freedom at my decease and do hereby declare the said Peakin Jackson to be a free man on the day that I depart from this life.

Thirdly I give and bequeath unto my faithful Negro Girl Rebecca Tomson and her Issue there freedom at my Decease and do hereby declare the said Rebecca Tomson and her issue to be free on the Day that I depart this life. I also give unto the said Rebecca Tomson one flowered Gown, one Holland apron, one gold ring and one Spinning Wheel.

Fourthly I give and Bequeath unto my faithful Negro Man Toney his freedom at my Decease and do hereby declare the said Toney to be a free man on the day that I depart this life.

Fifthly, I give and bequeath unto the above named Peakin Jackson one walnut dining Table with falling leaves.

Sixthly, I give and Bequeath unto my dear Sister Abarilla all the residue of my Estate of What kind so ever and do Earnestly enlist her if her Circumstances will admit it to give some part of the Said residue to the above named Toney and to Negro Samuel Davis at her own discretion.

Lastly, I do hereby nominate Constitute and appoint my Trusty friend Uriah Brown Executor of this my last will and Testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty Sixth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen.

Rachel Harvey {seal}

Signed Sealed published and declared to be the last Will of the testator in the presence of Robert Alder & Michael Alder.

N.B. the words and his Issue and her Issue respecting the issue of the within of Rebecca Tomson and the words Constitute and appoint were interlined before the Execution of this last will and Testament.

Baltimore County to Wit On the 29^th Day of March 1817 Came Michael Alder one of the Subscribing Evidences to the aforegoing last will and Testament of Rachel Harvey late of said County deceased and made Oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God that he did see the Testator sign and Seal this Will that he heard her publish pronounce and Declare the same to be her last Will and Testament that at the time of her so doing she was to the best of his apprehension of Sound disposing mind memory and understanding and that he together with Robert Alder the other Witness thereto Subscribed there names as Witnesses to this will in her presence at her request and in presence of each other.
Sworn to in Open Court
Test. Wm Buchanan, Regr.

Contributed by Cheryl Kemp Perkins
Source: Baltimore County Wills (MSA: CR72,244-2; liber 10; folio 301-302)