Will of Joshua Howard 1738

Will of Joshua Howard, of Baltimore Co., Dated 3 July 1738, Proved 4 Sept 1738

In the name of God Amen. I Joshua Howard of Baltimore County in the Province of Maryland, Planter, being sick and weak of body but of sound mind & memory Declare and Ordain this to be my Last Will & Testament in manner following that is to say I ?? my Soul to God who gave to me & hope through the ??? of my be Lord and as to my body I desire it may be buried in a Christian and decent manner at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named as to my and my wish is that ? in the ?????????

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Francis Howard tract of land called Howards? Inheritance containing the Hundred acres to him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten by him together with one Shilling Silver and no more. Where as my son Francis ????? should not ?? his personal Appearance with a design to ? ? me ?? tract of land ?? my will & desire that the forsaid tract of land called ? be my loving son Cornelius Howard & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten for ever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Edmund Howard one pair of ? ? ? and one schilling Silver and no more.

Item I give and bequeath unto my Loving Daughter Sarah Gist one Schilling Silver and no more.

Item I give and bequeath unto my Loving Daughter Mary Gist one young cow and calf and one Schilling Silver and no more.

Item I give and bequeath unto my Loving Daughter Elizabeth one young cow and calf and one Schilling silver and no more.

Item I give and bequeath to my Loving daughter Violet Gist one young cow and calf and one Schilling Silver and no more.

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Cornelius Howard my now dwelling Plantation a tract of land containing one hundred and fifty acres called Howards Square? To him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my said beloved son Cornelius Howard after all my just debts & ? are paid all my whole personal Estate of what make and kind ?? it be to him & his heirs ??? and assign forever.

Item I appoint my said Loving son Cornelius Howard to be whole and sole Exect. Of this my last Will and Testament in writing of the truth I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of July 1738. Signed Sealed & Delivered by the hand of

Joshua Howard (seal)
to be his last Will & Testament in Presence of us the subscribers being Executors specially called for that purpose,
Josephius Murray,
George Ogg,
Jo. Murray Jr.

On the back of the aforegoing Will was thus written Viz:
George Ogg & Jo. Murray Jun. Two of the Subscribing witnesses to the above & foregoing Will being duly sworn depos. on the Holy Evangelist that they saw Joshua Howard the Testator sign the foregoing Testament & heard him Publish & declare it to be his last Will & Testament. That at the time of his so doing he was of sound & disposing mind & memory to the best of their judgement & apprehension, that they subscribed names as witnesses in presence of the Testator. Josephuis Murray being one of the people called & ? upon his solemn affirmation doth affirm & declare that he saw the Testator sign the foregoing and heard him publish & declare it was his last Will & Testament. That at the time of his so doing he was of sound & disposing mind & memory to the best of his judgement & Apprehensions and that this affirmant subscribed his name as a witness to the said will in the presence of the Testator. Sworn & affirmed before D Dulany Comms. 4 September 1738

Contributed by Selena DuLac
Source: Probate Records Of Maryland 1734-1742, SLC Family History Center Film # 0012849 Vol. 21-22