Will of John Holt 1757

Last Will and Testament of JOHN HOLT of Baltimore county, Dated 2 June 1757, Proved 9 Feb 1758

In the Name of God, Amen. The twenty second day of June, one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven. I, John Holt, bring very sick and weak of Body but of perfect mind and Memory thanks be to God for it, I do therefore make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. Inprimis. I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and for my body I Recommend to the Earth to be buried decently at the discretion of my Executrix.

Secondly, I do constitute and appoint my beloved Wife to be my Whole and Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament.

I give and bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Holt and her Lawful heirs Two hundred Acres of Pattent Land laying in the fork of Gunpowder River called by the name Come by Chance, if my aforesaid Daughter Sarah should die and without a Lawfull heir of her Body then the aforesaid Land to my Daughter Anne Holt and her heirs Lawfully begotten.

Item. I give unto my aforesaid daughter Sarah one black heffer marked with a Crop in each Ear, and a pare of small Stillards.

Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Anne one large Dressing Glass.

Item. After my Creditors is paid, I give and bequeath to my five Daughters, Anne, Mary, Elizabeth, Fanny, and Clowey when come to the Age of Sixteen, all my Personall to be equally divided after my Wife thirds taken out.

I do hereby Revoke and disannul all other Wills and Testaments Whatever. Ratifying this and no Other to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have set my hand and Seal the day and Year above Written.

John Holt (Seal)

Signed, Sealed in the Presence of
John Young
Joseph Lewis

The Widow abides by what the Law gives her.

February 9th 1758. Came John Young and Benjamin Guyton the two subscribing Witnesses to the within and foregoing Will and made Oath on the holy Evangelist of Almighty God that they Saw the Testator John Holt sign the said Will and heard him publish and declare the same to be his last Will and Testament. At the same time Sarah, Wife of the deceased, John Holt, made Oath that she Saw the Testator, Sign the said Will and heard him Publish and Declare the same to be his last Will and Testament and at the time of his so doing he was to the best of all their apprehensions of sound and disposing mind and Memory and that the to Subscribing Witnesses signed their Respective Names as Witnesses.
Sworn before William Young,
deputy Commissary, Baltimore County.

Contributed by Joy Jinkerson