Will of Thomas Horner 1756

Last Will and Testament of Thomas Horner, Dated 16 June 1756, Probated 20 October 1756

In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Horner of Baltimore County in the Province of Maryland being sick and weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory thanks to almighty God and calling to mind the transitory Estate of this Life Knowing that All flesh must yield unto death when if shall please God to Call do make and ordain this to be my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following Viz.

first I Commend my soul into the hands of the almighty God who gave it to me and trusting in the great mercy of my blessed Redeemer the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to Pardon my many fold Sins and transgressions being heartily sorry for the same and my body I commend to the Earth to be Decently buried at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned and as for such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to bestow on me in this Life I will give and bequeath the same in manner and form following Viz

Item 1st I give unto my two Sons James and William Horner one Tract of Land named Williams Chance to be equally divided between them both and their heirs forever

Item 2'd I give to my Son James and his heirs one negro girl named Phillis with her Increase forever and one feather Bed and furniture new.

Item I give to my Son William one negro Girl named Nan and her Increase to him and his heirs forever and one one new feather Bed and furniture.

Item 4th I give to my Daughter Casandra Horner one negro Girl named Jenne and her Increase Except the first Child living to four years old to be delivered to my Daughter Sarah Horner and her Increase to her my said Daughter Sarah and heirs forever elsewise said Jenne and residue of Increase to my Daughter Casandra as before and her heirs forever Likewise I will to my Daughter Casandra one feather Bed and furniture.

Item 5 I give to my Daughter Sarah Horner and her heirs forever after the Death of her mother Grace Horner one negro man named George and his wife Jenne and one feather Bed and furniture.

Item 6th I give to my well beloved Wife Grace Horner all the rest of my Estate during her life she not wilfully wasting_____or destroying the same and after her Decease to be Equally divided among my four Children above mentioned my will is that in case either of my two sons above named should die without Issue Lawfully begotten that the rights of Inheretance above Willed shall be the full right and Inheritence of the Surviving Brother and my will is also the two Daughters above mentioned to be delt with in like manner as the Boys last mentioned of their Inheritance or Will bequeathed my will is also my two Sons James and William Horner to be of age to receive their right of Inheritance and shift for themselves at the age of twenty. My will is also that no appreuriment be made either of the whole to part any of my Estate.

Lastly I constitute nominate ordain and appoint Daniel Anderson and his Sister Sarah Anderson my whole and Sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament to truly see and have fulfilled and delivered to my Children as my will expressly directs and after this decease of my Wife Grace Horner if it should so happen she should not live to the bringing up of my before mentioned children s'd Executors her mentioned to have the care of raising tutoring and schooling my said children with their rights of Inheritances till of age my disire is that my two Sons James and William be bound out to a trade and both to one master at the age of fourteen and free as my will directs and Lastly I notify allow and confirm this to be my last Will and Testament hereby revoking Disallowing and Disannulling all other Will or Wills by me heretofore made and only Confirming this alone to be my Last Will and Testament and in Witness whereof I herunto set my hand and affix my seal this 16 day of Jun 1756.

Tho's Horner {SEAL}

Contributed by Barbara Long Emery