Will of Robert Hawkins 1761

Will of Robert Hawkins (Sr) of Baltimore County, Dated 10 May 1761, Proved 5 Augut 1761

In the Name of God Amen I, Robert Hawkins of Baltimore County, and Province of Maryland, Planter, being in health and perfect Memory, mind and understanding Blessed be God for it do this in the year of our Lord 1761 and in the first Year of the Reign of His Majesty George the Third, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say imprimis I commit my Soul into the hand of Almighty God who gave it and my body to the Earth from whence it came in hopes of a full Resurrection and as to that Worldly Estate it hath pleased God to bless me with I dispose in Manner as follows, Viz.

I Give and Bequeath to my loving Wife Sarrah Hawkins Fifty Acres out of one Moiety of my Land and to include my houses and Orchard in the Same and to be laid out for her at the discretion of my Son John and my friend Joseph Henley to be enjoyed by her during her Natural Life and after her decease I Give the said Fifty Acres to my Son Robert and the Remainder of the One Moiety of my Land I Give to my Son Robert immediately after my decease.

Item the other Moiety of my Land I Give to my Son William to be laid off for him of that side of the Lane he now lives on to be possessed by him immediately after my decease and to be laid out for him by my Son John and my friend Joseph Henley.

The Rest and Remainder of my Personal Estate after my Wife's thirds is deducted my Just Debts and Funeral Expenses discharged by my Executors hereinafter named, Viz., I Give and Bequeath to my Wife my best Bed and Furniture thereunto belonging as it stands.

Item I Give my Wife a Negro man named Cuf.

Item I Give to my three daughters Ann Renshaw, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Sarah Beaver, the sum of Three Pounds Current Money each to be paid them in Six months after my decease.

The rest and residue of my Personal Estate I Order to be divided between my Four Sons, Thomas, John, Robert, and William, and I do appoint my Wife and my Son John jointly Executors of this my last Will and Testament.

Item I do request to see to the Execution of this my last Will and Testament my Son John and my friend Joseph Henley, and I do hereby Revoke that all Others by me heretofore made and by me made Void and of non effect, and this pressant only to remain in force.

I hereunto set my hand and fixt my seal this tenth day of May in the Year above written.
Sign, Sealed and delivered
In presence of
Jos. Henley
James Crawford
Samuel Litten
Robert Hawkins (seal)

Baltimore County, Aug 5th, 1761 came Joseph Henley and Samuel Litten two of the subscribing Witnesses to the foregoing Will and made Oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that they saw the Testator Robert Hawkins sign the said Will and heard him publish and declare the same to be his last Will and Testament that at the time of his doing so he was to the best of their apprehensions of sound & disposing mind & memory that they subscribed their names as Witnesses to the said Will in the presence of the Sd Testator and at his Request , Joseph Henley further makes Oath that he saw the Other Witness James Crawford sign the sd Will all in the presence of the Testator and at his request, Sworne
Wm Young, Dcomy Balt. County

The widow Abides by the Devise in the Will, Test WG On the 13th day of August 1766 came James Crawford one of the subscribing Witnesses to the within last Will and Testament of Robert Hawkins late of Baltimore County, deceased, & being one of the people called Quakers, solemnly Affirmed, Testified, declared that he did see the within named Robert Hawkins the Testator sign & Seal said Will & heard him publish & pronounce the same to be his last Will & Testament, that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of his apprehension of perfect sense & of a sound disposing mind & memory & that he subscribed his name as a witness thereto in the presence & at the request of said Testator & that he did see Joseph Henley & Saml Litten the other two subscribing Evidence subscribe their names as Evidences in the presence & at the request of the said Testator.

Transcribed and contributed by LouAnn Corrigan